Tales of the Teen Titans #42 (1984)

Tales of the Teen Titans #42 (May, 1984)

"The Judas Contract, Book One: The Eyes of Tara Markov!"

Writer/Co-Creator - Marv Wolfman

Artist/Co-Creator - George Perez
Inker - Dick Giordano
Letterer - John Costanza
Colorist- Adrienne Roy
Editors - Marv & George

Welcome to the endgame of The Life and Times of Terra Markov.

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We open with Starfire posing in a... creative bathing suit for a Donna Troy photo shoot.  As they call it a wrap, we see that fellow Titans, Dick Grayson, Gar Logan... and a very inquisitive Tara Markov are all present.  In their civilian guises... at Donna's studio.  This is just the first step in our (and Terra's) Titans Tour... hope you bought your ticket!

Next stop, the penthouse apartment of Donna Troy and Koriand'r.  Terra can't help but ask how Donna can afford to live in such opulence.  Donna comes clean about her Amazonian benefactor.  Tara also gets to meet... Terry Long.  It is decided (over cocoa and sandwiches) that the upcoming Long-Troy wedding will take place at Steve "Mento" Dayton's Estate.

Donna continues wedding-planning, and the subject of bridesmaids comes up.  Donna asks Tara if she would be in her wedding party.  Terra... doesn't seem touched, so much as surprised.  Gotta wonder if this might throw an unexpected kink in Deathstroke's plan.  We wrap up planning the nuptials with Dick accepting the responsibility of "giving Donna away".

After the cocoa party, Dick, Gar and Tara head out... with the latter two walking the former to his apartment.  I really like this scene... it's hard to explain, but Terra is no longer a novelty at this point.  She's just a member of the team.  She no longer stands out on the panel... she's literally and figuratively hiding in plain sight.  It just feels right... and it's a reminder (to me) of how gutsy this whole storyline is.  From what Wolfman and Perez have said... they planned this entire thing from soup to nuts, just so they wouldn't accidentally "fall in love" with the character, and change their minds at the last minute.  I can certainly see that here... it must have been pretty difficult.

Tara and Gar continue their winter stroll through the park.  Of note, Tara now has her arm wrapped around Gar's.  It's cute... and, speaking with the benefit of hindsight, painfully sad.  They come across Cyborg as he attempts to ice skate with his young friends from the special school (and Sarah).  We learn here that Vic ain't too hot on skates, and he falls flat on his metallic backside.

From there, Tara and Gar accompany Vic to his cruddy apartment.  Terra makes some snotty comments about the neighborhood and Vic's ability to read, yet he invites her up for cocoa anyway.  Upstairs, Vic gets a telegram from his grandparents who promise (or threaten, if you're Vic) to come out for a visit in one-month's time.

Last stop... Titan's Tower.  Now, this is a short (one page)... but very important scene.  While they wait for the barge to arrive... Gar and Tara finally share a kiss.  I'll go deeper into this during the rumination below, but this is among the most tragic scenes I can recall in comics.  This kiss means everything... and nothing at the same time.  There's really a lot that can be said about it... just look at the juxtaposition between the third and fourth panels on the bottom of the page.  In one, Terra's smiling... and Perez, being the master of faces that he is... makes her look, perhaps for the first time (in the Titan's presence) happy.  Now, let's look at the next panel... *click*... just a moment later, she still takes a photo to send to Deathstroke.  Heartbreaking.

Inside the Tower, Terra has a run-in with the one Titan who might just be on to her... Raven.  Lucky for her, Raven is currently being tortured by empathic overload... and can't say for certain that the "evil" is emanating from Terra herself.  Terra listens for a bit, before promising that Slade can have the rest of the Titans... but she wants Raven for herself.

The next day is "Training Day" for the Teen Titans, and we start with Cyborg.  He's nearly being crushed by several tons of steel... he struggles to hold it aloft.  When it appears he can't take anymore... he asks for... and then demands more!  When he overcomes the trial, he makes his ambitions clear.  He wants to push himself in his relatively new robotic form, the same way he had while he was a young athlete.

Next up, Wonder Girl and Starfire have themselves an American Gladiators style duel using sticks while floating on a raft in the pool.  I probably used about seven words too many in my description... I apologize.  The story here is, Donna has never beaten Kory during a sparring match.  This one proves no different.  Terra watches the two go at it... and calculates just how she'll take them out when the time comes.

Last, but not least... it's Terra and Gar's turn to spar.  Given their power types, it's decided that they practice out in the snow.  Now, here's another really cool scene.  I guess I've never given Gar his due... because he really handles himself well here.  Terra's powers are practically useless in this battle, as Changeling keeps changing shape to suit the attack.

