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>> Donna & Roy Harper
>> Donna & Terry Long
>> Donna & Kyle Rayner
Roy & Donna: Titanic Couple
Speedy & Wonder Girl
A major factor in Speedy's decision to spend more time
with the Teen Titans [TEEN TITANS, first series #19], was the presence of
Wonder Girl, to whom he had been attracted from their first meeting and whom
he now began dating regularly. Fancying himself a ladies' man, Speedy lived
up to his nickname by making a semi-serious pass at almost any eligible young
female he encountered, just as Wonder Girl would continue to pretend to swoon
over any desirable male, but the two were nevertheless the only established
couple in the old Titans roster, despite the later addition of other unattached
female members.
After the first disbanding of the Teen Titans, Speedy
found himself somewhat at loose ends. Without Wonder Girl and the Titans to
keep him occupied, and despondent over his guardian's seeming lack of interest,
Roy turned to drugs [GREEN LANTERN #85-86]. While a disbelieving Green Arrow
was stunned into inaction, Roy overcame his addiction with the aid of Green
Lantern and Black Canary, and thereupon severed relations with the Emerald
Archer to go out on his own.
When he returned to the Teen Titans with their reorganization
[TEEN TITANS, first series #44], it was in a new costume which somewhat resembled
Green Arrow's new garb, and his always rather colorful personality, also like
Green Arrow's had become over the years, began to reassert itself, as he began
to chide Robin and the other male members while continuing to make unsubtie
passes at the girls. He and Wonder Girl were reunited, albeit briefly and
uneventfully, until the Titans' second break-up [TEEN TITANS first series
#53].
Arsenal & Troia
The
evil spirit Dark Angel had reduced Donna Troy to a lifeless husk. With Wonder
Woman's magic lasso powering Wally West's memories, the two heroes made Donna
Troy's erased lifeline a living truth ... in effect, restoring Donna Troy
as the woman they had known! This
battle revealed much to Donna about her true origins ... strengthening her
bond to her "sister" Wonder Woman and her "mother", Hippolyta.
[WONDER WOMAN #132-136]. Donna Troy was officially made an Amazon and resumed
her costumed identity as Troia.
Soon after, the
original five Titans then decided to re-form the team. Troia agreed to serve
as a full time member on the team [TITANS #1-2].
Troia went through an identity crisis upon rejoining the team.
She wondered if she had been fully restored as the woman she truly was upon
her 'rebirth' after the defeat of Dark Angel. Furthermore, Donna's memories
of her life were vague and incomplete. Donna served as a member of the team
and briefly resumed a romantic relationship with fellow Titan, Arsenal (Roy
Harper) [TITANS #6-25]. The relationship wasn't built on the best of foundations,
however. Donna seemed intent on challenging the notion of herself as 'nice'
and 'pure' by dating notorious bad-boy Roy. Roy found comfort in Donna's stability,
as Donna became a mother figure to his daughter, Lian.
Soon after, Dark Angel returned, vowing to destroy every incarnation
of Donna Troy in every timeline [TITANS #23-25]! Upon Dark Angel's defeat,
Donna Troy was fully restored with all her previous memories. She resumed
her life with renewed confidence and vigor. At this point, Donna and Roy both
realized their union was ill-conceived. Donna gently broke off their relationship,
vowing to remain friends [TITANS #25].
Donna
& Terry
First Comes Love
By the time the New Teen Titans team was formed [New Teen Titans
#1 (1980)], Donna was back in New York and pursuing a career in fashion photography,
at which profession she had already made a reputation for herself, despite
her youth. She was also sharing a romantic relationship with divorced college
professor Terry Long, to whom she had revealed her dual identity, and whom
she later married [Tales of the Teen Titans #50 (1984)].
Terry Long first appeared in New Teen Titans #8 (1980), although
his relationship with Donna had already begun at that point.
When Donna Troy joined the Teen Titans as Wonder Girl, Terry
was brought into the world of superheroics. Despite the stresses this sometimes
put on their relationship, and despite his ex-wife Marcia's disapproval of
their relationship (Donna was too young, in her opinion), the couple remained
together. Soon, Terry proposed marriage [New Teen Titans (first series) #30].
