Bob Haney's last Teen Titans story ...

[dan bailey]

I mentioned this a few minutes ago in the Showcase Presents thread, but I think it deserves a separate & distinct mention of its own --

TEEN TITANS: THE LOST ANNUAL
Written by Bob Haney
Art by Jay Stephens & Mike Allred
Cover by Nick Cardy
Don't miss the TEEN TITANS LOST ANNUAL, featuring the original Teen Titans: Robin, Kid Flash, Wonder Girl, Speedy and Aqualad! Classic Teen Titans writer Bob Haney sends the Titans into space to rescue President John F. Kennedy in this story illustrated by Jay Stephens (The Land of Nod) & Mike Allred (Madman, X-Statix)! Meet new alien races, witness a startling betrayal, and more! It's a secret space adventure that couldn't be told…'til now!
On sale January 9 o 64 pg, FC, $4.99 US

From what I've read, this one has been ready to go -- inked, colored, lettered, the whole 9 yards -- for something like 3 years, but Dan Didio &/or other DC powers that be were too busy twiddling their thumbs to actually publish it. In the meantime, of course, Bob Haney died. *sigh*

Still, this should be awfully fun. I don't know Jay Stephens from a hole in the ground, but Mike Allred -- one of my favorite artists of today, with a strong Silver Age sensibility -- is one of those inkers who (like my beloved John Severin) pretty much takes over any pencils he embellishes, anyway. I loved the TT strip he did in his ish of Solo a couple of years ago.

[Kan-Man]

With a cover by Nick Cardy to boot!

Lots of Classic creators in DC's January solicitations - Jim Shooter on Legion, a Mike Grell alternate cover, the return of Roger Stern & John Byrne together and of course the ongoing Bat Lash mini with Aragones, Severin and Simonson.

[Slam_Bradley]

Not to mention Aragones, Evanier and Ploog taking over The Spirit.

[dan bailey]

Not to mention Aragones, Evanier and Ploog taking over The Spirit.

Hadn't realized that was the team succeeding Cooke. So much for being able to trim it off my pull-list ...

[Jamie]

With a cover by Nick Cardy to boot!

Lots of Classic creators in DC's January solicitations - Jim Shooter on Legion, a Mike Grell alternate cover, the return of Roger Stern & John Byrne together and of course the ongoing Bat Lash mini with Aragones, Severin and Simonson.

Also, some existing series and minis are continuing on: Starlin's Death of the New Gods, Ostrander's Suicide Squad: Raise the Flag, and Steve Gerber co-writing Countdown to Adventure.

Throw in reprint work by Jack Kirby, Gardner Fox, Alan Moore, Bob Kanigher.... Quite the month.

[benday-dot]

and of course the ongoing Bat Lash mini with Aragones, Severin and Simonson.

I was a few days ago checking out a 6 pg preview DC has of this series on their website. I have to say Severin looks like he hasn't faltered a bit... Looks amazing!

[Aaron Kashtan]

I was a few days ago checking out a 6 pg preview DC has of this series on their website. I have to say Severin looks like he hasn't faltered a bit... Looks amazing!

Here's the link to the preview, which does indeed look amazing:

http://www.dccomics.com/media/excerpts/8494_x.pdf

[Aaron King]

Sign me up for The Spirit and Teen Titans and Bat Lash.

[Aaron Kashtan]

So did anybody read Teen Titans Lost Annual #1?

I really liked this issue and would recommend it to any fans of the late Mr. Haney. It's bizarre, funny, and beautifully drawn. The story is not especially plausible, but then it's presumably not supposed to be.

And even if you have no interest in the story, the issue also comes with a pinup gallery featuring sketches by Nick Cardy.

[Bricolo]

Think you for bumping this thread, I did not know and this is something I need and will try to find a way to get.

[shaxper]

I'm disappointed the issue does not contain an introduction or afterwards explaining where the project came from. What brought Haney and Cardy back together to tell another classic Titans story after all these years?

[benday-dot]

So did anybody read Teen Titans Lost Annual #1?

I really liked this issue and would recommend it to any fans of the late Mr. Haney. It's bizarre, funny, and beautifully drawn. The story is not especially plausible, but then it's presumably not supposed to be.

And even if you have no interest in the story, the issue also comes with a pinup gallery featuring sketches by Nick Cardy.

I just finished it about 5 minutes ago Sir Tim. I thought it was fantastic, some of the most fun I've had reading a recent comic book purchase since, well, the last Bob Haney book I read... Brave and the Bold #92, which I'd only finished a couple days ago.

Its taking a lot to keep from spilling the beans on this deliciously preposterous scenario. I think I can see why DC held off on this one, but the story really does invoke all the glory of a near vanished aesthetic from the American comic book. I mean this in terms of the most generous expression of storytelling our medium holds. The whole blends perfectly in a teriifically imaginative exuberance.

Dan Baily will be pleased that Allred's inks shine through quite well indeed. But it is Haney's unreservedly sincere and and uncomprimisingly whimsical (and wacky!) tale that is the true marvel to behold.

[Cei-U!]

It's interesting that Haney has the Titans rescuing JFK when the team didn't debut until six months after Dallas (Brave and Bold #54 hit the stands April 30, 1964).

Cei-U!
I summon the time warp!

[dan bailey]

Quite enjoyable, but certain elements were so out there -- even for Haney, & even for the Titans -- that I don't think I would've blinked if the story had turned up in the Bizarro Comics TPB that arrived in the mail yesterday courtesy of an Abebooks seller. I mean, Wonder Girl's actions were so out of character as to border on the surreal ...

But heck, I guess that's Bob Haney for you.

Great art, though.

[shaxper]

Quite enjoyable, but certain elements were so out there -- even for Haney, & even for the Titans -- that I don't think I would've blinked if the story had turned up in the Bizarro Comics TPB that arrived in the mail yesterday courtesy of an Abebooks seller. I mean, Wonder Girl's actions were so out of character as to border on the surreal ...

But heck, I guess that's Bob Haney for you.

Great art, though.

Well Haney always made her a bit too distracted with boy craziness, but yes, this was miles beyond that. On the one hand, I'd imagine that there were a lot more restrictions on how far Haney could take such a thing back then (making out with someone on panel would be a no no). On the other hand, I think Haney was having a lot of fun taking everything about his original work on the Titans to a new level of zaniness. Having recently read the entire original run only a few months ago, I can tell you that everything about this story felt VERY different.

Essentially, when you stop to think about it, this wasn't even a Titans story. Speedy, Kid Flash and Aqualad have almost no presence in the story at all. It's mostly a generic, under-characterized Robin and an over-the-top Wonder Girl. If I didn't know better, I never would have suspected this was Haney writing. These weren't his Titans.