‘Young Justice #8’ (review)

Written by Brian Michael Bendis
Art by John Timms
Published by DC Comics

“Let’s get her to the Batcave.”
“There’s a Batcave?”
“Detective’s hunch.”

I mean, I’m pretty sure there’s a Batcave in every universe.

But that’s almost certainly true on Earth 3, where Owlman of the infamous Crime Syndicate is Thomas Wayne, Jr.

And unfortunately for our dimension-lost Young Justice team, Earth 3 is exactly where they’ve landed this time. Because that place sucks.

Not that there’s any sign of the Crime Syndicate anywhere about mind you.

That’s good however for Earth 3’s Cassie Sandsmark, aka Amaxon Thunder, and her crew of super-powered marauding thugs… who all bear a striking similarity to a bunch of young kids we know.

I mean what else do you expect on Earth 3?

Last time author Brian Bendis took us to DC’s mirror universe, Superboy Jonathan Kent had to escape evil versions of both his parents. Yeesh. But why leave it there, when Young Justice finds themselves flying blind through a multiverse of near limitless possibilities?

It’s an opportunity too good to miss. And Bendis along with fellow storyteller and artist extraordinaire John Timms take full advantage. No need to quibble that our heroes have been plunked down exactly where their evil alter egos have set up shop. Just sit back and enjoy the show.

Because this book is all about action, action, action. The story caroms from page to page with one fight sequence after another.

John Timms really shines with all the kinetic requirements, with artistic layouts and sequences that fairly fly off the page. And Bendis is in his element, taking every opportunity to throw creative twists into every confrontation, ones you know are going to have a big effect on the kids of Young Justice… should they all manage to avoid being killed by horrible versions of themselves.

Most of this month’s story features YJ’s trinity of WonderGirl, Superboy, and Red Robin (with the occasional red and white streak of Impulse to pepper the dialogue).

But clearly Teen Lantern is dealing with a situation of her own. And it sure looks as if our Jinny Hex may not be the only one with knowledge of what all that junk is in her trunk.

(And hey, hey, I have to say, I’ve been wondering when we’d see Snapper Carr again myself lately…)

But the biggest revelation of all this month is the spectacular reinvention of Stephanie Brown, aka Batgirl for a day, aka Spoiler, aka Earth 3’s very own bad-ass Batwoman. That’s right. And even better for our team, it seems as if Batwoman on Earth 3 may just be a Good Guy. Because Young Justice needs all the help they can get.

Mind you, there’s no guarantee of that. In fact, maybe we’d better hope it isn’t all that true after all.

Because if Stephanie Brown is good in the universe of Earth 3, what does that mean about the young woman Tim Drake is in love with back home?..

Next Issue: A few more pennies drop for Tim Drake. And the mighty Ms. Teen Lantern takes center stage. Finally.