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Wonder Twins #1-6
Wonder Twins Vol. 1: Activate!
As part of Brian Michael Bendis' new imprint for young heroes, Wonder Comics, fan favorite Mark Russell brings his unique brand of humor and satire to the Hall of Justice's two newest interns: Zan and Jayna--Wonder Twins!
Exiled from their home planet, alien heroes Zan and Jayna must navigate life as teens on Earth at South Metropolis High School, where they're even bigger outsiders than the normal awkward young adult. Under the watchful eye of Superman, the brother and sister pull monitor duty at the Hall of Justice as interns, while also trying to overcome the pitfalls of Zan's brash confidence and Jayna's shy but streetwise personality. If you think you know the Wonder Twins, think again--this book takes the form of the unexpected!
Aimed at providing readers with honest and innovative reading experiences, Brian Michael Bendis' Wonder Comics is a celebration of the moments of in life when discoveries are made--when purpose and meaning are revealed and destinies are defined. Featuring the young heroes of the DC Universe as penned by all-star creative teams in exciting new adventures that will celebrate the wonders of life, love and comics.
Collects Wonder Twins #1-6.
Exiled from their home planet, alien heroes Zan and Jayna must navigate life as teens on Earth at South Metropolis High School, where they're even bigger outsiders than the normal awkward young adult. Under the watchful eye of Superman, the brother and sister pull monitor duty at the Hall of Justice as interns, while also trying to overcome the pitfalls of Zan's brash confidence and Jayna's shy but streetwise personality. If you think you know the Wonder Twins, think again--this book takes the form of the unexpected!
Aimed at providing readers with honest and innovative reading experiences, Brian Michael Bendis' Wonder Comics is a celebration of the moments of in life when discoveries are made--when purpose and meaning are revealed and destinies are defined. Featuring the young heroes of the DC Universe as penned by all-star creative teams in exciting new adventures that will celebrate the wonders of life, love and comics.
Collects Wonder Twins #1-6.
160 pages, Paperback
First published November 19, 2019
12 people are currently reading
263 people want to read
About the author
Mark Russell
435 books384 followersMark Russell is the author of God Is Disappointed in You and Apocrypha Now. He also writes the comic book series Prez and The Flintstones for DC Comics. He lives and works in Portland, Oregon.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 128 reviews
February 16, 2020
If you watched that old Superfriends cartoon when you were a kid, you were bound to love the Wonder Twins & their monkey Gleek. If not, then you honestly don't know what you were missing out on, and I pity your sad little existence.
Enter the Mark Russell reboot:
Zan and Jayna are aliens who (for some as of yet unknown reason) have been dumped here on Earth to be mentored by Superman, and because of him have been taken on on as (very) junior members of the Justice League.
There's the stuff with them trying to be superheroes, and then there's also the stuff with the two of them trying to fit in at their new high school. Which, you know, isn't anything new.
But.
Russell does an excellent job making it feel fresh anyway.
Ok, if you don't already know, these guys are twins from the planet Exxor. They do a little fist bump while saying Wonder Twin Powers Activate! and then Janya can turn into an animal and Zan can take any form of...water.
So, yeah. That's what they do.
I loved The League of Annoyance. It sounded like they would just be a silly group of never-weres, but it turned out that Russell managed to wrap a pretty poignant story up in all that humor.
All in all, I thought this was a fun revamp of some very underused characters. I'll definitely be following this title.
Recommended
Enter the Mark Russell reboot:
Zan and Jayna are aliens who (for some as of yet unknown reason) have been dumped here on Earth to be mentored by Superman, and because of him have been taken on on as (very) junior members of the Justice League.
There's the stuff with them trying to be superheroes, and then there's also the stuff with the two of them trying to fit in at their new high school. Which, you know, isn't anything new.
But.
Russell does an excellent job making it feel fresh anyway.
Ok, if you don't already know, these guys are twins from the planet Exxor. They do a little fist bump while saying Wonder Twin Powers Activate! and then Janya can turn into an animal and Zan can take any form of...water.
So, yeah. That's what they do.
I loved The League of Annoyance. It sounded like they would just be a silly group of never-weres, but it turned out that Russell managed to wrap a pretty poignant story up in all that humor.
All in all, I thought this was a fun revamp of some very underused characters. I'll definitely be following this title.
Recommended
December 8, 2019
Mark Russell comes along and turns yet another old cartoon (See The Flintstones and Snagglepuss) into a great comic, entertaining you while also commenting on society. The Wonder Twins originated on the Super-Friends as basically Donnie and Marie Osmond with powers.
Russell reinvents the twins as alien refugees, going to high school while interning with the Justice League. It's a fun, goofy book while taking looks at the American prison complex and racial inequality. The main villains are the Legion of Annoyance, the junior league Legion of Doom.
Stephen Byrne's art is gorgeous. I love his smooth, clean lines and eye-popping colors. This is basically everything Squirrel Girl should be, but is not. Fun and irreverent with gorgeous visuals.
Russell reinvents the twins as alien refugees, going to high school while interning with the Justice League. It's a fun, goofy book while taking looks at the American prison complex and racial inequality. The main villains are the Legion of Annoyance, the junior league Legion of Doom.
Stephen Byrne's art is gorgeous. I love his smooth, clean lines and eye-popping colors. This is basically everything Squirrel Girl should be, but is not. Fun and irreverent with gorgeous visuals.
May 17, 2021
3.5 stars
"Wonder Twin powers, activate!" -- repeated line of dialogue between the title characters
Ah yes, the Wonder Twins. When I used to tune in to the animated Super Friends series in my much younger days (anyone else remember when the major TV networks regularly aired Saturday morning cartoons?) I often felt that the mauve-attired teenage alien duo - who resembled the offspring of Mr. Spock - were just two wannabes, getting in the way of the superheroes that I REALLY wanted to watch. You know, I was there for Superman, Batman & Robin, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, or Flash adventures. That, and their superpowers - Zan's ability to transform into anything water-based, Jayna's being able to take the form of any animal - seemed, respectively, silly and sort of pedestrian.
So why bother reading Vol. 1: Activate!? Well, for the initial two-thirds of the book I found it rather entertaining, walking that tricky line between effective nostalgia (cameo appearances / references to their old TV show), some quirky humor (the so-called 'League of Annoyance' villains often generated the laughter), and having interesting YA-themed storylines. It was only in the final few chapters, when the narrative all of a sudden tried to take a turn towards a more serious nature, that it started to lose focus for me. DC - keep it breezy in tone, and I think it would make for a better series.
