Flash: Calm down Kid.
Kid Flash: Oh please! You’ll chat it up with the cops, with bystanders, with Cold even. No, no way. Today’s the day!

Green Arrow: Roy, you just need to be patient.
Speedy: What I need is respect. They’re treating us like kids. Worst, sidekicks! We deserve better than this.

July 4th – In a chain of seemingly unrelated incidents Batman and Robin defeat Mister Freeze in Gotham City, Green Arrow and Speedy knock out Icicle Jr. in Star City, Aquaman and Aqualad take down Killer Frost at Pearl Harbour, and the Flash and Kid Flash stop Captain Cold’s robbery in Central City. All the young heroes are all impatient as “Today’s the day”, July 4th Independence Day, the day they get official access to the Justice League’s Hall of Justice.

Crowds of tourist watch as the adult heroes lead their sidekicks into the inner sanctum. They are met by the Martian Manhunter who tells them they now have access to the “gym, fully stocked galley, and the library”. The adult heroes are about to discuss the coincidence of four ice villains attacking on the same day, but Speedy is angry – he expected more than a “glorified back stage pass” and objects to being shut out of the League’s discussions. He surprises the other sidekicks by telling them that the Hall of Justice isn’t even the League’s real headquarters – it’s a publicity front for the tourists which the League uses as a teleportation rely to reach their real headquarters, a satellite called the Watchtower. Speedy then storms off in disgust when Batman refuses to let them go any further.

The League then get two simultaneous calls for help. Superman tells the League that there has been an explosion at Project Cadmus and Zatara tells them that Wotan is using the Amulet of Aten to blot out the Sun. Zatara requests a full League response and Batman messages all Leaguers to converge on his location. Kid Flash, Robin, and Aqualad want to help, but Batman orders them to stay put. They then realise that Speedy may have been right. Robin hacks the Justice League’s computers – “same system as the Batcave” – to find out more about Project Cadmus, but it’s entry just records that it’s a genetic laboratory. Batman has told them to stay away from Zatara’s emergency, but he hadn’t said anything about the Cadmus mission. The three boys then decide to take it upon themselves to solve Batman’s suspicions about Cadmus before the League returns.

When the trio arrive at Cadmus building they find that it is still on fire. Kid Flash runs ahead to save two scientists, but he has to be pulled to safety by Robin. Aqualad then brings the scientists down to street level while Kid Flash and Robin head inside. Aqualad spots a strange inhuman figure disappear into an elevator and Robin recognises the make of elevator as the type of express elevator used in tall buildings – overkill for the two-story Cadmus building. Aqualad forces open the doors and they discover that the elevator shaft descends far underground – at least 27 stories before Robin’s grapple-wire runs out.

At sub-level 26 Robin overrides the security and they begin investigating. Kid Flash runs ahead and runs straight into a troop of elephant-sized creatures (“gene-trolls”). The creatures appear oblivious to the boys and continue on their way, but a smaller horned monkey-sized creature (a “gene-gnome”) does notice them. The Head of Cadmus, Doctor Desmond, is working on something called Project Blockbuster when his head of security, the Guardian, informs him that a gene-gnome sensed intruders. Desmond is dismissive as the alarms haven’t gone off, but agrees to Guardian’s request to investigate. Dubbilex, the horned figure earlier seen by Aqualad, suggests that the Guardian leave his own gene-gnome behind if he’s heading into danger, but Desmond objects and uses the creature’s telepathic link to sway the Guardian.

The boys find a collection of lightning creatures in jars and realise that Cadmus is using them to power their facility, keeping its existence hidden from the normal power grid. Robin hacks into their computers and discovers that Cadmus has created a virtual army of genetically engineered geneomorphs. He also discovers something called Project Kr, but they are interrupted by the Guardian and a squad of wolf-like geneomorphs whilst Robin downloads the Kr data. Both sides recognise each other, but the Guardian’s gene-gnome overrides his thoughts when Robin accuses him of breeding weapons. The Guardian then commands his geneomorphs to take them down.

Robin, Kid Flash, and Aqualad manage to escape to an elevator, but to the consternation of the others Robin takes them deeper into the facility – to Project Kr on sub-level 52. They find is a series of outlandish red caverns and Dubbilex waiting for them. His telekinetic attack keeps them on the run, but the teen heroes manage to make it into the Project Kr vault as an unwitting scientist leaves. Robin then locks the door behind them. Kid Flash brings up the lights and discovers Cadmus’s darkest secret – a sleeping teenage clone of Superman!

