Justin and Nick

[bnewman]

If you're at all familiar with action adventures or comic books, you've surely heard Justin's name before, but did you know he has a twin brother? This concept was a long time in preparation, and finally took shape in something of a Les Barker x Tom Smith form.

by Benjamin Newman

listen to this poem
 

The Earth Council detected an asteroid

Whose impact would be planet-bustin'

As champions they called upon two young boys

Twin brothers named Nick and Justin

 

In just a few hours the world might end

Squashed flat by a cosmic thumb

So the two were granted the power to bend

The space-time continuum

 

But when the council empowered the brothers

There was only one minor hitch

They gave each the power they meant for the other

Cause they couldn't tell which was which

 

Even so, when the asteroid Theta Prime

Threatens the human race

They'll save us: Justin, the Nick of Time

And Nick, the Justin of Space

 

Alien criminals planted a bomb

We could all hear the timer tick

You need one of my boys, said the heroes' mom

Call Justin — or maybe Nick?

 

They both can meddle with physical laws

Nick could beam the bums' bomb away

While Justin could make the thing's timer pause

Or is it the other way?

 

When cosmic crooks commit cosmic crimes

The twins won't give up on the chase

They'll catch them: Justin, the Nick of Time

And Nick, the Justin of Space

 

A speeding train is about to crash

With a cargo of hazardous ooze

To catch it calls for a speedy dash

There isn't a moment to lose

 

Justin can go anywhere — or when?

And Nick anywhen — or where?

Which one of the two should we call, again?

Does anyone know, or care?

 

Still, before those barrels of toxic slime

Can go oozing all over the place

They'll seal them: Justin, the Nick of Time

And Nick, the Justin of Space

 

A mastermind plots to control the globe

She sends out her minions' orders

By a strangely hypnotically flashing strobe

On the tower of her headquarters

 

Even though the signal is very bright

To triangulate where it is

Needs someone who can slow down the speed of light

Which twin said that power was his?

 

Still, no matter what mountain they have to climb

To reach the foe's secret base

They'll get there: Justin, the Nick of Time

And Nick, the Justin of Space

 

Now, Nick and Justin are known to me

Their exploits I know by heart

I've been telling their tale for eternity

And I still can't tell them apart

 

They've had many adventures, saved many a day

When the universe almost broke

But no one knows which one works in which way

Which honestly sounds like a joke

 

One I'll tell you again, just so long as I'm

Able to keep a straight face

And you'll get it: Justin, the Nick of Time

And Nick, the Justin of Space