TALES OF THE THE TEEN TITANS #44

"THE JUDAS CONTRACT BOOK 3: THERE SHALL COME A TITAN!"
Co-Creators/Editors: Marv Wolfman & George Pérez
Embellishers: Dick Giordano w/Mike DeCarlo
Letterer: Todd Klein | Colorist: Adrienne Roy

Note: This issue does not have credits in THE NEW TEEN TITANS OMNIBUS volume 2. The above credits are pulled from the DC wiki.

The Plot: Deathstroke's ex-wife, Adeline, introduces herself and her son Joseph to Dick Grayson and explains the history of Slade Wilson, the man who would become Deathstroke the Terminator.

Slade was an army hero who joined the Special Forces and was trained by Adeline, among others. They fell in love during his training, married, and had a child named Grant. Slade later volunteered for a special procedure to boost his physical and mental capabilities, but instead it left him unstable. Later, Slade's old friend, Wintergreen, was kidnapped. Slade rescued him and soon after became a professional globe-trotting big game hunter. During this time, he and Adeline had their second child, Joseph.

One night, terrorists invaded the Wilsons' home, demanding to see Deathstroke, and kidnapped Joseph. Slade revealed to Adeline that he was not a hunter but a mercenary. He and Adeline went to rescue Joseph, but Deathstroke's ego led to the boy being injured and rendered mute. Afterward Adeline attempted to kill Slade and when that failed, she left him.

Adeline tells Dick that she and Joseph know where Deathstroke took the Titans. Dick adopts the costumed identity of Nightwing and prepares to go after his friends, and Adeline insists that Joseph, under the codename Jericho, tag along. Jericho demonstrates his ability to possess others' bodies with eye contact, and Nightwing agrees to bring him on the mission.

My Thoughts: Before we get to Nightwing, let's talk Jericho: why is his name Jericho? He's a mutant and he posses people. I've never been able to figure this out. Is there some biblical meaning I'm not getting or something? Or is just, as I've long suspected, a completely random, nonsensical name? Why didn't he just go by Joseph?

And speaking of his name, while I've always enjoyed the scene where Nightwing and Jericho reveal themselves to each other, the page is laughably marred by the little (TM) and (R) symbols right after their names in the dialogue. I have never seen those copyright symbols within a comic story before. On covers, yes -- but they look ridiculous on the story page.

Also, the best take I've ever seen on Jericho came from Image co-founder Erik Larsen a couple years back on Twitter. This is so true, and it seriously cracks me up:

I always just loathed Jericho. I can't begin to articulate the depth of my hatred for this character. Few have ever achieved such hatred.
— Erik Larsen (@ErikJLarsen) October 4, 2013

Jericho looks like a court jester. Awful costume. Terrible design. That stupid haircut and mutton chop sideburns--everything about him sucks
— Erik Larsen (@ErikJLarsen) October 4, 2013

And now, Nightwing: I've said before, and I stand by my statement, that my favorite status quo for Dick Grayson is as a college age Robin, away at school, adventuring with the Teen Titans, and occasionally teaming up with Batman. I've never understood the school of thought which says Batman needs a full-time Robin. Some of the greatest Batman stories ever told (no pun intended) come from the decade of the seventies, when the Caped Crusader operated solo, assisted only sometimes by his partner.

This scan provided by -- MATT ©

So the reason for my preferred status quo for Dick is an extension of my preferred status quo for Batman. Batman should work alone most of the time. Robin should be away at school. He should sometimes team up with the Batman. And therefore, a team-up between Batman and Robin, occurring perhaps only a few times per year, should be a special occasion. But in any case, Robin should always be Dick Grayson.

That said, I have no problem with Dick becoming Nightwing... someday. I know it's silly to say, since he's been Nightwing for three decades now -- but I think the best version of Robin is the Teen Wonder, the college-age kid described above. In my ideal continuity, there was Then -- Batman and young Robin fighting crime, dealing with colorful villains, and having a merry time. And there is The Future -- someday, at some nebulous point down the line, Dick will eventually become Nightwing and Batman may adopt a new ward.

But all the "real" stories should take place Now -- Batman, the Darknight Detective, patrols Gotham City solo while Robin is away at school and with the Titans, occasionally returning for special team-ups.

So I guess what I'm saying is... BATMAN: THE ANIMATED SERIES. 'Nuff said.

We now return you to our regularly scheduled coverage of "The Judas Contract".