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Bah humbug! What could make a better Teen Titans Holiday special than a revamp of the classic story A Christmas Carol? In an “updated” version from 1967, we see the Teen Titans characters in action as they encounter a modern adaptation of the Charles Dickens story. This is clear from the start of the comic, since Teen Titans comic issue 13 (first series), features Robin pretentiously reading the story, followed by the narrator explaining that the story is being retold in current time. This is not your typical DC Comic, as we get to see our favorite Teen Titans characters Kid Flash, Aqualad, Robin, and Wonder Girl blended together in a fun Christmas tale from the 60s, which would later pave the way for adventures seen in the Teen Titans animated series and its modern counterpart, Teen Titans Go.
Plot Summary of The Comic
This Teen Titans comic book has a rather odd underlining theme of “smuggling”, which you would think would be the least critical of all possible crimes in a superhero comic book. The story begins with a Scrooge-like character named “Ebenezer Scrounge” running a junk shop and selling his scrap metal to shady characters. Tiny Tom, the son of Scrounge’s Bookkeeper Bob Ratchet, catches the shady characters using a special gun that can magnetize junk from overseas into brand-new items that can be sold for a profit, while also avoiding duty or tariff fees.
Tiny Tom reports the illegal operation to the Teen Titans. (Wait, is selling refurbished items from overseas illegal? I dunno, whatever.) After beating up the thugs, who apparently work for “Mr. Big”, one of the lesser-known Teen Titans villains, Scrounge is visited by his old business partner Jacob Farley, who decides to get revenge by strangling him. Kid Flash spins his way in, separating them. We find out that Scrounge and Farley sold some defective material together, and Farley alone was blamed and sent to prison. Farley escapes out the window, and The Teen Titans run outside in the winter snow to find him. I thought this was a rather odd decision, since Aqualad, Robin, and Wonder Girl weren’t wearing pants. Kid Flash was the only one smart enough to cover his legs and avoid getting frostbite.
Robin suddenly realizes the parallels in their situation to the story A Christmas Carol that he was reading earlier. In order to teach Scrounge a lesson, the team decides to pose as the ghosts of Christmas past, present, and future. You know, like in the original story? Things go bad when Wonder Girl, posed as the ghost of Christmas future is flying around in a short Santa dress with a hood, (which mysteriously changes design from page to page) and is shot out of the sky by a hoodlum. She is nearly compacted by a car crusher before Robin saves her. There is some trouble with junk and magnets fooling the team, but everything works out in the end. Scrounge becomes a changed man, and Tiny Tom (who was in a wheel chair, by the way. You know, like Tiny Tim?) gets a new electric wheelchair from the junk-transformer-gun-thing that we saw at the beginning of the story.
Observations and Points
There are some interesting things that are noticeable in this story. For one, a lot of the violence is implied, but not seen. For example, we don’t see the Teen Titans physically beating up Mr Big’s thugs, or Jacob Farley strangling Scrounge. Rather, these events are obscured by darkness and shadow. Although the Comics Code Authority was stricter back in the 60s, I question a superhero comic that can’t show any action, or even a punch to the face.
The other thing that I noticed was the change of names for A Christmas Carol. Since the original story is over a hundred years old, it is definitely in the open domain. This begs the question of why the names had to be changed at all, since they decided to make the names similar in the story. I suppose the writer Bob Haney thought he was being clever, and the similar names made it easier for readers to find the similarities across the two versions of the story.
Exceptional art from Nick Cardy would impress even the most talented illustrator. Made during a time before home computers and Photoshop, being an illustrator was serious business, and so you had better be good at it if you wanted a job. Nowadays, wanna-be comic illustrators fall out of the sky like crab-apples fall from trees, relying on computerized coloring, shading and “inking” that no longer resembles the richness nor precision of those expertly hand drawn decades earlier. This level of artistry has inspired countless pieces of Teen Titans fanart that is damn near everywhere.
Nick Cardy knew his business, not only due to his picture-perfect character shapes and perspective, but also the way he would present his knock-out figures of lovely women. He knew his audience of lustful teenagers would be looking at the characters’ bodies as if they are made of solid gold. On page two of Teen Titans Vol 1, Issue 13, we not only see Robin’s face and hands drawn with astonishing perfection, but also a good look at Wonder Girl’s bosom and legs as she has her feet up on the table.
In Closing
Teen Titans Issue 13 stands as a remarkable example of how the superhero team, consisting of Robin, Kid Flash, Aqualad, and Wonder Girl, navigated the social and political movements of the 1960s. This issue, penned by Bob Haney and illustrated by Nick Cardy, not only reflects the history of comics but also the evolving role of sidekicks within the DC Comics universe. As a product of the Silver Age, it showcases the unique storytelling and artistic styles that defined this era, all while adhering to the guidelines set by the Comics Code Authority.
The “Christmas Carol” theme in this issue adds a timeless layer to the narrative, making it a memorable addition to the Teen Titans’ legacy. It’s interesting to note how this story differs from later iterations of the Teen Titans, such as The New Teen Titans by Marv Wolfman and George Perez, or the more recent runs by Scott Lobdell. Each era brings its own flavor to the Teen Titans mythos, expanding on the rich universe that includes connections to major DC heroes like Batman, Superman, Aquaman, and Wonder Woman.
While this issue doesn’t feature the iconic Teen Titans Tower or Teen Titans headquarters that would become staples in later comics and adaptations, it does showcase the team’s ability to work together and solve problems in creative ways. This blend of superhero action and holiday spirit has made Teen Titans comic issue 13 a beloved part of DC’s extensive library of comic book adventures.