Robin hacks the Project Kr computers to discover that the boy is codenamed “Superboy” and that he has been force grown in sixteen weeks from DNA stolen from Superman. Cadmus intend to turn the boy into a weapon. Aqualad tries to signal the League for help, but they are too far underground for the signal to be received. Robin then sets Superboy free, but Desmond orders the gene-gnomes attached to Superboy’s pod to make him attack the teen heroes.  He proves to be stronger and faster than they are so even Aqualad’s constructs only put him down momentarily. Superboy forces the vault open and allows Desmond to enter.

[Continued in Part Two]

• Setting: July 4th (“Independence Day”).
• The heroes are shown living in their classic fictional cities: Gotham City (Batman/Robin), Star City (Green Arrow/Speedy), Central City (Flash/Kid Flash). The time zones given for each city place Gotham on the east coast, Central City on central time (unsurprisingly), and Star City on the west coast.
• The Justice League have a public headquarters called the Hall of Justice in Washington DC which serves as a teleportation reply for their real secret headquarters which is an orbiting satellite called the Watchtower.

Young Justice

Young Justice came about when Executive Vice-President for Creative Affairs at Warner Brothers Animation Sam Register paired Greg Weisman (Gargoyles, Spectacular Spiderman) and Brandon Vietti (Under the Red Hood) and asked them to come up with a new DC Universe show for Cartoon Network. They then had the unenviable task of charting a course between the phenomenally successful Justice League Unlimited franchise and the unique Teen Titans show. The end result was Young Justice, a show about younger heroes, but one set in and around a Justice League (YJ Press Announcement).

Weisman and Vietti collaborated with DC Entertainment Creative Affairs Officer Geoff Johns and DC Comics Co-Pubisher Dan Didio to establish their new show on Earth-16 in Universe-16 in the DC Multiverse proper. Earth-16 is a slightly younger version of the DC Universe. There were some superheroes in the 1940s, but Superman only appeared 10 years ago and the Justice League is only a few years old (SDCC 2010 Panel, Comic Book News Interview).

The adult Leaguers have become global megastars and their every action is closely watched and analysed by the media and badguys. Young Justice are their covert ops team – a group who can evade the media and operate outside of the spotlight that hampers the main Justice League. This is the first generation of the JLA’s apprentices so its Dick Grayson as Robin, Wally West as the Kid Flash, etc (Comic Book News Interview).

Robin, The Boy Wonder

• Alter Ego: Dick Grayson
• Age: 13 years
• Abilities/Powers: Trained by the Batman! Skills include stealth, computer hacking, and a natural gymnast.
• Weaponry: Explosive thowing discs. Utility belt. Wrist worn mini-computer.

It’s Dick Grayson. The laughter and happier demeanour it very much Dick, but the costume is based on the one designed by Neal Adam’s for Dick’s second successor (Tim Drake). It was Batman: The New Adventures which took that costume and removed the green to give the yellow/red/black version. Robin’s throwing discs are like those used by the Robin from Glen Murakami’s Teen Titans cartoon. The entire laughing from the shadows thing really reminds me of the Shadow.

At SDCC Greg Weisman described Robin as:

This is Dick Grayson, aged 13. He’s the youngest member of the group, but he’s also the guy with the most experience. He’s been doing this since he was 9-years old so he’s been doing it four years. He’s the guy with all the chops.

Robin is voiced by ex-boy band singer Jesse McCartney who described his character to CBR as a “prepubescent, cocky little kid” who ends up becoming the leader of the team.

Speedy

• Alter Ego: Roy Harper
• Age: 16+ ? years (probably older than Aqualad)
• Abilities/Powers: Master archer. Trained by Green Arrow.
  
• Weaponry: Composite longbow plus a variety of trick and explosive arrows.

This is the original Speedy – Roy Harper before he lost his arm, child, and any sense of reasonable character development. The use of the exploding arrows and Speedy’s serious personality harks back to his occasional appearances in the Teen Titans cartoon. This Roy is older than the other characters and that shows in his demands to be taken seriously as his own hero and not just as a side kick. His look is classic Golden/Silver Age.

