Polite Dissent

This is the first of two recently acquired New Teen Titans drug awareness public service comics drom the 1980s. This particular comic starts out with a letter from then-First Lady Nancy Reagan telling kids to fight the battle against drug abuse. There is a strong martial theme running through the letter as if she expects the Draft to start any moment. No mention of astrology, though.

After a start like that, things can only get better, right? Think again…

The Teen Titans, teamed up with generic teen hero “The Protector,” stop a group of drug dealers at an amusement park (and destroy most of the park in the process). Then the Feds show up and take over.

Feds: Titans, Protector,thanks. We’ll take over now.
Protector: It’s the Federal Task Force!

Now when I say the Teen Titans, I’m referring to the classic Wolfman and Perez New Teen Titans from the early ’80s. Well, most of them, anyway. Robin is conspicuously absent. Everyone’s favorite ex-druggie super hero, Speedy, is also conveniently missing.

The Protector asks Wally West (a.k.a. Kid Flash) to keep an eye on his cousin Ted who just moved to Wally’s home town of Blue Valley, Nebraska. It seems that Ted once had a bad drug habit and the Protector is concerned he might fall prey to temptation again.

Everything is going great for Ted at first. He meets a nice girl and is doing well in school. Then Coral, a conniving cast off from Jem and the Holograms, talks him into trying drugs again. After that, it’s too late — he’s hooked! Ted starts doing harder and harder drugs. He breaks up with his girlfriend and begins skipping school.

Ted quickly runs out of money and the dealer won’t give him any more drugs. He and his buddy end up snorting some spilled cocaine off of a bathroom floor. When that doesn’t prove effective, the two of them attempt to rob a local convenience store. Unfortunately, they picked the wrong store and the shopkeeper pulls out a gun and wings Ted’s friend. Ted runs away and is found sobbing on the ground by his ex-girlfriend Amy, who takes him to the hospital to get help.

Meanwhile, the Titans (and the Protector) bust the dealer and the local drug ring. They all visit Ted and his friend in the hospital who both promise never to do drugs again.

The book ends with several pages of activities for readers regarding peer pressure, communication skills, and taking responsibility. This last part is actually very clever and well done.

The story is by Marv Wolfman, who created the New Teen Titans. Sadly, none of his normally keen storytelling skills or inventiveness are evident in this heavy handed story. There is page after page of by-the-book recitation of “drugs are bad for you” facts. In terms of the art, Ross Andru draws the action scenes well, but his talking heads approach to the didactic parts makes the dull sections even duller.

This comic was brought to you by DC Comics, the President’s Drug Awareness Campaign, and NSDA (the National Soft Drink Association).