Teen Titans #1

So finally, after three pre-official comics, DC finally decided to give the Teen Titans their own run. The team’s first issue, containing the story, “The Beast-God Xochatan,” was released in January/February 1966.

The comic, which finally opens with something other than teenagers, features the Peace Corps calling in the Titans because one of their units in South America has run into trouble. The Corps has been trying to build a dam, but the locals are offering a sacrifice to their god, El Conquistadore, who will destroy everything if not appeased. But he materializes just as the Titans are dropped in and the team must figure out what’s going on so the organization can continue to build.

Despite it being the first official Teen Titans comic, it’s not very good. The story is mediocre and there’s no real reason for calling the entire thing “Beast God of Xochatan.” It only shows up at the very end and he’s not much of a threat. Also, if the Titans were so desperately needed, why did they have to go through Peace Corps training at the beginning?

The pacing is also quite awful. Everything rushes up to get to the beast god, who is dispatched very quickly for the reader to meet the landowner. It’s choppy and goes faster than it should.

On the other hand, the characterization is good, with the team working very well together, especially in bringing down the conquistador and helping each other away from the god’s incarnations. However, they brush the god off too easily at the end and assume it won’t bother the people any more now that the temple is flooded. Although, Robin did have some good deductive work when it came to the bulldozer and mountain.

As for the cover, it’s the best part of the comic. All three incarnations of the title villain are fighting the heroes and it looks great.

Teen Titans #1: “The Beast-God “Xochatan” – 2/5