Speedy is voiced by Crispin Freeman who voiced Superman in the Justice League Heroes videogame. The character is something of a red herring as he’s shown in the introduction and he’s part of the classic Teen Titans line-up, but he storms out during the second act. Production artwork teases that he’ll be back later in the series having become his own man.

Aqualad

• Alter Ego: Unrevealed
• Age: 16 years
• Abilities/Powers: Submarine adaptation (gill slits for underwater breathing, webbed hands for swimming, and enhanced strength/endurance for survival at depths). Trained by Aquaman.
• Weaponry: Backpack allows electrostatic manipulation of water.

This isn’t Garth – the original Aqualad. This Aquaboy was created specifically for this TV show. DC Chief Creative Officer Geoff Johns was so taken with the character that he arranged to incorporate a version into the DC Universe proper.

Aqualad calls Aquaman “My King” which makes it seem that he’s more of a soldier than an equal. He is 16-years-old which makes him several years older than either Robin or Kid Flash. His costume more closely resembles Aquaman’s than the other comic book Aqualads/girls (green/orange and he’s even blond). You can clearly see gill slits (like a fish) on his neck showing how he can breathe underwater and webbing between his hands which presumably help him swim faster. Backpack isn’t explained, but it appears to electro-statically manipulate water to create limited Green Lantern like constructs.

Aqualad is voiced by Khary Payton who is best known as Cyborg from the earlier Teen Titans cartoon, he voices Cyborg in the upcoming DC Universe mmorpg. Khary has also voiced Tyr in Legion of Superheroes.

Kid Flash

• Alter Ego: Wally West
• Age: 14 years
• Abilities/Powers: Superspeed. Trained by the Flash.
• Weaponry: N/A

This is the Silver Age Flash and Kid Flash combo of Barry Allen and Wally West (green eyes, red hair). Very classic costumes. The Flash is shown with whited-out eyes which is a motif of the costume worn by Wally when he succeeded Barry as the Flash.

At SDCC Brandon Vietti described Kid Flash as

He is Wally West. He’s 15, he’s not as fast as the Flash. He has to accelerate and decelerate.

Kid Flash is voiced by Jason Spisak.

The Justice League

The Justice League is shown head-quartered at the Hall of Justice. The Hall originated in the Super Friends cartoon in the 1970/80s before being brought into the comics continuity by Brad Meltzer in Justice League of America (vol. 2) . It was also shown as the League’s headquarters during the last season of Justice League Unlimited.

The entrance to the Hall shows the statues of the seven heroes (Aquaman, Flash, Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, and the Martian Manhunter) who founded the League in the comics books. The numbers that the computer intones in its security scans are the order that the Leaguers joined the League in the comic books. Batman – 02, Aquaman – 06, Flash – 04, Martian Manhunter -07 were all founders. Green Arrow – 08 was the first non-founding member. Red Tornado – 16

• Aquaman – This is the classic Aquaman although he doesn’t do too much in the opener. His appearance – with the beard – does draw a parallel with the bombastic Aquaman who appears in Batman: The Brave and the Bold. Aquaman is voiced by Phil LaMarr who voiced Green Lantern in Justice League Unlimited and Static in Static Shock.
• Batman is well, he’s Batman. Classic hard-ass Bats. Batman is voiced by Bruce Greenwood who also voiced Batman for the recent Batman: The Red Hood DVD.
• Flash - The speedsters are the last ones to arrive at the Hall which is a pick up of a running joke from the comics – how Barry Allen was the slowest man alive in his secret identity whereas he was the fastest man alive in his costumed identity. The reason he was always late was that he was stopping off to fight some crime or other. The Flash is voiced by CSI’s George Eads (Nick Stokes). Eads voiced Captain Atom in the first episode of Justice League Unlimited.
• Green Arrow - A more contemporary look for Green Arrow with the cowl and jerkin from the 1990s than the classic Silver Age look used for Speedy. Roy clearly states that he isn’t GA’s son. Green Arrow is voiced by Alan Tudyk who voiced Barry Allen in Batman: The Brave and the Bold.
• Martian Manhunter - The Manhunter featured heavily in Justice League Unlimited and the designers have opted to use altered his post-Infinite Crisis look. Green Arrow hints that the Manhunter has his own sidekick. The Martian Manhunter is voiced by Kevin Michael Richardson who has something of career voicing DC characters. He gave voice to B’wana Beast in Batman: The Brave and the Bold, Mister Tawky in The Return of Black Adam DVD, the Joker in The Batman, Trigon in Teen Titans, General Wells in Justice League, among others.
• Red Tornado - The android Red Tornado was the mentor of Young Justice in the Peter David written comic book. The look they’ve used for him here is the Air Elemental form that he had at that time. He pauses before leaving the young heroes – almost as if he’s sympathetic to their plight.
• Superman is, well, he’s Superman.
• Zatara is Giovanni Zatara, a stage magician turned real magician who uses reverse speak (“esrever kaeps”) to cast his spells. Zatara may be unfamiliar to many casual readers, but he’s actually one of DC’s older characters and made his first appearance in the same comic as Superman. He was also co-created by Gardner Fox, the co-creator of the Justice League. His more well known daughter, Zatanna, is normally shown as a contemporary of the Leaguers.

