Radiant Comics

I’m back from the comic shop this week and I got five new comics.

This week’s comic book cover to look at and examine is “The New Teen Titans” #13 by George Peréz and Romeo Tanghal. This comic is from my early hight school years , November 1981 and is one I picked up on the stands.

I wouldn’t say that George Peréz art is really known for its moodiness but he sets a nice scene here. The jungle doesn’t quite look dark enough to need a flashlight but the bright yellow yellow says “We need a light” just enough to make the cover work. If this cover were to be recolored today there would be a “realistic” flashlight effect in there but I don’t know that would get the message across as effectively. The mass of overgrown plant-life also helps set the jungle mood. I can remember that when I bought this comic I had no idea who Robotman (the hanging guy) was. That just added to the mystery for me.

I think Peréz was always especially good at “frozen” poses. Like the one Kid Flash is in. He’s leaning over a bit, arms not quite extended, head twisted in our direction, eyes looking away, and not standing up straight. It’s sort of a caught-in-between-gestures gesture. I like those poses. They work for me and are distinctive.

I also like the whole story this cover is telling. You’re out in the jungle. It’s dark out and you’re searching for something when you come upon some overgrown ruins. They’re mysterious and intriguing. But then you’re confronted with a warning that you can’t ignore. Good stuff right there that made me want to read this comic. That’s what a cover is supposed to do.

I don’t even mind the crazy amount of type that’s on this cover. I don’t know how much of it is necessary but it doesn’t get in the way too much. I think it was all on there to say “Jumping on point” to the early 1980s readers. The title was only a year old and had been doing a good job at getting die-hard Marvel readers, such as myself, to start buying some DC comics. I bought my first New Teen Titans issue about six months before this so I bet they were looking for even more new readers. Hence all the type.

A good scene, some drama, well drawn, and a bit of mystery. What is there not to like?