"Wonder Twin powers, activate!" -- repeated line of dialogue between the title characters
Ah yes, the Wonder Twins. When I used to tune in to the animated Super Friends series in my much younger days (anyone else remember when the major TV networks regularly aired Saturday morning cartoons?) I often felt that the mauve-attired teenage alien duo - who resembled the offspring of Mr. Spock - were just two wannabes, getting in the way of the superheroes that I REALLY wanted to watch. You know, I was there for Superman, Batman & Robin, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, or Flash adventures. That, and their superpowers - Zan's ability to transform into anything water-based, Jayna's being able to take the form of any animal - seemed, respectively, silly and sort of pedestrian.
So why bother reading Vol. 1: Activate!? Well, for the initial two-thirds of the book I found it rather entertaining, walking that tricky line between effective nostalgia (cameo appearances / references to their old TV show), some quirky humor (the so-called 'League of Annoyance' villains often generated the laughter), and having interesting YA-themed storylines. It was only in the final few chapters, when the narrative all of a sudden tried to take a turn towards a more serious nature, that it started to lose focus for me. DC - keep it breezy in tone, and I think it would make for a better series.
June 6, 2020
I’m British so I didn’t grow up with the Super Friends cartoon and only tangentially know about the Wonder Twins from Family Guy references, so I’ve no real nostalgia for these characters nor much prior knowledge about them. So the twins are aliens called Zan and Jayna who activate their powers when they bump fists: Zan can turn into water and Jayna can turn into any animal. Hmm. They also has a monkey! …
I appreciate Mark Russell did the impossible by making The Flintstones briefly relevant a few years ago but he’s not really written anything very good since. Not that I haven’t tried, but the same problem I had with abandoning his Snagglepuss and Lone Ranger books is similar to why I didn’t take to Wonder Twins: he writes really boring stories!
The characters themselves are not even remotely interesting, which doesn’t help, so I can see why they don’t have their own long-running title. And they’re high-schoolers, which is even more boring, to me anyway. But there’s no major storyline going on here, just a lot of done-in-one things - cosmic imp appears, jock turns out to be a dick - and the villains are a pack of groaners: the League of Annoyance.
Coupled with Stephen Byrne’s art and it’s hard not to shake the feeling that you’re reading a kid’s cartoon. There are no stakes, nothing really changes, the “drama” is very mild, and everything’s more or less resolved within a single issue: all hallmarks of a sitcom. In his afterword, Bendis talks about opening Wonder Twins Funko Pops with his 7 year old daughter who remarks that they’re the coolest characters ever - that’s about the ideal age range I’d put the audience for this series.
And yet - there’s also undeniably stuff here for older readers. A critique on the US prison industrial complex, animal abuse, substance abuse, and a reference to drugs (“Aunt Phetamine” from the League of Annoyance - Russell really enjoys his character name puns. The jock is “Red Flag”, wakka wakka, and “Polly Math” is another one for, yes, the science genius friend of Jayna’s - although a polymath is a master of multiple disciplines and Polly appears to only be a master of one). It’s akin to early Simpsons in that respect - there’s stuff adults will pick up on that’ll be lost on younger readers.
I somewhat liked the Scrambler’s story at the end - a supervillain whose powers enable him to switch people’s minds from their bodies - where he threatens to relocate the minds of a million random people so the laws of the land should be amended to be fair to everyone in society in case the president winds up in the body of an illegal immigrant working as a fruit picker. It’s a bit rushed but it’s also a thoughtful and clever idea.
The writing and art is fine but for me it simply comes down to continuing to not care a fig for the title characters and being almost constantly bored with the Saturday-morning-cartoonish stories. Wonder Twin powers... zzz…
I appreciate Mark Russell did the impossible by making The Flintstones briefly relevant a few years ago but he’s not really written anything very good since. Not that I haven’t tried, but the same problem I had with abandoning his Snagglepuss and Lone Ranger books is similar to why I didn’t take to Wonder Twins: he writes really boring stories!
The characters themselves are not even remotely interesting, which doesn’t help, so I can see why they don’t have their own long-running title. And they’re high-schoolers, which is even more boring, to me anyway. But there’s no major storyline going on here, just a lot of done-in-one things - cosmic imp appears, jock turns out to be a dick - and the villains are a pack of groaners: the League of Annoyance.
Coupled with Stephen Byrne’s art and it’s hard not to shake the feeling that you’re reading a kid’s cartoon. There are no stakes, nothing really changes, the “drama” is very mild, and everything’s more or less resolved within a single issue: all hallmarks of a sitcom. In his afterword, Bendis talks about opening Wonder Twins Funko Pops with his 7 year old daughter who remarks that they’re the coolest characters ever - that’s about the ideal age range I’d put the audience for this series.
And yet - there’s also undeniably stuff here for older readers. A critique on the US prison industrial complex, animal abuse, substance abuse, and a reference to drugs (“Aunt Phetamine” from the League of Annoyance - Russell really enjoys his character name puns. The jock is “Red Flag”, wakka wakka, and “Polly Math” is another one for, yes, the science genius friend of Jayna’s - although a polymath is a master of multiple disciplines and Polly appears to only be a master of one). It’s akin to early Simpsons in that respect - there’s stuff adults will pick up on that’ll be lost on younger readers.
I somewhat liked the Scrambler’s story at the end - a supervillain whose powers enable him to switch people’s minds from their bodies - where he threatens to relocate the minds of a million random people so the laws of the land should be amended to be fair to everyone in society in case the president winds up in the body of an illegal immigrant working as a fruit picker. It’s a bit rushed but it’s also a thoughtful and clever idea.
The writing and art is fine but for me it simply comes down to continuing to not care a fig for the title characters and being almost constantly bored with the Saturday-morning-cartoonish stories. Wonder Twin powers... zzz…
January 25, 2020
I grew up watching Superfriends and I did love the Wonder Twins. I’m not sure why, but I did. I love the fresh take on the twins in this volume. They are aliens who have found a home on Earth trying to make it through high school being super geeky and strange. They are in the Hall of Justice internship program and they take on the League of Annoyance.
