raul grau
Jun 7, 2005, 09:00 am
<img src="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/columns/top10titans/Teen-Titans-Logo.jpg" align=left border=0 hspace=10 alt="Top 10 Teen Titans logo">By: Raul Grau, Jon Hancock, Juan de Joya, Matt Lazorwitz, Dylan McKay, Marcina Riley, Drew Shirley
Editor: Raul Grau
Adult heroes work together on a regular basis, but it was not until 1964 that the teen sidekicks of the DC Universe tried their hand at a team-up, foiling The Thousand-and-One Dooms of Mr. Twister in The Brave & The Bold #54. A year later, in The Brave & The Bold #60, the young heroes returned to stop The Astounding Separated Man, but along with powers and punches, they were packing a team name. Thus, the Teen Titans were born.
In the forty years since their first appearance, the Teen Titans have grown from four junior heroes into a full-fledged franchise, with an animated series, toy line, and a nearly unbroken string of titles. From the original Teen Titans to the Wolfman/Perez New Teen Titans, from the time-tossed Team Titans to the Dan Jurgens Teen Titans, from the back-to-basics Titans to the current Teen Titans, over fifty heroes (and three Robins) have called the Titans their home.
To honor their fortieth anniversary, the staff of Comixfan came together to determine which of the many Titans members were truly deserving of Top status. Here we present the ten Titans who served their team proudly (some more than others), and earned their place amongst the very best in Teen Titans history.
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<img src="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/columns/top10titans/10.JPG" align=left hspace=10 alt="Joseph Wilson (Jericho)"></a>#10 Joseph Wilson (Jericho)
First Appearance: Tales of the Teen Titans #42
Created by: Marv Wolfman and George Perez
Joined Titans: Tales of the Teen Titans #44
Born to a mercenary immortal assassin and a psychotic future international terrorist, Joe Wilson's life wasn't the easiest. Made mute at the age of 5 thanks to his father's ill judgment, Joe was raised to be as different as possible from his dad, Deathstroke, becoming a thoroughly nice chap who just happened to be able to possess people. Joe's time as a Titan started out rough. As the first new member following Terra's betrayal AND the son of the Titans' deadliest enemy, Joe won the team over with his selflessness and caring attitude. Ultimately, it was this caring attitude that proved to be Jericho's downfall. By caring too much about Raven, he opened himself to machinations from outside mystical forces which led to Jericho betraying the Titans, capturing and nearly killing a number of them, only to be permanently stopped by his father. Joe's tragedy continued when his dormant consciousness returned, trying to do the right thing by stopping the Titans from hurting themselves. Joe is special and deserving of a place as a truly great Titan, as his enforced silence did not prevent him becoming one of the most compelling and emotive characters in comics, let alone Titans.
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<img src="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/columns/top10titans/9.JPG" align=left hspace=10 alt="Tara Markov (Terra)">#9 Tara Markov (Terra)
First Appearance: New Teen Titans #26
Created by: Marv Wolfman and George Perez
Joined Titans: New Teen Titans #30
Terra was, by all appearances, a sweet teenage girl. Granted, when we first met Tara Markov, she was quite occupied trying to destroy the Statue of Liberty, but she had a perfectly reasonable explanation for her flirtation with villainy. She was soon inducted into the Teen Titan family, where she fought bravely alongside her fellow heroes. However, unbeknownst to both her teammates and her readers, Tara was, at her heart, heartless. She was an unrepentant spy, gathering information to use against the Titans, and turned the team over to their enemies without a hint of remorse. For her, there was no eleventh hour path to goodness. Her initial redemption was a farce, and it was only when she believed that her co-conspirator, Deathstroke, had turned against her that she struck out at him, inadvertently killing herself in a wave of rage and madness. Many heroes have turned traitor, but Terra was never a hero... she was evil, and she died a villain. Still, her legacy has led to heroism, with a second Terra every bit the hero the first never was, and an animated equivalent who found the strength to turn against darkness when it mattered most. Terra was a sociopath, and for that alone she will never be forgotten.