George Pérez: "Everything's become a
little lighter. I was determined, as was Marv, actually, that Donna's wedding
was going to be ideal, as far as her relationship with Terry. Not idealistic,
in the sense that they never had arguments, but in the fact that they understand
each other. He's not Steve Trevor, God forbid, he's not Lois Lane, you know,
that type of relationship. They're two adult people who understand each other,
respect each other, and genuinely love each other. And that whole thing has
become a big thing in the stuff I tend to do. I tend to do a lot of happy
stuff. [...] Terry and Donna have a nice, adult relationship, thank God! I
think there are still some in the world. "
Then Comes Marriage
After some thought, Donna accepted. Terry and Donna wed in a
ceremony at Dayton Estates. Terry's brother served as best man, and Kory Anders
(Starfire) served as the maid of honor. Young Jennifer Long (who adored Donna)
served as flower girl. Terry and Donna enjoyed a healthy marriage even as
Donna remained a full-time member of the Titans, as both Wonder Girl and Troia.
In that time, Terry was unable to finish a paper required to keep his tenure
at the University. He lost his job, but began freelance writing.
Soon after, Donna Troy learned she was pregnant. As her
pregnancy continued, a group called the Team Titans emerged, claiming to be
from the future. The Team Titans mission: Kill Donna Troy before she can give
birth to the man who, in their future, would become the evil Lord Chaos.
Chaos also emerged, determined to ensure his own future.
Troia eventually gave birth, and with the help of the New Titans and the Team
Titans, she saved her son Robert while defeating Lord Chaos. The Titans of
myth helped in the ensuing battle as well. Ultimately, Donna Troy decided
to give up her Troia identity, and become a normal human. The Titans of myth
granted this wish, and left Donna Troy powerless. The Titans of Myth also
removed Robert Long's powers as well, to insure he would never become Lord
Chaos. It all happened
in the 9-part TOTAL CHAOS storyline, in Total Chaos: New Titans #90-92, Team
Titans #1-3, Deathstroke #14-16 [1992].
The Break-Up
Donna Troy and the Team Titans relocated to a farm in
New Jersey. Donna tried to live a normal life, and provide a home for the
time-lost Team Titans [Team Titans #2-20]. Fate was not kind. Villains and
disasters struck their new home. This led Donna to rethink her decision. She
petitioned the Titans of myth to grant her powers once again. She was rejected.
She returned home to find that Terry Long had left her, with their son Robert.
Terry became increasingly concerned with the dangerous life Donna led - and
how it affected his son's life. Terry and Robert took up temporary residence
with Terry's ex-wife, Marcia [as seen in Team Titans #21 (1994)].
Undaunted, Donna Troy found her new calling - as part
of a galactic police force - she became Darkstar!
Events in Donna Troy's life soon took a bad turn; Her
farm in New Jersey was destroyed; The time Crisis known as Zero Hour wiped
out all the Team Titans except for Terra and Mirage; Worst of all, it took
a toll on her once happy marriage. Terry Long and Donna Troy divorced and
Terry was granted sole custody of their young son. Although their divorce
was bitter, Terry allowed Donna to visit Robert on weekends, and she made
the most of that time.
Unfortunately, tragedy struck. While driving along the
New England Coast, Terry, Robert and Jennifer Long tried to drive through
a raging storm. Unable to see, their car plunged off a cliff, killing all
three of them [in Wonder Woman #121 (1997)].
Marv Wolfman on the Donna and Terry break-up
"The break up happened in Team Titans after I left it.
I disagreed with it and said so, but the writer did it anyway. It was wrong
in my mind to do it--Donna and Terry would not suddenly split up that way.
They may have split up if we saw a real problem between them but I just had
them occasionally have Donna's power come between them--something they would
have gotten through. Once the divorce was done though, and I got the character
back, I could not simply undo what was done. Hence my following up on it etc.
It was an editorial decision that led Donna to Kyle...which I also don't feel
was right, but had no real reason to argue. IF Donna split with Terry and
Dick was splitting with Kory, I would have very slowly had Dick and Donna
get together...which I did suggest in an overview memo.
