Editing The Judas Contract

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{{short description|Comic book storyline}}
{{Infobox comics story arc <!--Wikipedia:WikiProject Comics-->
|image =
|writers = [[Marv Wolfman]]
|self-titled =
|ISBN =
|TPB =
|colorists = [[George Pérez]]
|editors = [[Marv Wolfman]]<br />[[George Pérez]]
|letterers = [[John Costanza]]
|inkers = [[Dick Giordano]]
|pencillers = [[George Pérez]]
|artists = [[Adrienne Roy]]
|main_char_team = [[Deathstroke]]<br />[[Teen Titans]]<br />[[Terra (character)|Terra]]
|imagesize = <!-- default 250 -->
|Tie-in issues =
|Main titles =
|genre =
|endyr = 1984
|endmo = July
|startyr = 1984
|startmo = May
|date =
|publisher = [[DC Comics]]
|alt =
|caption =
|nonUS =
}}
"'''The Judas Contract'''" is a [[Teen Titans]] event featuring the secret origins of [[Deathstroke]] in the [[DC Comics]]. The story revolves around the betrayal of [[Terra (character)|Terra]] after her revelation as a secret agent. "The Judas Contract" is also noted for the introduction of Deathstroke's ex-wife, Adeline, but more importantly, it introduces his second son Joey Wilson. Immediately following the events of "The Judas Contract", Joey Wilson adopts the code name [[Jericho (DC Comics)|Jericho]] and becomes a regular member of the Teen Titans. Adeline Kane remains a stable supporting character and has made frequent appearances in both ''New Teen Titans'' and ''Teen Titans Spotlight''. In addition, this storyline presents the first appearance of Dick Grayson under his new costume and code-name [[Nightwing]], having left the legacy of Robin forever behind him..

== Synopsis ==
"The Judas Contract" begins shortly after [[Dick Grayson]] and [[Wally West]] officially retire from active service. Though no longer calling himself Robin, Dick is still intrinsically involved in Titans activity. The group's most recent protégé [[Terra (character)|Terra Markov]], is not a full-fledged Titan, but has certainly won the heart and mind of [[Beast Boy]]. None of the Titans suspect that she has been secretly spying on them on behalf of her partner [[Deathstroke]]. Terra has been feeding Deathstroke important information regarding the Titans including their secret identities. During a training exercise, the Titans begin to learn how mentally unstable Terra truly is. After enduring numerous playful barbs from Beast Boy, she unleashes a massive attack that nearly cripples him. The other Titans calm her down, but it is [[Raven (DC Comics)|Raven]] who realizes that there is something seriously dangerous about this girl.

Once Terra acquires all of the information she needs, she informs Deathstroke who then systematically takes down each of the Titans. He first strikes at the apartment penthouse shared by [[Donna Troy]] and [[Starfire (Teen Titans)|Starfire]]. He incapacitates Starfire with a high-yield letter bomb, and renders Donna unconscious with a gas mixture that he adds to her darkroom chemicals. He then takes out [[Cyborg (DC Comics)|Cyborg]] by electrifying a chair in his apartment. The high voltage shorts out Vic's systems long enough for Deathstroke to collect him. He then tries to take down Grayson at his apartment, but is surprised when the one non-powered Titan manages to elude him. Frustrated, he goes to the Hamptons to take down that last Titan, Beast Boy. Boy licks a stack of envelope seals treated with a special poison that renders him unconscious. With all but one of the Titans captured, he brings them to the Rocky Mountain headquarters of his employers, the [[H.I.V.E.]] Deathstroke is satisfied that he has completed the contract left behind by his late son Grant, but the H.I.V.E. criticize him for failing to bring them Robin.

Meanwhile, Grayson, having discovered that all of his former teammates have been captured returns to Titans Tower. There he is greeted by [[Adeline Kane]], Deathstroke's ex-wife. She introduces him to her mute son Joey. Adeline tells Dick that Terra is a traitor to the team and has been secretly working with her husband since the moment the Titans first met her. Grayson is incredulous at first, but slowly believes Adeline's story after she provides him a comprehensive history on Slade Wilson and the means by which he became Deathstroke. Adeline's son Joey, a mutant at birth, possesses the power to possess other people, and he is eager to help Grayson rescue the Titans. Realizing that he can never truly retire from super-heroing, Dick adopts a new costume and identity and calls himself [[Nightwing]] while Joey is also ready to follow him into battle as [[Jericho (DC Comics)|Jericho]]. Adeline then gives the heroes the location of the H.I.V.E. command center.