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<img src="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/headshots/dc/beastboy.jpg" align=left hspace=10 alt="Gar Logan (Beast Boy, Changeling)">#8 Gar Logan (Beast Boy, Changeling)
First Appearance: Doom Patrol #99
Created by: Arnold Drake and Bruno Premiani
Joined Titans: DC Comics Presents #26
Gar Logan is that element that is needed in every super team-- the joker who really isn’t that funny. Gar’s endearing humour and playfulness are apparent in almost everything he does. He’s also really, really randy. Permanently. His life has been framed by trauma and adversity, but Gar handles it with relentless good humour. His parents died, his adopted parents died (until John Byrne worked his 'magic'), he joined a team where everyone got laid except him, his first girlfriend betrayed the team, and he was infected by a Trigon seed which transformed him into a nightmarish creature. Then he became a failed Hollywood actor, had to stop his best friend from eating the moon, was cured of his powers and infected an entire city's youngsters... yet he still continues as the most warm-hearted and understanding Titan. While Dick, Donna and others have deeper emotions, Gar adheres himself to every team member, making everyone feel better by being an eejit himself. Skilled in using his powers of animal shapeshifting, Gar is trusted by his teammates in battle, just not in Titans Tower.
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<img src="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/columns/top10titans/7.JPG" align=left hspace=10 alt="Victor Stone (Cyborg)">#7 Victor Stone (Cyborg)
First Appearance: DC Comics Presents #26
Created by: Marv Wolfman and George Perez
Joined Titans: DC Comics Presents #26
After an accident at S.T.A.R. labs, star athlete Vic Stone found himself stripped of his human body and held together by innumerable cybernetic enhancements. After spending time on the outskirts of society as a self-branded freak, Vic was recruited to join the new Teen Titans. With their help, he confronted his demons head on and turned from self-loathing miscreant into full-fledged hero. Vic has experienced many ups and downs over his career, but perhaps the most significant event was the loss of his humanity in an effort to save the dying Technis race. Assimilated into their consciousness, he became known as Cyberion and subsequently found himself coming into conflict with his former teammates, who united to stop his attempts to convert the moon into a new home for the Technis. In the end, his former friends salvaged his humanity, and he was asked to join the re-formed Titans. After the crisis that led to the dismantling of the Titans and Young Justice, it was Vic who realized that the new generation of teen heroes needed the same thing which he had needed in his youth- a place where they would be understood. And so, against the wishes of his former teammates, Cyborg formed a new Teen Titans team. As the head of this new team, Vic has proven himself to be a strong and capable leader, wise beyond his years. A far cry from his troubled youth, Cyborg has matured and grown into the mentor of a new generation of super heroes.
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<img src="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/headshots/dc/starfire3.jpg" align=left hspace=10 alt="Koriand'r (Starfire)">#6 Koriand'r (Starfire)
First Appearance: DC Comics Presents #26
Created by: Marv Wolfman and George Perez
Joined Titans: DC Comics Presents #26
If there is one word to describe Starfire, it would be passion. Whether she is falling head over heels for any man she is involved with, or fighting on pure impulse, the Titan's stranger in a strange land relies on a fiery passion which burns bright. She began as an alien on Earth experiencing culture shock, with a perspective on the world and superheroism unique to her. On her home world of Tamaran the culture is one where emotions are embraced, not concealed, where Tamaranians say what they mean and mean what they say, even if it is not what people want to hear. Contrasted with Earth society where lies and deception are commonplace, and emotions are shunned as illogical. It is this conflict that makes Starfire a memorable character and an important Titan. As a Titan, Koriand'r (No, I don't know why she was named after an herb) gained a home and a family of friends that allowed her to adapt. Her lack of understanding made her an entirely different kind of disruptive team member. She wasn't an anti-hero or someone who didn't really fit in, she just didn't understand the way Earth's heroes operate. This created opportunities for the Titans to explore what it means to be a hero, because Starfire would ask the obvious questions that, for some reason, everyone else intrinsically knows the answer to, like “Why wouldn't you kill a killer?” In time she has become more comfortable on Earth, and, sadly, in the process lost some of what makes her special. But still she remains one of the most passionate and emotional superheroes, and a very unique point of view character.
