It doesn’t take much to get off your seat and run to your local comic book shop or better bookstore today.
And really, anytime George Perez and his comic book artistry is involved, you’ll be knocked off your seat anyway!
Still, I know that some northern locales, specifically Canada, have a national holiday today – so Canadians everywhere will have to wait a day with baited breath to get their hands on the new and absolutely stunning Image Comics hardcover of the George Perez’s The New Teen Titans Artist’s Edition H/C Vol. 1.
Back in the fall of 1980, writer Marv Wolfman and young artist George Perez reinvigorated the DC Comics line of superhero titles with their new, updated monthly take on The New Teen Titans. At the time, DC had fallen far behind industry leaders, Marvel Comics but the Teen Titans, under the helm of two soon-to-become comic industry legends, turned readers gaze to the old New York-based publisher of Batman and Superman, and lofted a rag-tag group of fairly obscure teenage heroes into the stratosphere!
Led by Robin (until The New Teen Titans glory only known as Batman’s long-established sidekick) alongside both niche and new characters like Kid Flash, Wonder Girl, Changeling, Cyborg, Starfire, Terra and Raven, The New Teen Titansbecame a must-read each month. Serendipitously, Wolfman and Perez didn’t give the fledgling series much chance at success, believing the title would be cancelled within a year – so they swung for the fences. And readers – young readers – took notice. Before long, The New Teen Titans become one of DC’s most popular and best-selling comic books.
The stories were grand in scope and introduced coming-of-age and sometimes dark stories about heroism, responsibility, love and betrayal. It was perfect reading material for young audiences and older comic book fans alike. The riveting “The Judas Contract” storyline won the Comic Buyer’s Guide Fan Award for “Favorite Comic Book Story” in 1984 and, while on the title, Wolfman and Perez were at the top of everyone’s creators list.
The New Teen Titans would become a hallmark for Perez’s intricate, detailed and emotional resonate artistic-style, making him the top illustrator of his time. He’d go on to legendary runs on the most important of DC Comics titles including Crisis On Infinite Earths and History of the DC Universe as well as both writer and illustrator on the revamped Wonder Woman title of the late 1980s. He’d also bridge the two solitudes and illustrate the fan-favourite JLA/Avengers co-publication series from both DC Comics and Marvel Comics in 2003-04. A testament to his popularity amongst fans.
George Perez’s The New Teen Titans Artist’s Edition H/C Vol. 1
Written by: Marv Wolfman
Illustrated by: George Perez
Published by: Image Comics
George Perez’s The New Teen Titans Artist’s Edition H/C Vol. 1 is a near 200-page celebration of Perez’s artistry and a behind-the-scenes look at his process while illustrating the comic book series. Oversized at 16.5” x 26”, the hardcover book is a true-to-life look as Perez’s skill, with scans of select covers and pages from the first forty issues of his The New Teen Titans run. It showcases his original black and white art along with ink gradients, blue pencil work and visible corrections, pulling back the curtain on his artistic process.
More than anything, it celebrates the momentous early achievements in sequential storytelling by Perez, who, sadly, passed away in 2022. His friend and co-creator, Marv Wolfman gives a moving introduction to this tome, a smile and a tip of the hat to one of the most influential and revered artists who have ever graced the pages of our favourite pop culture medium.
Marvel at the man’s artistic process and witness what becomes legendary work.
Make the run to your local comic book shop today (or tomorrow) and pick up the beautiful art book that is the George Perez’s The New Teen Titans Artist’s Edition H/C Vol. 1.
