Young Justice (TV series) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Young Justice
Genre	Superhero Action Adventure Science fantasy Teen drama
Based on
Developed by	Brandon Vietti Greg Weisman
Voices of	Jesse McCartney Khary Payton Jason Spisak Nolan North Danica McKellar Stephanie Lemelin
Theme music composer	Kristopher Carter Michael McCuistion Lolita Ritmanis
Composer(s)	Kristopher Carter Michael McCuistion Lolita Ritmanis
Country of origin	United States
Original language(s)	English
No. of seasons	4
No. of episodes	98 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producer(s)	Sam Register Brandon Vietti (season 4) Greg Weisman (season 4)
Producer(s)	Brandon Vietti (seasons 1–3) Greg Weisman (seasons 1–3) Leanne Moreau (season 3)
Running time	23–25 minutes
Production company(s)	DC Entertainment Warner Bros. Animation
Distributor	Warner Bros. Television Distribution
Release
Original network	Cartoon Network (seasons 1–2) DC Universe (season 3) HBO Max (season 4)
Picture format	HDTV 1080p (seasons 1–2, 4) 4K UHD 2160p (season 3)
Audio format	Stereo Dolby Digital Plus 5.1
Original release	November 26, 2010 (2010-11-26) – June 9, 2022 (2022-06-09)

Young Justice is an American superhero animated TV show. It was created by Brandon Vietti and Greg Weisman. The show first aired on Cartoon Network and was later available on DC Universe and HBO Max. Even though it's called Young Justice, it's not a direct copy of the comic books. Instead, it tells a new story in the DC Universe focusing on young heroes.

The series is about a secret group of teenage superheroes and sidekicks. This group, called "the Team," works with the famous Justice League. But they operate more freely, without as many rules. The story takes place on "Earth-16," a special fictional world. In this world, superheroes are quite new. Supervillains have started working together in a big secret group called the Light. The show first aired on November 26, 2010. It was canceled in 2013 after its second season, Invasion. But fans loved it so much that it came back for a third season, Outsiders, in 2019. A fourth season, Phantoms, premiered in 2021 and finished in 2022.

What is Young Justice About?

Young Justice shows the lives of young sidekicks who want to become real superheroes. They also deal with normal teenage problems. The show happens in a time that the creators call "a new age of heroes."

Season 1: Forming the Team

In the first season, Robin, Aqualad, Kid Flash, and Speedy are invited to the Justice League's headquarters. Speedy gets angry and quits being a sidekick. The other three investigate a fire at Cadmus Labs. There, they find Superboy, a clone of Superman. They free him and expose Cadmus' illegal actions.

Impressed, the Justice League lets the sidekicks form their own secret team. This team, called Young Justice, works from a hidden cave inside Mount Justice. Black Canary trains them, Batman gives them missions, and Red Tornado watches over them. Miss Martian and Artemis also join the team. The team often fights against the Light, a secret group of supervillains. These villains include Vandal Savage, Ra's al Ghul, Lex Luthor, Queen Bee, Ocean Master, Brain, and Klarion the Witch Boy. The team also faces a big problem when they learn one of their members is working for the Light. This traitor is later revealed to be Red Arrow, a clone who enslaves the Justice League. Young Justice manages to free the Justice League.

Season 2: Invasion and Alien Threats

Five years later, the team has changed. Robin is now Nightwing and leads the team. Kid Flash and Artemis have retired. Aqualad has left to join his villainous father, Black Manta, who is part of the Light. New members join, like Beast Boy, Blue Beetle, Robin, Batgirl, Bumblebee, Lagoon Boy, Wonder Girl (Cassie Sandsmark), and Impulse.

An alien force tries to take over Earth. It's revealed that the Justice League attacked a peaceful planet five years ago while controlled by the Light. This made other alien races see Earth as a target. After the invasion is stopped, some Justice League members leave Earth to clear their names. More aliens come to Earth, and people start to trust the Reach, an alien race that seems friendly. But the Reach are actually allies of the Light and want to conquer Earth.

Their actions attract Mongul, who brings his planet-destroying weapon, the War World. Young Justice defeats Mongul. Aqualad reveals he was a secret agent working against the Light and the Reach. He helps his teammates take down Black Manta and Brain. Meanwhile, the War World is taken to Darkseid on Apokolips.

Season 3: Outsiders and Metahuman Trafficking

Two years later, the Team fights against metahuman trafficking. This is when people with special powers (meta-genes) are illegally traded. Various groups and countries are involved in this. Geo-Force and Halo are two characters who were experimented on. The team also deals with new plans from the Light. The Light now includes Deathstroke, Ultra-Humanite, and Gretchen Goode. New characters from the planets New Genesis and Apokolips also appear. Geo-Force searches for his sister, Terra. It's discovered that Terra was secretly working with Deathstroke. Geo-Force kills his uncle and becomes king of Markovia, ending ties with the team.

