Polite Dissent

Starting in 1970, the Teen Titans gave up their costumes and their powers. They continued adventuring, not as super-heroes, but instead as teen secret agents. A similar plot concept failed spectacularly a few years previously in Wonder Woman and it didn’t succeed any better here. Within two years, the Teen Titans was canceled. Still, the stories were not entirely without merit. Several important characters were introduced and Hawk and Dove officially joined the Teen Titans, at least for a few issues.

So what led to the Titans and Hawk and Dove giving up their costumes and powers? I’m glad you asked!

It all started on night when the Titans went to a disco in their civilian identities. While there, one of the dancers comes up to them, addressing them as the Teen Titans. This dancer is the precognitive telepath Lilith in her first appearance. She gives the Titans a cryptic warning but they blow her off.

Later the Titans attend a peace rally headlined by Nobel Peace Prize winner Dr. Arthur Swenson. Hank and Don Hall are also in the audience; Don siding with the peace protestors, Hank with the counter-protestors. A riot breaks out in the auditorium and both the Titans and the Halls run into the back alley to change into costume. They recognize each other and run back into the auditorium together. The Titans and Dove try to quell the violence, while Hawk uses it as an opportunity to assault peaceniks. One of the rioters brings out a pistol and all of the Titans, including Hawk and Dove, tackle him. In the ensuing struggle, the gun goes off — mortally wounding Dr. Swenson.

The heroes rush the Nobel laureate to the hospital, but it is too badly injured and he dies. The members of the Justice League arrive and all but accuse the Titans of murdering Dr. Swenson. The Titans walk out of the hospital, their heads hung in shame.

A short time later, they encounter Lilith again, this time with mysterious Mr. Jupiter (“That man — I recognize him — one of Bruce Wayne’s business friends – a great, selfless man!” thinks Robin). He offers the teens a chance to do heroic work, but without the use of their costumes or powers. The Titans and Hawk and Dove agree, all except Robin, who takes his leave from the group in order to attend college. The remaining heroes go off with Mr. Jupiter and turn in their costumes.

Gil Kane’s Nick Cardy’s art on this issue is excellent. He uses non-traditional panel layouts to emphasize key aspects of the story. He excels at action scenes and is skilled at varying angles and views to add emphasis and interest to the art. His superb inks add strength to the darkness of the plot.

[Update - Johhny Bacardi is right; the art is all Nick Cardy, not Gil Kane. I was using faulty information from a particular source and didn't confirm it with other sources. Sigh. Mea culpa]

The story? Well, to put it simply, the story is a mess. The “heroes inadvertently cause the death of an innocent person” is a comic book cliche, and was cliche when this story was published. It seems hard to believe that the Justice League would so savagely indict the Teen Titans for an accident they were trying to prevent when the entire League has been in similar situations themselves. The way the story is told in a variety of flashbacks adds nothing to the story except to build up an artificial mystery of “who was shot.” This story is mostly set-up, and it shows. Unfortunately for the Titans, the stories it sets up aren’t much better.

Notes:

1. Robin doesn’t take part in the auditorium brawl as he is conveniently off calling the police. Consequently, he doesn’t share the blame in Swenson’s death and doesn’t join the other Titans in their vow of giving up their costumes. Undoubtedly, this is so he can continue his adventures with Batman in that title.
2. The Titans association with Mr. Jupiter lasts until the end of the first series of the Teen Titans (issue #43). He appears as a benefactor in a later Teen Titans series as well.
3. I realize Hawk tends to be violent, but beating up innocent peace protestors just because he disagrees with them seems out of character (at this point in his career, anyway).
4. Since Hawk and Dove are supposed to change back into Hank and Don when danger is no longer present, how is it that they can stay in costume the entire time they are in the hospital?
5. Hank and Don Hall fashion watch: Both characters are nattily dressed in turtle necks and double-breasted suits at the peace rally. No bow ties — or ties at all — this time.