It turns out the scrambler is part of that team and he becomes the villain of the piece. His evil plan actually begins to bring about good changes in the human race that could save us. Should the plan be stopped or should the human race benefit from this?
It’s a great question. I won’t say anything about how the story answers this, but it’s an interesting interesting scenario. This was entertaining and a whole lot of fun to read. Needless to say, I plan on reading more of these. I love it. It’s a nice middle grade entry for DC. Marvel has a lot of stories like Ms. Marvel and such and I haven’t seen too many for DC, but now they have one.
It turns out the scrambler is part of that team and he becomes the villain of the piece. His evil plan actually begins to bring about good changes in the human race that could save us. Should the plan be stopped or should the human race benefit from this?
It’s a great question. I won’t say anything about how the story answers this, but it’s an interesting interesting scenario. This was entertaining and a whole lot of fun to read. Needless to say, I plan on reading more of these. I love it. It’s a nice middle grade entry for DC. Marvel has a lot of stories like Ms. Marvel and such and I haven’t seen too many for DC, but now they have one.
March 27, 2020
So I am reading the great and deeply philosophical classic The Brothers Karamazov and need on a regular basis to find, well, not relief, exactly, but maybe a laugh or two, as this horrific pandemic also continues. At first glance this comic seems just typical-comics silly, if you don’t know anything about these characters. Zan and Jayna, exiled from Exxor, come to Earth to fight crime as. . . The Wonder Twins! They go to high school and they connect with Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman! Yawn, right? Silly, escapist stuff, right? So, I don’t even see at first that this comic is written by Mark Russell, who wrote the surprisingly terrific Flintstones satire.
Now when I say terrific I don’t mean that it precisely captures the original cheesy goofy sixties vibe. Russell is good because he takes throwaway stuff like this and makes it do real world, satirical work, making fun of the original stories, satirizing how usually comics are escapist crap, satirizing the very uselessness of superheroes in dealing with the real needs of human beings.
So The Wonder Twins is another Hanna Barbera send-up of a minor, easily dismissable and laughable set of characters that first appeared on an easily dismissable, laughable tv cartoon show, Superfriends. They do a little fist bump while saying Wonder Twin Powers Activate! and then Janya turns into an animal and Zan can take any form of. . . water. So this on the surface escapist teen high school stuff becomes the backdrop for a romp through the American landscape of mass incarceration, global inequality, and the reactionary nature of superhero comics.
Zan and Jayna are in the Hall of Justice internship program and they take on the League of Annoyance. I loved The League of Annoyance. I really love this comic and how it is actually helping me see how it is calling attention to the need for comics. media, and literature to attend to political and philosophical issues in the real world. Uh, like The Brothers Karamazov? Back to reading! Thanks, Mark! Hope to see you again soon!
Now when I say terrific I don’t mean that it precisely captures the original cheesy goofy sixties vibe. Russell is good because he takes throwaway stuff like this and makes it do real world, satirical work, making fun of the original stories, satirizing how usually comics are escapist crap, satirizing the very uselessness of superheroes in dealing with the real needs of human beings.
So The Wonder Twins is another Hanna Barbera send-up of a minor, easily dismissable and laughable set of characters that first appeared on an easily dismissable, laughable tv cartoon show, Superfriends. They do a little fist bump while saying Wonder Twin Powers Activate! and then Janya turns into an animal and Zan can take any form of. . . water. So this on the surface escapist teen high school stuff becomes the backdrop for a romp through the American landscape of mass incarceration, global inequality, and the reactionary nature of superhero comics.
Zan and Jayna are in the Hall of Justice internship program and they take on the League of Annoyance. I loved The League of Annoyance. I really love this comic and how it is actually helping me see how it is calling attention to the need for comics. media, and literature to attend to political and philosophical issues in the real world. Uh, like The Brothers Karamazov? Back to reading! Thanks, Mark! Hope to see you again soon!
December 6, 2019
Zan and Jayna, exiled from Exxor, come to Earth to fight crime as... The Wonder Twins!
Like a lot of people my age, I watched the Super Friends on Saturday mornings as a kid and the Wonder Twins were way better additions to the team than Marvin and Wendy. When I saw DC was finally launching a Wonder Twins series, I had to give it a read. It exceeded all expectations.
In these six issues, the Wonder Twins struggle to fit in at high school and work as interns at the Hall of Justice, battling the League of Annoyance and fighting the hardest battle of all: understanding Earth.
Stephen Byrne's art does a great job at evoking memories of the Wonder Twins on the Super Friends show while still seeming modern and fresh. The coloring is also very well done, not overdoing the computer effects and feeling cartoony without being overly garish. Mark Russell's writing is what sold the book for me, though. The irreverent, cynical tone made for some hilarious moments but also some powerful, almost sad ones. Russell satirizes today's media culture all too well. The Wonder Twins are greatly fleshed out in this volume, going from vaguely Asian aliens resembling Donnie and Marie Osmond to much deeper characters.
I don't really know what else to say without giving away too much. Wonder Twins: Activate is a smart, fun, cynical, bleak, hilarious book. Five out of five space monkeys.
Like a lot of people my age, I watched the Super Friends on Saturday mornings as a kid and the Wonder Twins were way better additions to the team than Marvin and Wendy. When I saw DC was finally launching a Wonder Twins series, I had to give it a read. It exceeded all expectations.
In these six issues, the Wonder Twins struggle to fit in at high school and work as interns at the Hall of Justice, battling the League of Annoyance and fighting the hardest battle of all: understanding Earth.
Stephen Byrne's art does a great job at evoking memories of the Wonder Twins on the Super Friends show while still seeming modern and fresh. The coloring is also very well done, not overdoing the computer effects and feeling cartoony without being overly garish. Mark Russell's writing is what sold the book for me, though. The irreverent, cynical tone made for some hilarious moments but also some powerful, almost sad ones. Russell satirizes today's media culture all too well. The Wonder Twins are greatly fleshed out in this volume, going from vaguely Asian aliens resembling Donnie and Marie Osmond to much deeper characters.
I don't really know what else to say without giving away too much. Wonder Twins: Activate is a smart, fun, cynical, bleak, hilarious book. Five out of five space monkeys.