Unfortunately, Gar being Gar... he takes his trash-talking a bit too far.  We find that Terra doesn't really have that great'a sense of humor when it comes to her super powers... and so, she loses it!  Raven is watching from her room... and now has a better indication of where the "evil" she was sensing is coming from.

The Titans do their best to defuse the situation, and Terra... thinking on her feet, blames the entire episode on her Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder from having been held captive by terrorists.  The Titans are cautious... but appear to shake it off... all save one.  Raven knows something's going on.

We shift to Deathstroke's chateau, where he calls Terra out for her foolish outburst.  Tara's like "Pshhh... Slade, you worry too much!" and they (with Wintergreen) all board a helicopter, ready to complete what may be their final contract.

Our view changes... to that of a video screen.  Somebody is watching Deathstroke and Company... but who?  A woman laughs that Slade must be getting sloppy to not realize he's being observed.  There's a curly blonde head peeking out from the chair next to her... hmm...

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As I've mentioned a few times on our trek down the Terra-trail... I've read this run of Titans a bunch... a whole bunch.  And yet, even today... after reading it again, I still hold out hope that it'll somehow surprise me, and have a happy ending.  This was the first time we get to see Terra and the Titans all civvied out.  What's amazing is... it feels right.  Like, really right.

The Tara and Gar "relationship" is special.  It's got that odd, uncanny ability to bring me back to my youth... there's that innocent romance that I feel many of us experienced in our youths... those days that just, I dunno... you lived for that one moment.  That one... maybe it was a minute... hell, maybe it was a handful of seconds.  Yet your whole life revolved around it.  You get that feeling from Gar... he's treasuring these moments with his (maybe more than a) friend.

The Titans tour we accompany Terra on is both engaging and horrifying, given the circumstances.  In just this one day, she was able to transmit the Titans home addresses to the Terminator.  None of this feels forced, or inorganic in any way... it all makes sense, which is part of what makes this entire endeavor so incredible.

Now... the kiss on the dock.  Ya know, with the cruel benefit of hindsight... this scene really makes my heart break for ol' Logan.  The entire day up to this point, he'd been engaging in some... uncharacteristic, honest self-depreciation.  Now, here he is... getting a full on (romantic?) kiss from the girl he's been crushing on for months at this point.  

Let's discuss what surrounds that kiss for just a moment.  Was this an instance of Terra "playing a character"?  Was this her just keeping up appearances to keep her teammates off the scent... or was it something more?  Did she just give in to her emotions here?  Was it the sunset... or did she really (unwittingly) find herself enjoying the day she spent with her teammate... her, friend?  I'm probably putting way more thought into this than is warranted... and I'm not even sure I'm getting my thoughts across.  This all leads to my favorite single-issue of a comic book ever... so, it's one of those more important bits to me.

I'll wrap up by posing the same question I've been asking for the past few entries... Has Terra crossed the point of no return?  Has she gone from person doing something bad to bad person?  She's certainly doing her part for the Terminator's contract... but, I still gotta say, no.  I personally don't feel she's irredeemable... yet.  Conflicted, yes... perhaps a bit unstable, sure... unaware of the ramifications of her actions?  Maybe?  Or, then again... maybe not.

I figure this is good a time as any to mention that this story is getting the DC animated feature treatment... I guess it was announced at Comicon, however, since I don't follow the news... I just found out about it this morning via a Facebook message!  Not sure quite how I feel about it... suppose it really doesn't matter.  I'm just not sure how they'll be able to ingrain Terra into the Titans and have her turn traitor in the same film, and have it mean anything.  Eh, that's for other people to worry about... we'll continue with the comics tomorrow!

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Letters Page:

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New Teen Titans #39 (1984)

New Teen Titans #39 (February, 1984)

"Cross-Roads"

Writer/Co-Creator - Marv Wolfman

Artist/Co-Creator - George Perez

Colorist - Adrienne Roy

Letterer - Ben Oda

Editors - Len Wein, Marv Wolfman, & George Perez

Cover Price: $0.75

It's the last stop 'til Judas, as we continue our look at The Life and Times of Tara Markov!

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We open in Alaska, where the Teen Titans have tracked the Church of Brother Blood.  After some chilly recon work, they launch an offensive on one of their bases.

The Brother Blood geeks are fairly easy for the team to take down.  It's basically the superhero version of a wrestling "squash match".  The Titans get to do their special moves, and easily wipe the floor with their foes.  Raven senses a "truer evil" elsewhere at the compound (and, she doesn't mean Terra!) and takes off phasing through a wall.  Wally's hot on her heels, vibrating himself through the same wall.  When the Titans give chase, they find themselves walking (or running) straight into a trap... an electrified cage!

