TEEN TITANS SWINGIN’ ELSEWORLDS RETURNS AS A “LOST ANNUAL” IN JANUARY - NEWSARAMA

October 16, 2007 by Chris Mosby · Comments Off
Filed under: Comic Book News, Coming Soon, DC Comics 

I never heard of this one, but it looks interesting. Glad to see it released.

TEEN TITANS SWINGIN’ ELSEWORLDS RETURNS AS A “LOST ANNUAL” IN JANUARY - NEWSARAMA

TEEN TITANS SWINGIN’ ELSEWORLDS RETURNS AS A “LOST ANNUAL” IN JANUARY

Back in 2003, it was called the Teen Titans Swingin’ Elseworlds Special - a story, starring the original Teen Titans, written by original Teen Titans writer Bob Haney, with art by Jay Stephens and Mike Allred, under a cover by original Teen Titans artist Nick Cardy. Among Titans fans, the special was highly anticipated - until it was cancelled
for reasons undisclosed by the publisher (although rumors abounded at
the time of it’s message, it’s potential marketplace confusion, etc).
Haney died in November, 2004. This was his last Teen Titans story, and one of his last works.

In a recent interview with Allred here at Newsarama, the creator gave hints that the book was not “dead, dead” but was prehaps, merely resting, saying:

“I actually had a good phone conversation with (Dan) DiDio about three
weeks ago, and it went very well. He was saying that they might be able
to release it as a “lost annual.” So, I’m hopeful that that’s what’s
going to happen. Fingers crossed.

“It’s amazing to me that that book has sat dormant. It’s completely
done – completely done. It’s penciled, inked, colored, lettered –
there’s a cover by Nick Cardy! There’s no reason in the world this
shouldn’t be out – it’s a one-shot! Let it get out there and let people
have it!

“I do comic books because I love comic books. It’s not just a paycheck.
It’s an opportunity for expression and creation and the final
performance in this process is for people to see it! And so, there’s
this understanding with the publisher that you want to see this on the
stand. And for Bob Haney, he’ll never have that. He’ll never see it on
the stands, at least not as a mortal being.

“It’s frustrating – maybe I have no tact about this. I’m just the inker
on the book, for crying out loud! But it’s just not right that this
isn’t out there and available to the public. Even if the publisher were
to argue that it isn’t a standard story – well, I can’t object to that.
It isn’t typical. It’s near insane! But it’s also brilliant in that way.

“And the talent involved – the original Teen Titan creators, along with
Jay Stephens, who is one of the great talents, who won an Emmy on his
cartoon series…and I got to ink it, and Laura colored it, and our son
even did some amazing coloring work on it with Laura, and like I said,
Nick Cardy did a cover, a wonderful cover…there it is.

“Dan told me he’s going to try to make this happen, and I’m hopeful
that he can. So, there we are. I’m on the verge of getting people
together and picketing with protest signs outside the DC building
(laughs), but I’m trying to be cool about this, and reasonable about
this. But it’s been…I don’t know how many years since we finished. And
I’m just waiting to see it released.

“(sighs) I don’t know. It’s one of the things I just don’t get. I hope
one day DC does the right thing and puts this book out. It deserves to
be seen.”

Ad it will be - according to the publisher, the Special, now a “Lost
Annual,” will ship in January. The solicitation for the book now reads:

TEEN TITANS: THE LOST ANNUAL
Written by Bob Haney
Art by Jay Stephens & Mike Allred
Cover by Nick Cardy
Don’t miss the TEEN TITANS LOST ANNUAL, featuring the original Teen
Titans: Robin, Kid Flash, Wonder Girl, Speedy and Aqualad! Classic Teen
Titans writer Bob Haney sends the Titans into space to rescue President
John F. Kennedy in this story illustrated by Jay Stephens (The Land of
Nod) & Mike Allred (Madman, X-Statix)! Meet new alien races,
witness a startling betrayal, and more! It’s a secret space adventure
that couldn’t be told…‘til now!
On sale January 9 • 64 pg, FC, $4.99 US

 

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