DC Finest - Teen Titans: The Judas Contract

by Marv Wolfman, George Pérez

The story that defined the Teen Titans for decades to come, now collected as part of the DC Finest line! Experience the gut-wrenching tale of Terra in its original form as she infiltrates the team and attempts to unmake them for good!
DC Finest continues, a major publishing initiative presenting comprehensive collections of the most in-demand and celebrated periods in DC Comics history, spanning genres, characters, and eras!

One of the most influential Teen Titans stories of all time, "The Judas Contract" sets the stage for decades of Titans drama across the DC Universe! Featuring watershed moments for characters like Dick Grayson, Wally West, and Deathstroke, the Teen Titans greatest enemy, this can't-miss story is a must-read for any and all Titans fans!

This volume collects stories from Action Comics #546; World's Finest Comics #300; The New Teen Titans #33-40; The New Teen Titans Annual #2; Tales of the Teen Titans #41-47; Tales of the Teen Titans Annual #3; The Vigilante #3; and more.

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Dc Comics, Comic Book, Superheroes, Fiction

560 pages, Paperback

First published February 4, 2025

About the author

Marvin A. "Marv" Wolfman is an award-winning American comic book writer. He is best known for lengthy runs on The Tomb of Dracula, creating Blade for Marvel Comics, and The New Teen Titans for DC Comics.

Reviews

[Milan Konjevic · Rating 5 out of 5]

Prošlo je više od 40 godina od ovih epizoda, i dalje se odlično drže. Vulfman ima tu veoma efektnu karakterizaciju likova, a posebno bih izdvojio Terru/Taru Markov kao veoma specifičnog pozitivca/negativca koju izjede sopstveno ludilo. I Džordž Perez ovde pokazuje zašto je jedan od najvećih crtača Američkog stripa.

[Arianna · Rating 4 out of 5]

It took me a long time to get through this book since it collects a lot of stuff besides the titular storyline. It was a fun journey.

[David Cobraestilo · Rating 5 out of 5]

El material del que están hechos los sueños. El equivalente de Fénix Oscura en DC. Un equipo creativo en la cumbre, un run que tiene de todo: Deathstroke, personajes madurando, Nightwing, traición, romance…

[AJ Easterday · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a really solid collection that I feel truly earns the "DC Finest" label. Not only is it an iconic story that has become the basis for most Teen Titans media, but it does a much better job standing the test of time than a lot of other "classic" comics in my opinion. This collection does have some of the usual trappings of older comics, like the old-school art style, all the teens looking like they're in their 30s, and having way too many unnecessary captions, but it manages to avoid a lot of the casual misogyny and racism that are unfortunately very common in older media. In fact not only does it avoid typical 1980s casual misogyny, but the women in this are so well-written that they are actually my favorite part of the whole book. I love Donna, Kory, and Raven with my whole heart. Donna makes a great team leader when Robin steps down, and she remains such a loyal and supportive friend to Dick. (I am so obsessed with their friendship, it's ridiculous. They are so cute together, platonically.) Starfire is constantly underestimated because of her looks and her alien origin, but she proves time and time again that she is capable and much smarter than people give her credit for. And Raven is just the most selfless and caring member of the whole team. I loved the way Raven was written so much that I immediately want to go and read more comics with her in them!

Anyway, this is definitely going to become my go-to recommendation for people wanting to learn more about the Titans. They are not just a great superhero team in this, but a realistic portrayal of a teen friend group and a found family.

[PsionOverlord (Thomas Stedman) · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5

Weirdly mixed bag. The first story is boring, and there are parts here I struggle to like, but I love how dysfunctional the teen titans in this story are. I come in expecting something similar to the 2003 cartoon, and it ways it is. Almost every major arc form that cartoon feels like it was lifted almost directly from these pages, but what I didn't expect was how much they seem to dislike each other, which I like more then I think I expected to.

Kid flash here seems to dislike every member of the team, the closest he gets to liking someone I think is a really interesting moment when he says some days he wakes up hating Raven and some days he wakes up loving her.

Raven here is almost evil at points but seems to justify it in her mind. Beast Boy is beast boy, I've never liked him and I don't here. Cyborg is kind of forgettable. Starfire is a lot of fun, she's the only one happy to be here.

Robin/ Nightwing looks like one of those joke images TTG uses of hard chiseled jaw line superheros until he becomes Nightwing, but him becoming Nightwing here is cool. I think this is the only time I've ever seen DC show the transition between them and his reasoning is perfect. Robin is a name forever attached to batman, and he is not.

Wonder Girl I'm mixed on. On one hand her plot to find her mother is my favorite arc in the story, on the other hand her dating and marrying a guy that appears nearly twice to three times her age and might be her teacher makes me feel super uncomfortable. I also like that she wants to retire.

Deathstroke here is pretty alright. Terra I wish was made more likable. She's not my favorite Terra by any stretch of the imagination. If you want my favorite, Teen Titans the Judas Contract movie is probably my favorite version. I do really like this energy she has of a child wanting desperately to be seen as a serious grown up, it reminds me a bit of Asuka from Evangellion.

[Lksreads · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read this as part of my essential Deathstroke reading material, and I thought it was worth it to cover the origin of the character. He’s not the focus of the book at all, but that’s why I read it.

As an arc, it’s really good. It does a lot of work on the cast and is a complete subversion of the expectations. Comic history lesson: the Titans were mocked in this era as a rip-off of X-Men, and The Judas Contract was a direct response to those claims. Tara Markov was written to copy Kitty Pryde, but then never align with the “good guys” and instead be a true evil the entire length of her arc. Goes on to be hailed as one of the best Titans story’s.