<center><hr width=75%></center>
<img src="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/headshots/dc/arsenal3.jpg" align=left hspace=10 alt="Roy Harper (Arsenal, Speedy)">#5 Roy Harper (Arsenal, Speedy)
First Appearance: More Fun Comics #73
Created by: Mort Weisinger and George Papp
Joined Titans: Teen Titans #19
Stubborn, pigheaded, and womanizing are just a few of the words that could be used to describe Roy. He started his superhero career as Speedy, though he was little more than sidekick in a cloned 'bow and arrow' version of the dynamic duo. These days it would be hard to compare the once Boy Wonder to the bad boy archer in red. Granted, they've both seen their share of pain and drama, but Roy's life has always been exceptionally colorful. He seems to bounce from one tragic situation to the next. Of course, none were more compelling than his drug addiction. His fall from grace was nothing short of a fantastic storyline, and truly, only Roy could have bore it. Fortunately for him, there was redemption, and his character emerged stronger because of it. Grown-up Roy may have adopted a new codename, Arsenal, and a new image, but he still has flaws. He makes no attempt to hide those, but he is, at the same time, a caring, loyal, and devoted father. That may not completely balance out, but I don't think that Roy minds one bit. Actually, Roy doesn't mind much, so long as friends are involved. He'll do anything for his friends, and that certainly includes the Titans. He has always had a strong association with the Titans even when he was not calling the Tower his home, and though he's jumped from one line-up to the next, he is one of the founders of the Teen Titans legacy.
<center><hr width=75%></center>
<img src="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/columns/top10titans/4.JPG" align=left hspace=10 alt="Donna Troy (Wonder Girl, Darkstar, Troia)">#4 Donna Troy (Wonder Girl, Darkstar, Troia)
First Appearance: Brave and the Bold #60
Created by: Robert Kanigher, Bob Haney, Nick Cardy, and Marv Wolfman
Joined Titans: Brave and the Bold #60
Donna Troy was born out of an editorial mistake, when, for the sheer heck of it, she was made to join the Teen Titans as Wonder Girl. Not that there was anything wrong with that, mind you – except for the fact that Wonder Girl wasn’t supposed to exist concurrently with Wonder Woman, what with her being Wonder Woman as a kid and all. Thus so began Donna’s quest to find a true (or at least, plausibly cohesive) origin, a quest which almost always ended in failure, retroactively speaking. In that time she became the very heart of the Teen Titans, serving not only as a guiding force of the team, but also as the den mother for new recruits and old friends alike. She served in this capacity up until the very moment when she died, protecting those she loved from a rampaging Superman android. Even still, her origin remains a mystery – is she a mirror duplicate of a young Wonder Woman or the progeny of the exiled Titans of Myth? From the spires of otherworldly New Chronus to her earthbound marriage to Terry Long (a marriage that brought every single Titan at the time for a grand reunion), the life and times of Donna Troy have been an interesting (if somewhat convoluted) ride, one that, by DC’s indications, is far from over.
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<img src="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/headshots/dc/flash3.jpg" align=left hspace=10 alt="Wally West (Kid Flash, Flash)"></a>#3 Wally West (Kid Flash, Flash)
First Appearance: Flash #110
Created by: John Broome and Carmine Infantino
Joined Titans: Brave and the Bold #60
Wally West. Possibly the greatest comic book character ever, in my narrow opinion anyway. But what makes him one of the greatest Titans? Wally's progression from Kid Flash to Flash is one of the most interesting bouts of character development in comic history. Wally is the only DC hero to ever graduate and take the mantle of his mentor permanently. This maturing from youthful sidekick to troubled teen through to fledging hero and later flawed boyfriend has all been shadowed by his career as a Titan. Whereas Dick seemed permanently dark and Donna permanently mature, Wally was a teen. He grew despondent, moody, and temperamental. The Titans added a crucial dimension to Wally's character- developing him, supporting him, and helping him become the most grown up of DC's characters. The Flash isn't naive like Superman can be or a bag of neurosis like Batman. He's a hero who was a kid, then a teen, and finally a titan. As the team evolved so did Wally, and while he was not the team's most staunch member, he certainly reflected the team's changing role.
