Wonder Twins #7 // Review
Wonder Twins, one of the flagship titles of DC’s Wonder Comics line of comics about teen heroes, was initially slated to be a 6-issue miniseries. After its initial success, it was extended to a 12-issue maxi-series. With the publication of #7, one starts to wonder if that was the right choice.
This issue follows Zan and Jayna after their success against The Scrambler and Jayna’s friend Polly Math. This is a one-and-done story, which introduces us to a new, tragic member of the Justice League: the perpetually lonely and unfathomably stinky Repulso, who is primarily deployed for crowd control situations. The Wonder Twins step up and save Repulso when he fails to quell panic in the streets after their accidental leak of news of a potentially earth-destroying meteor.
Writer Mark Russell still brings charming and off-beat humor to the Twins and their adventures. However, it seems like he’s trodding ground that he’s already covered. This book relies on the overwhelming stupidity of not just the everyday person (as has become one of Russell’s trademarks), but also Zan and even Superman himself.
Stephen Byrne’s art, with lettering by Dave Sharpe, continues to be excellent. His character acting continues to sell Russell’s quirky humor, and his faces are almost Maguireian in their expressiveness. The concept of the Twins allows him to draw some bizarre and exciting things, like a purple cloud and a giant ant descending on a crowd of rioters.
Wonder Twins #7 is pleasant enough. It’s got heart and wit and charming humor. But it lacks the bite of earlier issues, and of some of Mark Russell’s other work like Snagglepuss or Second Coming. With five chapters left, here’s hoping the title gets its groove back.
