The New Teen Titans #23
Published and © by DC, September 1982
Title: “Kidnapped!”
Synopsis: While dealing with the fallout of their encounter with Brother Blood, the Teen Titans find themselves under attack from Gordanians.
Writers (plot): Marv Wolfman and George Pérez
Writer (script): Wolfman
Penciler: Pérez
Embellisher: Romeo Tanghal
Review: This issue marks another leveling up for The New Teen Titans. The story starts with the public relations fallout from the team’s encounter with Brother Blood (see reviews of New Teen Titans #21 and #22); the behind-the-scenes manipulation of the media is particularly chilling from the perspective of today’s misinformation age. The supporting cast continues to grow with the addition of Adrian Chase and first full appearance of Blackfire. And, given the horrific back story revealed in Tales of the New Teen Titans #4 (see review), the abduction of Starfire is chilling. An exciting launch to the next story arc.
Grade: A-
Second opinion: “I’m incredibly disappointed in this new epic story. … 1 out of 5 stars.” – Comics Coast to Coast #3, 1982
Cool factor: The New Teen Titans creative team is starting to fire on all cylinders.
Not-so-cool factor: The Teen Titan’s banter still feels a bit awkward.
Notable: First appearance of Adrian Chase (who eventually becomes Vigilante). … First full appearance of Blackfire.
Collector’s note: According to MyComicShop.com, there is a Mark Jewelers variant of this issue.
Character quotable: “I’ll never allow myself to be chained up again.” – Starfire, with some ominous foreshadowing
A word from the writer/co-creator: “Being science-fiction fans, George and I got involved with some real SF world-building. We established a military pecking order not only to our main bad guys, The Citadel, but the Gordanians, our secondary warrior race. We established different worlds, races, and created detailed backgrounds for many of them, as well as for their goddess, X’Hal.” – Marv Wolfman, from the “Introduction” to “The New Teen Titans Archives: Volume 4,” May 2008
Editor’s note: This review was written March 5, 2024.
