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| Alias: none |
| Titans Member joined: DC Comics Presents #26 [1980] |
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Raven |
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OF RAVEN
ORIGINAL BLUE
TRIGON'S DAUGHTER
CLEANSED OF EVIL
EVIL AVATAR
GOLDEN SPIRIT
Demon's Daughter
Raven is the daughter of a union between Trigon the Terrible, a powerful extra-dimensional being, and Arella, a woman who was sued by a satanic cult to try to bring Satan to earth. Instead, Trigon came and took Arella as his bride.
Almost at the point of suicide, Arella was rescued by an extra-dimensional pacifist cult and taken to the other-worldly dimensional world known as Azarath. There, she gave birth to Raven. The moment Raven was born, Trigon's evil influence was felt in Azarath. The grand-daughter if the original Azar herself raised Raven and trained her to keep her emotions in check, lest Trigon's evil side within her would be set free.
At the age of ten, Arella once again cared for her daughter, as Azar passed away. Before Azar died, however, she gave Raven a pair of rings that she herself had always worn. The rings held Azar's essence.
Three years later, Trigon appeared in Azarath in an attempt to reclaim Raven as his own. As a defense mechanism, Raven unleashed her soul self for the first time. The manifestation of the soul self confirmed that Raven was indeed the daughter of Trigon. Trigon instilled more of his essence into Raven's soul self and left without her, promising that she would eventually belong to him.
Gathering the New Teen Titans
When Raven turned 18, she sensed Trigon's evil growing, so she left Azar and traveled to earth to gather together a band of heroes that would be able to stop him. She first appeared to the Justice League, but was rebuffed when Zatanna sensed an evil within Raven. Undaunted, she gathered together the New Teen Titans, a new incarnation of the old team with Robin, Wonder Girl, Kid Flash, Cyborg, Starfire and Changeling.
When the Titans learned that Raven was the daughter if Trigon and had also manipulated Kid Flash (into thinking he loved Raven), the Titans abandoned her cause out of mistrust. Eventually, the team helped Raven and was able to defeat Trigon. He was thrown into an interdimensional prison with Arella acting as a gatekeeper.
After Trigon was defeated, The Teen Titans decided to remain a team. And despite this defeat, Raven still had to fight Trigon's dark influence over her. This dark side grew as she exposed emotions. Kid Flash, although he loved Raven, was also frightened by her evil side. This, along with other factors, led him to eventually leave the group. It also became increasingly more difficult for Raven to contain her dark side.
Trigon Unleashed
Jericho tried to reach out to Raven, but with limited success. Eventually, Trigon came beckoning to Raven and she could no longer resist. Trigon's presence was unleashed! During Trigon's resurgence, Azarath was destroyed and Raven fell under her father;'s control, taking on her father's appearance as well (red skin and four eyes). When the Titans battled Trigon and Raven, they were transformed into evil personas, which turned around and killed Raven. Actually, it was necessary for her to die so that all the souls of Azarath could destroy Trigon by using Raven's body as a channel for their power. Lilith and Arella assisted in the defeat of Trigon, and with the Titans help, he was at last defeated.
When Trigon was killed, Raven was presumed dead. This, however, was untrue. Her body, now purged of Trigon's evil, actually rose from the ashes of battle. Raven vanished, and her mother Arella went in search of her.
The dazed Raven was captured by Brother Blood's minions and used her to help control Nightwing during Brother Blood's ‘resurrection.' The Titans eventually rescued Nightwing and Raven and put an end to Brother Blood for good.
Free of Evil Influence
Raven was at last free to explore her emotions. At first, she thought she was in love with Dick Grayson, but came to discover there are different kinds of love. She briefly had a relationship with Eric Forrester, but it turned out Forrester was manipulating her. Forrester was a soul vampire and wanted Raven's soul self. She was rescued by Jericho.
Shortly after this, current and former members of the Titans (including Raven) were hunted and captured by the Wildebeest Society, for unknown reasons. Deathstroke, Nightwing, Troia, Pantha, Phantasm, Arella and Red Star joined forces to track them down. Upon locating the captured Titans, the heroes were shocked to learn the identity of the leader of the Wildebeests was their own teammate, Jericho (Joe Wilson)!
It seems the tainted souls of Azarath regained their strength and merged with Jericho shortly after Trigon's second defeat. The souls now needed powerful vessels for each of them to survive. Now possessed by this force, Jericho sought to acquire superhuman beings as vessels for the souls of Azarath. He used the Wildebeest Society as a front to kidnap the Titans to house the tainted souls of Azarath. During the soul transfer process, Jericho resurfaced briefly, begging his father to kill him; He was beyond help and killing him might destroy the twisted souls of Azarath. To spare his son any more pain and save the remaining Titans, Slade Wilson was forced to drive a sword through Jericho, killing him instantly.
