  Broad- and narrow-band images covering the 1 - 4um wavelength interval are
used to investigate the properties of the brightest AGB stars in the Local
Group galaxy M32. The brightest AGB stars near the center of M32 have peak M_L'
brightnesses and K-L' colors that are similar to those of luminous AGB stars in
the Galactic disk, while the density of bright AGB stars per unit visible and
near-infrared surface brightness is found to be constant out to projected major
axis distances of 1 kpc. The J-K color distribution of bright AGB stars
throughout much of the galaxy is consistent with that of a single population of
AGB stars, the majority of which are long period variables, having a common
metallicity and age. Thus, these data do not support spectroscopic studies that
find an age gradient in M32. The well-mixed AGB content of M32 is consistent
with tidal stirring. The stellar content of M32 is compared with that of the
M31 bulge. While the peak K-band brightnesses of AGB stars in the two systems
agree to within a few tenths of a magnitude, M32 contains more bright AGB stars
per unit integrated brightness than the outer bulge of M31.
