Young Justice #33

Wash and Werewolf

Peter David Writer
Todd Nauck Pencils
Lary Stucker Inks
Jason Wright Colors
Ken Lopez Letters
Tom Palmer Jr. Assistant Editor
Eddie Berganza Editor

There's a pun for every cover, but don't blame Todd Nauck, Lary Stucker or Ian Hannin for this issue's. I personally like the pun on the cover more than the title of the story, but that's beside the point. This is the first of a two-parter with Wonder Girl, Cissie and Empress (not pictured) battling real werewolves alongside Wendy the Werewolf Stalker. It's a good cover as usual, but sadly the cover and the story have nothing to do with Impulse. In fact, Impulse won't even show up next issue (a first for Young Justice). But he does make a quick cameo here, so let's get to it.

The main story focuses on Joe Westin, creator of "Wendy the Werewolf Stalker," starring Terri Jewel Jackson. (Around the same time, Joss Whedon was creator of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," starring Sarah Michelle Gellar.) Ratings are dipping for "Wendy," so Westin has decided to bring in gold medalist archer Cissie King-Jones to guest star in an episode. Cissie is allowed to bring some friends, so she chooses Cassie and Traya. Anita also tags along, which gives her an opportunity to start to mend her relationship with Cissie.

While all this is developing, Bart is hanging out with Superboy at the Catskills resort. Bart is putting together a ship in a bottle by vibrating his fingers through the glass, which actually requires a great deal of precision if you think about it. Kon is reading a copy of Pointless Surveys Monthly when he asks Bart who he'd eat dinner with if he could pick any person, living or dead. Bart says that's an easy question — a living person would be much better than a decaying corpse crawling with maggots and flies. Bart says the only reason anyone would want to eat with a dead person would be if they were on a diet and wanted to lose their appetite.

Kon clarifies that he meant someone like Thomas Jefferson. Bart confirms that Jefferson is dead, then says he would like to ask him why he's not dead anymore. He then asks Kon if Thomas Jefferson has come back to life like Superman did, or if it's like a "Spectre ghost kinda thing." Kon says he doesn't even know why he bothers, and Bart says he doesn't, either. Kon tries to change the topic from dead people, but Secret suddenly shows up. Superboy doesn't want to be left alone with Secret and Bart — perhaps remembering their disastrous attempts to restore his powers — so he suggests they rustle up the rest of the team.

Secret reports that Cassie, Cissie and Traya have all flown out to the set of "Wendy the Werewolf Stalker," so Kon asks Bart if he's heard from Robin lately. Then the impact of Secret's words hit Kon, as he realizes that Cissie and Cassie get to meet his idol, Terri Jewel Jackson, whom he'd kill to be with. Kon immediately begins moping that first Bart and now "C&C" get to live out his dream. Secret's a bit confused by this, but Bart understands that Kon is a big fan.

And that's all the Impulse in this story. In this issue and the next one, our female heroes will battle actual werewolves, and have some fun along the way. It's not a bad story, it just doesn't pertain to this blog. So we'll check out now and wait for the next time the entire Young Justice team can unite to face a threat. Luckily, we won't have to wait too long.

The letters to the editor begin with Michael Bregman, of Gan-Yavne, Israel, calling Young Justice #29 another hilarious issue. He enjoyed the Secret-Darkseid dynamic, as well as the Superboy-Wonder Girl romance, which he hopes carries over to Superboy's own title.

Sean Anderson wants to keep Lobo, bring back Arrowette and keep Empress. He acknowledges this is a lot of characters, but he figures if Justice League can handle seven members, then Young Justice should be fine with eight.

Amy Walker, of Sacramento, Calif., says that Lobo adds a tough, yet comical touch that completes the ensemble. She calls him a walking contradiction — good-natured yet savage — and says that Peter David fully understands this.

Jason Smith is glad the creative team of David, Todd Nauck and Lary Stucker have stuck around for so long. He enjoyed the "Mr. Doug Side" joke, as well as the involvement of the Forever People. Jason wants Lobo to stay on the team, but not as a teenager. He also requests a Deadman guest appearance.

Dirkatron says he's historically been ambivalent toward Lobo since he never cared too much for his graphic violence. But with Young Justice, Lobo has been a lot of fun. So Dirkatron votes to keep Lobo, although he also acknowledges this as a temporary involvement. Now for the ads:

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Turn on the lights. Lock the door. It's like nothing you've ever read. ... And it's just beginning. Cirque du Freak.

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Superman: Where Is Thy Sting?

Tang Berry Panic. What a frontside lipslide tastes like.

Next time, we'll continue Bart's adventure in the 30th century in Impulse #74.