The New Teen Titans #37
Published and © by DC, December 1983
Title: “Light’s Out, Everyone!”
Synopsis: The Fearsome Five escape prison and kidnap a scientist, putting both the Titans and Outsiders on their trail.
Writer: Marv Wolfman
Writer (co-plotter): Mike W. Barr
Artist (layouts): George Pérez
Embellisher: Romeo Tanghal
Review: George Pérez returns from a two-issue hiatus just in time to pencil this crossover with Batman and the Outsiders. Few artists in comics are better at illustrating superteams than Pérez, and it’s always a treat to see his rendition of different characters. On the story front, readers are treated to the requisite heroes-must-mistakenly-fight-before-teaming-up trope, which writer Marv Wolfman plays to solid effect. More interesting is the surprising connection between the Outsiders Geo-Force and the Titans’ Terra, particularly in light of the then-recently revealed “Judas Contract” (see review of New Teen Titans #34). A solid first chapter to a two-part tale.
Grade: B+
Cool factor: Even the cover is a crossover!
Not-so-cool factor: Shimmer’s perm has not aged well.
Notable: Continues in Batman and the Outsiders #5 (see review).
Collector’s note: According to the Grand Comics Database, there is a 95¢ Canadian variant of this issue. … According to MyComicShop.com, there is also a Mark Jewelers variant.
Character quotable: “We’re here to satisfy our mutual desire for wealth. And our mutual interest in achieving it through crime!” – Dr. Light, a villain of base intent
Editor’s note: This review was written Feb. 4, 2025.
