Continuing our Multiversity summer binge mayhem I am proud to present the first episode of the best DC animated show of the present decade that got screwed because Cartoon Network decided they couldn’t sell action figures to girls (oh boy). With the news that DC is getting its own streaming service and the long-awaited Young Justice season 3 is coming to that service along with a live-action Titans series, this seemed like a perfect opportunity to revisit the series. Of course spoilers abound.
So without further ado let’s begin!
1. This episode is a total sausage fest.
Let it be known to all that not a single female superhero that shows up in this whole episode. Not a one. No Wonder Woman, or Hawkgirl, Miss Martian doesn’t show up until the next episode although she is referenced in a passing comment. When all the partners of the Justice League show up in the Hall of Justice, Robin, Aqualad, Speedy, and Kid Flash are met by their mentors Batman, Aquaman, Green Arrow and Flash alongside Martian Manhunter and Red Tornado. No women. There’s more to the Justice League than dicks, friends.
2. “Today’s the day”
So the whole premise of this episode is that the Justice League’s partners are finally ready to begin their slow initiation into the Justice League by finally getting to see the inside of the Hall of Justice. Which I get the title implications, the students are finally getting some independence, beginning the process of being on par with their mentors. Except the whole episode takes place on the Fourth of July. And weirdly that irks me. Might just be me but I don’t like the weird America, independence weird implications here. Might just be me. By the way Roy is livid in the Hall which brings me to my next point…
3. Roy Harper is insufferable
So I’m just gonna come out and say it. Roy’s a dick. Like a big dick. Like more than just a regular angsty teenager dick. He’s like really pissed that he’s not on the same level as Green Arrow after this one initial meeting with the League (also Ollie let slip that the Watchtower exists which apparently none of the others know about even though Robin hacks the Batcave computer all the time). It’s really unpleasant and I get that that’s his character (and his character in the comics as seen very recently in Rebirth) but still I can already tell I’ve had enough Roy.
4. Welcome to Amalgamation Robin
So I love Robin’s quips throughout this whole series. The constant banter about overwhelmed, underwhelmed, and simply whelmed always has me in stitches because word puns are my jam. Still, this is supposed to be Dick Grayson, right, because he grows up to be Nightwing in Season 2? If this is Dick why is he so good at hacking everything? He’s very aloof and, overall, not the Dick from the comics. This is like a Dick/Jason/Tim conglomeration, that, while it works, is not holistically Dick Grayson. It’s like how Barry Allen on the CW’s The Flash is basically Wally West in all but name. I’m cool with it though because Robin and Kaldur are the best characters on this show (for now).
5. Obligatory DC/Warner Bros. Easter Eggs
So the first episode of this show premiered late 2010, right on the eve of the relaunch of DC Comics’ into The New 52. So of course there is the obligatory 52 reference. As the trio of Robin, Kid Flash, and Aqualad are invading the Project Cadmus building they go to check out Project Kr which of course is on sub level 52 of the building. Also Guardian definitely makes a “Meddling Kids” comment (ruh-ro). Corporate synergy at its finest!
That’s all folks! Check back next week for the next instalment of the two-part pilot!