As the conflict continues, Phantasm is revealed to be Danny Chase, who is himself slain along with Raven's mother Arella as the Titans defeat the Wildebeests. Raven is transformed utterly and disappears (at this point, she is presumed dead).
Soon after, an evil version of Raven emerged; Her evil consciousness survived, and she found a mortal vessel to house her form. Raven was intent on planting the seeds of Trigon's unborn children into new vessels.
Meanwhile, the Titans entered into tumultuous times, where members came and went, longtime friends were maimed or destroyed, although Dick persevered through it all, and remained the heart and center of the team. But his relationship with Starfire became strained, and problems in Gotham demanded Dick's attention. Impulsively, Dick proposed marriage to Starfire. The two almost wed, by the ceremony was interrupted by the dark incarnation of their former teammate, Raven. Her brutal attack on Starfire triggered changes in Dick and Kory's relationship. Starfire is implanted with a Raven "seed" which causes her to leave Earth and go on a spiritual journey. The two grew apart, and Starfire eventually returned to her home planet of Tamaran. Unknown to Starfire, she was actually implanted with the ‘seed' of the good Raven, who influenced Starfire to leave earth – away from the clutches of evil Raven.
Evil Raven continued her reign of terror; She planted ‘Trigon seeds' in Supergirl, Changeling, Magenta, Deathwing, and Thunder and Lightning. Eventually, Raven and her demon allies came into conflict with the Titans. With the help of Phantasm (who had now reformed himself, sensing he was needed), the Titans finally destroyed this evil incarnation of Raven (or so they thought).
Meanwhile, Victor Stone (formerly Cyborg) had merged his consciousness with the alien race known as Technis, in an effort to save the dying race. Vic (Cyberion) was reunited with his former teammates as an evil version of Raven (now resurrected once more) tried to destroy her good self (which lay dormant in the body of Starfire). To ferret out Starfire, evil Raven incited a conflict in the Vegan star system. As a result, Tamaran was destroyed along with the Technis.
Raven: Golden Spirit Guide
The Titans were able to destroy evil Raven utterly, and restore good Raven into a new spiritual golden body. Starfire decided to rebuild her culture on a new planet; many Tamaraneans were off-world during the explosion – enough to settle on a new planet dubbed New Tamaran. Following that, Raven, Minion and Garfield Logan elected to remain in space as traveling companions to Victor Stone, Cyberion.
Frightened by Cyberion's total embrace of technology, Raven left her friend and returned to earth. Jarras Minion also had doubts about Cyberion's new attitude and decided to leave as well. Jarras, a sworn pacifist, made Victor a gift of his Omegadrome war suit before he left. The Omegadrome allowed Victor to try to carry out his Technis Imperative: To recreate the planet Technis at all costs!
Raven aided the Titans again during the Technis Imperative conflict, which involved the Justice League as well as all Titans, past and present. The two teams eventually worked together to save the earth and former Titans teammate, Victor Stone (Cyborg).
Following that, Raven went on a spiritual journey to reassess her place in the world. She counseled Donna Troy on her identity problems and embarked for parts unknown.
Raven's abilities include broadcast empathy, pain dispersion through contact and long-range teleportation. Raven can also project a spirit entity known as a 'soul self'. Raven has exhibited other abilities as well, including emotion manipulation and low-level precognitive abilities.
DC Comics Presents #26 [1980]: featuring a 16-page preview to New Teen Titans! The mysterious empath Raven invades Dick Grayson's dreams and shows him a glimpse of his near-future as part of the Teen Titans. The story began with Robin conferring with Gotham police outside a S.T.A.R. lab which was being held by a terrorist. By the fourth panel, Robin went into a trance and awakened with Wonder Girl at his side, outside the spanking-new T-shaped Titans Tower. The first to greet the newcomers was Beast Boy, who had just changed his name to Changeling. He was joined, in short order, by: Cyborg, a black youth much of whose body had been replaced by metal prostheses; Starfire, a golden-skinned alien girl with flight and fireburst powers; the familiar Kid Flash; and Raven, I another alien girl with "empathic," pain-removing powers, who appeared in a burst of brimstone. After illuminating a scientist who unleashed an other-dimensional blob through a warpgate, Raven joined the others, who were, of course, The New Teen Titans, in racing to the scene of the crime. This, and a monster-fighting episode, took place in Robin's mind during his trance, from which he recovered with bewilderment. First appearances of Raven, Cyborg & Starfire. Beast Boy now known as Changeling.
New Teen Titans #1 [1980]: After invading his dreams, the mysterious empath Raven incites Dick Grayson to form the New Teen Titans for the eventual purpose of defeating her demonic father, Trigon; Kid Flash joins only after Raven uses her powers to make him fall in love with her; Raven, Robin, Kid Flash, Wonder Girl, Changeling (formerly Beast Boy) and Victor "Cyborg" Stone unite to save Princess Koriand'r (soon to be known as Starfire) from Gordanian slavers.
