Teen Titans art copyright DC Comics
"Teen Titans: Year One"
Writer: Amy Wolfram
Artists: Karl Kershl and Serge LaPointe
Robin. Wonder Girl. Speedy. Aqualad. Kid Flash. What used to be a junior version of the Justice League turned into something much more powerful, much more interesting, more fun and – something many comics lack – something with some heart.
Amy Wolfram and artists Karl Kerschl and Serge LaPointe teamed-up in 2007 to create “Teen Titans: Year One,” a look back at the formation of a sidekick supergroup. This isn’t the version from the 60s, made famous by writer Bob Haney and artist Nick Cardy. This is something different, yet familiar. By recounting and updating the Titans' origin story, the book's creative team ushered the Titans into the 21st century by keeping the traits and qualities of the characters that still resonate and jettisoning any of the more dated material.
The story is a simple one. Something is wrong with the Titans' mentors and the Titans have to figure out who's behind it. Along the way, there's romance, awkwardness, the need to fit in and finding one's place in the world - in other words, it's about being thirteen.
Most importantly, Wolfram and company have created a "gateway comic." A reader doesn't need to know the convoluted history of Wonder Girl or the DC Universe to appreciate the book. The reader only need to know what it's like to be a kid and all the baggage that carries. It's the perfect book for anyone new to comics and to anyone who's read them for a lifetime.
Examiner.com sat down with "Teen Titans: Year One" writer, Amy Wolfram, to discuss the mini-series.
Examiner.com: What drew you to the "Teen Titans: Year One" mini-series?
Amy Wolfram: It was the chance to explore the origins of how the Teen Titans were formed and see the characters step away from their mentors and come into their own.
Examiner.com: Since you've written for the "Teen Titans" animated series, how was it approaching these versions of the characters? What were the differences and similarities?
Amy Wolfram: The TV show was based on the Marv Wolfman/George Perez years and "Teen Titans: Year One" is based on the Bob Haney/Nick Cardy line-up, so all of the characters except for Robin were new to me. Robin was actually the hardest, because I already "knew him", but not as young Robin who is Batman's sidekick so I had to think of him in those terms. Also, the characters on the TV show were much more mature, whereas in the comics the characters are struggling more with their identities separate from their mentors.
Examiner.com: How was it updating their origin story from source material that's 40 years old?
Amy Wolfram: Well, I never called Donna "Wonder Chick" or said "groovy", but the story of The Antithesis and how the Teen Titans formed to save their mentors stays very true to the origin story. In the comic the origin appeared as the last issue of the series, more as a wrap-up. We had the chance to explore the characters a bit more over several issues.
Examiner.com: How do you feel it went, this being your first comic book?
Amy Wolfram: It was a great experience. Karl Kerschl is an amazing artist, and I was able to be involved every step of the way so I learned a lot.
Examiner.com: Who was your favorite character to write?
Amy Wolfram: I can't pick just one! I enjoyed writing for Aqualad, who was kind of dorky but sweet. And his interactions with Kid Flash were a lot of fun. But I also liked writing for Wonder Girl. It was nice that even though she might just have been the strongest of the bunch, she still was a girl and vulnerable and able to get her heart broken just like anyone else.
Examiner.com: What are you working on currently?
Amy Wolfram: My first "Ben 10: Alien Force" comic book story in "Cartoon Network Action Pack" Issue #38 is in stores now. In the fall, "Barbie and the Three Musketeers", a feature length DVD will be coming out. And I'm currently story editing Genndy Tartakovsky's new Cartoon Network series "Sym-bionic Titan."
Examiner.com: Thanks, Amy.
"Teen Titans: Year One" is available in trade paperback from DC Comics.
Comments