When people think of the Teen Titans today, most remember the New Teen Titans from the '80s, which was the lineup brought into the animated series and movies. However, that wasn't the original Teen Titans. The original version of the team debuted in 1964, and it wasn't until 16 years later that the more popular version formed.
In the beginning, the Teen Titans were the sidekicks of prominent DC Comics superheroes, but soon the four founding members started to allow in other heroes with no connections to preexisting heroes. The only connection to the main Titans characters was that they were teenagers and were the future of the DC Universe.
Robin (Dick Grayson)
Dick Grayson was the first real comic book sidekick, working with Batman as Robin since 1940. When it came to putting together a team of comic book sidekicks, bringing in Robin was the first choice. As the most experienced sidekick, Robin became the leader of the Teen Titans.
The Teen Titans made their debut in The Brave and the Bold #54 by Bob Haney and Bruno Premiani. It started when Hatton Corners teens asked Robin to come to speak for them. While Batman blamed the teens, Robin showed up to help, and the Teen Titans were formed. Robin has been the leader throughout the team's history, including stints as DC's Nightwing and even when Tim Drake and Damian Wayne took the Robin role.
Kid Flash (Wally West)
Much like Robin, Wally West's Kid Flash received a request to come to help the teens at Hatton Corners. Also like Batman, Barry Allen's Flash said that teens don't understand adult problems, but he gave Wally permission to go and talk to them. When Kid Flash showed up, he found Robin already there.
They learned that Brom Stikk, also known as Mr. Twister, was in town, as the criminal had kidnapped all the kids in the area, and it was up to the Teen Titans to save them. Kid Flash remained a member for years, and future heroes using the Kid Flash moniker also served as members.
Aqualad (Garth)
The third founding member was Aqualad. He received the same invitation, and Aquaman gave the same opinion about teens respecting the adults. With Robin and Kid Flash, the three sidekicks formed the Teen Titans and helped beat Mr. Twister and save the teens of Hatton Corners.
The three teens worked together and saved the town by combining their powers. Eventually, Aqualad chose to only be a part-time member and left the team on a full-time basis in Teen Titans #19.
Wonder Girl (Donna Troy)
In The Brave and the Bold #60, Robin called in one more new member that wasn't part of the first adventure. This was Donna Troy, who received the call while on Paradise Island with Wonder Woman and the Amazonians.
When leaving, her own mother warned her to be careful as "just a girl" among the male superheroes. Unlike the first three heroes, Wonder Girl was not a Wonder Woman sidekick but was just another warrior from Paradise Island. She was a member for a long time, including the '80s New Teen Titans version.
Speedy (Roy Harper)
Green Arrow's sidekick Speedy was the first non-founding member to join the team, and he made his first appearance with the team in Teen Titans #4 by Bob Haney and Nick Cardy. He served as a guest star for his first few appearances.
That changed when Aqualad chose to quit the team as a full-time member, leaving to become a sub. When this happened, Speedy took Aqualad's official spot in Teen Titans #19 and remained with them through most of this era.
Lilith Clay
Most of the first 10 members of the Teen Titans are names that DC Comics fans remember well, and many remained a part of the different iterations of the team for many years. However, the fifth person to join the team, Lilith Clay, is one that few people talk about.
Lilith was a psychic precog who could put herself in a trance and see things that happened. This made her a valuable member of the Teen Titans, and she went on to even lead Titans West. Her first appearance was in Teen Titans #25 by Robert Kanigher and Nick Cardy.
Hawk (Hank Hall)
When Lilith showed up in Teen Titans #25, she warned the Teen Titans of a dangerous event that they needed to stop. When the Titans showed up to help some protestors at a peace rally, they found Hawk and Dove fighting to protect the people, as well.
Hawk was Hank Hill, a man who represents war and chaos. He gained his powers along with his brother Don Hall, who became Dove. Hawk and Dove gained more acclaim when they arrived in the Titans TV show, albeit with a different Dove.
Dove (Don Hall)
Dove was the opposite of his brother Hawk. While Hawk represented war and chaos, Dove represented order and peace. The two brothers, while working as partners, always argued and fought despite needing each other to level out their powers and goals.
The two young heroes joined the Teen Titans in Teen Titans #25 after helping them in a battle. A philanthropist named Loren Jupiter financed the Teen Titans, and the team now consisted of seven members. Sadly, other responsibilities caused Hawk and Dove to leave after just four issues.
Guardian (Malcolm Duncan)
When Loren Jupiter began financing the Teen Titans, they met a new superhero named Malcolm Duncan. This young man took on the role of Guardian, a legacy character, and he made his first appearance in Teen Titans #26.
Mal was a pacifist, but he had a feeling that he could help people as a superhero, so he ended up taking on a strength-enhancing exoskeleton, became the second Guardian, and joined the team. He stuck around for a long time, even gaining more powers when he gained access to Gabriels Horn.
Gnarrk
The 10th person to join the Teen Titans team was one of the members that never really fit in. Gnarrk was a caveman who traveled to the present-day and met the Teen Titans. After joining the team, Lilith helped teach him how to talk and behave in the modern-day, and the two ended up building a relationship.
He didn't appear as much as other members after joining, as he didn't want to be a hero. He eventually quit the team, and his connection with Lilith was the only thing that mattered about this hero.