That’s Young Justice. Really feels more like Teen Titans, but, hey, let’s go with it! DC’s younger heroes come to the forefront as a black-ops team to handle secret missions (holy hand grenade, Batman…isn’t it enough you put Robin in danger?).
Mattel’s newest batch of figures to be released! Hitting retailers as you are reading this (or at least the figures marked * are, others to be coming soon!).
For their 6-inch line:
Wave 1* – Robin, Artemis
Wave 2 – Aqualad, Red Arrow
For their 4-inch line:
2-packs
Wave 1* – Batman and Robin, Aquaman and Aqualad
Wave 2 - Ra’s Al Ghul and Cheshire, Flash and Kid Flash
Wave 3 – Red Arrow and Artemis (still rumored! and waiting for more on a second pair)
Single releases
SDCC Exclusive – White suited Superboy with chamber
Wave 1 – Kid Flash, Speedy, Aqualad, Icicle Jr
Wave 2 – Superboy, Black Canary, Captain Atom, Vandal Savage
Wave 3 – Stealth Suit Aqualad, Stealth Suit Kid Flash, Robin, Sportsmaster
(the 4-inch single releases will each contain a piece of the Hall of Justice that you can assemble!)
Oh, “Hello, Megan!”. And, if you haven’t heard this phrase, you probably haven’t seen the Young Justice show! Repeatedly said by Miss Martian (M’gann M’orzz, Martian Manhunter’s niece and, Mattel…”Hello, Megan!”, where’s her figure?) when she realizes something she should have known earlier. This isn’t the Young Justice of the comics by writers Todd Dezago and Peter David and mostly artist Todd Nauck, (the Todds are the co-creators of the Young Justice comic) but instead a series on Cartoon Network set on Earth-16 that follows the adventures of the sidekicks of the Justice League of America as they grow into adulthood. The animated series was created by Greg Weisman and Brandon Vietti, and episodes have begun to be aired on Cartoon Network starting with their formation on November 26, 2010.
Team members include:
Robin/Dick Grayson (voiced by Jesse McCartney). In the comics, he was one of the very first sidekicks (having premiered in Detective Comics #38, April 1940, and created by Bob Kane and Bill Finger). Here, the young ward of Batman is the youngest member, and uses his stealth skills and acrobatics to support the team.
Kid Flash/Wally West (voiced by Jason Spisak). Young Wally West was one of the Flash’s biggest fans, and had his Aunt Iris set up a meeting (through her boyfriend, Barry Allen) between Wally and the Flash in Flash #110 (December-January 1959/1960, created by Gardner Fox and Carmine Infantino). Who knew lightning would strike twice, making Wally as fast as his hero, and his confidant in super-heroics?
Aqualad/Kaldur ‘Ahm (voiced by Khary Payton). It was actually this show where a young Atlantean was to be tutored by Aquaman first appeared, with the ability to breathe underwater and use bio-electric weapons. This introduction carried over to the comics, where, in Brightest Day #10, November 2010, Geoff Johns and Ivan Reis introduced this new Aqualad to Aquaman (and, in the comics, his name is Jackson Hyde). He has a secret…he’s the son of Aquaman villain, Black Manta!
Superboy/Conner Kent (voiced by Nolan North). The comics and show match a little as there was indeed a younger clone of Superman produced at Cadmus as of Adventures of Superman #500 (June 1993, created by Karl Kesel and Tom Grummett). In the comics, he was freed by the Newsboy Legion, and in the show, it was Robin, Kid Flash and Aqualad. He has similar powers to Superman, but lacks his ties to humanity.
Miss Martian/M’gann M’orzz aka Megan Morse! (voiced by Danica McKellar). First appeared in the comics in Teen Titans #37 (August 2006), was created by Geoff Johns and Tony Daniel. She has the same powers as Martian Manhunter (flight, invisibility, shape-shifting and telepathy) but not quite as good. In the comics, she’s a white martian assuming the form of a green, in the show, she claims to be the Martian Manhunter’s niece. She’s very good natured, and has a crush on Superboy.
Artemis/Artemis Crock (voiced by Stephanie Lemein). The character in the comic is a very different character. In the comics, she first appeared in Infinity Inc #34 (January 1987, created by Roy Thomas and Todd McFarlane). There, she worked with Injustice, Unlimited under the Wizard. In the show, Green Arrow introduced her as his niece…but she seems to have a secret as well. She became the team’s first addition as an archer when Speedy (Roy Harper) decided not to stick around, and Roy is no longer Green Arrow’s partner, but goes it on his own as Red Arrow.
Young Justice (the show) is a feature on the entire DC Universe, and has shown a Justice League that has quite a few members in it as well (and figures of these characters are in the Young Justice toy line!). As well as Superman, Batman, Flash (Barry Allen), Green Lantern (Hal Jordan), Aquaman, Wonder Woman, Martian Manhunter, Green Arrow, Red Tornado, Hawkman, Black Canary and Hawkgirl, the YJ JLA includes Captain Marvel, Zatara, Captain Atom and Green Lantern (John Stewart). Even the Justice Society of America has been hinted at (when Dr. Fate appeared, and they mentioned the JSA) and Jay Garrick was at Barry Allen’s home enjoying ice cream (and it was mentioned he’s not as fast as he used to be!). Even Garth (aka Tempest, but also the original Aqualad), Tula (aka Aquagirl) from the Teen Titans have appeared (and if you don’t blink, you can see Lagoon Boy, a comic Young Justice member for a brief time), as has the Cadmus security chief, the Guardian. Future episodes promise other Young Justice members from the comics like the Secret and Wonder Girl, as well as other characters like Zatanna (daughter of Zatara). The choice of JLA members also hint as potential future members such as Mary Marvel and Captain Marvel Jr (from Captain Marvel), Bombshell (from Captain Atom) and maybe even Golden Eagle (from Hawkman/Hawkgirl). Firestorm could also appear as well, as we’ve seen his cold foe, Killer Frost! Quite a few villains have appeared as well, ranging from Blockbuster to Bane, to Kobra, Klarion and Amazo (the last three had even faced the team during their original comic run!).
And, there are Young Justice comics now as well. Based in the continuity of the TV show, it is a comic put out now to fill in the spaces between episodes! Greg Weisman has written an issue (being no stranger to comics, as any Captain Atom fan of the 1980s would know, which likely explains why we see the silvery super-hero in this series), and the latest issue was written by Art Baltazar and Franco, and art by Christopher Jones! So, it’s a comic based on the animated series based on the comic? Yep, and it’s fun too! Now, if Cartoon Network would just start airing past their first 9 episodes (they have been promised 26 for season one, including two written by Peter David, who wrote most of the original comics, AND they have been renewed for a short season two, entitled Young Justice: Invasion!). It appears the future is for the young!