New Teen Titans #4 [1981]: The Fearsome Five, now under the leadership of Psimon, release the captured Titans with their memories of the previous battle erased and under a compulsion to defeat the Justice League. Raven is unsuccessful in her efforts to halt the JLA's misguided interference with the attempts of a group of sorcerers to stop Trigon from coming to Earth, to enlist the aid of her mother and the other disciples of Azarath in the struggle, and to prevent the eventual fight between the two super-teams. When the dust clears, Trigon's coming has become inevitable, but when Zatanna reveals an evil secret in Raven's past, and that she had made Kid Flash believe he loved her in order to recruit him to the Titans, both groups become distrustful of Raven and desert her.
New Teen Titans #5 [1981]: Despite their displeasure with her methods, the Titans rally to help Raven defeat Goronn, Trigon's advance warrior. She then reveals her origins as Trigon's daughter by an Earth woman, while the demon materializes on Earth and begins to wreak havoc. Finally, after Trigon has easily defeated the T4ans, Raven agrees to accompany Trigon and rule at his side, but only if he will spare the Earth. Trigon agrees, and the two vanish. First appearance of Arella. Origin of Raven, Trigon and Arella is told.
New Teen Titans #6 [1981]: Raven is aghast at the horrors perpetrated by Trigon on his homeworld, and learns that he has no intention of abandoning his invasion of Earth despite his promise to her. While unable to persuade the disciples of Temple Azarath to aid them against Trigon, the Titans are able to have them transport the super-heroes to Trigon's world to battle him anew. The Titans are again easily bested by the demon, but Arella, Raven's mother, helps her to escape Trigon's influence and to free her teammates. By combining their magical and scientific powers, the Titans are able to banish Trigon through a dimensional doorway. Arella sacrifices herself as eternal guardian of the gateway against Trigon's escape.
Tales of the New Teen Titans #2 [1982]: 4-issue mini series. As the Titans take a break on a camping trip, the new members reveal their origins. When Raven is wakened screaming by a nightmare during their camping trip, the other Teen Titans persuade her to share with them the story of her childhood and origin. The origin of Raven.
New Teen Titans #29 [1983]: The Brain, believing that Raven has information that will help him defeat Brother Blood, sends his New Brotherhood of Evil to capture the empath; Kid Flash tells Raven that he loves her, but she says she cannot reciprocate his emotions or Trigon may break through; Dick Grayson is irritable because he is trying to go to college, be Batman's sidekick, and a Titan all at the same time; Robin and Starfire go to see Adrian Chase, whom Bethany Snow contacted; Frances Kane returns because her powers are resurfacing, and witnesses a battle between the New Brotherhood of Evil and the Titans, in which Raven thinks that Kid Flash is Trigon (due to Phobia's manipulation) and nearly kills him; Raven leaves the Titans because she cannot handle Kid Flash's hatred.
New Teen Titans #30 [1983]: The New Brotherhood of Evil follows Raven; Terra suddenly decides that she wants to be a Titan; Robin, Starfire and Adrian Chase meet with Bethany Snow, who pretends that she is turning against Brother Blood; Cyborg meets Mark Wright, who says that he and Sarah Simms are engaged; While the Titans return to Titans' Tower, where Robin says that Terra can join the group, Raven seeks solitude in St. Peter's Cathedral, where the New Brotherhood of Evil finds her; During the Titans' and the New Brotherhood of Evil's battle in Times Square on New Year's Eve, Raven's soul-self is shattered yet again when she tries to envelop Brotherhood member Plasmus; The New Brotherhood of Evil takes Raven to Zandia; Terry Long proposes to Donna Troy. Terra joins the Titans this issue.
New Teen Titans #31 [1983]: Kid Flash is confused about his feelings for Raven, who is being tortured by the New Brotherhood of Evil; Raven takes the New Brotherhood of Evil to Brother Blood's pool, and the Titans clash with them; In the ensuing battle, the Titans and the New Brotherhood of Evil are defeated when Raven becomes so enraged that Trigon is temporarily unleashed.
New Teen Titans (second series) #1-5 [1984-1985]: With Trigon's evil growing inside her, Raven decides to leave the Titans; Jericho tries to help by entering Raven's soul-self, where he meets Trigon; Jericho returns, and Raven disappears; The Titans, Kid Flash and Lilith are transported to Azarath, where they are helpless to thwart its destruction; A transformed Raven arrives in New York, announcing the coming of Trigon the Terrible, who appears atop Titans' Tower; When Raven makes the Titans confront their worst nightmares, the heroes rally to defeat and kill the now-evil empath; Trigon dies when Raven's soul-self (now white) engulfs him; Titans' Tower is destroyed in the battle, and Raven's soul-self disappears. Death of Trigon. Raven cleansed of Trigon's evil and disappears. Arella reappears and aids the Titans to defeat Trigon.