It gets a ton of points for doing something different and actually progressing characters. Grayson hangs up the Robin tights and evolves into Nightwing, donning that totally tubular disco costume for the very first time. At the same time, Wally West retires from being Kid Flash to pursue some normalcy. The Titans are changing and in their midst is a traitor hired by a contract-killer. Great backdrop for the story.

The story itself is uninteresting imo, but I’m not big on this era of comics. Wish I could let myself enjoy the really hammy stuff, but I just can’t, and this didn’t pass the test. Deathstroke’s contract is the most compelling part of this story, and that’s mostly veiled behind some copy+paste EVILLL super organization who plans to use their EVIL SUPERPOWER DRAIN MACHINE to THWART those dastardly Titans! Blah.

Would recommend only as essential reading for Nightwing or Deathstroke ball knowledge, but otherwise skippable. And if you really like this era of comics, you probably already read this. Onto the first Deathstroke solo title!

[Beastyos · Rating 5 out of 5]

fuck that's good

I don't know if it's because most of the DC comics I've read are from the 40s-60s or something, but finally reading a mature, but still kind of silly mainstream DC superhero story is so fucking refreshing.
Don't have much to say except these few thoughts:

I don't like how sometimes Kori is a strong independent woman and other times a bright eyed golden retriever that just has to stand there and look pretty, like I get that oblivion and hopeful bliss without much thought is kind of her personality, but it felt a bit weird, you know child like wonder whilst dressed like that

Terra and Gar falling in love wasn't forced, because ofcourse the most insufferable people in this entire series got together, evne if it wasn't real, it just makes fucking sense

Red Tornado is in this, he's peak

Didn't know Deathstroke was a pedo

I knew that was Nightwing's first costume, and it's not that I dislike it, but it's just so flashy and a product of its time, I'm glad he got a peak costume eventually, like not that this is bad, but I can't imagine him being in a batfamily photo with this costume

anyway fucking peak, genuinely. I tried to read it as slowly as possible from the second I realised "fuck I'm gonna love this" because I didn't want to spoil my fun all at once to read a book after this that I'll like less. But that's really hard when it's so good you can't put it down

[khlo · Rating 4 out of 5]

gosh this whole collection was certainly a thrill ride lol. for being a DC comic of its time, it definitely has its moments but overall it holds up pretty well. it’s definitely a bit confusing to read at times, especially with the characters randomly spurring everything that they intend do out loud, which is quite funny.

some of the characters dialogue was very odd and a little offensive at times (referring to some of the conversations regarding cyborg) which again, makes a a lot of sense for the time it was written.

but can we please talk about tara and her oddly groomer-ish relationship with slade?? this girl is 16 years old and has a thing for this grown man with a divorced wife, 2 children, one of whom are dead and the other who’s estranged and has a raging hatred for his own father?? and he’s encourages it, by feeding into her delusional “love” for him. THAT IS SO GROSS. even if this story is specifically based in the 50s, that’s still gross as hell…

i love the judas contract story so much, it definitely has to be one of my favourites. along with brother bloods whole cult storyline, it reminded me of the old teen titans show and some of the movies as well!

overall very fun read, i loved learning dicks origins for his nightwing persona.

[Del · Rating 5 out of 5]

As someone who has never read any teen titans prior to this I can't believe how good this is. It's quite simply one of the best comic runs I have read, and the best dc finest collection I have read, which is high praise indeed as I have read some truly great stuff in this line. But this is phenomenal, the plots, writing, distinct characters, drama, humour, this has it all. As someone who loves the claremont era of the uncanny x-men this run is easily as good some of the best x stories produced during that era. I'd give this 6 stars if I could, as its really that great.

[Mark Rubin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m only a little familiar with the Teen Titans from the cartoon series and a few random comics I’d read over the years. This is a good jumping in point I think as it’s a big transitional time for the team. New allies and enemies, changing rosters, changing costumes - I really like this Nightwing costume with the giant collar - and of course Deathstroke the Terminator.

George Perez’s artwork is what I think of when I think about comic books, he’s incredible, and this was a really great read.

[John Lamb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Despite Batman being my all time favorite comic book character I’m not much of a DC person overall. Always thought the Teen Titans were kind of lame but this was a pretty good collection of stories that has me interested in checking out more.

[Matt Fuller · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is peak DC content. It has Dick Grayson becoming Nightwing, the Judas Contract story which Beast Boy is wrecked by, Raven gets some revelatory development, and it’s part of the best Titans run. Covers 1983-1984.

[Shawn Gallagher · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would give this 10 or 15 stars if possible. It's perfect.

[Doug Duncan · Rating 5 out of 5]

some really good stuff in here, the standout being the title story but all of it was really enjoyable.

[Eesa · Rating 4 out of 5]

really good, i can see why this is a generational run. I wanted more Wally

[Julio Valentin · Rating 3 out of 5]

First time reading this era of teen titans. The dialogue can be hard to get through sometimes, in particular, the constant name calling. The character of Tara (Terra) is incredibly annoying.

[Constantine · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Teen Titans are the best!

[Matthias · Rating 4 out of 5]

Without this, we wouldn't have the wonderful Teen Titans cartoon. 4/5

[Desire Manara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Saga clave para los personajes y para la bronze age de DC. Pensé que tenía la mayoría de este contenido en ediciones en castellano pero abarca más números de lo que pensaba.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love the format as always, love the story. The reproduction of the art is pretty good although I don't feel like Decarlo was a good match for Perez.

[Batusi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Emotionally charged volume that delivers one of the most iconic betrayals in DC history.

The story follows the Titans as they welcome new member Tara Markov, who has a mysterious past.

This volume's dialogue may be overly expository at times, but the amazing artwork and storytelling that examines trust, manipulation, and the cost of heroism lift this one up.