Kyle
& Donna: Titanic Couple
Sparks Fly, Then Fizzle
Donna
sought a new direction in her life through the Darkstars and the Titans [Darkstars
#22-23]. Soon, she met Kyle Rayner, the new Green Lantern, who helped ease
her pain and loneliness. Donna met Kyle shortly
after her divorce to Terry. Although they teamed up with all the heroes during
the Zero Hour conflict, they didnt start to know each other until Kyle crossed
paths with the Titans in a battle involving the evil Psimon [New Titans #115,
then Green Lantern [second series] #57, then New Titans #116]. Following this,
Green Lantern joined the team.
Kyle moved to Greenwich Village, NY and fellow Titan Donna Troy
helped him set up his new apartment [Green Lantern #58]. The two heroes bonded
as Kyle revealed not only his secret identity, but that he had a crush on
Wonder Girl when he was a kid! Kyle and Donna grew closer, and shared a first
kiss under the mistletoe [Green Lantern #59]. They had their first date on
the moon, as Kyle tried to take Donna's mind off her troubles with Terry and
the divorce. The date was interrupted by Kalibak, unfortunately [Green Lantern
#61].
Kyle and Donna continued to date and their relationship seemed
to be progressing [Green Lantern #61-69 and New Titans #117-130], despite
Kyle's slight immaturity and Donna's slight apprehensions about trust in relationships.
Then in Green Lantern #70, everything came to a head. Donna
caught Kyle sketching a naked woman in his apartment - a woman he was obviously
attracted to. Donna was hurt and felt betrayed, partly because Kyle neglected
to tell her about it. Donna had misgivings; she wondered if Kyle was mature
enough to enter into the type of relationship she was looking for. Donna broke
off their relationship.
Kyle and Donna remained Titans team mates [although not a couple]
until the team broke up [Titans Secret Files #1].
Coming Together
Shortly
after the break up of the Titans, there was a conflict on the planet Rann
involving Darkseid's son Grayven. With Darkstar ranks were severely depleted,
Donna reluctantly asked Kyle for help. Grayven
cut a swath of destruction that decimated the Darkstar forces, destroying
most of their super-powered uniforms. John Stewart was crippled in the conflict,
and Donna Troy opted to abandon her Darkstar uniform and live a normal life
for awhile [Green Lantern #73-75].
After Donna and Kyle re-examined their lives, they realized
they cared for each other quite a bit and decided to resume their relationship.
Donna and Kyle became closer than before; Kyle expressed his love and gave
Donna a necklace made from his power ring energy as a sign of that love. [all
in Green Lantern #78]. Their bond strengthened as Kyle bonded with Donna's
son, Robert [Green Lantern #82] and Donna met Kyle's mother [Green Lantern
#88].
Breaking Up Is Hard To Do
In Green Lantern #89, Donna received horrifying news: her ex-husband,
Terry and son, Robert [as well as stepdaughter, Jenny] were all killed in
a car accident. After getting this news, Donna left Kyle and withdrew from
their blossoming relationship [detailed in Green Lantern #90].
Donna sought solace in her close friend, Diana [Wonder Woman]
and Kyle and Donna's next confrontation in Wonder Woman #125 was awkward and
painful. Donna and Kyle have since talked and sorted through their feelings,
to some extent. Although they still have feelings for each other, they have
decided to remain friends [as seen in Titans #6 and Green Lantern #118].
Behind the Scenes
The Green Lantern creative team [Kevin Dooley and Ron Marz]
had plans to keep Donna as a supporting character; At the time, however, John
Byrne 'claimed' her to use during his stint on Wonder Woman; Donna appeared
in Wonder Woman as a supporting character in Wonder Woman #123-136.
The Green Lantern team said they would have liked to have used
Donna and kept her as a supporting character, but they were forced to abruptly
write her out of the book.
John Byrne has this to say: "We (the Wonder Woman Office)
informed the GL Office we might like to have Donna back -- remembering that
Donna officially "belongs" to Wonder Woman's continuity -- if it caused them
no problems. Kevin Dooley's response was that it not only caused no problems,
but actually worked for them. That was a year and a half before we "took"
the character back. The GL Office had plenty of time to address the situation.
That they chose to do little or nothing with it was their decision. "
