GM Recommended Reading: New Teen Titans – The Judas Contract

Want to read the comic now since the new animated movie adaptation has been released? Then yes! This is a must read. Written by Marv Wolfman & George Pérez and illustration also by George Pérez, The Judas Contract is regarded as one of the best and most famous story arc of the Teen Titans.

The series was a four-part storyline originally printed in issues #42-44 of Tales of the Teen Titans and concluded in the 1984 Tales of the Teen Titans Annual.

They were Earth’s teenage defenders–unbeatable and unstoppable. Riding high, they took an eighth member–a young girl–into their ranks. She was their downfall. From the retirement of Robin and Kid Flash, to the birth of Nightwing and the introduction of Jericho, to the ultimate betrayal of a Titan–“The Judas Contract” still has fans talking today!

The Plot

First of all, This story reveals the secret origin of Deathstroke the Terminator, arguably the Titans’ most notorious adversary. It also brings to a close the Terminator’s extended contract with the H.I.V.E. The destruction of the H.I.V.E. is revealed soon after in a follow-up story which takes place in Tales of the Teen Titans #45-47. Deathstroke’s partner in crime in this epic, Terra, was introduced in the pages of New Teen Titans #26. She made regular appearances throughout the title and had just been approved for membership to the team when it was revealed that she was secretly working for the Terminator. One of the more controversial elements revealed in this story was the fact that the Terminator and Terra had been having a sexual affair. (It should be noted that while the Terminator is obviously a middle-aged man, Terra is only sixteen-years-old). The Judas Contract is also noted for the introduction of Deathstroke’s ex-wife, Adeline, but more importantly, it introduces his second son Joey Wilson.

Over the course of the story, more and more of the mystery of Slade’s past was dragged into the light in a cascading string of betrayals that would, strangely enough, eventually result in Joey himself adopting a code name, Jericho, and costume all his own. But whether or not his new lot in life would find him on the path of heroics or villainy is another matter entirely. Either way, we can say one thing for certain—his future relationship with the Titans would give his own father’s a run for its money on the complexity scale.

In addition, this storyline presents the first appearance of Dick Grayson under his new costume and code-name Nightwing! With the legacy of Robin forever behind him, he maintained the Nightwing identity until recently becoming Batman.

Now that you’ve learned some info about its history and impact, be sure to pick up Teen Titans: The Judas Contract animated movie if you haven’t already and do read the recently released story’s spiritual successor, The Lazarus Contract.

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