Tales of the New Teen Titans #3
Published and © by DC, August 1982
Title: “The Changeling”
Synopsis: The new Teen Titans’ origin tales continue with The Changeling’s life story – including his battle with the Arsenal.
Writers (plot): Marv Wolfman and George Pérez
Writer: Wolfman
Penciler: Pérez
Inker: Gene Day
Review: Unlike the tabula rasa provided by Cyborg (see review of Tales of the New Teen Titans #1) and Raven (review of TofNTT #2), the creative team has some back story to address as they evolve the Silver Age Beast Boy into the Changeling. Writer Marv Wolfman does a solid job, revealing a series of traumas that ground the character in something more than obnoxious banter. It would have been stronger if Wolfman had leaned into the tell-one-story-show-another juxtaposition he toys with, but overall this telling still works. Gene Day’s inks provide a refined polish to George Pérez’s already detailed art.
Grade: B+
Second opinion: “Recommended.” – Frank Plowright, FantaCo’s Chronicles Series Annual #1, 1983 … Recommended by The Slings & Arrows Comic Guide (second edition), 2003.
Cool factor: Gene Day was a heck of a talent and a nice addition here.
Not-so-cool factor: Changeling’s banter often sounds forced.
Notable: Origin of the Changeling. … … Includes a pinup of the Changeling by George Pérez.
Collector’s note: According to MyComicShop.com, there is a Mark Jewelers variant of this issue.
Character quotable: “How could my story be anything but a George Lucas kind’a saga? It’s got everything! Action! Girls! Tragedy! Girls! Laughter! Girls! And lest we forget – girls!” – The Changeling, teenage boy
Editor’s note: This review was written Sept. 26, 2023.