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<img src="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/headshots/dc/raven5.jpg" align=left hspace=10 alt="Raven">#2 Raven
First Appearance: DC Comics Presents #26
Created by: Marv Wolfman and George Perez
Joined Titans: DC Comics Presents #26
If evil had a name, it would be Raven. Undoubtedly one of the most pivotal Titans, no one character has contributed more to the team’s history than the daughter of the literal devil herself. She was the catalyst and motivator for the formation of the then New and now definitive Teen Titans, bringing together all of the heroes who we now associate with the name (and, most notably, the TV series). She has also proven several times to be their downfall, becoming the direct instigator of the end of the world, the end of the beloved Nightwing/ Starfire romance, and the end of her own life. At the same time, her actions have led to other key events, such as the calamitous Titans Hunt, the damning of Jericho, and the destruction of Tamaran. Even now, after being reborn as a teenager all over again, she has become the obsession of the diabolically new Brother Blood, whose purpose is to make her his bride. But in spite of everything she has done or has consequently led to, who is Raven? Herald of the demonic entity known as Trigon and harbinger of annihilation, or a friend who, at any given moment, could involuntary become your worst enemy? Behind the veil of the Titans’ most mysterious member lies a shy and reserved young lady whose body and soul betray her to a destiny she never wanted to have, a destiny that she is willing to give everything to fight against. Raven remains one of the most interesting characters in the team’s canon, proving that even ultimate evil can have a soul, or at least, a soul-self.
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<img src="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/headshots/dc/nightwing2.jpg" align=left hspace=10 alt="Dick Grayson (Nightwing, Robin)">#1 Dick Grayson (Nightwing, Robin)
First Appearance: Detective Comics #38
Created by: Bob Kane and Bill Finger
Joined Titans: Brave and the Bold #60
He has been there from the beginning. When the Titans first banded together, their leader was Batman’s junior partner, Robin. Dick Grayson, the first Robin, teamed with the other sidekicks and teen heroes, and founded an enduring legacy in the process. Through the years, he has been a part of nearly every incarnation of the Titans, and nearly always as the team leader. When he was not on speaking terms with Batman, he spent of all his time with the Titans, and he has seen more than his share of change in their ranks. It was with the Titans that he first took on his new codename, Nightwing. He met his first true love, the alien princess Starfire, while a Titan. Through the team, Dick found a sense of belonging and family that had been missing from his life. Each time the Titans have needed to reform or regroup, Dick has been there, if not as a leader then as a guiding voice. His legacy is still with the team today, when once again he is no longer a Titan. The current Robin, his young ally Tim Drake, is a member of the current Teen Titans, and Dick is the Robin of the animated Titans team. In the end, there is no voice better than that of Dick Grayson to utter the team motto, “Titans Together!”
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So there you have the Top 10 Teen Titans, those members who have left the greatest mark on their readers, but this is just the beginning of our Titans anniversary celebration. Stay tuned throughout the month of June for more Titanic fun, and stick around as we pay tribute to another DC icon with a noteworthy number of years behind him...
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Gar Logan, Wally West, Joseph Wilson: Jon Hancock
Raven, Donna Troy: Juan de Joya
Tara Markov: Raul Grau
Dick Grayson: Matt Lazorwitz
Koriand'r: Dylan McKay
Roy Harper: Marcina Riley
Victor Stone: Drew Shirley
Contributors: Martin Dudek, James Groves, Al Harahap, Seth Kim, Jordan T. Maxwell, Greg Reeves
Image Assistance: Nick Costanzo, John Q.T. Nguyen
The opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the writers involved, and are not reflective of Comixfan or its other staff in general.