July 12, 2019
That Mark Russell guy, he really knows how to write them comics. I'm not familiar with any previous iterations of Wonder Twins, but it doesn't matter because this book is not really about them — it's all about deconstructing the superhero medium in a very subtle yet powerful way. This is the comic book story that for once genuinely made me side with the nominal villain, root for his plan and feel bummed when the goddamn superheroes inevitably save the day in the end. It's such a sharp, funny yet bitter story about real people and their struggles in a superhero-dominated world where superheroes don't really do anything meaningful to help them, and while it's not a novel idea in itself, Russell makes his point very effectively and convincingly. It's yet another triumph of an incredibly talented and criminally overlooked writer (although the whole Second Coming debacle may finally bring him a lot more well-deserved attention), and every comic book fan should pick it up.
April 14, 2020
This provides sharp social commentary in a way that isn't cynical or bitter. Through the Wonder Twins, Mark Russell is able to comment on a wide variety of social issues. Most importantly he breaks down the barrier between hero and villain by questioning whether heroes are really doing the right thing by propagating the current social system. This comic has a lot of heart and I hope that more people get a chance to read it.
May 7, 2022
This was actually pretty fun read!
SO we pick up with Zan and Jayna as they are interning for HOJ and well its a collection of fun short stories like how they come to understand this world and see the differences from theirs and I love the use of sattire and meta-commenting on real world problems for us but what would seem ridiculous to others and then the thing with them facing different villains annd problems like invasion and all and battling villains like Drunkula and League of Annoyance and yeah that was funny and ridiculing and all but the way they fight them off is so fun and like has elements that will make you love these characters and stories but the big story with the scrambler and the journey of another character Polly math and her family and how Lex ties into it is certainly something and like makes you think of the bigger concerns of the world!
Its yeah.. not for everyone and I am not a big fan of Russell's writing but he does well here to be subtle and show the everyday problems and the larger problems we face as a human population through this books and he talks about incarceration and climate change well, and yeah that. Plus the art is good and Stephen byrne is easily one of my fav artists and he shows it here too! He does the whole thing so well and its an epic experience to read this. So yeah a definite recommend!
SO we pick up with Zan and Jayna as they are interning for HOJ and well its a collection of fun short stories like how they come to understand this world and see the differences from theirs and I love the use of sattire and meta-commenting on real world problems for us but what would seem ridiculous to others and then the thing with them facing different villains annd problems like invasion and all and battling villains like Drunkula and League of Annoyance and yeah that was funny and ridiculing and all but the way they fight them off is so fun and like has elements that will make you love these characters and stories but the big story with the scrambler and the journey of another character Polly math and her family and how Lex ties into it is certainly something and like makes you think of the bigger concerns of the world!
Its yeah.. not for everyone and I am not a big fan of Russell's writing but he does well here to be subtle and show the everyday problems and the larger problems we face as a human population through this books and he talks about incarceration and climate change well, and yeah that. Plus the art is good and Stephen byrne is easily one of my fav artists and he shows it here too! He does the whole thing so well and its an epic experience to read this. So yeah a definite recommend!
December 3, 2019
Mark Russell does it again, like the Flintstones, talking about social issues while making a extremely entertaining adventure.
Who are the Wonder Twins? Well shit if I know. I think I've seen a old cartoon with them or heard them in passing when I was a kid. I dunno. It doesn't really matter. Basically they come to earth after being exiled from their own planet and have to get use to earth. This opens up issues about prison, politicians, dating, friendzone, and more. All while also being a fun little DC adventure about brother and sister taking down the Syndicate of Annoyance! (Real name).
Overall, super entertaining. It doesn't talk down to you but with you on subjects you all heard of. I especially enjoyed the issue on Prison and of course the one on dating and how everyone takes it different ways. Those were easily the two best issues. The art is super fun and adds a lot of humor and even buckles down on the darker moments well. While some of the subject matter can be on the nose, most of it works. This is super entertaining and well worth the read! A 4 out of 5.
Who are the Wonder Twins? Well shit if I know. I think I've seen a old cartoon with them or heard them in passing when I was a kid. I dunno. It doesn't really matter. Basically they come to earth after being exiled from their own planet and have to get use to earth. This opens up issues about prison, politicians, dating, friendzone, and more. All while also being a fun little DC adventure about brother and sister taking down the Syndicate of Annoyance! (Real name).
Overall, super entertaining. It doesn't talk down to you but with you on subjects you all heard of. I especially enjoyed the issue on Prison and of course the one on dating and how everyone takes it different ways. Those were easily the two best issues. The art is super fun and adds a lot of humor and even buckles down on the darker moments well. While some of the subject matter can be on the nose, most of it works. This is super entertaining and well worth the read! A 4 out of 5.
November 16, 2019
It's funny how a comic about two joke characters can make you think about and feel things you'd never thought possible before, but here's Mark Russell doing just that with the Wonder Twins.
Framed from Zan and Jayna's perspective, the Wonder Twins embark on a series of tales that put them into conflict with the League Of Annoyance, a Z-List Legion of Doom officiate that instead makes the characters navigate life, the universe, and everything in between on their journey to become better superheroes, and better people besides. Throw in Stephen Byrne's beautful artwork (seriously, the things this guy does with colour are just next level), and Wonder Twins is a winner.
The only thing I guess I wasn't a fan of is that it all seems to be gearing up for a big finish, but then kind of flatlines the ending because the series got extended; I feel like maybe if the book had been two six issue mini-series rather than one long twelve issue one, it might not have had the false finish. Still, hardly a problem, just an observation.
Framed from Zan and Jayna's perspective, the Wonder Twins embark on a series of tales that put them into conflict with the League Of Annoyance, a Z-List Legion of Doom officiate that instead makes the characters navigate life, the universe, and everything in between on their journey to become better superheroes, and better people besides. Throw in Stephen Byrne's beautful artwork (seriously, the things this guy does with colour are just next level), and Wonder Twins is a winner.
The only thing I guess I wasn't a fan of is that it all seems to be gearing up for a big finish, but then kind of flatlines the ending because the series got extended; I feel like maybe if the book had been two six issue mini-series rather than one long twelve issue one, it might not have had the false finish. Still, hardly a problem, just an observation.
March 27, 2020
I'm so old that I remember first encountering the Wonder Twins when they started way back when on the Saturday morning cartoon series Super Friends. (One of the few superheroes originating in tv). At the time I was really little so I found Zan and Jayna to be fun and I loved their space monkey, Gleek.