Season 4: Phantoms and New Challenges

In 2019, it was announced that a fourth season, titled Young Justice: Phantoms, would be made. It premiered on HBO Max in 2021 and ended in 2022. This season takes place one year after season 3. It focuses on different original Team members in four parts. The Legion of Super-Heroes also plays a part, and Superboy is a main character.

• Miss Martian and Superboy go to Mars for their wedding. But problems arise from the murder of the Martian king.
• Tigress tries to help her sister Cheshire.
• Zatanna and her magic users face a new villain, Child.
• Kaldur'ahm returns to Atlantis as a prophecy about Ocean Master comes true.
• Rocket goes to New Genesis for Justice League work.
• Nightwing and other heroes must stop General Zod and other Kryptonian criminals from escaping the Phantom Zone.

During these events, everyone believes Superboy died. Miss Martian is heartbroken, and Beast Boy becomes depressed. Tigress reaches out to Cheshire because of this. Zatanna learns Superboy is still alive in another dimension. Kaldur struggles with his grief. Rocket meets Lor-Zod, who tried to kill Superboy. Nightwing finally uncovers the truth: Superboy is trapped in the Phantom Zone. The original Team works to rescue him, but Superboy is sick and loyal to Zod.

After defeating Zod, Superboy and Miss Martian finally marry on Earth. Many heroes, friends, and family attend. Meanwhile, the Light captures the Kryptonians. On Apokolips, Darkseid meets the new Furies: Supergirl and Black Mary.

Who are the Main Characters?

Original Team Members

• Dick Grayson (voiced by Jesse McCartney) is Robin. He is Batman's smart sidekick who uses cool gadgets. Later, he becomes Nightwing and leads the team. He was best friends with Kid Flash.
• Kaldur'ahm (voiced by Khary Payton) is Aqualad. He is Aquaman's sidekick from Atlantis. He can breathe underwater and control water. He is a calm and natural leader. In season 2, he pretends to betray the team to go undercover. In season 3, he becomes the new Aquaman and joins the Justice League.
• Wally West (voiced by Jason Spisak) is Kid Flash. He is The Flash's sidekick and can run super fast. In Season 2, he retired but came back to help. He sadly dies saving the world from a bomb.
• Superboy (voiced by Nolan North) is a clone of Superman. He has many of Superman's powers. He later takes the name Conner Kent and inspires the Legion of Super-Heroes. He marries Miss Martian.
• M'gann M'orzz or Megan Morse (voiced by Danica McKellar) is Miss Martian. She is Martian Manhunter's niece. She has powers like telekinesis, empathy, telepathy, flight, and shape-shifting. She learns to control her strong powers and marries Superboy.
• Artemis Crock (voiced by Stephanie Lemelin) is Green Arrow's sidekick. She is a great fighter and archer. She pretends to be Green Arrow's niece to hide her criminal family. In season 2, she uses the name Tigress for a secret mission. After Wally West's death, she keeps this identity.

Other Important Members

Season 1 Additions

• The Sphere is a smart machine from New Genesis. It can change shapes and is often used for transport. It becomes close with Superboy.
• Wolf (voiced by Dee Bradley Baker) is a large Indian wolf. He becomes Superboy's pet.
• Roy Harper / Will Harper (voiced by Crispin Freeman) is Red Arrow. He was Green Arrow's sidekick. He is a clone of the original Roy Harper, whom he later rescues. He joins the Justice League.
• Zatanna (voiced by Lacey Chabert) is a skilled magician. She later joins the Justice League.
• Raquel Ervin (voiced by Kittie and Denise Boutte) is Rocket. She can control kinetic energy to make shields. She also joins the Justice League.

Season 2: Invasion Additions

• Jaime Reyes (voiced by Eric Lopez) is Blue Beetle. He has a powerful alien armor.
• Garfield Logan (voiced by Logan Grove and Greg Cipes) is Beast Boy. He gains shape-shifting powers from Miss Martian. He later becomes an actor.
• Tim Drake (voiced by Cameron Bowen) is the new Robin. He is the third Robin on the team.
• Karen Beecher (voiced by Masasa Moyo) is Bumblebee. She has bee-like wings and can shrink.
• Mal Duncan (voiced by Kevin Michael Richardson) is a skilled fighter and Bumblebee's boyfriend. He later becomes Guardian.
• La'gaan (voiced by Yuri Lowenthal) is Lagoon Boy. He is from Atlantis and can grow larger like a puffer fish.
• Barbara Gordon (voiced by Alyson Stoner) is Batgirl. She is another of Batman's sidekicks. She later becomes Oracle and helps Nightwing.
• Cassie Sandsmark (voiced by Mae Whitman) is Wonder Girl. She is Wonder Woman's sidekick with super-strength and flight.
• Bart Allen (voiced by Jason Marsden) is Impulse. He is a time traveler from the future and Flash's grandson. He joins the team to save Earth. He later becomes Kid Flash.
• Roy Harper (voiced by Crispin Freeman) is Arsenal. He is the real Speedy, who was cloned. He gets a cybernetic arm and joins the team, but later leaves to be a solo hero.
• Virgil Hawkins (voiced by Bryton James) is Static. He gains electric powers from alien experiments. He joins the team in the Season 2 finale.