Editor: Raul Grau
Adult heroes work together on a regular basis, but it was not until 1964 that the teen sidekicks of the DC Universe tried their hand at a team-up, foiling The Thousand-and-One Dooms of Mr. Twister in The Brave & The Bold #54. A year later, in The Brave & The Bold #60, the young heroes returned to stop The Astounding Separated Man, but along with powers and punches, they were packing a team name. Thus, the Teen Titans were born.
In the forty years since their first appearance, the Teen Titans have grown from four junior heroes into a full-fledged franchise, with an animated series, toy line, and a nearly unbroken string of titles. From the original Teen Titans to the Wolfman/Perez New Teen Titans, from the time-tossed Team Titans to the Dan Jurgens Teen Titans, from the back-to-basics Titans to the current Teen Titans, over fifty heroes (and three Robins) have called the Titans their home.
To honor their fortieth anniversary, the staff of Comixfan came together to determine which of the many Titans members were truly deserving of Top status. Here we present the ten Titans who served their team proudly (some more than others), and earned their place amongst the very best in Teen Titans history.
<center><hr width=75%></center>
<img src="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/columns/top10titans/10.JPG" align=left hspace=10 alt="Joseph Wilson (Jericho)"></a>#10 Joseph Wilson (Jericho)
First Appearance: Tales of the Teen Titans #42
Created by: Marv Wolfman and George Perez
Joined Titans: Tales of the Teen Titans #44
Born to a mercenary immortal assassin and a psychotic future international terrorist, Joe Wilson's life wasn't the easiest. Made mute at the age of 5 thanks to his father's ill judgment, Joe was raised to be as different as possible from his dad, Deathstroke, becoming a thoroughly nice chap who just happened to be able to possess people. Joe's time as a Titan started out rough. As the first new member following Terra's betrayal AND the son of the Titans' deadliest enemy, Joe won the team over with his selflessness and caring attitude. Ultimately, it was this caring attitude that proved to be Jericho's downfall. By caring too much about Raven, he opened himself to machinations from outside mystical forces which led to Jericho betraying the Titans, capturing and nearly killing a number of them, only to be permanently stopped by his father. Joe's tragedy continued when his dormant consciousness returned, trying to do the right thing by stopping the Titans from hurting themselves. Joe is special and deserving of a place as a truly great Titan, as his enforced silence did not prevent him becoming one of the most compelling and emotive characters in comics, let alone Titans.
<center><hr width=75%></center>
<img src="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/columns/top10titans/9.JPG" align=left hspace=10 alt="Tara Markov (Terra)">#9 Tara Markov (Terra)
First Appearance: New Teen Titans #26
Created by: Marv Wolfman and George Perez
Joined Titans: New Teen Titans #30
Terra was, by all appearances, a sweet teenage girl. Granted, when we first met Tara Markov, she was quite occupied trying to destroy the Statue of Liberty, but she had a perfectly reasonable explanation for her flirtation with villainy. She was soon inducted into the Teen Titan family, where she fought bravely alongside her fellow heroes. However, unbeknownst to both her teammates and her readers, Tara was, at her heart, heartless. She was an unrepentant spy, gathering information to use against the Titans, and turned the team over to their enemies without a hint of remorse. For her, there was no eleventh hour path to goodness. Her initial redemption was a farce, and it was only when she believed that her co-conspirator, Deathstroke, had turned against her that she struck out at him, inadvertently killing herself in a wave of rage and madness. Many heroes have turned traitor, but Terra was never a hero... she was evil, and she died a villain. Still, her legacy has led to heroism, with a second Terra every bit the hero the first never was, and an animated equivalent who found the strength to turn against darkness when it mattered most. Terra was a sociopath, and for that alone she will never be forgotten.