Nightwing and Jericho go the H.I.V.E. base nestled in the [[Rocky Mountains]]. They sneak into the facility and discover that the Titans have been strapped to a giant machine which is slowly siphoning away their life energy. Nightwing and Jericho fight through a horde of H.I.V.E. shock troops but are eventually captured. Deathstroke is surprised to see his son with the Titans and tries to bargain with the H.I.V.E. to let him go. The H.I.V.E. refuses however and Jericho takes this opportunity to possess his own father. Using Deathstroke's body and weaponry, he frees the other Titans and begins fighting the H.I.V.E. Terra is enraged at Deathstroke and feels that his affection for Joey makes him weak. She loses complete control of her sanity and yearns for nothing more than the death of everyone in the room. Beast Boy refuses to believe that Terra has gone bad, and is certain that the Terminator has brainwashed her. Terra's powers rage out of control until finally she causes a mountain of earth and debris to collapse down from the ceiling, killing herself in the process.

The Titans bring Terra's body back to [[New York City|New York]] for burial. The funeral service is small and only the Titans and the [[Outsiders (comics)|Outsiders]] are in attendance. The Titans let Terra's brother, [[Geo-Force]], believe that she died heroically while fighting the H.I.V.E.

== Reception ==
"The Judas Contract" won the [[Comics Buyer's Guide Fan Award]] for "Favorite Comic Book Story" of 1984<ref name="CBG Awards">{{cite web|url= http://www.cbgxtra.com/default.aspx?tabid=42&view=topic&forumid=34&postid=147|title= ''Comics Buyer's Guide'' Fan Awards Archives|work= Comics Buyer's Guide|location= Iola, Wisconsin|access-date= March 21, 2009| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080516031527/http://www.cbgxtra.com/default.aspx?tabid=42&view=topic&forumid=34&postid=147|archive-date= May 16, 2008}}</ref> and was later reprinted as a standalone [[Trade paperback (comics)|trade paperback]] in 1988.<ref>{{cite book|last1= Wolfman|first1= Marv|author-link1= Marv Wolfman|first2= George|last2= Pérez|author-link2=George Pérez |title = The New Teen Titans: The Judas Contract|publisher = DC Comics|date= 1988|location= New York City|page = 192| isbn = 0-930289-34-X}}</ref> Robin adopts the identity of [[Nightwing]],<ref>{{cite comic| writer= Wolfman, Marv| penciller= Pérez, George| inker= [[Dick Giordano|Giordano, Dick]]; [[Mike DeCarlo|DeCarlo, Mike]]| story= There Shall Come a Titan (The Judas Contract Book 3)| title= Tales of the Teen Titans| issue= #44| date= July 1984}}</ref> while Wally West gives up his Kid Flash persona and quits the Titans. It also featured the introduction of a new member in [[Jericho (DC Comics)|Jericho]], Deathstroke's other son.

== Collected edition ==
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Title
!Material collected
!Published date
!ISBN
|-
|''New Teen Titans: The Judas Contract''
|''New Teen Titans'' #39-40, ''Tales of the Teen Titans'' #41-44, ''Tales of the Teen Titans Annual'' #1
|August 1988
|{{ISBNT|0-930289-34-X}}
|}

== In other media ==
=== Television ===
* "The Judas Contact" is adapted in the [[Teen Titans season 2|second season]] of ''[[Teen Titans (TV series)|Teen Titans]]''. In this version, she is more sympathetic and tragic and initially displays little control over her powers, the latter trait being a source of shame for her. While on the run due to her powers, she encounters the [[Teen Titans]], during which she confides in [[Beast Boy]] her fear of losing control and he develops a crush on her, and [[Deathstroke|Slade]], who claims to know everything about her and offers to help her. Agreeing with Slade, she temporarily leaves the Titans to study under him before returning to serve as a double agent and dates Beast Boy until he breaks up with her when she reveals her true allegiance. She helps Slade take over Jump City and seemingly kills the Titans, but develops second thoughts. After Slade betrays her, she overcomes his control, kills him, and sacrifices herself to save Jump City, turning to stone in the process. In the final episode, Beast Boy discovers Terra disappeared and encounters a girl resembling her with no powers or recollection of what happened. 
* Elements of "The Judas Contract" are adapted in ''[[Young Justice (TV series)|Young Justice]]''.  Terra was recruited into the [[League of Shadows]] under Deathstroke and worked for them as an assassin for two years before allowing the [[Outsiders (comics)|Outsiders]] to rescue her and acting as a double agent within their ranks. After [[Artemis Crock|Artemis]] appeals to her better nature, Terra openly defies Deathstroke's order to kill Beast Boy and defects to the Outsiders. Unlike the original storyline, Terra doesn't die.

===Film===
"The Judas Contract" gets a faithful adaptation in the [[DC Animated Movie Universe]] (DCAMU) film ''[[Teen Titans: The Judas Contract]]''.

== References==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Teen Titans}}
{{DC Comics}}

[[Category:Comics by Marv Wolfman]]
[[Category:Comics by George Pérez]]
[[Category:Teen Titans titles]]