The original Teen Titans travel to another world to rescue President John F. Kennedy in this tale from the 1960s. This story isn't set in any real continuity. In this fantasy, attitudes and fashions of the late-1960s are mixed with those of the early-1960s. In fact, considering that the story is set before JFK's death, then the Titans should not have even been formed at the time. But that shouldn't really bother anyone. The whole story is built around an idealized vision of the 1960s-- much like the original Teen Titans comic presented an idealized version of teenagers from the era.
The story follows the patterns of 1960s, Silver-Age comics as well. Story-telling is highly compressed with the Titans travelling across galaxies in just a few panels and with Wonder Girl falling in love with a guy she just met. Robin is a little too over-emotional, being on the verge of tears a numer of times. But if you don't take it seriously, it is still fairly entertaining, particularly for those who remember the comics and the pop culture scene of that era.
Many of the details of the story certainly will look strange to younger eyes. Some readers may be put off by the appearance of the alien kidnappers-- unless they are aware that these beings are caricatures of the Beatles and that it is all part of the joke. The reverence given to JFK in the story will probably look overdone to modern-day cynics who remember him mostly as an overrated politician who nailed Marilyn Monroe. But it does fit for a story set in the era where his murder sent shock waves throughout the world. The big "twist" at the end isn't all that original but it does give the comic a tone that is both poignant and goofy.
The book is far from perfect. Aqualad is left out almost completely, which is a pity since the old TITANS comic always found a way to get him into the action. The art has a simple, cartoony look to it, clearly intended to further the 1960s-look of the entire annual. Well, that might have suited THE MIGHTY CRUSADERS of the 1960s but as can be seen in a Nick Cardy gallery at the end of this annual, the TEEN TITANS comic of that era certainly didn't have simple, cartoony art. Those old comics had highly-detailed, heavily-textured illustrations by a genuine comic-book master. Too bad they couldn't pay tribute to that as well.
This one gets a healthy three and a half stars out of five but those who don't remember the 1960s at all will likely give it just one and a half stars.
