NEW TEEN TITANS: DRUG ISSUE #1 (Jun 1983) DC Comics/Keebler
cover:
George Perez
Dick Giordano
NEW TEEN TITANS: DRUG ISSUE #1
Date: Jun 1983
Cover Price: $1.00
Publisher: dccomics.com/keebler.com
Description
Originally a promotional comic book by Keebler
& the cooperation with the President's Drug Awareness Campaign, it
was distributed throughout schools to teach kids about the danger of
drugs. The comic proved so popular that it was eventually sold to
speciality retailers and comic shops with the money going to fight drug
abuse.
The comic
book features an altered costume for Starfire (with George's blessing),
and the first appearance of The Protector (who is actually Robin). At
the time, another company had licensing rights to Robin so he was
quickly replaced with The Protector's costume
Beast Boy Audition VideosFrom Vu
TITANS (Television Show) (2018)
Warner Bros
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Zach Heto Scene 2 (redirected) from grace heto on Vimeo.
Posted by Vu Nguyen
Published Paste-ups for The New Teen Titans back
cover, pencils George Perez, inks Dick Giordano; 11" x 17"
Publisher: DC
Grade: VF: 8.0
It was a sobering time in America for adults,
the carefree 1970s had come to a close. Men's suits had lost the garish
flare of the previous decade and were turning to a conservative grey and
black wash. Nancy Reagan knew the only way to fight the ongoing drug
issues with American youth was to infiltrate the comics that the
government had already been regulating for the past 28 years. She had
her finger in the pies of everything else fun, why not comic books?
The story is an off-shoot of the .Runways story from issue #26-27 of
The New Teen Titans. George Perez drew out everything, but there was one
problem, Keebler. Yes, the cookie making giant did not have the rights
to use the Batman character, Robin as Nabisco had already acquired them.
This left Giordano draw in a new character, The Protector, over all the
spots that Robin appeared.
Featured here on this curious paste-up you will see Speedy and Kid
Flash. Though, to differentiate between issues and companies, Kid Flash
was interchanged with Speedy for the published back covers.
The success of this comic paved the way for these sort of public service
announcements to infiltrate many classic characters of the 1980s. So
fry up an egg and imagine your brain possessing a little piece of
history. Bid hard, me hearties!
I've
joked before that comic books were like my drug addiction, but, in a
way, there were more parallels than just my willingness to lie, steal
or borrow to get enough money to buy my comic books. I soon discovered
that like most drug users, I had to hide my love of comic books from
most people or be labeled with a scarlet letter C on my head. In
elementary school, none of the other kids seemed to care too much that
I liked superheroes and read comic books. When I changed schools
though, that was all about to change.
When I was in fourth
grade, it was decided that a school a few blocks from where I lived,
across the street from my grandmother's house, was going to be
reopened, and that those of us who lived in the park should now attend
this school. I didn't mind, I was terrified of the woman who was
supposed to be my fourth grade teacher at the old school. I saw her in
the halls, and she never smiled. Worse, our classroom was next to
theirs, and she was constantly screaming and yelling at the class. Just
looking at her was terrifying. She reminded me of a female Darth Vader.
So when we were told that we could go to this school, I was looking
forward to it.
NEW TEEN TITANS: DRUG ISSUE #1 (Keebler Promotional)
(Jun 1983)
NEW TEEN TITANS: DRUG ISSUE #2
(1983)
NEW TEEN TITANS: DRUG ISSUE #3
(1983)
1983 saw the publication of a very special Teen Titans book. It made
its debut, not on newsstands, but as part of a kit distributed to
schools around the country. The kit was co-produced by DC Comics, Inc.,
and the Keebler Company for use in President Reagan's drug awareness
campaign. Its goal was to inform schoolchildren (in particular, fourth
graders) about the dangers of drug abuse.
Originally, the head of the White House drug program approached DC
because he had wanted to use one of their better-known characters such
as Superman, Batman, or Wonder Woman. But those characters were tied up
in other projects at the time. Instead, DC recommended The New Teen
Titans, the company's best-selling title. The program heads were shown
Wolfman's two-issue story dealing with runaway children and were
impressed. Best of all, they realized The Titans would appeal most
strongly to the age group they wished to reach.
One problem cropped up with the book as Wolfman and Titans artist
George Pérez began work on it: Robin, the leader of The Teen Titans,
couldn't be used. "This book was being sponsored by Keebler, and Robin
was already licensed by Nabisco. So I came up with a new character, The
Protector. We already had the art done, so Dave Manak did all the
corrections to turn Robin into The Protector. He looks pretty much as I
envisioned him, except where his costume is purple, I had originally
wanted black."