New Teen Titans (second series) #22 [1986]: Dick Grayson speaks with Raven and Arella; Raven, now dressed in white, has been brainwashed by the Church of Blood; Dick is captured, tortured, and brainwashed by one of Brother Blood's Confessors; Komand'r learns that her family is still alive and orders them to return to Tamaran within 12 hours; Starfire immediately begins her countercoup,bringing war to her own planet; Mento tries to kill Changeling by taking control of Cyborg's body and using it against Changeling.
New Teen Titans (second series) #28-31 [1987]: Azrael is the opening act for Brother Blood's resurrection; Frances Kane arrives at Titans' Tower just before the Titans head for the Church of Blood in Washington D.C., where Nightwing and Raven are being held; Robotman and Jason Todd join the Titans for this case. Brother Blood, his acolytes and a brainwashed Raven battle, defeat and capture the Titans; Meanwhile, Frances Kane recruits several heroes to aid her in a rescue attempt. Brother Blood is channeling the emotions of his followers through Raven; A jealous Mother Mayhem wants Brother Blood dead; Raven returns to normal and attacks Brother Blood with all her might; Azrael saves Brother Blood from certain death and flies him to a monastery in Virginia; Starfire wants everything between Dick and herself to be the same as it was before her marriage to Prince Karras: Dick does not think this is possible. Brother Blood defeated in issue #31. Azrael finds a new calling as his 'caretaker' in issue #31.
New Teen Titans (second series) #39 [1988]: Starfire convinces Raven that the empath does not love Dick Grayson in the manner that she thinks she does; Dick moves in with Koriand'r and is happy to learn that Koriand'r and Prince Karras did not take traditional Tamaranean wedding vows.
New Titans #66-67 [1990]: Eric Forrester romantically pursues Raven. Raven has just begun exploring her emotions, now free from Trigon's evil influence. Shortly afterward, Raven agrees to a more physical relationship with Eric. Before their relationship could be consummated, Jericho intervenes, and prevents Forrester from absorbing Raven's soul-self, which he needed to sustain his humanity. This also ultimately destroys Eric Forrester as well. Raven makes amends with her mother, Arella, who started a ranch in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.
New Titans #84 [1992]: "The Jericho Gambit" part three. Danny Chase is revealed as Phantasm, having used a sheet, hockey mask and voice box to masquerade as the mysterious Phantasm. Danny and Arella try and contain a demonic, red-skinned Raven. Arella, channeling the spirit Azar, joins with Danny and vanquishes Raven. Their own energies combined with the force from Azarath drive away the evil of Trigon's lingering influence. This new force inhabits the garb once worn by Danny Chase and takes on the identity of the new Phantasm. The remaining Titans defeat the remains of the Wildebeest Society and escape the collapsing Dimension Azarath. Final part of the Titans Hunt storyline. Death of Jericho. Danny Chase and Arella die, merge with souls of Azarath and become Phantasm. Raven seemingly dies.
New Titans #93 [1993]: The Titans respond to their newfound fame, as Titans-mania sweeps the country. Mirage poses as Starfire for XXXPose magazine in an attempt to make a fool of her. Approached from behind by an unseen person cloaked in grey [actually Evil Raven], the startled Phantasm is informed that Trigon's evil can never die, and is struck down with an energy bolt.
New Titans #100 [1993]: Nightwing and Starfire's wedding is interrupted by the return of Raven, now a villainous avatar of Trigon. Starfire is viciously attacked and implanted with a demon "seed" by Raven, as Dick Grayson watches helplessly. Evil Raven is assisted by the corrupted Deathwing and Judge & Jury. Sarge Steel begins his plans to assume control of Titans.
New Titans #118-121 [1995]: Raven , now reborn as an avatar of Trigon, is intent on planting the seeds of Trigon's unborn children into new vessels. She plants ‘Trigon seeds' in Supergirl, Changeling, Magenta, Deathwing, and Thunder and Lightning. Eventually, Raven and her demon allies come into conflict with the Titans. With the help of Phantasm (who reforms himself, sensing he is needed), the Titans finally destroyed this evil incarnation of Raven (or so they think). Mirage seemingly has a miscarriage in issue #121.