<center><hr width=75%></center>
<img src="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/headshots/dc/beastboy.jpg" align=left hspace=10 alt="Gar Logan (Beast Boy, Changeling)">#8 Gar Logan (Beast Boy, Changeling)
First Appearance: Doom Patrol #99
Created by: Arnold Drake and Bruno Premiani
Joined Titans: DC Comics Presents #26
Gar Logan is that element that is needed in every super team-- the joker who really isn’t that funny. Gar’s endearing humour and playfulness are apparent in almost everything he does. He’s also really, really randy. Permanently. His life has been framed by trauma and adversity, but Gar handles it with relentless good humour. His parents died, his adopted parents died (until John Byrne worked his 'magic'), he joined a team where everyone got laid except him, his first girlfriend betrayed the team, and he was infected by a Trigon seed which transformed him into a nightmarish creature. Then he became a failed Hollywood actor, had to stop his best friend from eating the moon, was cured of his powers and infected an entire city's youngsters... yet he still continues as the most warm-hearted and understanding Titan. While Dick, Donna and others have deeper emotions, Gar adheres himself to every team member, making everyone feel better by being an eejit himself. Skilled in using his powers of animal shapeshifting, Gar is trusted by his teammates in battle, just not in Titans Tower.
<center><hr width=75%></center>
<img src="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/columns/top10titans/7.JPG" align=left hspace=10 alt="Victor Stone (Cyborg)">#7 Victor Stone (Cyborg)
First Appearance: DC Comics Presents #26
Created by: Marv Wolfman and George Perez
Joined Titans: DC Comics Presents #26
After an accident at S.T.A.R. labs, star athlete Vic Stone found himself stripped of his human body and held together by innumerable cybernetic enhancements. After spending time on the outskirts of society as a self-branded freak, Vic was recruited to join the new Teen Titans. With their help, he confronted his demons head on and turned from self-loathing miscreant into full-fledged hero. Vic has experienced many ups and downs over his career, but perhaps the most significant event was the loss of his humanity in an effort to save the dying Technis race. Assimilated into their consciousness, he became known as Cyberion and subsequently found himself coming into conflict with his former teammates, who united to stop his attempts to convert the moon into a new home for the Technis. In the end, his former friends salvaged his humanity, and he was asked to join the re-formed Titans. After the crisis that led to the dismantling of the Titans and Young Justice, it was Vic who realized that the new generation of teen heroes needed the same thing which he had needed in his youth- a place where they would be understood. And so, against the wishes of his former teammates, Cyborg formed a new Teen Titans team. As the head of this new team, Vic has proven himself to be a strong and capable leader, wise beyond his years. A far cry from his troubled youth, Cyborg has matured and grown into the mentor of a new generation of super heroes.
<center><hr width=75%></center>
<img src="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/headshots/dc/starfire3.jpg" align=left hspace=10 alt="Koriand'r (Starfire)">#6 Koriand'r (Starfire)
First Appearance: DC Comics Presents #26
Created by: Marv Wolfman and George Perez
Joined Titans: DC Comics Presents #26
If there is one word to describe Starfire, it would be passion. Whether she is falling head over heels for any man she is involved with, or fighting on pure impulse, the Titan's stranger in a strange land relies on a fiery passion which burns bright. She began as an alien on Earth experiencing culture shock, with a perspective on the world and superheroism unique to her. On her home world of Tamaran the culture is one where emotions are embraced, not concealed, where Tamaranians say what they mean and mean what they say, even if it is not what people want to hear. Contrasted with Earth society where lies and deception are commonplace, and emotions are shunned as illogical. It is this conflict that makes Starfire a memorable character and an important Titan. As a Titan, Koriand'r (No, I don't know why she was named after an herb) gained a home and a family of friends that allowed her to adapt. Her lack of understanding made her an entirely different kind of disruptive team member. She wasn't an anti-hero or someone who didn't really fit in, she just didn't understand the way Earth's heroes operate. This created opportunities for the Titans to explore what it means to be a hero, because Starfire would ask the obvious questions that, for some reason, everyone else intrinsically knows the answer to, like “Why wouldn't you kill a killer?” In time she has become more comfortable on Earth, and, sadly, in the process lost some of what makes her special. But still she remains one of the most passionate and emotional superheroes, and a very unique point of view character.
