DC; December 1980
Cover by George Pérez

Title: “Today … the Terminator!”
Synopsis: At the behest of the H.I.V.E., the newly formed Titans are attacked by the Ravager – and Deathstroke, the Terminator!

Writer: Marv Wolfman
Penciler: George Pérez
Inker: Romeo Tanghal

Review: Even by Bronze Age standards, Marv Wolfman’s stories are thick with subplots and development. This issue doesn’t drag, though, as both he and artist George Pérez have a wonderful feel for action and fight choreography. Pérez’s layouts are already quite dynamic, but the rendering is still a little rough as the penciler and inker Romeo Tanghal grow into this series. This issue features the debut of the new Titans’ arch-nemesis, the Terminator; his dialogue is a little off but the character already has a certain gravitas. Only two issues in and this series is already clearly a winner.

Grade: A-

Cool factor: Starfire has the best way of learning new languages!
Not-so-cool factor: The Hierarchy of International Vengeance and Eliminations? Really? H.I.V.E. is a fine group of foes, but the full name has got to go. (A runner-up mention to this issue’s generic robot henchmen, clad in all pink and magenta. Yeah, not so menacing.)

Notable: Includes a one-page essay by Marv Wolfman titled “Second Chances.” … First appearance of Deathstroke the Terminator.

Creator quotable: “Rather than just have the Titans become a routine assignment, we want to be interested in creating each issue.” – Writer/co-creator Marv Wolfman, from the “Second Chances” essay in this issue
Character quotable: “Who do you want me to kill?” – The Terminator (pretty well sums it up, doesn’t it?)

Copyright ©2016 Off the Wahl Productions, all rights reserved. Each week, T. Andrew Wahl takes a look at a Bronze Age Fantastic First. For more reviews like this one, check out Wahl’s website, SequentialReaction.com.