KC Carlson & friend

A KC COLUMN by KC Carlson

(KC discusses events in Young Justice #1. If you don’t want to know about it yet, make a note to come back and read the column later. It’s fun.)

Young Justice #1

I should have known that I was gonna enjoy Brian Michael Bendis’ new Wonder Comics line when I read Young Justice #1, featuring art by Patrick Gleason, and encountered discussions about an “Earth Crisis” (actually seven of them!) as well as a conversation about a map… “A map we cannot draw. A map that we simply cannot see. This map — It connects us to Earth.” Wow, this guy loves maps… so let’s follow the connection to…

… our first meeting with our first member of Young Justice — and it’s someone we’ve never met before. Her name is Jinny Hex, and if that sounds familiar, you’re not wrong. She’s driving through downtown Metropolis traffic in a car with all of her belongings in it, and it just happens to have a busted tail light. So she quickly encounters the friendly Metropolis police force, and she’s getting a ticket. But she’s just too happy and excited to be there that she just doesn’t care!

Young Justice #1 preview page. Meet Jinny Hex!

Of course, this is the perfect time for something weird to happen, so it does — as hundreds of warriors from Gemworld (where Princess Amethyst used to live, if you have long, weird DC memories implanted in your brain) appear. These warriors have decided to attack Earth. Normally Superman would show up (Metropolis is his city, after all), but he doesn’t, so Jinny Hex grabs up her rifle and starts blasting away at the invading hordes. (“M’havin’ a weird day.” she mutters between shots.) This is a great new character!

Young Justice #1 Wonder Girl variant cover by Evan Shaner

Just at that moment, Robin (“Well, one of him,” Tim Drake corrects) helps Jinny get her bearings, and they have a conversation. (While she’s blasting away and they’re both saving kids!) Then, Cassie Sandsmark (a Wonder Girl) encounters Tim, and they chat between punches. He suggests that they “can do a Brave and a Bold”, which is now apparently DC teen lingo for a superhero team-up. But it seems Cassie has some other issues, so she demurs and quickly leaves. Hmmm…

She’s not even close to being a member of Young Justice, but it’s good to see Maggie Sawyer of Metropolis Special Crimes (MSC) calling for a full city EVAC of Metropolis. This fight is BIG! Then, of course, Impulse arrives, and then everything happens in a flash!

Young Justice #1 Robin variant cover by Yasmine Putri

Evil warriors from Gemworld are actually swarming Metropolis! Meanwhile, Robin and Jinny Hex are battling back-to back. She’s good with a gun. “Hey! Is that a real gun?” Tim asks. “A real gun?” Jinny’s confused. “With real bullets?” Tim adds. KBLAM “Well, yeah.” she adds matter-of-factly. “You got anything less letha— AGH!” And then, Tim and Jinny get sucked up into another dimension. “You gotta be kiddin’ me,” adds Jinny — just as Wonder Girl arrives on the scene, now ready to fight! But she’s not watching what she’s doing and gets blasted out of the sky — and Teen Lantern (a newbie!) makes the save! And in mid-fight, a WAY over-excited Impulse shouts “YOUNG JUSTICE IS BACK!!!” There’s a lot happening here, and due to some good storytelling, I enjoyed it all.

Young Justice #1 Amethyst variant cover by Amy Reeder

Of course, there’s a major mystical explosion and Robin ends up elsewhere where he encounters a young woman with a giant sword, who asks “What are you doing in the House of Amethyst?” (Guess who?)

Bart/Impulse is also someplace else where he encounters Superboy (Connor Kent) — and wonders how Connor now has beard stubble? But, we’re now out of pages, so this is TO BE CONTINUED…

I WONDER WHAT THIS IS ALL CALLED…

Young Justice #1 is quite impressive for a first issue of anything, and it’s even more so when you realize it’s the kick-off title of a new imprint called WONDER COMICS.

Naomi #1

Other titles in the Wonder Comics line, headed up by Brian Michael Bendis, include Naomi (#1 out in two weeks) by Bendis, David Walker, and Jamal Campbell; Wonder Twins by Mark Russell and Stephen Byrne; and Dial H For Hero by Sam Humphries and Joe Quinones (which I mentioned in my last column.)

Wonder Twins #1

A mysterious fifth Wonder Comics title is currently being teased by Bendis and DC, and it might just have something to do with DC Comics’ 30th Century. (And also might have been a title — or two — that was edited by me for DC — way back in the day!) If this is true, there’s certainly going to be a lot of both past and future fans of this upcoming series!

I can say no more.

(Until later…)

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KC CARLSON hasn’t looked forward to a new line of comics since… hum, I can’t remember. Wonder Comics has made a positive first step — in what I hope will be a very long journey!

WESTFIELD COMICS is not responsible for the stupid things that KC says. Especially that thing that really irritated you. Nothing much irritating this week, that’s for sure!