<center><hr width=75%></center>
<img src="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/headshots/dc/arsenal3.jpg" align=left hspace=10 alt="Roy Harper (Arsenal, Speedy)">#5 Roy Harper (Arsenal, Speedy)
First Appearance: More Fun Comics #73
Created by: Mort Weisinger and George Papp
Joined Titans: Teen Titans #19
Stubborn, pigheaded, and womanizing are just a few of the words that could be used to describe Roy. He started his superhero career as Speedy, though he was little more than sidekick in a cloned 'bow and arrow' version of the dynamic duo. These days it would be hard to compare the once Boy Wonder to the bad boy archer in red. Granted, they've both seen their share of pain and drama, but Roy's life has always been exceptionally colorful. He seems to bounce from one tragic situation to the next. Of course, none were more compelling than his drug addiction. His fall from grace was nothing short of a fantastic storyline, and truly, only Roy could have bore it. Fortunately for him, there was redemption, and his character emerged stronger because of it. Grown-up Roy may have adopted a new codename, Arsenal, and a new image, but he still has flaws. He makes no attempt to hide those, but he is, at the same time, a caring, loyal, and devoted father. That may not completely balance out, but I don't think that Roy minds one bit. Actually, Roy doesn't mind much, so long as friends are involved. He'll do anything for his friends, and that certainly includes the Titans. He has always had a strong association with the Titans even when he was not calling the Tower his home, and though he's jumped from one line-up to the next, he is one of the founders of the Teen Titans legacy.
<center><hr width=75%></center>
<img src="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/columns/top10titans/4.JPG" align=left hspace=10 alt="Donna Troy (Wonder Girl, Darkstar, Troia)">#4 Donna Troy (Wonder Girl, Darkstar, Troia)
First Appearance: Brave and the Bold #60
Created by: Robert Kanigher, Bob Haney, Nick Cardy, and Marv Wolfman
Joined Titans: Brave and the Bold #60
Donna Troy was born out of an editorial mistake, when, for the sheer heck of it, she was made to join the Teen Titans as Wonder Girl. Not that there was anything wrong with that, mind you – except for the fact that Wonder Girl wasn’t supposed to exist concurrently with Wonder Woman, what with her being Wonder Woman as a kid and all. Thus so began Donna’s quest to find a true (or at least, plausibly cohesive) origin, a quest which almost always ended in failure, retroactively speaking. In that time she became the very heart of the Teen Titans, serving not only as a guiding force of the team, but also as the den mother for new recruits and old friends alike. She served in this capacity up until the very moment when she died, protecting those she loved from a rampaging Superman android. Even still, her origin remains a mystery – is she a mirror duplicate of a young Wonder Woman or the progeny of the exiled Titans of Myth? From the spires of otherworldly New Chronus to her earthbound marriage to Terry Long (a marriage that brought every single Titan at the time for a grand reunion), the life and times of Donna Troy have been an interesting (if somewhat convoluted) ride, one that, by DC’s indications, is far from over.
<center><hr width=75%></center>
<img src="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/headshots/dc/flash3.jpg" align=left hspace=10 alt="Wally West (Kid Flash, Flash)"></a>#3 Wally West (Kid Flash, Flash)
First Appearance: Flash #110
Created by: John Broome and Carmine Infantino
Joined Titans: Brave and the Bold #60
Wally West. Possibly the greatest comic book character ever, in my narrow opinion anyway. But what makes him one of the greatest Titans? Wally's progression from Kid Flash to Flash is one of the most interesting bouts of character development in comic history. Wally is the only DC hero to ever graduate and take the mantle of his mentor permanently. This maturing from youthful sidekick to troubled teen through to fledging hero and later flawed boyfriend has all been shadowed by his career as a Titan. Whereas Dick seemed permanently dark and Donna permanently mature, Wally was a teen. He grew despondent, moody, and temperamental. The Titans added a crucial dimension to Wally's character- developing him, supporting him, and helping him become the most grown up of DC's characters. The Flash isn't naive like Superman can be or a bag of neurosis like Batman. He's a hero who was a kid, then a teen, and finally a titan. As the team evolved so did Wally, and while he was not the team's most staunch member, he certainly reflected the team's changing role.