New Titans #127-130 [1995]: Damage quits the team, this time for good. Mirage goes into labor and reveals she had been concealing her pregnancy. After Changeling escapes from STAR Labs, the team is reunited with Victor Stone, now a computer form known as Cyberion. The Titans aid Starfire, who is danger from evil Raven (now resurrected once more). Evil Raven is trying to destroy her good self (which lay dormant in the body of Starfire). To ferret out Starfire, evil Raven incites a conflict in the Vegan star system. Tamaran is destroyed, killing many inhabitants including Starfire's parents. A general in the Tamaranean fleet named Ph'yzzon aids the Titans and reveals he and Starfire are married. The Titans are able to destroy evil Raven utterly, and restore good Raven into a new spiritual golden body. Starfire decides to rebuild her culture on a new planet; many Tamaraneans were off-world during the explosion – enough to settle on a new planet dubbed New Tamaran. Changeling, a reformed Raven, and Minion stay with Cyberion, while Darkstar, Green Lantern, and the others return to Earth. Mirage has her baby. First appearance of Vic as Cyberion in issue #127. Damage quits in issue #127. First Appearance of General Ph'yzzon in issue #127. Reveals he married Starfire in issue #129. Raven tells Starfire she is with child in issue #130, although this is never acknowledged in the future. Death of King Myand'r and Queen Luand'r, and most of the inhabitants of Tamran in issue #128, where Tamaran explodes. Mirage has her baby [mistakenly referred to as her 'son' when it is established as a daughter later on] in issue #130. Raven is cleansed of evil and given a new golden body in issue #130. Chronologically, the Titans appear next in Titans Secret Files #1, where the dissolution of Arsenal's team is told.
JLA/Titans: the Technis Imperative #1-3 [December 1998 to February 1999]: The original Titans were reunited in a mini series that also featured the Justice League of America. With a story by Devin Grayson and Phil Jimenez, and art by Phil Jimenez, everyone who had ever been a Titans was reunited. Former Titan Vic Stone threatened to carry out his Technis Imperative and turn the earth's moon into a new Technis world. The JLA and Titans first clashed, then united to save the earth and Vic Stone. The mini series was designed as a primer to restart the Titans series with the five original members (Nightwing, Troia, Flash, Arsenal and Tempest) as the core.
Titans #9 [1999]: Raven returns [interrupting a private moment between Roy and Donna] as the Day of Judgment wreaks havoc on the DCU; The team's former resident empath seeks Troia's help to reach the gates of Heaven. Plus, Deathstroke faces off against Tartarus. Meanwhile, Goth takes advantage of the mystical chaos Day of Judgment has brought.
Lone Star: What gave you the ideas for Cyborg and Raven?
Pérez: When I came to DC I came in strictly to do the Justice league. At the time Dick Dillin was still alive, so I Just wanted to do one issue of it. Marv had asked me to do something for DC and suggested the Teen Titans. You know how hard it was to tell the people at Marvel what I was going to do at DC? "Oh, they finally got you doing work there, what are you going to be doing?" "Well, I'm doing the TEEN TITANS... (very low, embarrassed voice)" (laughter.) I did not think that book was gonna go. I loved the original, I hated the second version... and I thought it was going to die. Marv had already decided on Cyborg. Basically, he had all the things worked out on him. Same thing with Starfire. Raven... while Marv conceived the character, it was Len's idea to put a mystical character in there. Marv didn't want Raven in.
Wolfman: Len didn't specify Raven, he wanted a female mystical character. I Just didn't want to do that because my first thought was Dr. Strange and my second thought was the Phantom Stranger. I didn't want to do anything like that. Len said, "Come up with something different." This was before Zatanna became a member of the JLA. And there were no mystical type characters in any group book. I had to figure Out a character that would be completely different. from Dr. Strange, Dr. Fate or Zatanna. The name Raven came from the comic strip that I had done with Ross Andru. There was a girl in there named Raven Winters. And the last name went on to become the Baron's last name in NIGHT FORCE. Raven sort of appeared that way.
The characters held no interest for me until a George did a visual. We talked about it and I was still very reluctant. While I knew about her background, I still didn't care about her because I don't like writing about mystics. He did the visual and I Just went... "Wow." I knew what the face looked like, but at that point we had no intention or showing what her face looked like.
Pérez: We thought we'd wait at least a year before Raven's face was revealed, but initial reaction was negative. It was the fans. They thought she was too mysterious, and couldn't identify with her.
Wolfman: This is an example of when fan comments actually affect the book. It was so overwhelming that fans thought she was A) The Phantom Stranger's daughter - - which we knew all along she wasn't - - or. B) that they didn't like that kind of character. We decided by issue four to reveal her face.
Pérez: Which has been totally changed since issue four. In number eight, her face was totally redrawn.
Lone Star: Did you get any feedback on that?
Pérez: No. everyone accepted it. Her face was pretty well covered up, her whole gimmick was that her costume covers up her face no matter what. No lighting effect will change those shadows. When I changed that face in issue eight, it was deliberate. At the time, Romeo Tanghal was doing finishing and I was doing breakdowns. And we were still trying to blend our styles at that point. He thought that I goofed and redraw the face back again. I made a xerox and repasted it in over what he had done. The face was drawn three times.
