Warning! Spoilers for Nightwing #79
When the New Teen Titans appeared in Nightwing #79, they reminded fans of the team’s iconic iteration. As depicted by artist Bruno Redondo, the 1980s’ version of the Teen Titans deserves a reboot.
Published in the early 80s, New Teen Titans from writer Marv Wolfman and artist George Pérez reinvented the former sidekicks. Robin, Raven, Starfire, Cyborg, Beast Boy, Wonder Girl, Kid Flash, and Speedy practically became DC’s X-Men. The teenage heroes encountered Deathstroke the terminator, while stories also incorporated the drama characteristic of their ages. The Teen Titans were at their height of quality comic book storytelling. Since then, the team has been reimagined several times, with costumes and personalities meant to be relevant to new audiences. Although the New Teen Titans might look dated in their designs, their charm is on full display in Nightwing #79, written by Tom Taylor with art by Bruno Redondo.
As Dick Grayson recalls his past, he remembers his origin story with his parents, the Flying Graysons, and when he was on the New Teen Titans. Even though he is wearing his “disco” costume which often gets mocked among fans, Nightwing makes the retro look work. Redondo’s art adds a new flair to the group’s old costume designs, making them seem timeless despite their known place in the DC Universe’s history. While creators have recreated the Teen Titans many times since the 80s, the past iteration deserves a revival. Movies, TV, and comics alike have homaged the era in pop culture, making a return to the New Teen Titans feel like a natural creative decision.
Most of the New Teen Titans roster also showed up in Nightwing #88, wearing the costumes more often recognized in modern canon. In contrast, their suits from the 80s incorporate their personalties, not compromising their individual characters for how they look. Nightwing’s disco suit or his former Robin costume without pants legs might not be what readers think looks cool. However, both designs retain an aesthetic that invokes that time in comic book history.
Redondo’s depiction of the team in Nightwing #79 makes it easy to envision a potential revival. When DC announced Infinite Frontier, the publisher promised to incorporate more of characters’ past incarnations, homaging fan favorite elements that hadn’t been seen in comics in a long time. If DC Comics continues in this direction, a revived New Teen Titans would be a sensible next step.