<center><hr width=75%></center>
<img src="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/headshots/dc/raven5.jpg" align=left hspace=10 alt="Raven">#2 Raven
First Appearance: DC Comics Presents #26
Created by: Marv Wolfman and George Perez
Joined Titans: DC Comics Presents #26
If evil had a name, it would be Raven. Undoubtedly one of the most pivotal Titans, no one character has contributed more to the team’s history than the daughter of the literal devil herself. She was the catalyst and motivator for the formation of the then New and now definitive Teen Titans, bringing together all of the heroes who we now associate with the name (and, most notably, the TV series). She has also proven several times to be their downfall, becoming the direct instigator of the end of the world, the end of the beloved Nightwing/ Starfire romance, and the end of her own life. At the same time, her actions have led to other key events, such as the calamitous Titans Hunt, the damning of Jericho, and the destruction of Tamaran. Even now, after being reborn as a teenager all over again, she has become the obsession of the diabolically new Brother Blood, whose purpose is to make her his bride. But in spite of everything she has done or has consequently led to, who is Raven? Herald of the demonic entity known as Trigon and harbinger of annihilation, or a friend who, at any given moment, could involuntary become your worst enemy? Behind the veil of the Titans’ most mysterious member lies a shy and reserved young lady whose body and soul betray her to a destiny she never wanted to have, a destiny that she is willing to give everything to fight against. Raven remains one of the most interesting characters in the team’s canon, proving that even ultimate evil can have a soul, or at least, a soul-self.
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<img src="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/headshots/dc/nightwing2.jpg" align=left hspace=10 alt="Dick Grayson (Nightwing, Robin)">#1 Dick Grayson (Nightwing, Robin)
First Appearance: Detective Comics #38
Created by: Bob Kane and Bill Finger
Joined Titans: Brave and the Bold #60
He has been there from the beginning. When the Titans first banded together, their leader was Batman’s junior partner, Robin. Dick Grayson, the first Robin, teamed with the other sidekicks and teen heroes, and founded an enduring legacy in the process. Through the years, he has been a part of nearly every incarnation of the Titans, and nearly always as the team leader. When he was not on speaking terms with Batman, he spent of all his time with the Titans, and he has seen more than his share of change in their ranks. It was with the Titans that he first took on his new codename, Nightwing. He met his first true love, the alien princess Starfire, while a Titan. Through the team, Dick found a sense of belonging and family that had been missing from his life. Each time the Titans have needed to reform or regroup, Dick has been there, if not as a leader then as a guiding voice. His legacy is still with the team today, when once again he is no longer a Titan. The current Robin, his young ally Tim Drake, is a member of the current Teen Titans, and Dick is the Robin of the animated Titans team. In the end, there is no voice better than that of Dick Grayson to utter the team motto, “Titans Together!”
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So there you have the Top 10 Teen Titans, those members who have left the greatest mark on their readers, but this is just the beginning of our Titans anniversary celebration. Stay tuned throughout the month of June for more Titanic fun, and stick around as we pay tribute to another DC icon with a noteworthy number of years behind him...
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Gar Logan, Wally West, Joseph Wilson: Jon Hancock
Raven, Donna Troy: Juan de Joya
Tara Markov: Raul Grau
Dick Grayson: Matt Lazorwitz
Koriand'r: Dylan McKay
Roy Harper: Marcina Riley
Victor Stone: Drew Shirley
Contributors: Martin Dudek, James Groves, Al Harahap, Seth Kim, Jordan T. Maxwell, Greg Reeves
Image Assistance: Nick Costanzo, John Q.T. Nguyen
The opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the writers involved, and are not reflective of Comixfan or its other staff in general.