Wolfman: George's style is still evolving and Raven's features have changed the most. Physically, she is completely different than what George envisioned. George designed individual physiques for every one of the characters, including individual faces for all the women, which is totally uncomic book - like because most people draw women to look alike. They may draw men looking differently but usually all the women look exactly alike. It's the Betty and Veronica syndrome: the hair is different, but everything else looks alike. Right now all the girls in the Titans not only have individual faces, but have completely individual bodies and the men are like that, too.
Pérez: Before, if you shaved the heads of Robin and Kid Flash, they'd look exactly alike. Now, they do look different. Basically, I took the molars off Kid Flash, and now he has a very drawn Jaw. He became angular and now they have very distinctive faces. Those two are the hardest to draw because they both are All-American boys.
Creating the Dynamics of the New Teen Titans
"Raven was shy and introverted and found it difficult to confide in others. Starfire was outgoing and pure, lusty emotion. Wonder Girl, once again, was directly in the middle. The same kind of triangle was created for the guys. Robin, later Nightwing, was the level-headed and capable leader who, because he was kept on a tight leash by Batman, often felt inadequate for the task at hand. He also had a need to prove himself to Batman. Because everyone in his life had died on him, Changeling believed he had very little to offer anyone and covered it up with an outward bravado. Cyborg was a logical scientist type who rejected that approach to become an angry young man. Nightwing's logical approach to life and anger toward his "parent" was shared by Cyborg while his feelings of inadequacy were shared by Changeling. Cyborg and Changeling had also been physically altered by their parents, and that helped bring them together."
"The characters were created so they would play off each other, but they were still only words on paper. They needed to have real life breathed into them. That happened when George Pérez came onto the scene.
Creating Raven
ORION: Regarding the New Teen Titans, could you give us a little background detail on the characters themselves? How were they created and so on.
WOLFMAN: Basically Len Wein and I sat down and created them. Len wanted a mystic character, I didn't, but Len said he really wanted one, so I came up with Raven.
ORION: Why didn't you want a mystic character?
WOLFMAN: Because I didn't want to do the Phantom Stranger, and I didn't want to do Doctor Strange, yet the descriptions he kept giving me were that. He said the challenge is to find another way of doing it. Raven came out of being challenged by Len. which is the way I work best. Cyborg was mine, as was Starfire.
Raven's Powers
MacDONALD: Raven's powers are very vague.
WOLFMAN: Not to me. She's the empath who can cure some illnesses, some problems. She can't cure death, or any major disease. She failed when trying to cure the Russian Starfire's girl friend. If it's small pains or hurts at least she can cure them, but it affects her. She can move through dimensions, which is the effect of teleportationMacDONALD: How far can she go with that?
WOLFMAN: I would say about 100 miles. That's about it. We really haven't played with it or have her go more than 10 miles at any given point. But I'd say 100 is about the most. But it's not really teleportation, I was trying to get away from that. If Raven comes from an interdimensional place, I wanted to play on her origin. What else can she do? Her soul-self, that's the part of her that's Trigon, her father, the evil part of her, and that's also the part that's the aggressor, the one that actually stops all the villains. She's not able herself to fight. But the soul self does most of that for her, because it has all her aggressive tendencies.
MacDONALD And just what happens to those people when they get inside there?
WOLFMAN: Usually they are either sent away, teleported away, or they fall down and faint, or she learns something from them.
MacDONALD: lt's nor very nice in there is it?
WOLFMAN: No. It's awful (laughter]. In fact, in issue #29,1 believe, because of what happens to the Brotherhood of Evil, the character Phobia who sets up her greatest fear - she sees Kid Flash as her father and the soul self goes after Kid Flash and virtually kills him. Raven's not very happy about that.
The Art of Raven
"Raven is very angular, very high cheekbones, very straight-nosed, with an upper lip slightly larger than her lower lip, and, of course, an incredibly large forehead. "
"Raven has developed, recently, a dancer's body in which her breasts have gotten smaller. I gave Raven a body based on a young lady, Fran McGregor, who's built with a very attractive dancer's body. She goes to the same school as my wife, Carol."
Changing the Face of Raven
"When we received a letter from someone saying "Hey, you know, I've noticed that the face has been changing, you're making her look almost demonic, was that deliberate?" It wasn't, then, but it became that way from that point on! (Laughter.) That's when we decided to use that scene inside TITANS #1, based on that one letter. lt started as something I was doing because I was adapting my style. Then I suddenly decided to use a story element. The face was changed, but it wasn't because George Pérez style was changing, it was because it was a deliberate change. So it was an accidental deliberate change."
"Raven? Interesting to draw. Without Trigon it's going to be interesting to see how to handle her. Now that she's open to emotion, it opens up the character. We can do a lot more of her opening up to a society that she had closed off for so many years. I think she's going to have a lot of potential."
