FinalAvalanche writes...

How was Miss Martian able to perfectly transform into Red Tornado when she said that it was difficult for her to transform into men?

Craig F writes...

Hey Greg,

I'm a huge fan of Spectacular Spider-man and I was heartbroken when it was cancelled. On the flip-side, I'm loving Young Justice, so I have to ask... If it weren't for Spidey getting cancelled, would you still be working on YJ?

Anonymous writes...

Hi Greg!

Now that Desdemona is back on the Clan...has anyone told her about Demona and what she has become?

Jason writes...

So I'm watching "City of Stone" again, one of my favorite storylines, and I'm wondering, how on earth could a young MacBeth not realize Gillecomgain was the Hunter who killed his father?

I mean, clearly they know each other, and the Hunter is wearing a mask that has markings the exact same shape of Gillecomgain's giant scars. Doesn't seem like the best disguise.

Kyle writes...

Are you planning to create any more Gargoyles comics, like maybe one for Timedancer?

Yojimbo writes...

After zooming in on a screen shot from "Welcome to Happy Harbor," I noticed that some of Red Tornado's back story from the comics was on the lower left screen when Aqualad announces that Red Tornado is on his way to The Cave (The Elemental Wars and his time with the Leymen).

1a) Was this information scripted to be used or was it something cleverly injected by someone else?

1b) According to the Earth-16 timeline, when does the Elemental Wars and Leymen membership take place (i.e. 7 years ago)?

Jurgan writes...

"Xander writes...

Can you tell us who was the first (a) person, (b) being and (c) entity to figure out how to work the Phoenix Gate?
Greg responds...

Yes, I can."

Really, you can? I wouldn't think the term "first" could apply to the Phoenix Gate. And I'm not even being sarcastic (well, maybe just a little), but how can something in an infinite loop ever be said to have a beginning or end? Perhaps there's an earliest time it appeared, but odds are it was taken there by someone else, who may have taught this "earliest" person how to use it- in which case, could (s)he really be said to be the first person to have used it? I'm interested in this- do you think of there being a beginning to something like the Phoenix Gate? Or am I just reading way too much into an off-the-cuff smartass remark?

Phoenician writes...

So . . . earlier this week (1/19/2011) I picked up and read Young Justice #0. (sigh) I'm still waiting to hear the release dates for Mecha-Nation #2 or #3, so I was happy to pick a comic written by (well you, lol) Greg Weisman & (Spec Spidey's) Kevin Hopps :) Anyways, without further delay,

*** Young Justice #0 SPOILERS BELOW!***

My continuing caveat with these Young Justice reviews is that I barely know a lick of DC lore. Frankly, it was Spectacular Spider-Man that most effectively introduced me to the Marvel Universe, despite me watching/reading other Marvel properties years earlier.

So if there's any inside jokes/easter eggs/homages here, I'm not likely to notice them.

Nevertheless, from the moment I read the first page, I was immediately pulled into the story. Maybe it was because I saw the two-part premiere, but even if that's the case, I don't think accessibility will be an issue for this DC newbie.

Anyways, this comic takes place between the last two scenes of "Independence Day" Part II . . . July 5th to July 8th. It really is perfect timing this issue came out this week, just days after Part II re-aired, and a couple of days before the new episode goes on the air.

The first couple and last few pages transition between television-to-comic and comic-to-television with such ease, I'm kinda wondering if both were written at the same time. ;)

Anyways, onto the story . . . this one mostly focuses on Kid Flash and him taking in the stray . . . you know, Superboy.

I am definitely reminded of the awkward moments Superman realized he has a clone, and that abandonment feeling lurks everywhere Supey goes, starting at Kid Flas-, er, Wally's home in Central City.

After a day of vegging in front of television (I'm gonna guess that Wally was giving Superboy a crash-course on pop culture), Kid Flash gets a letter from Batman (without crushing Superman's hope that it might have been Superman looking out for him) with a cash card dedicated to Superboy's "expenses." They make their way to the mall and 'Forever Sixteen' to get Superboy something to wear that isn't a solar suit . . . I smiled when Superboy only bought black shirts, justifying the classic cartoon trope of wearing the same thing every episode.

Unlike Aqualad or Robin (who are either patrolling in the ocean or stuck at the Wayne Mansion), it doesn't take long for Kid Flash and Superboy to find trouble, aka the Terror Twins, Tommy & Tuppence Terror. They seem the particularly physical sort for simply robbing a jewelery store, but it doesn't take long for Kid Flash and Superboy to get them away from their appointed hostages and well, the mall.

But before things really heat up, the Terror Twins get timid and make tracks (tee hee) . . . and not to Kid Flash and Supey's credit. We're treated to the Flash and Superman, who treat the duo with news that Batman has made his decision as well as another moment of silence (though not as awkward) from Superman.

Todd Jensen revealed to me that the names Tommy & Tuppence were also used for a husband & wife detective duo in a few Agatha Christie novels. As previously mentioned, I wouldn't know the level of coincidence/homage in this factoid, but I find it interesting enough to worth sharing :)

All in all, a fun issue, and I gotta say, I'm liking the friendship that's developing between Kid Flash and Superboy, which was short of getting hostile when the two originally met in the two-parter -- now, Kid Flash is giving Superboy a 'bro' punch on the shoulder . . . and immediately regretting it. d:

Can't wait for the -- (check issue number) -- um, first issue (as well as you and Kevin's return as writers later in the series)!

***Young Justice #0 SPOILERS ABOVE ***

Greg Bishansky writes...

"Welcome to Happy Harbor"

It's times like this I am grateful to J. Michael Straczynski's "Babylon 5" for conditioning me to be patient with new TV shows. Like the early episodes of "Babylon 5," while this episode was quite enjoyable, it didn't suck me in and hook me. There just seemed to be a disconnect for me and what was happening on screen.

Mr. Twister didn't excite me as an antagonist. His design was great, and the effects of his powers were great, but there was just something there that didn't grab me the way, let's say Electro did in the first non-pilot episode of "Spectacular Spider-Man." But, maybe it's because I've never been a DC reader, and I never heard of Mr. Twister before this episode aired.

The character interaction was perfectly enjoyable, though. Kid Flash has great chemistry with just about everybody, and his line about finding himself hot had be rolling. Superboy continues to be a fascinating character, especially in his search for identity and purpose.

But, the meat here is the newest team member, Miss Martian. At first glance, she appears to be an unfortunate hold out to the early Silver Age of comics where most of the female characters were just girlfriends and damsels in distress, such as Marvel Girl and Invisible Girl back when Stan Lee was writing the books. But, by the end of the episode, she takes charge and proves that she is quite formidable and deserves to stand shoulder to shoulder with anyone else on this team. I had a feeling her whole "baking cookies" moment was designed to get us to underestimate her.

And her gambit where she posed as Red Tornado was brilliant. I'll admit, I was fooled.

Not bad. I liked it. I liked the pilot much better, but I appreciate a slow build... especially when I know the payoff is going to be excellent. And trust me, comparing this to "Babylon 5" is about as high a compliment as I can give.

Looking forward to next week's. I'll definitely keep watching.