"Past Due" is issue #55 of the Teen Titans Go! comic book series.
Synopsis[]
Control Freak's latest plan—sending the Teen Titans to the past! Will our heroes have fun in the 1950s? Maybe.
Plot[]
The Titans are elated to head to the theater to watch a superhero movie about B'wana Beast, but turns out that there has been a long queue. Robin tries to persuade the four others to jump the queue, only for the five of them being mistaken as cosplayers. Coming across a hooded stranger, the Titans immediately accepts his offer of giving them a dubious record tape just to satisfy their desire of being able to enjoy a movie, without knowing that he is Control Freak all along.
After Robin gives Beast Boy a stern warning on forbidding the latter to touch the remote (due to last time Beast Boy accidentally setting off a Norad alert), the five anticipate for some action sequences, only to be disappointed by the lack of colors, graphic violence and special effects, as well as the absence of logic. Abruptly, the screen malfunctions, and before the Titans can react...THEY HAVE ALREADY BEEN TELEPORTED INTO THE 1950'S!
Control Freak then admits that he is indeed the culprit, much to the Titans' annoyance, before he cuts it short upon realizing that holograms are nonexistent in the 50s. Robin orders the rest to recon the area, only for them to report that there is neither cell phone service nor WIFI. They try to cheer themselves up that they can watch a movie without queuing. Unfortunately, the truth is not only superheroes weren't even a trend, but they also get mistaken as juvenile delinquents. They continue to wander around, only to be disparaged by ignorant people who frame them as "beatinks with revealing outfits" and "circus folks", with the circus part almost causing Robin to burst.
Trying to impress the ignorant people, the Titans pose themselves as superheroes, but this only results in them getting ridiculed, because the people consider superheroes are exclusively for nerds. Some even start bullying Beast Boy and Cyborg by giving them wedgies. Having enough, Raven decides to unleash her magic, but this time people get horrified and are going to inform Senator McCarthy about them being "nonconformists" and "communist Martians".
Soon enough, the Titans begin to feel themselves to be outcasts, especially realizing they have disappointed a little boy's expectations on superheroes being role models. Beast Boy and Cyborg can't help but wail with streams of tears. Robin firmly believes that they must return to the 21st Century, but he cannot devise an idea, and Beast Boy's time machine suggestion isn't feasible too. Suddenly, upon feeling discomfort when sitting, Beast Boy remembers that he has the remote in his pocket, though Robin is furious about that as the former has gone against his order. Raven, on the other hand, is smart enough to deduce that they can use the same method that Control Freak applied on them to send them to the 50's...If they were tossed into the past by a gimmicked DVD, then why haven't they remembered going backwards with the remote??
Thanks to Raven's wits, she and the four others finally manage to return to the present day. They all brutally attack Control Freak who celebrated too early on being able to watch all the superhero movies as he desired, but instead of being thanked for saving the day, people accuse them for assaulting and giving him a concussion. Robin initially proudly explains their titles as "superheroes", only to be recognized and mocked for being Batman's former sidekick. Looks like Beast Boy is correct about sidekicks being uncool, though it doesn't stop Robin's overflowing tears...
Characters[]
- Robin
- Cyborg
- Starfire
- Raven
- Beast Boy
- Control Freak
- B'wana Beast (mentioned)
- Generic Jump City Citizens
Trivia[]
- TBA
Continuity[]
- This isn't the first time the Titans have traveled to the past. Other instances include "Nostalgia is Not a Substitute for an Actual Story", when they time-traveled back to the 80's.
References[]
- TBA
Errors[]
- In "Stockton, CA!", it is revealed that Jump City was founded in 2003, so it is quite impossible for it to have 1950s history.
Running Gags[]
- The Titans being discriminated in the 1950s.
Transcript[]
The transcript for "Past Due" can be found here.
Gallery[]
TBA