Luckily, this doesn't negate the Titans powers, and Gar is able to take the shape of an insect, and buzzes off.  This offers us an opportunity to watch Dick as a tactical leader.  He calls upon a play they used against Trigon around the time they came together as a team.  The Titans join hands, and Gar takes the form of a snake to complete the "circuit" between flesh and electrified metal... shorting out the whole works!

From there, it's academic.  The Titans beat up the Brothers, and take a moment to reflect on their victory.  Terra's there to... again press the subject of her being let in on all the Titans super secrets.  Yeesh, kid... give it a rest!  We then shift, not scenes... but view.  We close in on Terra's baby blues, and transition into a black and white camera type view.  We're seeing the Titans through her eyes... but why... and, more importantly... how?

Well, now we shift scenes... to Casa Deathstroke, where we learn that Terra has been wearing contact lens-cameras, that have been beaming what she sees to Slade's video screen.  Terra is there, dressed rather... comfortably, and is enjoying herself a smoke.  I think a lot of us can read into what's gone on moments before this scene... not that it takes much "reading into".

What follows is an incredibly odd scene.  Both Slade and Tara accuse one another of "going soft" on the plan.  Terra notices a photo of Slade's family prominently placed on an end table... and mocks him for it.  Slade mentions that Terra's not nearly as acidic or sarcastic as she once was... and mocks her for that.  Only one way to settle this, to the Danger Room, my X-Men!

Slade and Terra head out to the nearby tundra, and engage in a scrimmage of sorts... just to ensure both of their heads are still "in the game".  We mostly follow Deathstroke, as he really works up a sweat dodging earth at every turn... then, check this out... we get a shot at Terra, who's slowly clapping at his efforts.  She's exerting next to zero energy to take on Deathstroke the Friggin' Terminator.

Later, she returns to Titans Tower.  As she approaches, she sees an unfamiliar carrot-top riding the Titans Barge.  The redhead identifies himself as Wally West... ya know, Kid Flash.  This is the first time Terra's seeing a Titan in his civvies... which means... Deathstroke also now knows Kid Flash's secret ID.

Inside, Wally breaks the news to his teammates.  Raven feels as though she's somewhat responsible for his exit... a feeling that Wally isn't quick to correct.  He says he's going "all-in" on his college education, and for the most part... his fellow Titans are supportive.  He drops his Flash ring (don't know that that is really necessary), and tells the gang to establish the Titans Archives.  He turns to Terra, and lets her know that she's got his spot.

Next up... Robin says he's done too!  Well, not done as a Titan... just done with being Robin.  Of course, his wording is (perhaps purposely) left nebulous... and the gang thinks their fearless leader is abandoning them.

He clarifies... and there's a collective sigh of relief.  He then, begins literally stripping off his identity... right in front of his teammates, including his newest teammate, Terra.  Throughout this entire "event", Wally notices that the Titans care far more for Dick than they ever did him.  When you stop and think about it... it's actually quite sad.  Wally's a founding member, after all... and here, he's nothing more than an afterthought.

Donna is chosen as interim Titans leader, while Dick gets his head straight... and goes shopping for over-sized collars.  He turns his attention to Terra and pats her on the back for "proving herself"... he even goes so far as to give her a peck on the cheek.  What he is unaware of is that all the while, he's been starring in Slade Wilson's favorite television show!

We wrap up with Wally and Dick taking their last barge ride together.  Ashore, Fran is waiting to take Wally back to Blue Valley so they can start their young adulthood together.

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This is an issue I'd have wanted to eventually cover even I wasn't running this Terra special feature.  This is one of those iconic cover issues which just beg to be read.  New Teen Titans #39 is definitely one that would have stood out on the racks!

It's strange, the more I revisit these issues, the more I conclude that outside of Deathstroke, I had very little interest in Titans villains.  Over the past several issues, we've seen the Brotherhood of Evil (not the fun version), H.I.V.E., and the Brother Blood Cult.  All pretty "meh" to me.  It's a testament to the talents of the creative team that these books are still so compelling despite all of that (speaking personally, of course).

A new wrinkle in the terror of Terra is revealed in these pages... let's talk about that.  This whole time, she's been wearing contact lens cameras... beaming everything she's seen onto Deathstroke's video monitor.  Now, let's think about this from Slade's perspective.  Here, he's watching his sworn enemies... keeping in mind, this isn't a personal vendetta he has with them, it's just business... and he's watching them, take this bucktoothed child in.  Treating her well...