George Pérez on Developing Raven
[From Amazing Heroes #156, January 1, 1989]"I'd like so deal with she religious aspects of her. She was a high priestess, so she has a certain feeling toward religion. She probably even disagrees with a lot of it. I guess after doing Wonder Woman for so long, religion is something I've come to understand more. I was dealing with somebody who I had to infuse with a religious belief based on some things I did not know about. I've never been a Pagan."
"I'd like so deal more with Raven's mother. What was her mother's real name? I figure it's not Arella, as that was the name she took. Does Raven have any other relatives? Where is her mother now? One thing we'd like so deal with in the Titans-and Raven is a part of it as is Joey, although most of the others have shown is already-is sex. To her, sex is rape. She grew up with that, constantly reminded her entire life that she was a child of a rape. A thing like that can scar someone. I'd like so work a little more on investigating her rationale. It's not unusual. There have been lots of children who have had to go through that, but in this case we have Raven, who was not only the child of a rape, but was the daughter of a demon who tried to destroy everybody and corrupted her!"
"Now that she doesn't have that influence, maybe she'd like to have a relationship, but it will always stop when sex becomes involved. It's something she cannot handle. Realize that a woman like that, to give up her virginity, is would have to be someone she could trust so implicitly that that memory of a rape could be eradicated, or at least ignored. Bus having seen so many other people, including Titans, go through relationships that were more frivolous or hurt when the break-up occurred, it's not going so be easy for Raven to open up so someone that way."
"Things like that, and other investigations into Raven's personality, will be fascinating. Having done so many female characters from Wonder Woman and the Titans, that type of delving into the female psyche I find fascinating, particularly when there are certain things that no man can really identify with. Even if a man was the child of a rape, he would not have so worry about himself being caught pregnant, even if he were raped. Raven's is a totally different point of view, and I look forward to delving into that."
"If more men would try to understand that, that would be the only way to truly understand why a woman would take such pride in the things that make her unique. It would explain what happens when we as a male species corrupt that, violate that. It's like someone coming in and cutting off our penises. We don't know what we've lost until we've lost it. Virginity is something that a woman either treasures or abandons as quickly as she wants to, but it should always be her choice to do so. When a man takes away that choice I can imagine that it is an incredible violation of one of the things that makes women feel unique. "
- George Pérez
The Faces of Raven
Blue-Cloaked Daughter of a Demon:
New Teen Titans #1 to Tales of the Teen Titans #58
New Teen Titans [second series] #1-2
Raven, a mysterious dark-haired girl whose cloaked costume resembles a bird, is the child of a union between Trigon, a merciless demonic being, and Arella, a misguided Earthwoman. Unable to convince the heroes of the Justice League of the truth of her story, she used her mystic abilities to coerce Robin, Kid Flath, Wonder Girl, Cyborg, and the Changeling, together with the alien Starfire, to form the New Teen Titans to aid her in combatting Trigon.
After Trigon was defeated, The Teen Titans decided to remain a team. And despite this defeat, Raven still had to fight Trigon's dark influence over her. This dark side grew as she exposed emotions. Kid Flash, although he loved Raven, was also frightened by her evil side. This, along with other factors, led him to eventually leave the group. It also became increasingly more difficult for Raven to contain her dark side.
Wolfman notes, "We thought we'd wait at least a year before Raven's face was revealed, but initial reaction was negative. It was the fans. They thought she was too mysterious, and couldn't identify with her." Raven's face was first revealed in New Teen Titans #4. But it changed over time.
Pérez adds, "When we received a letter from someone saying "Hey, you know, I've noticed that the face has been changing, you're making her look almost demonic, was that deliberate?" It wasn't, then, but it became that way from that point on! (Laughter.) That's when we decided to use that scene inside [New Teen Titans (second series)] #1, based on that one letter. lt started as something I was doing because I was adapting my style. Then I suddenly decided to use a story element. The face was changed, but it wasn't because George Pérez style was changing, it was because it was a deliberate change. So it was an accidental deliberate change."
Evil Red-Skinned Daughter of a Demon:
New Teen Titans [second series] #2-5
Trigon was ultimately destroyed, and a transfigured, angelic Raven vanished in the aftermath of his final battle with the Titans.
A White Cloak and a New Beginning:
New Teen Titans [second series] #20 to New Titans #84
When Trigon was killed, Raven was presumed dead. This, however, was untrue. Her body, now purged of Trigon's evil, actually rose from the ashes of battle. Raven vanished, and her mother Arella went in search of her. The dazed Raven was captured by Brother Blood's minions and used her to help control Nightwing during Brother Blood's ‘resurrection' [New Teen Titans (second series) #20-21]. The Titans eventually rescued Nightwing and Raven and put an end to Brother Blood for good [New Teen Titans (second series) #28-31].