Cold villains

Four cold based villains are shown to showcase the four sidekicks, but the details of why they are attacking is not elaborated upon. They are all from the comics.

• Mister Freeze in Gotham City. “My family has other plans” could relate to his wife – Nora – who is in a cryogenic sleep after an unfortunate accident/disease. The processed voice makes me think of the Arnold Schwarzenegger Freeze from Batman and Robin.
• Icicle Jr. in Star City. Doesn’t identify himself, but he looks like the second Icicle (Cameron Mahkent, the son of the golden age villain). The original was an opponent of the Golden Age Green Lantern. Speedy calls him “junior” which may show that he is indeed the second Icicle on this Earth.
• Killer Frost in Pearl Harbor. Again she doesn’t identify herself, but this looks like the second Killer Frost (Louise Lincoln), but it’s hard to be sure because the comic book version changes her appearance so often. This particular look, with the darker blue hair, resembles the spunkier Frost from Justice League Unlimited.
• Captain Cold in Central City. A classic Flash villain from the Rogues Gallery. “Stealing ice.” – ice would be slang for diamonds. Is it my imagination of the villainous Captain putting on a little weight in this universe.

Misc

• One of the crowd makes the old quip about why isn’t the sidekick called Speedy the Flash’s sidekick.
• Speedy says the League used a Zeta-Beam transporter – this is the teleportation beam that Adam Strange uses to get back and forth to Rann.
• The Shozer of Water? I really can’t understand Zatara’s accent. Apparently it’s the “Sorcerer Wotan”. The Amulet of Aten – Aten was an Egyptian Sun God.
• The name of Project Cadmus’s above ground offices is “Cadmus Advanced Laborabory Research.
• Project Krypton is on sub-level 52. That number has taken on special meaning in the DC Universe since the year-long series 52. The meaning of the number was a mystery until the final issue revealed that it was the number of parallel-universes in the DC Multiverse. The Earth shown in this cartoon, Earth-16, is in one of those parallel-universes. That means that the version of the DC Universe shown in Young Justice is part of the canonical DC Multiverse – the system of parallel universes that make up DC’s core comic-book publishing platform.

I’ll leave all the Cadmus/Superboy stuff until part two.

Highlights

All of it.

Oddities

I have never understood tourists in superhero team’s headquarters.

First Impressions

The Justice League that is presented in this episode will be very recognisable to anybody who ever watched DC’s cartoons. Aquaman has the beard, Green Arrow has the heart, Batman is a hard-ass, and the Flash is the one with the sense of humour. None of their portrayals it is extreme enough to make any of them a central character, but it is all deft enough that you do not have to think about their characterisation. You know who they are and can focus your attention on the new characters.

The inclusion of these four sidekicks and the loss of one of them was an interesting red-herring that probably worked best if you had not read too much about the line-up. I found the new Aqualad to be an interesting character. His relationship with Aquaman is far more formal, less familiar, than the other sidekicks. He is the one with something to prove, he’s also the one with the biggest claim to be leader. Nevertheless, it’s Robin who makes the running for most of this episode. He’s the inquisitive one and the one with the skills to drive the plot forward. This Robin is as cocky as the Teen Titans Robin, but is a bit more charming with it.

The animation is brilliant. The style is very familiar from the DC DVD series, but it appears richer here. The background in particular are rich and atmospheric.

The Verdict

• 2010-12-06 – Added Ask Greg credits.