Hanna Barbera produced a 60-second anti-drug spot in the early eighties
using these six characters. It was the only animated appearance of the
New Teen Titans.
Marv Wolfman, from New Teen Titans #41 letter's page: "Sometime this
season you'll be seeing The Titans all over the TV tube. Tying in with
our special anti-drug comic, Hanna-Barbera will be unleashing a
one-minute Titans anti-drug cartoon spot which should be shown on all
three networks, most likely during Saturday morning. There will also be
30-second and 20-second version of the public service announcement. We
received a call from their design department, asking for a whole slew
of George's designs, so the Titans should look just about perfect."
The commercial also included the Protector, who appeared in the anti-drug comic book.
THE TEEN
TITANS (now a popular cartoon) was created as a comic series in the
mid-eighties from George Perez and writer Marv Wolfman. Promotional
comics were written with the JUST SAY NO theme and the comics analyzed
addiction and the life and loss of young people.
One comic had a place to sign a
declaration and a pledge which read "I DECLARE THAT I AM AWARE OF THE
DANGEROUS EFFECTS OF DRUGS. I AM RESPONSIBLE FOR MYSELF AND WILL NEVER
USE ANY UNLAWFUL DRUG."
The next statement was, “Remember, a
declaration is a very strong statement, it's not just repeating
something you've already heard. It's thinking hard and being really
honest about what you say."
Arts, Briefly
October 14, 2004
written by George Gene Gustines
A Social Issue in a Comic
Like many DC Comics superheroes, Green Arrow likes to fight crime
with sidekicks. In Green Arrow No. 43, published yesterday by DC
Comics, the emerald archer learned that Mia, below, a teenage runaway
under his care, had tested positive for H.I.V. The news makes Mia even
more determined to realize her desire to become a hero. The writer of
Green Arrow is Judd Winick, who is no stranger to tackling social
issues in comics. In 2002 he wrote a story about gay bashing in Green
Lantern. In 2000 he wrote and illustrated "Pedro and Me," a graphic
novel chronicling his friendship with Pedro Zamora, his roommate on the
MTV reality series "The Real World," who died of complications of AIDS.
Mia will continue as a character in the monthly Green Arrow comic book,
but her story will not be a grim and gritty tale. "This isn't about
being ill; this isn't about her dying," Mr. Winick said. "She's not
going to get sick. We have no interest in ever doing that." Instead,
the focus will be on Mia's turning her life around and being a positive
force. She will eventually adopt the code name Speedy, after the first
of Green Arrow's sidekicks, and she'll join other young heroes in Teen
Titans. Mr. Winick plans to write Green Arrow for the long haul. "I'd
like to one day write the story where Mia gets the cure for H.I.V.," he
said. "It would be nice if that happened sooner rather than later."
We have lots of news and this go-around, so let's get started.
(excerpt)
…Other Titans news! Sometime this season
you'll be seeing The Titans all over the TV tube. Tying in with our
special anti-drug comic, Hannah-Barbera will be unleashing a one-minute
Titans anti-drug cartoon spot which should be shown on all three
networks, most likely during Saturday morning. There will also be
30-second and 20-second version of the public service announcement. We
received a call from their design department, asking for a whole slew
of George's designs, so the Titans should look just about prefect.
Next summer should also be a special
Titans time. Not only will we have our traditional annual - this time
revealing the origin of, well we'll tell you who some other time - but
the Titans will also be the guest stars in the DC PRESENTS ANNUAL,
featuring our favorites and a certain unnamed Man of Steel. I'll be
writing the story, and if deadlines permit, George will be handling the
art! Definitely something to look forward to.
- Marv Wolfman
02/10/2007 03:33:52
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02/10/2007 03:33:52
NEW TEEN TITANS: DRUG ISSUE #1
(Jun 1983)
NEW TEEN TITANS: DRUG ISSUE #1 (Jun 1983) 
NEW TEEN TITANS: DRUG ISSUE #1
(Jun 1983)
BY JENNIFER M. CONTINO 
1983 saw the publication of a very special Teen Titans book. It made
its debut, not on newsstands, but as part of a kit distributed to
schools around the country. The kit was co-produced by DC Comics, Inc.,
and the Keebler Company for use in President Reagan's drug awareness
campaign. Its goal was to inform schoolchildren (in particular, fourth
graders) about the dangers of drug abuse.
Thu, 08 Feb 2007 01:29:47 CST
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