WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Young Justice #12, by Brian Michael Bendis, John Timms, Gabe Eltaeb, and Wes Abbott, on sale now
The H-Dial is quietly one of the most powerful tools in the DC Universe, providing normal humans with superhuman abilities to stand up to some of the strongest threats in the multiverse. But apparently, the identities the chosen individuals are given can take inspiration from other superhero universes and draw on their powers, if Young Justice #12 is any indication.
While getting ready to head into battle, the H-Dial from Dial H For Hero did what seemed to be impossible and technically just brought Spider-Man to the DC Universe.
RANDO CALL
The H-Dial is a mysterious hand-held device covered in strange symbols. However, to whatever person possesses the item at the time, they can decipher the letters and utilize it. Whenever someone dials the letters H-E-R-O, they gain a new (and sometimes random) set of superpowers. While it's usually for otherwise non-existent superheroes with basic power sets, it can occasionally empower someone with abilities taken from other established heroes (like Superman or Plastic Man). It's even previously been used to turn someone into a villain when they dialed correctly.
There have been multiple people who've held the H-Dial over the years. It's appeared in the time of the Legion of the Super-Heroes and has been possessed by other heroes like Tim Drake. This means that when the current possessors of the H-Dial, Miguel and Summer, end up in the company of a group of other young heroes like Young Justice and the Wonder Twins, Drake is able to vouch for them. Even if he doesn't actually know them, he knows the Dial and that it only is given to the right kind of people. Instantly agreeing to help their fellow teen heroes fight S.T.A.R. Labs and find out what happened to Superboy, Miguel ends up drawing the red phone, meaning he'll receive a random superpower. But when he activates the dial, he ends up turning into a very unexpected hero.
DIAL S FOR SPIDER-MAN
Miguel ends up taking on powers that are clearly meant to be an established superhero, but not one who exists in the DC Universe. The young hero basically takes on the appearance of Marvel's Spider-Man. His new costume has a distinct blue and red color scheme, although it appears to be swapped around in terms of prominence in the costume. His mask covers his eyes with a large set of white lenses, giving him a distinct mask. He even swings from what appears to be an energy-based cord to the rando H-Dial phone. This allows him to move around like any of the characters who've been Spider-Man in the past, completing the look and solidifying Miguel's new power-set as being those of Peter Parker's.
It's a solid cross-publisher reference, especially coming from writer Brian Michael Bendis. Bendis broke into the comics mainstream with his record-setting run on Ultimate Spider-Man alongside artist Mark Bagley -- which still holds the record for being the longest tenures of any specific Marvel creative team. Bendis even went on to help co-create Miles Morales, the new version of Spider-Man who became one of the most successful characters introduced in the past decade. Bendis currently writes Young Justice and has been bringing his experience with teen heroes to the DC Universe. So it's very fitting for Bendis to find a way to reference his time on Spidey's book, even if it's just as a flash of power.
Young Justice #13, written by Brian Michael Bendis and David F. Walker, illustrated by John Timms and Mike Grell, is scheduled to go on sale Feb. 5 from DC.