He's watching them throw her a sweet sixteen birthday party... not because they have to, but because they want to.  They are just good people.  What we know of Deathstroke is that he's, despite his profession, an honorable man.  I gotta wonder if he started having second thoughts throughout this process... and if not, wow... he's a lot colder than I'd given him credit for.

Now... has Terra crossed the Rubicon?  Has she stepped over that line of no return?  I don't think she has... yet.  She's clearly on the "bad guy" side at the moment, however, I feel there's definitely still time for her to redeem herself.  The fact that we see her enjoying, what is arguably (and oft theorized) post-coital cigarette while lounging at Slade's place may indicate just how broken... or confused, she is.  At this point, I would wonder... who's playing who?  And, is this just one strange game of "chicken" between Slade and Tara?  Are they each waiting for the other to blink?  The fact that I've read this skatey-eight hundred times, and still find myself conflicted speaks volumes about how incredible this bit is.

Let's wrap up by discussing our departing Titans.  Wally's stepping out, but don't worry... I have a feeling a coming Crisis may put him back in costume.  Dick dropping the Robin persona is the big deal here.  At this point, he'd been Robin (in our time) almost a half-century.  This was (and is) important.  I gotta say, I love Wally's observation during the Grayson hoopla.  He is totally upstaged by the former Boy Wonder... which draws a neat little line under his time as a Teen Titan.  At this point in his "career", he is nothing more than an outsider... he's alone, though surrounded by friends.  More excellent character work here!

Finally... Dick takes off his domino mask... in front of Terra... who is wearing cameras in her eyes... that are beamed to Deathstroke.  Slade Wilson now knows that Robin is Dick Grayson... it shouldn't take a genius to connect a few dots, and figure out who's behind the pointy-eared cape and cowl!  This would've rocked my socks had I read it "off the rack".

Well, this was our final stop on the "Road to Judas"... from here, we jump headlong into The Judas Contract!

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Letters Page:

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New Teen Titans #34 (1983)

New Teen Titans #34 (August, 1983)

"Endings... and Beginnings!"

Writer/Co-Creator - Marv Wolfman

Layouts/Co-Creator - George Perez

Finisher - Romeo Tanghal

Letterer - Todd Klein

Colorist - Adrienne Roy

Editor - Len Wein

Cover Price: $0.60

Every New Year's Day over the past several years, it would happen.  Like clockwork, I'd resolve to pick up on my writing/blogging again... going as far as actually setting up a new blog every year.  One year it would be my Justice League International Bwa-ha-blog!, the next my From Claremont to Claremont X-Men blog...

With the subject of my latest batch of reviews, it'd probably be little surprise to learn that this year, I was planning on a New Teen Titans read-thru blog.  I'm happy to finally have a place where I can write about some of these excellent stories... and happy to be able to share the next chapter in The Life and Times of Tara Markov.

Don't worry... I'm not going All-Titans, All-the-time...

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Guess we should be thankful he was wearing anything at all under the robe!

We open with the reintroduction of an old friend.  Wintergreen delivers a precious tiny drink to one Slade Wilson... Deathstroke the Terminator.  They chat about his still-pending H.I.V.E. contract on the Titans, Slade's ex-wife Adeline, and his dumping of a video game company stock... did Deathstroke forsee the video game crash of 1983?

We shift to Titans Tower, where a despondent Terra is on monitor duty.  We see her fellow Titans lurking in the hallway... before they surprise her with a sweet sixteen birthday celebration!

The sarcastic gal actually appears to be moved by the sentiment, however, quickly twists the thoughtful gesture into a way for her to complain about still being something of an outsider among the group... because she doesn't have her own chair in the meeting room, and isn't yet privy to the Titans secret-identities.  Thanks for suckin' the air outta the room, kid.

One Titan is missing from the party... the team leader, Robin!  He's somewhere out toward Montauk breaking into drug-lord Scarapelli's compound with the beanie-wearing District Attorney, Adrian Chase.  Robin expresses discomfort that he'd agreed to actually "break in"... it's easy enough for the pair to finally corner the fat man.  Dick is surprised to find out that the whole time, Chase was packin' an arrest warrant with Scarapelli's name on it.  Robin being duly deputized is able to arrest the man... and does so, but he ain't happy about it.

Back at Terra's (pity) party, she plays up her "woe is me" backstory... only to learn that Starfire had been a slave for five years, and Raven is the daughter of a demon.  Donna tells her that a troubled childhood is hardly a novelty among the Titans.

Donna excuses herself... she's gotta give Terry her answer as to whether or not she'll marry him.  Along the way, she meets a deep-in-thought Kid Flash.  He thinks he's finally made an important decision himself, and he'll likely be transitioning off the team in the near future.

