Last week, the world of DC animation was blown wide open with the news that the beloved Young Justice would be making a return to our screens, years after it was cancelled. People — including us — flipped the hell out. But if you’re not sure why this news is so exciting, or why the animated series is so special, please allow us to explain.
A Diverse Team of Bold Young Heroes
The importance of diversity in our media (especially comic book-related media) is a conversation that still dominates discourse today, and one that began well before Young Justice was a twinkle in the eyes of producers Greg Weisman and Brandon Vietti. But Young Justice proved itself to be a champion in giving us a wide cast of characters, all compelling and interesting in their own rights.
To some extent, this diversity applied to the breadth of heroes the show introduced as primary characters. Aqualad, Artemis, Kid Flash and Miss Martian (who were joined in the primary team by the more familiar Superboy and Robin but never overshadowed by them) were practically unknowns outside of DC comics diehards. But given attention and care on the show over its two seasons, these iterations became the popular and definitive takes on these heroes in the eyes of legions of fans, comics readers or otherwise. Seriously, if you saw someone hyped for Miss Martian showing up on Supergirl recently, it was probably because they loved the hell out of M’gann on Young Justice rather than because of her comic book appearances.
Additionally, Young Justice championed a cast inclusive of many female and non-white characters that were there for more than just ticking a box on some sort of non-existent diversity checklist. Huge arcs were given to the show’s new version of Aqualad, a young black man named Kaldur’ahm (son of Aquaman villain Black Manta), and Jamie Reyes, the Latino incarnation of the Blue Beetle. Beyond the presence of the previously mentioned Miss Martian and Artemis on the main team, the series’ universe expanded to include roles for Batgirl, Wondergirl, Zatanna and Justice League alumni like Black Canary.
Young Justice was a bit ahead of its time in how fiercely it explored and championed diversity, and in this regard alone its return would be great news. (And just think of what it could do a lot with some of the things the comics themselves have done with these characters in the few years since it went away!) But that’s not the only reason to welcome the series back.
It’s a DC Animated Universe to Rival Bruce Timm’s
There is a lot of nostalgia for what is colloquially known as the Timmverse, the DC animated output spearheaded by the legendary artist and producer that gave us Batman: The Animated Series and Justice League. For many (considering DC hasn’t really attempted it since with its strong animated output), it is the definitive shared DC universe outside of the comics. But one of the things we mourned about Young Justice‘s cancellation was how it felt like the potential successor to the Timmverse had been cut down in its prime.
Although the premise of Young Justice was that it was told from the perspectives of young heroes, sidekicks and proteges of the icons of the DC Universe, the show never restricted its exploration of the wider DC universe, seemingly because these were teenagers and not the Justice League. Even across just two seasons, the show didn’t relegate DC’s major superheroes to the fringes but used their relationships with their sidekicks and students to flesh out both sets of characters. YJ also had its young protagonists tackle major comic book villains, and explored the fringes of the DC universe like Atlantis. The fact that we were experiencing this vast new retelling of the DC universe at large from perspectives that weren’t ones we’d already seen in Timm’s animated outings was just icing on the cake.
We’ll Finally Get a Resolution to That Cliffhanger
Since I’m expecting people who read this not to be familiar with the events of Young Justice‘s first two seasons, I’m going to keep spoilers to the minimum here. But without saying too much, the show’s second season ended with a hugely climactic moment that played off a story arc that had been building up across the show’s entire existence. It was one that would eradicate any sense of doubt to outsiders looking in that Young Justice wouldn’t be dealing with some of the biggest threats of the DC Universe, just because they’re the teen hero subordinates of the Justice League.
Any show cut down before its time is a tragic loss — but it stings even more when the show ends without a clear resolution. Young Justice was a show that prided itself on the strengths of its character arcs and plotting, so getting to see where all that would have led to before its untimely cancellation will be immensely satisfying.
It’s the Show Superhero Animation Needs Right Now
Speaking of that golden age of yesteryear, the world Young Justice returns to in terms of superhero animation is one radically different to the time it left it. There isn’t really anything else doing what Young Justice was doing in the superhero space, either from DC or Marvel’s current outputs.
That’s not a critique of DC’s current animated fare — its animated movies, despite some recent missteps, are still some of its strongest output. And while many shudder at the goofy hysterics of a young-kid-friendly animated series like Teen Titans Go! in comparison to its far more serious predecessor, it’s a series that balances being a ton of silly fun with a rampant adoration for the sillier side of DC comics’ long history.
But there’s room for a show like Young Justice alongside the lighter, campier fare of Teen Titans Go! or the incoming Justice League Action, especially in a landscape where cartoons are moving away from serialised, in-depth story-telling (there are of course, extremely excellent exceptions to that sea change) that Young Justice prided itself on.
Young Justice respected its audience (even if the powers at be that ultimately cancelled it didn’t seem to) with a surprisingly mature take on its characters and stories. It was never afraid to get dark and complex, and its tight plotting and overarching story lines made it just as compelling for older fans as its gorgeous action made it dazzling for kids. Since it ended, there hasn’t been another animated series like it. So it’s more than welcome to come and reclaim its crown as one of the best examples of its genre.
Comments
8 responses to “Why You Should Be Excited Young Justice Is Coming Back (If You Aren’t Already)”
The DCAU is magnificent, but it’s a product of its time. I would much rather Conroy/Hamill et al not continue to be as prolific in the roles as they perhaps have been (which is something Young Justice recognised) and let them have their place in the patheon.
Young Justice is just a show. The DCAU was a complete universe, as the name states. A rich tapestry, which, if we are being honest, kept being euthanised each time, only to come back. The final season of Justice League Unlimited was downright bananas and the overall quality was lessened because the show and the creators had already put their ending at the end of the preceding season.
Can’t wait for more Young Justice, I just hope it lives up to its potential.
Still can’t watch the show on Netflix without switching over to the US version I take it?
I think Young Justice was more than a show. It wasn’t like the DCAU but one of it’s major strengths was that from episode one it was just a little part of a bigger picture.
It’s strange but I felt like Young Justice was more of a universe while the DCAU was a run on story. DCAU had multi-show continuity but Young Justice felt like a multi-layer continuity.
I don’t disagree, Season 1 had the best stuff, Season 2 for all its faults was a completely different show.
Season 3 can’t really be considered ‘real’ yet and I hope history doesn’t refer to it as just really good fanfiction, but if it takes another swerve again and re-invents itself, I think that’ll be cool. In keeping with the ‘young hero’ vein the show-runners could introduce the Legion.
The Animated movies remind me of what the Live Action could be if the cinenas didnt mess around with the formula so much…
the last few Batman movies havent been crash hot though they been a bit too cookie cutter trying to generate each one a sequal of the Son of Batman
Those animated movies have been pretty bad the last few years. Nothing since Red Hood has been worth watching, and trust me, I’ve tried my best to watch and like them all.
I eagerly await the third season of Young Justice. But I just hope it doesn’t dwell on the fact it’s been years since the previous season. Just pick up where it needs to and continue to give us fantastic characters and stories.
Also if people enjoyed Justice League, try watching Ben 10: Alien Force. Some familiar people from the DCAU worked on it and has equally strong stories and characters. I got into it via recommendation and thoroughly enjoyed it.
I can’t wait to see how they’re going to kill off Robin, so they can use it as yet another vector for pushing Damien Wayne.
I think cast of characters was great but lets not fall into the trap of thinking it is something it isnt. I doubt a superhero cartoon about the sidekicks forming a group is really about diversity. It is just an entertaining show.