Young Justice, on Cartoon Network (s1-2) / DC Universe (s3) / HBO Max (s4)
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Caution: spoilers.
Season One
I should say that there's a comic book I've never read which bears the same title as this series, but I don't believe the show is directly based on that. But most of the characters are familiar to me from various alternate incarnations (though there are some differences here, because the show is set on a different Earth in the DC multiverse). I should also mention that the series is not directly related to the DCAU continuity or any other animated series based on DC comics. I think the show is pretty cool; I like the animation, the action, the characters, the humor, and especially the season-long story arc. (The show is both episodic and serial.)
There was a one-hour pilot movie (or the first two episodes) that aired in November 2010, though the series proper didn't begin until January 2011. There is always an onscreen indication of the date and time, and the pilot is set on the Fourth of July. At the start of the movie, we see four separate superhero teams: Batman (Bruce Wayne, voiced by Bruce Greenwood) and Robin (Dick Grayson, voiced by Jesse McCartney), Green Arrow (Oliver Queen, voiced by Alan Tudyk) and Speedy (Roy Harper, voiced by Crispin Freeman), Aquaman (Orin, voiced by Phil LaMarr) and Aqualad (Kaldur'ahm, voiced by Khary Payton), Flash (Barry Allen) and Kid Flash (Wally West, voiced by Jason Spisak). Each team is fighting a different cold-themed villain, but they're also all more interested in a meeting that is to take place later that day. After defeating their enemies, they head to the Justice League HQ, for a first step at initiating the sidekicks into the League. However, Speedy is seriously offended that they're all still being treated like sidekicks, and the process is too slow for him. So, he quits, and leaves. Meanwhile, there are reports of two separate problems that might require the League's attention, and the established heroes head off to take care of the one that seems more important, telling the sidekicks to stay behind.
Robin hacks into the League's computer to learn about Project Cadmus, where there was a fire (the lesser of the two reported problems). He, Aqualad and Kid Flash decide to disobey orders, and head over there to take care of the problem themselves. They soon discover that the facility is much larger than it appears, having 52 secret levels below ground. They investigate, and end up discovering tons of bioengineered mutant creatures called genomorphs, apparently being bred as weapons. They also discover a clone of Superman, which was created 16 weeks ago, but has already grown to appear to be a teenager (whose mind had been programmed with knowledge and was being controlled by his creators). The scientist in charge of all this, Mark Desmond (Rene Auberjonois), was using genomorphs to telepathically control everyone, including the chief of security, a superhero called Guardian (Crispin Freeman). The sidekicks manage to free Superboy (voiced by Nolan North, who also voices Superman). He eventually meets up with another genomorph named Dubbilex (Phil LaMarr), who works for Cadmus but helps Superboy and the others escape. They have to battle Desmond, who drinks a serum that turns him into a monster called Blockbuster.
In the end, Superboy, Robin, Aqualad, and Kid Flash all make it out of the facility, which they bring crashing down. Then the Justice League shows up, and the sidekicks demand to be allowed to work together as their own team... sidekicks no longer. So, a base is set up for them, and they are introduced to Martian Manhunter's (Kevin Michael Richardson) niece, Miss Martian (M'gann M'orzz, or Megan Morse, voiced by Danica McKellar), who will be the fifth member of the team. Meanwhile, the board of directors of Cadmus, who call themselves "the Light," place Guardian in charge of Cadmus. Freed of mind control, he intends to turn the Project around, though they still believe they can control him through subtler means. They also believe that Superboy's newfound freedom can ultimately be used to their advantage.
Unfortunately, I lost access to Cartoon Network in June 2011, so I didn't get to see very much of the series. That is, until I started over from the beginning, watching the series on HBO Max in 2025. I had of course forgotten most details of what I had seen in 2011, and I hadn't written here about anything that happened since the pilot. So, now that I've finally finished the first season, I'll do just that.
Let's see, first of all I'll say that at some point, Superboy takes on the name Conner Kent (though apparently he has no idea Superman's last name is Kent, so that's a weird coincidence). He desperately wants Superman's approval, though Superman is very standoffish toward him, which is part of the reason Superboy is low-key angry most of the time. (I'm sure there are other reasons, like anger being part of his programming by Cadmus.) Speedy sets out on his own, now calling himself Red Arrow. He still wants to be accepted by the Justice League, but he will eventually join the young justice team. (The team doesn't seem to have an official name, as far as I know, but for ease of reference I'll call them simply "the team".) Miss Martian often uses telepathy to connect the team's minds for covert conversations. After awhile, Aqualad becomes the team's leader, though they are all still trained by members of the League, such as the robot Red Tornado (Jeff Bennett), and Black Canary (Vanessa Marshall). And missions are generally assigned by Batman.
Kid Flash has an obvious crush on Miss Martian, but it's not reciprocated, and she eventually starts a relationship with Superboy. The team gets a new member, an archer named Artemis Crock, who pretends to be Green Arrow's niece. Her true identity, or rather her true family connections, is something I won't spoil here. But she keeps it a secret from the others until near the end of the season (even though viewers learn of these connections sooner than the characters do). Miss Martian also has a secret I won't spoil, which is hinted at a number of times before it's revealed (again, to viewers sooner than to the team). Also, at some point early on, the team learns that there is a mole among them, and the identity of that mole remains a secret (even to viewers) until near the end of the season. But it causes some tension and distrust among the team. At one point, the team battles the Injustice League and defeats them, unaware that the league were merely pawns of the Light (the real big bad group behind the scenes of everything going on throughout the season). The team eventually gets another member, a magician named Zatanna Zatara (voiced by Lacey Chabert), the daughter of Giovanni Zatara (Nolan North). Oh, and at some point Superboy gets a pet wolf named Wolf, and a "pet" alien device called Sphere (which can transform into a flying vehicle). Speaking of which, the team also has a jet (or Bio-Ship) that can cloak itself, which belongs to Miss Martian.
The Justice League inducts several new members, including Red Arrow. Also inducted is Doctor Fate (Kevin Michael Richardson), who has possessed Zatanna's father; she hopes to someday free him from Fate's control. The young team also gets a new member, Rocket (Raquel Ervin, voiced by Kali Troy in season 1), who was formerly the sidekick of a hero named Icon. (I'm not really familiar with those characters.) The season ends on New Year's Eve, when the Justice League is mind-controlled by members of the Light. So the team has to free the adult heroes to thwart the Light's plan. It is also revealed that Red Arrow is actually a clone and a sleeper agent, who unbeknownst to himself was the mole within the team. The Light is led by Vandal Savage (Miguel Ferrer in seasons 1-2), and includes several other villains we had seen throughout the season. Though the team is ultimately victorious, members of the Light escape to continue their plans. Also I should mention that when Artemis first joined the team, she and Kid Flash didn't really like each other, but it soon became apparent that they should be a couple, which seems to happen in the season finale. And Superman finally acknowledges Superboy. It is also discovered that six members of the Justice League had been missing for 16 hours while under Savage's control, so what they were doing during that time is a major cliffhanger.
Well... I have left out a ton of details and countless characters. So much happens throughout the season that I don't feel the need to go into, but I think (I hope) I've mentioned all the most important things. Though I do feel bad about leaving out mention of some of the villains and heroes. Anyway, it's a really good show, both fun and complex. And I look forward to watching subsequent seasons.