We get a brief look at the Terminator as he stalks his latest target... some Wall Street bigwig.

At City Community College we witness a clearly mentally deficient co-ed throw herself at Terry Long.  Boy, is she disappointed when Ms. Troy sashays into the scene wearing the rock he gave her.  Don't look so glum, Sally... you don't know the milquetoast bullet you just dodged.

Donna and Terry take a walk through the park so they can go neck.  Nearby we see an elderly couple smiling at their public display of affection.  I'd have to believe the old fella (whose name appears to be Romeo) is only smiling because after seeing one old man pick up a young lass, he knows there's still hope for him.

Move along, Romeo... nothin' to see here... trust me...

Back at the Tower, Terra's gone into full blown tantrum mode... tears and all.  She threatens to walk if the Titans don't cough up their secret id's... and gives them a one-week ultimatum.  Damn T, dial it back a touch, eh?

Amid the tears, the phone rings.  It's Sarah-from-the-Special-School, and she'd like to talk to Vic.  Vic is all "pshhh, woman", and Gar tells her Vic would love to talk to her... but he's on the toilet.  Does/can Vic use a toilet?  Anyhoo, Sarah's fiance Mark is none too pleased to see his betrothed trying to call another man... so he gets a bit physical.  Luckily, Sarah can take care of herself just fine, and knees him in the crotch before tossing his skinny ass out of her apartment.  Guess he wasn't as nice a dude as we thought...

Back at the Tower (man, I'm saying that a lot today), Gar and Tara's conversation is interrupted by a video screen message from... Deathstroke the Terminator.  He's got a hostage, and offers a trade... his captive's life for the lives of the Titans.  Who does he think he's talking to, the Doom Patrol?  Well, I guess, technically, he is talking to a Doomie.  Anyhoo, Terra seeing this as her big opportunity to show her stuff, karate chops Gar, and heads out to stop Deathstroke all by her lonesome.

Moments later, Deathstroke is shocked to see he's being attacked by some little girl.  They have a pretty awesome battle that sees Terra use her powers with great precision, and Deathstroke parry with his wits and arsenal.  

This goes on just long enough for the Titans cavalry to hit the scene.  Through some Titanic teamwork, Slade winds up held by an earthen fist... which appears to be Terra's "go to move".  Deciding it's better to live to fight another day, Deathstroke uses his power staff to cause a potentially fatal explosion.  When the dust clears, he's nowhere to be found.

Terra, still shaken by the event, excuses herself.  She'd like to be alone for a moment.  Behind her, the Titans realize that Terra is now "officially" one of them... and they'll tell her everything she wants to know tomorrow.

We follow Terra... follow her back to the horrid little Brooklyn apartment where she was being held captive by the terrorists.  She's not alone, however... she smiles, and removes her mask.

... and we learn that she's been working with Deathstroke, the whole time.

After that sobering bit, we close out the issue with Robin and Chase having a contentious back and forth.  Robin feels used, and Chase is all "whattayagonnado?"  The issue ends with Adrian Chase's apartment exploding... a story which will be picked up in the 1983 New Teen Titans Annual... which we will not be covering.  (psst... he survived)

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Well, there it is.

This is such a great way to reveal Terra's double-agent status.  If I'm not mistaken, it'd been a couple of years since we'd last seen Deathstroke at this point... having Terra first arrive on the scene during the interim... and acting as though she doesn't know who or what this "Who'sinator" is was perfect!

What's better yet, is that Terra hasn't exactly "crossed the line" yet.  Yeah, we know she's infiltrated the team at the behest of the Titan's worst enemy... but, there isn't any blood on her hands just yet.  It's not too late for her to reform... to turn on Slade and show her true allegiance to her fellow Titans.

The fact that this is all occurring on Terra's birthday makes the situation all the more poignant.  The Titans show Terra that they care... like, for real... will that stay in the back of her head?  Will she remember that these are... her friends, when it comes time to decide whether or not to "pull the trigger"?  So much wonderful ambiguity.  I could not imagine reading this as it was released... waiting (at least) a month Terra's story to continue would have been torture!

In other news... We learn that Sarah-from-the-Special-School's fiance may not be as nice a dude as he appeared to be when Vic met him on New Year's Eve.  We also learn that Terry Long's students throw themselves at him... which, in my opinion, renders them far too stupid to be attending college.  We also learn that... hey, Adrian Chase is kind of a jerk.  Go figure!

The clock is ticking closer to midnight... just one more stop on the road to Judas... and it's a doozy!

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