All these years later, I have spent years knocking my wedding ring together with my wife and saying "wonder twin powers activate"! I even taught my wife that she pretty much had to be either an eagle or elephant as that seemed all Jayna turned into (probably so the animation studio could save money).
After the Super Friends, I had rarely seen the Wonder Twins over the years except some rare cameos (more like easter eggs) here and there, such as a recent Teen Titans Go episode. They pretty much survived only to mock how dorky they were in the first place (which I thought was unfair).
So I was excited to see this collection and picked it up for nostalgia's sake.
This was clearly aimed at teens and tweens rather than aging Gen Xers such as myself. Nonetheless, it was much better than I thought it would be. It's funny with some good adventure too. I would have liked it more if I was the target age, but they still throw some bones to the old dogs such as myself.
All these years later, I have spent years knocking my wedding ring together with my wife and saying "wonder twin powers activate"! I even taught my wife that she pretty much had to be either an eagle or elephant as that seemed all Jayna turned into (probably so the animation studio could save money).
After the Super Friends, I had rarely seen the Wonder Twins over the years except some rare cameos (more like easter eggs) here and there, such as a recent Teen Titans Go episode. They pretty much survived only to mock how dorky they were in the first place (which I thought was unfair).
So I was excited to see this collection and picked it up for nostalgia's sake.
This was clearly aimed at teens and tweens rather than aging Gen Xers such as myself. Nonetheless, it was much better than I thought it would be. It's funny with some good adventure too. I would have liked it more if I was the target age, but they still throw some bones to the old dogs such as myself.
July 15, 2019
There is no denying, to my knowledge anyway, that the old Super Friends cartoon show is the butt of a lot of jokes (many of the deserved). Its not like DC hasn't tried to use these characters before, but it never seemed to work.
Then in walks Russell who did some excellent work on DC Hanna-Barbera Line before it was dropped. He comes to close to writing the leads as teens in high schools (had one, so I've glimmer into what that is like). But more importantly...
He creates antagonists about who I as a reader cared about. I mean what would the "heroes" do if the villain's plan was to actually make a better world?
(read as digital floppies)
Then in walks Russell who did some excellent work on DC Hanna-Barbera Line before it was dropped. He comes to close to writing the leads as teens in high schools (had one, so I've glimmer into what that is like). But more importantly...
He creates antagonists about who I as a reader cared about. I mean what would the "heroes" do if the villain's plan was to actually make a better world?
(read as digital floppies)
June 13, 2020
I understand that Mark Russell is acclaimed for his humor and satire, but I've read Prez, Vol. 1: Corndog-in-Chief, The Flintstones, Vol. 1, Exit Stage Left: The Snagglepuss Chronicles, and now this, and none of it amuses me in the least. It's all just tiring and depressing.
The first four issues of this were particularly dumb as we follow the boring and stupid Wonder Twins, teenage aliens from another world, as they navigate high school and their internship at the Justice League's Hall of Justice. I watched Super Friends as a kid, bought all the comics, and enjoyed Zan and Jayna at the time. I wasn't a hater. But I just don't see them as characters in need of their own series, and Russell does nothing here to change that mindset.
The last two issues are intriguing, particularly during this last month of protests, as the story tackles systemic racism. Unfortunately, while making lots of good points, Russell falls into the trope of having a white savior, a villain named the Scrambler, try to fix it all. Insultingly, the rest of the Justice League is shown either sitting around going off on tangents or acting as unthinking jackboots for the white establishment.
I would think I'm done reading Russell, but I'm sure I'll be dragged back in when his next title gets everyone buzzing again. And I'm sure I just won't get it either.
The first four issues of this were particularly dumb as we follow the boring and stupid Wonder Twins, teenage aliens from another world, as they navigate high school and their internship at the Justice League's Hall of Justice. I watched Super Friends as a kid, bought all the comics, and enjoyed Zan and Jayna at the time. I wasn't a hater. But I just don't see them as characters in need of their own series, and Russell does nothing here to change that mindset.
The last two issues are intriguing, particularly during this last month of protests, as the story tackles systemic racism. Unfortunately, while making lots of good points, Russell falls into the trope of having a white savior, a villain named the Scrambler, try to fix it all. Insultingly, the rest of the Justice League is shown either sitting around going off on tangents or acting as unthinking jackboots for the white establishment.
I would think I'm done reading Russell, but I'm sure I'll be dragged back in when his next title gets everyone buzzing again. And I'm sure I just won't get it either.
February 19, 2020
This was silly but it made me laugh out loud a couple times, so props for that.
I like how Russell lampshades all the goofiness of superhero comics by having alien twins Zan and Jayna comment on the peculiarities of business-as-usual by theSuperfriends Justice League. He also manages to insert commentary on society in general and high school in particular, which is a bonus.
The art perfectly matches the tone, too.
I like how Russell lampshades all the goofiness of superhero comics by having alien twins Zan and Jayna comment on the peculiarities of business-as-usual by the
The art perfectly matches the tone, too.
March 29, 2020
You can find my review on my blog by clicking here.
With the launch of Young Justice, creator Brian Michael Bendis curated the sub-imprint of Wonder Comics which now includes Naomi, Dial H for Hero, Amethyst, and Wonder Twins. Targeting a younger audience by tackling themes of identity, purpose, and heroism, these series look to inspire younglings and illustrate their crisis during their very fragile adolescent period in life. Brought back from The All-New Super Friends Hour (1977-1978), writer Mark Russell attempts to give the dynamic twins the pizzazz they need to draw the attention of readers around the world. After all, there is no better way to look at teenage life on Earth but through the eyes of outsiders.
What is Wonder Twins: Activate! about? The story follows alien twins Zan and Jayna in their time on Earth as students at South Metropolis High School and as interns at the Hall of Justice. Exiled from their home planet, they are left to understand the intricacies of relationships amongst earthlings while also deciphering the global, social and economic issues of modern society while remaining under the wings of Superman. With their unique powers (Zan can transform into water while Jayna can transform into any animal) unveiled only once they touch hands and shout “Wonder Twin powers, activate!”, these two youngsters look into doing their own share of justice as they search for their place on Earth.