Season 3: Outsiders Additions

• Cissie King-Jones / Arrowette (voiced by Kelly Stables).
• Stephanie Brown / Spoiler (voiced by Mae Whitman).
• Traci Thurston / Thirteen (voiced by Lauren Tom).
• Prince Brion Markov/Geo-Force (voiced by Troy Baker): A prince from Markovia with earth-related powers. He falls for Halo.
• Violet Harper / Halo (voiced by Zehra Fazal): A young metahuman with many powers. She is actually the spirit of a Mother Box in a human body. She develops a relationship with Prince Brion.
• Forager (voiced by Jason Spisak): A bug-like alien from New Genesis. He learns to take human form and goes to high school.
• Victor Stone / Cyborg (voiced by Zeno Robinson): A high school football player who becomes part-robot after an explosion. He is later purified of dark influences.
• Princess Tara Markov / Terra (voiced by Tara Strong): A princess from Markovia with earth-controlling powers. She secretly works with Deathstroke.

Season 4: Phantoms Additions

• Cassandra Wu-San / Orphan: The daughter of Lady Shiva.
• Andie Murphy / Mist (voiced by Daniela Bobadilla): A girl who can turn her body into vapor.

How the Show Was Made

Idea and Creation

The show started in March 2009. Sam Register wanted a show that mixed ideas from Teen Titans and Young Justice comics. He chose the title Young Justice. Greg Weisman and Brandon Vietti were hired to produce it. They wanted the show to be about young heroes and focus on themes of secrets and lies. They planned ideas for at least two seasons.

Voice Actors

The first six main characters were chosen from a list of 50 to 60 teenage DC Comics superheroes. They picked characters based on their age, powers, personality, and how well-known they were. Zatanna and Rocket were added later in the first season.

Production and Design

The creators wanted the costumes to look real and fit the show's serious tone. They also wanted them to match the characters' personalities. For example, Kid Flash's suit has padding to protect him when he slides. Aqualad's costume is smooth for moving fast in water. Robin's costume is padded for protection in Gotham City. Batman's suit also has extra stitching like Robin's, but it looks more military.

Animation Process

Artists in Los Angeles, USA, drew storyboards and designed characters and backgrounds. Some storyboards were also done in Seoul, South Korea. The main animation was done by studios in Seoul, South Korea. Finally, the coloring and editing were done by Warner Bros. Animation.

Cancellation and Return

In January 2013, Cartoon Network announced that Young Justice would not be getting a third season. Fans were very upset. In 2016, Greg Weisman explained that the show's funding came from a toy deal with Mattel. When the toys didn't sell well, Mattel stopped funding the show, leading to its cancellation.

When season 2 was released on Netflix, fans were encouraged to watch it there. This showed Warner Bros. that there was still a lot of interest. Many voice actors and creators also supported bringing the show back.

On November 7, 2016, a third season was officially announced! Sam Register said that fans' love for Young Justice made them bring it back. The original creators, Brandon Vietti and Greg Weisman, returned. The third season, Young Justice: Outsiders, premiered on January 4, 2019.

On July 20, 2019, it was announced that a fourth season, Young Justice: Phantoms, would be made. It moved to HBO Max.

Second Cancellation

In August 2022, after Warner Bros. Discovery took over, many shows were canceled or left uncertain. Young Justice was among them. It was reported that HBO Max only ordered one season of Phantoms, and there were no plans for a new season. This was the second time the series had been canceled.

Other Young Justice Stuff

Home Videos

The show's episodes have been released on DVD and Blu-ray. The first season was released in parts and then as a full set. Season 2, Invasion, was also released in two parts. Season 3, Outsiders, came out on DVD and Blu-ray in 2019.

Comic Books

Young Justice also has its own comic book series. It tells more stories that happen between the TV show episodes. For example, issue #0 shows Kid Flash and Superboy waiting for the Justice League to set up Mount Justice. The comics were written by Greg Weisman and Kevin Hopps, who also worked on the show. The comic series was later renamed Young Justice: Invasion to match the second season. It ended in November 2012.

The comics have been collected into two big books: Young Justice Book One: The Early Missions and Young Justice Book Two: Growing Up. A new digital comic series, Young Justice: Targets, started in 2022. It takes place two months after Young Justice: Phantoms.

Video Games

A video game based on the show, called Young Justice: Legacy, was released in November 2013. It was available for Nintendo 3DS, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360. The game takes place in the five-year gap between Season 1 and Season 2.

A Young Justice-themed downloadable content pack was released for Lego DC Super-Villains in 2019. It adds characters from the show and a bonus level.

Other Products

Many products based on the series were made. Mattel released action figures and playsets. McDonald's also featured Young Justice toys in their Happy Meals.

Characters from Young Justice have also appeared in other shows. Aqualad, Superboy & Miss Martian made a cameo in the Teen Titans Go! episode "Let's Get Serious".

Images for kids

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  The official title card for Young Justice.

See also

In Spanish: Young Justice (serie de televisión) para niños