Raven was at last free to explore her emotions. At first, she thought she was in love with Dick Grayson [New Teen Titans (second series) #35-39], but came to discover there are different kinds of love. She briefly had a relationship with Eric Forrester, but it turned out Forrester was manipulating her. Forrester was a soul vampire and wanted Raven's soul self. She was rescued by Jericho [New Titans #66-67].
Raven's snow-white cape cloaked the evil that once lurked within her soul, a pestilent darkness that was a gift from her father, the demonic Trigon. With the help of her friends, the New Titans, Raven cleansed this horror from her soul and was free to use her powerful empathic powers to cure others of their ills.
Presumed Dead:
New Titans #84 to New Titans #92The Trigon-possessed souls of Azarath took over the Wildebeest Society in an attempt to create bodies to house their energies. Jericho is possessed, takes control of the Society, and kidnaped and nearly destroyed the Titans before being killed by his own father, Deathstroke the Terminator. In the ensuing battles, Golden Eagle is slain, Cyborg is nearly destroyed, Titans Tower is demolished, and Phantasm is revealed to be Danny Chase, who is himself slain along with Raven's mother Arella as the Titans defeat the Wildebeests. Raven is transformed utterly and disappears. This event is catalogued as "Titans Hunt."
The Hunt culminated in New Titans #84: Danny Chase and Arella tried to contain a demonic, red-skinned Raven. Arella, channeling the spirit Azar, joined with Danny and vanquished Raven. Their own energies combined with the force from Azarath drove away the evil of Trigon's lingering influence. This new force inhabited the garb once worn by Danny Chase and took on the identity of the new Phantasm. The remaining Titans defeated the remains of the Wildebeest Society and escaped the collapsing Dimension Azarath.
In New Titans #85, The Titans attended a funeral for their fallen comrades - including Raven. At this point, she is presumed dead.
Wild-Haired Leather-Clad Vamp:
New Titans #93-130
In Team Titans #8, the future-Nightwing has been attacked by the mysterious figure [later revealed to be a transformed Raven, having corrupted future-Nightwing with a 'Trigon seed']. This triggers startling changes in him, as he adopts the name Deathwing. Deathwing, Judge & Jury and the mysterious cloaked figure [actually Raven] plot against the Titans teams in Team Titans #9-10.
Meanwhile, in New Titans, Liz Alderman is visited by a mysterious presence [later revealed to be Raven] who warps her emotions.
In New Titans #100, Nightwing and Starfire's wedding is interrupted by the return of Raven, now a villainous avatar of Trigon. Starfire is viciously attacked and implanted with a demon "seed" by Raven, as Dick Grayson watches helplessly. Evil Raven is assisted by the corrupted Deathwing and Judge & Jury.
Raven's evil consciousness survived, and she found a mortal vessel to house her form. Raven was intent on planting the seeds of Trigon's unborn children into new vessels. She was a twisted version of her former self: Wild, black hair... tan skin... clad in leather and a grey cloak - her vampish attitude was a sharp contrast to the shy and reserved Raven of the past.
Evil Raven continued her reign of terror in New Titans #118-121; She planted ‘Trigon seeds' in Supergirl, Changeling, Magenta, Deathwing, and Thunder and Lightning. Eventually, Raven and her demon allies came into conflict with the Titans. With the help of Phantasm (who had now reformed himself, sensing he was needed), the Titans finally destroyed this evil incarnation of Raven (or so they thought).
Meanwhile, Victor Stone (formerly Cyborg) had merged his consciousness with the alien race known as Technis, in an effort to save the dying race. Vic (Cyberion) was reunited with his former teammates as an evil version of Raven (now resurrected once more) tried to destroy her good self (which lay dormant in the body of Starfire). To ferret out Starfire, evil Raven incited a conflict in the Vegan star system. As a result, Tamaran was destroyed along with the Technis. The Titans were able to destroy evil Raven utterly, and restore good Raven into a new spiritual golden body. It all happened in New Titans #127-130.
Glowing Golden-Skinned Spirit Guide:
New Titans #130; JLA/Titans #1-3; Titans #1-presentRaven's story continued in JLA/Titans #1-3; Frightened by Cyberion's total embrace of technology, Raven left her friend and returned to earth. Jarras Minion also had doubts about Cyberion's new attitude and decided to leave as well. Jarras, a sworn pacifist, made Victor a gift of his Omegadrome war suit before he left. The Omegadrome allowed Victor to try to carry out his Technis Imperative: To recreate the planet Technis at all costs!
Raven aided the Titans again during the Technis Imperative conflict, which involved the Justice League as well as all Titans, past and present. The two teams eventually worked together to save the earth and former Titans teammate, Victor Stone (Cyborg).
Following that, Raven went on a spiritual journey to reassess her place in the world. As detailed in Titans #9, she counseled Donna Troy on her identity problems and embarked for parts unknown.