With the first volume collecting Wonder Twins issues #1-6 and a confirmed sequel volume entitled Wonder Twins: The Fall and Rise of the Wonder Twins collecting issues #7-12, this comic book series looks to do things differently by drawing upon humour and satire to depict the bizarre and laughable problems of humanity through a social commentary on various ideas such as prison overcrowding or even rehabilitation in the United States. Writer Mark Russell does an oddly good job in integrating such heavy concepts into such a playful and campy story arc but the execution often failed to incite any jovial emotions. In fact, the satire in which this story revels leaned towards irritation rather than admiration, especially with the lame villains, e.g. The Scrambler (and his ability to mind-switch) or even the League of Annoyance (a drop-out version of the League of Villains). This tone thus conquered over the narrative and made most of the story’s threats seem so irrelevant in the end.
To capture the quirky nature of this comic book series while illustrating its much more thoughtful sequences with accuracy, writer Mark Russell is accompanied by penciler and colourist Stephen Byrne. While the result is consistent, flashy, and vibrant, there were several character designs that left a lot to be desired, including Superman’s odd shape. A lot of emotions are also evident through facial expressions but lack in subtlety as they sometimes come off as overtly obvious. Similar to other titles within the Wonder Comics imprint, Wonder Twins also makes use of creative panel structures to convey the story, breaking the barriers set by traditional panels.
Wonder Twins: Activate! is a comical yet slightly bizarre tale of justice through the eyes of two twin aliens trying to do what’s right on Earth.
Yours truly,
Lashaan | Blogger and Book Reviewer
Official blog: https://bookidote.com/
June 9, 2022
I don't follow comics and hadn't heard of the Wonder twins, so I came to this with no expectations. It was good - and unexpectedly funny! Coming from another planet to high school on Earth is no picnic, even when you have superpowers and Superman is your sponsor. Zan is a bit of a slacker, but always cheerful. Jayna is more serious and also sweet. The League of Annoyances is hilarious, and about as effective as archenemies as its name suggests. I also like the supercomputer and hope it has a good part in the next volume.
The main action, which happens in the later issues in this book, has to do with a plot by the Scrambler (an Annoyance, but powerful) to scramble everyone on Earth into each other's bodies randomly. It's telling to see the President try to get laws passed to make things easier on poorer people in case he ends up as one. It's political without being partisan: the rich and powerful know how much the less privileged are oppressed; they just don't care - unless, as in this book, they find out that it could actually be them! Lex Luthor is good as a corporate/media tycoon villain too.
The main action, which happens in the later issues in this book, has to do with a plot by the Scrambler (an Annoyance, but powerful) to scramble everyone on Earth into each other's bodies randomly. It's telling to see the President try to get laws passed to make things easier on poorer people in case he ends up as one. It's political without being partisan: the rich and powerful know how much the less privileged are oppressed; they just don't care - unless, as in this book, they find out that it could actually be them! Lex Luthor is good as a corporate/media tycoon villain too.
April 28, 2022
3.75⭐️ I’m obsessed with Zan, Gleek and Druncula
July 26, 2019
Mark Russell shows an incredible talent for bringing old animated characters to new life in comics and using them as figures for sharp social satire, first with The Flintstones and Snagglepuss, then The Lone Ranger, and now the Wonder Twins.
Russell’s book begins with a familiar fish-out-of-water premise wherein the twins, Zan and Jayna, are exiled from their home planet and sent to high school on Earth where they also intern with the Justice League. But within a couple of issues, Russell’s satire takes on long-standing assumptions of superhero comics and their surprising parallels to the US prison-industrial complex. While I shouldn’t have been surprised, since it is Mark Russell’s MO, I didn’t see that coming. This is now among my favorite ongoing books from Marvel and DC.
(Read in single issues)
Russell’s book begins with a familiar fish-out-of-water premise wherein the twins, Zan and Jayna, are exiled from their home planet and sent to high school on Earth where they also intern with the Justice League. But within a couple of issues, Russell’s satire takes on long-standing assumptions of superhero comics and their surprising parallels to the US prison-industrial complex. While I shouldn’t have been surprised, since it is Mark Russell’s MO, I didn’t see that coming. This is now among my favorite ongoing books from Marvel and DC.
(Read in single issues)
January 29, 2020
By the guy who made The Flintstones one of the best books of the year. Are there any other cheesy and nostalgic cartoons we can get him to revive with humor and incisive social commentary? Please?
March 3, 2020
The Wonder Twins are, of course, a classic, and Mark Russell has a great take on them. It's one-part high school drama, one-part silly superheroism, and one-part outright comedy. Oh, maybe it's a little too over the top at times, but it's also occasionally laugh-out-loud funny. And this Zan and Jayna are delightful characters that I hope to see more widely used in the DC Universe.
January 15, 2020
A good example of how interesting storytelling can be done in a comic as Russell and team turns a "lame" property into something interesting with tons of social commentary in a subversive way.
June 11, 2020
Borrowed this from my boyfriend having no familiarity with the Wonder Twins and no idea what to expect. This was super funny, surprisingly relevant, thoughtful, dare I say political. Totally caught me by surprise and warmed my heart.
July 15, 2019
Wow, I am so impressed! I need more stars for this book!
Wonder Twins has suddenly become my favorite series this year. Behind its naive look, there are some important issues address like opportunities, addiction, jail, inequity, racism, and they do get to the point. And as if Mark Russell’s fun writing wasn’t enough, the art by Stephen Byrne is just flawless.
I hope this series doesn’t get overlooked because it’s a jewel and it needs to be discovered. Its fun takes me back to the old Justice League, way back when Keith Giffen and J.M. DeMatties used to write it, but trust me, it’s not just about empty jokes.
On the plus side (as if the narrative wasn’t gorgeous already), Zan and Jayna are such an adorable pair. Young kids with their hearts just in the right place.
Oh, and don’t get me started on the League of Annoyance... I feel loooooove!
I couldn’t recommend it more.
*Read in single issues.
Wonder Twins has suddenly become my favorite series this year. Behind its naive look, there are some important issues address like opportunities, addiction, jail, inequity, racism, and they do get to the point. And as if Mark Russell’s fun writing wasn’t enough, the art by Stephen Byrne is just flawless.
I hope this series doesn’t get overlooked because it’s a jewel and it needs to be discovered. Its fun takes me back to the old Justice League, way back when Keith Giffen and J.M. DeMatties used to write it, but trust me, it’s not just about empty jokes.
