DocBBanner’s Mad Overview/Review of “Young Justice”

[***WARNING - SPOILERS AHEAD***]

Well, it passed through like a ship in the night and MADE SOME SERIOUS WAVES!! Awesome! For those who missed out on its debut, Cartoon network premiered the new DC/Warner Animated series “Young Justice” on Friday evening, November 26th, and frankly, this fan is impressed.

Young Justice follows the next generation of DC heroes in their latest incarnations/character designs, as they step out of the shadows of their master/mentors into the limelight as heroes more on their own terms. The new lineup includes characters well known such as Robin, Kid Flash, and Superboy to lesser known heroes as Aqualad, Ms. Martian (Martian Manhunter J’onn J’onzz’s niece), and Green Arrow’s lesser known sidekick/protoge, Artemis.

The opener makes hold of starting where the much publicized six minute preview made show of. The battles begin of where each DC hero with its sidekick go in style against their own “cold-wielding villain”. Most notably, one of the ever-re-known nemesis-es of Batman, Mr Freeze; he is sporting a newer look and (warning: bad pun ahead) an even COLDER, crueler attitude… NO  remorse  or pining for his cryogenic-ally stasis-ed, comatose wife, Freeze is an absolute fiend in this scene here. Batman and Robin make short work of him though. Others then featured, Flash and Kid Flash taking on Captain Cold, Green Arrow and Speedy vs. Icicle Jr, and Aquaman and Aqualad against Killer Frost (also taking on a newer look for herself the same as Freeze).

The series pilot’s beginning also focuses on the the young heroes getting their first taste of peer-hood with their masters/mentors and being granted fair to limited access of the Hall of Justice/Metro Tower. Immediately disheartened by the lack of the League’s confidence in them to handle a big emergency at that time and the immediate departure of Speedy (on his own protest of denied equal partnership in the league), Robin, Aqualad, and Kid Flash secretly take on an emergency at Cadmus Research facility…This being done against stand-down/stay-put orders from Batman and the league. The journey leads them on their first adventure and test of themselves as a team as they fend off the secretive dangers in the Cadmus research labs and witness the discovery of their soon-to-be next ally and teammate, Superboy. From there, all the well ending with them getting their own team gig, a new lair/hideout, and the arrival/introduction of Ms. Martian. The team also get administrative control from Red Tornado, team training with Black Canary, and Batman will be handing out the mission assignments.

For those fans expecting consistencies overall in comparison to other DC animation shows of the past(Justice League, Justice League Unlimited (JLU)), get ready for some surprise changes, both slight to very noticeable. In particular, Fans will be treated in switches to the lineup for the Justice League, though they make a smaller presence much the same, since Young Justice show hands the torch off to the y Young heroes primarily for this series. Interesting to note, Green Lantern at present is represented by Hal Jordan instead of John Stewart, Zartara (Zatanna’s father) is present instead of Zatanna herself, Hawkman is now league-placed and Captain Marvel appears to be back in the league altogether as well. Other side of the coin, neither Amanda Waller or General Eiling appear to have a strong(or any) presence in Cadmus so far in the pilot the same as compared to their presence in the JLU series. Word has it one of them (mainly Waller) will surface sometime soon.

And now for the changes that may take some getting used to (especially if you have come to enjoy the voice work of actors cast in JL and JLU and other DC series).

Most noticeably of all this is actor Bruce Greenwood’s taking up of Batman’s voice himself (markedly beginning with Batman: Under the Red Hood). Those of us who grew to love the mastery of Kevin Conroy‘s voice for Bats time and again may find it a little tough to adjust, but Greenwood is now getting his edge for the character more. The absence of actors George Newborn or Tim Daly for voicing Superman with actor Nolan North now taking helm was another change here too. Again, a little adjustment to get used to there but nothing painfully enduring..Heheh… On a straight-on interesting plus-side,for all you hardcore Japanese anime fans who follow the careers of the popular English dub voice actors; anime voice sensation and fan favorite Crispin Freeman makes an appearance as the voices of Speedy and of Guardian as well. Overall the same though, the Young Justice voice cast is a formidable line-up of long-time known actors and voice actors whom many a viewer has heard and enjoyed over the years.

In total, this show, like its other Warner/DC predecessors, is looking to be top-notch. It has Excellent on par artwork design and animation production, an A list voice cast(in my opinion at least). Finally, the dialogue/story are good on intelligence and wit—definitely the one thing the writers at Warner/DC on these shows are never lacking, especially on the likes of Justice League Unlimited. If you missed the World Premiere on Friday, November 26th, fret not… Cartoon Network looks to make additional airing of this one hour debut of “Young Justice” throughout December and the series premiere begins in January 2011.

This is definitely a DC series to look forward to.

Check out the Young Justice Six Minute Preview Trailer and the CBS/ Comic 2010 behind the scenes look at “Young Justice”.

Youtube – Young Justice Six Minute Preview Trailer

Youtube – CBS/Comic-Con 2010 Behind the Scenes look at “Young Justice”

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DocBBanner

Contributing Writer at ComicBookTherapy

I have been in and around the comics, sci fi, and animation scene most of my life. I have written on various segments of fine arts, film, and music throughout high school and college. I also follow the convention industry for related hobbies of comics, film, digital media, gaming and interactive entertainment.

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