On the plus side (as if the narrative wasn’t gorgeous already), Zan and Jayna are such an adorable pair. Young kids with their hearts just in the right place.
Oh, and don’t get me started on the League of Annoyance... I feel loooooove!
I couldn’t recommend it more.
*Read in single issues.
April 9, 2020
Mark Russell delivers another great book: packed to the brim with jokes; satirizing and addressing the problems of the modern world; betting on hope. It can have a bit too much pathos but it works well for a comic book about two nigh-useless superheroes based on a decades-old cartoon. It's a delight to read, especially if you look into the background gags and wordplay, a constant in Russell's work.
January 10, 2020
The Wonder Twins debuted in the old Superfriends cartoon as the audience insert, teenaged sidekicks (you might also remember Marvin, Wendy and Wonder Dog, who appeared in a different iteration of the series) to the established heroes of Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman. Aliens with pointed elven ears and a vaguely POC visual depiction (and what looks like obvious inspiration by Mr. Spock and the Vulcans from Star Trek), Zan and Jayna had a unique, symbiotic power where they could shapeshift if they put their fists together and recited the phrase “Wonder Twin powers, Activate!”. Zan could take the form of any sort of H20, from water to ice to steam, while Jayna could become any animal—terran or not. Accompanying them was their little blue monkey, Gleek, the mascot character who usually bumbled around and occasionally carried a bucket to transport the liquified Zan in. He also made noises like a VW Beetle with an engine that continuously turned over without actually starting. It was a whole thing.
The characters were kitschy and kind of silly, befitting the show and era (remember, this was the time where Darkseid was a frequent villain of the week and most of his plots revolved around getting Wonder Woman to marry him) and this didn’t translate into the DC Comics of the eighties that put a focus on dark and gritty stories. There were a few minimal, half-assed attempts to bring a modernized Zan and Jayna to the actual comics, but it wasn’t until this book that the endeavor worked. No, not even worked. It excelled. It rocked.
Beautifully drawn, the debut of the Wonder Twins into the greater DC Universe is a perfectly tongue-in-cheek adventure that is brimming with personality. Incredibly amusing, the snappily written dialogue is made all the more solid with the strong sense of identity for every character; from the twins themselves to the beleaguered ‘League of Annoyance’ who oppose them. Bigger named character feature frequently throughout, notably Superman and Lex Luthor, and they’re exaggerated to exactly the perfect amount. Batman’s occasional jokes hit hard, and it’s easy to imagine the beloved voice cast from the DCAU bringing these lines to life.
The antagonists feel like they’d be right at home on The Tick, and it works really well in this book as Zan and Jayna’s campy pop culture relevance is oozing through every page. Despite that, both the twins are written with character foremost in mind. Both have strong identities that exceed one-off jokes. Special kudos goes to Zan’s incredible response to having a girl hook-up with her ex-boyfriend while he’s on a date with her at the movies and Jayna’s questioning of the nature of our planet and humanity’s refusal to do right by themselves. There’s a lot of heart and integrity behind each joke, and for how much the book is happy to drop anvils on the reader about morality, it does it with a cheeky bent—maybe even a somewhat cynical view—as it explores the divide between the rich and the poor, capitalism consumerism, gender and racial discrimination and heavily criticizes the U.S. prison system.
Oh, then there’s Gleek! He’s adorably drawn, has a new—better—backstory that makes him instantly sympathetic, and he’s been made very lovable—a far cry from his sometimes Scrappy Doo-ish inclusion in the old show.
There’s really nothing to find here that I didn’t like. The art was beautiful, the writing was funny but poignant, and our main antagonist (the Scrambler) is surprisingly sympathetic while looking funny but feeling terrifying. That’s a pretty great feat. I can’t wait to see Zan and Jayna get more spotlight, and I think—for the first time in forever—they’ve made the DC Universe better with their presence. There's no denying this is one of the greatest trades to come out of '19.
The characters were kitschy and kind of silly, befitting the show and era (remember, this was the time where Darkseid was a frequent villain of the week and most of his plots revolved around getting Wonder Woman to marry him) and this didn’t translate into the DC Comics of the eighties that put a focus on dark and gritty stories. There were a few minimal, half-assed attempts to bring a modernized Zan and Jayna to the actual comics, but it wasn’t until this book that the endeavor worked. No, not even worked. It excelled. It rocked.
Beautifully drawn, the debut of the Wonder Twins into the greater DC Universe is a perfectly tongue-in-cheek adventure that is brimming with personality. Incredibly amusing, the snappily written dialogue is made all the more solid with the strong sense of identity for every character; from the twins themselves to the beleaguered ‘League of Annoyance’ who oppose them. Bigger named character feature frequently throughout, notably Superman and Lex Luthor, and they’re exaggerated to exactly the perfect amount. Batman’s occasional jokes hit hard, and it’s easy to imagine the beloved voice cast from the DCAU bringing these lines to life.
The antagonists feel like they’d be right at home on The Tick, and it works really well in this book as Zan and Jayna’s campy pop culture relevance is oozing through every page. Despite that, both the twins are written with character foremost in mind. Both have strong identities that exceed one-off jokes. Special kudos goes to Zan’s incredible response to having a girl hook-up with her ex-boyfriend while he’s on a date with her at the movies and Jayna’s questioning of the nature of our planet and humanity’s refusal to do right by themselves. There’s a lot of heart and integrity behind each joke, and for how much the book is happy to drop anvils on the reader about morality, it does it with a cheeky bent—maybe even a somewhat cynical view—as it explores the divide between the rich and the poor, capitalism consumerism, gender and racial discrimination and heavily criticizes the U.S. prison system.
Oh, then there’s Gleek! He’s adorably drawn, has a new—better—backstory that makes him instantly sympathetic, and he’s been made very lovable—a far cry from his sometimes Scrappy Doo-ish inclusion in the old show.
There’s really nothing to find here that I didn’t like. The art was beautiful, the writing was funny but poignant, and our main antagonist (the Scrambler) is surprisingly sympathetic while looking funny but feeling terrifying. That’s a pretty great feat. I can’t wait to see Zan and Jayna get more spotlight, and I think—for the first time in forever—they’ve made the DC Universe better with their presence. There's no denying this is one of the greatest trades to come out of '19.
May 16, 2025
*4.5* This was such a pleasant surprise, to be honest.
I admittedly know very little about the Wonder Twins, having only encountered them in comics here and there (like in DC vs. Vampires, for example). I never watched the show they came from; it’s a bit before my time. That doesn’t mean they can’t be relevant to me and my life (much like Fire and Ice recently).
As an aspiring YA librarian, I love a distinctly YA comic. One that is aware of the issues of the day and yet doesn’t hit you over the head with humor that will be outdated in two months. It’s still relevant, even reading it at least five years after publication, so that’s to its credit. And it’s funny, but not obnoxious or cringey, and the tone is consistent.
There’s an inside joke amongst my friends about how my dad is obsessed with the Wonder Twins because he brings them up any time he can, which is more often than you’d think, because his daughter is obsessed with superheroes. There’s also an inside joke amongst my friends that my parents should’ve named me Jayna, for this same reason and because I’m a twin. I didn’t expect to relate to Jayna so much. I love her passion and her ambition. Zan is nothing like my twin brother, but I doubt our double introvert dynamic would make for as good of a book, anyway, so it’s better off for it. He’s a goofball, but he’s a good guy. Kind of like Beast Boy these days (who I wish had done more in this book, but it’s a minor critique).
I didn’t think the League of Annoyance was all that compelling, but that’s probably my only serious issue here. Otherwise, I understand why the guy at my local comic shop told me this one was a good pick when I bought it!
I admittedly know very little about the Wonder Twins, having only encountered them in comics here and there (like in DC vs. Vampires, for example). I never watched the show they came from; it’s a bit before my time. That doesn’t mean they can’t be relevant to me and my life (much like Fire and Ice recently).
As an aspiring YA librarian, I love a distinctly YA comic. One that is aware of the issues of the day and yet doesn’t hit you over the head with humor that will be outdated in two months. It’s still relevant, even reading it at least five years after publication, so that’s to its credit. And it’s funny, but not obnoxious or cringey, and the tone is consistent.
There’s an inside joke amongst my friends about how my dad is obsessed with the Wonder Twins because he brings them up any time he can, which is more often than you’d think, because his daughter is obsessed with superheroes. There’s also an inside joke amongst my friends that my parents should’ve named me Jayna, for this same reason and because I’m a twin. I didn’t expect to relate to Jayna so much. I love her passion and her ambition. Zan is nothing like my twin brother, but I doubt our double introvert dynamic would make for as good of a book, anyway, so it’s better off for it. He’s a goofball, but he’s a good guy. Kind of like Beast Boy these days (who I wish had done more in this book, but it’s a minor critique).
I didn’t think the League of Annoyance was all that compelling, but that’s probably my only serious issue here. Otherwise, I understand why the guy at my local comic shop told me this one was a good pick when I bought it!
July 5, 2020
This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader as part of a quick takes post to catch up--emphasizing pithiness, not thoroughness.
---
Okay, so...straight out of the second (pretty sure, it was the second) incarnation of Super Friends comes this Wonder Twins series. And it was . . . eh, okay, maybe?
Zan and Jayna are on Earth, sent here by their parents under the watchful eye of Superman. They're open about their alienness, telling everyone at school about their home planet, its culture, and their abilities. And pretty much no one cares. After school, they hang out in the Hall of Justice as interns, they end up battling The League of Annoyance (villains too lame for consideration in the Legion of Doom). Oh, and eventually, Zan buys a circus monkey that turns out to be blue.
I really dug the art. I'm not sure what else to say about that—I'm interested in checking out more of Byrne's work. Oh, wait...I have said nice things about him already. I should pay more attention to things like that.
The tone of this was wildly uneven—was it comedic? Was it earnest?. The League of Annoyance was too silly for this book—too silly even for the Teen Titans Go cartoon. I liked a lot of what went down in the Hall of Justice (especially the supercomputer).
---
Okay, so...straight out of the second (pretty sure, it was the second) incarnation of Super Friends comes this Wonder Twins series. And it was . . . eh, okay, maybe?
Zan and Jayna are on Earth, sent here by their parents under the watchful eye of Superman. They're open about their alienness, telling everyone at school about their home planet, its culture, and their abilities. And pretty much no one cares. After school, they hang out in the Hall of Justice as interns, they end up battling The League of Annoyance (villains too lame for consideration in the Legion of Doom). Oh, and eventually, Zan buys a circus monkey that turns out to be blue.
I really dug the art. I'm not sure what else to say about that—I'm interested in checking out more of Byrne's work. Oh, wait...I have said nice things about him already. I should pay more attention to things like that.
The tone of this was wildly uneven—was it comedic? Was it earnest?. The League of Annoyance was too silly for this book—too silly even for the Teen Titans Go cartoon. I liked a lot of what went down in the Hall of Justice (especially the supercomputer).
January 15, 2021
I'm young enough to have entirely missed the Super Friends era of Saturday morning cartoons, so the Wonder Twins were brand new to me. One of them can turn into any animal, the other can turn into any liquid. I'll bet there are a lot of sick jokes to make about that.
Fortunately, Mark Russell avoids that brand of humor, instead sticking to poking fun at modern societal ills like he did in The Flintstones, Vol. 1. It works again! The man's found a calling. In Activate!, the Wonder Twins battle systemic racism and the prison industrial complex - not explicitly, of course, but very, very implicitly.
The plot won't knock your socks off, but it's cute and fun and, yes, a little deeper than you'd expect the Wonder Twins to go. Stephen Byrne's bright, shiny art matches perfectly to Russell's efforts to portray a world sliding its ills under the rug. I especially appreciated the silly villain who unexpectedly had a pretty ingenious plan to change the world. I almost sided with him.
Fortunately, Mark Russell avoids that brand of humor, instead sticking to poking fun at modern societal ills like he did in The Flintstones, Vol. 1. It works again! The man's found a calling. In Activate!, the Wonder Twins battle systemic racism and the prison industrial complex - not explicitly, of course, but very, very implicitly.
The plot won't knock your socks off, but it's cute and fun and, yes, a little deeper than you'd expect the Wonder Twins to go. Stephen Byrne's bright, shiny art matches perfectly to Russell's efforts to portray a world sliding its ills under the rug. I especially appreciated the silly villain who unexpectedly had a pretty ingenious plan to change the world. I almost sided with him.
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