Review: Young Justice (2011)

So last year this series released, Young Justice. Now don't get me wrong, I'm a fan of DC and I think all of the series they've done have been mostly pretty good but I was a little nervous about this, I won't lie. I figured 'Teen Titans they've already done and they ignored continuity and all on that to go in an 'original' and 'Anime inspired' direction, could they possibly fuck this one up?', I liked Teen Titans I just didn't love Teen Titans and in our household James is the Marvel fan and I'm the DC fan, I don't know.. I just don't think that Marvel characters are that good, they feel flat, colourless and more boring to me compared to DC and the DC Universe but that's me.. This series though does thankfully seem to carry more of a serious and at times dark tone to it with less childishness such as Teen Titans had which I like much better. DC is often very dark, that's just that.. Remember when Dan Turpin was killed by Darkseid in the Superman TAS finale? Yeah, tell me that shit didn't hit you hard and I'll know a liar.

I still fucking cry on that episode to this very day and it's not just cause I'm a girl.


One thing I think we can all agree about is that typically Marvel produces better movies while DC products better animation. That's not to say all Marvel Animation sucks, that's just to say DC has more and better animated movies and series than Marvel in my opinion.

So did they fuck it up is the question? Well then lets get to it shall we?

First of all something I'd like to say is that these designs I find personally as being fucking awesome, James complained at first about Martian Manhunters design but I liked it and frankly I like the other designs as well. So far there's really been nothing design-wise that I've just hated, it's all been fairly impressive and furthermore there have been several characters which I never expected to see in this series being as it's supposed to be about 'side-kicks' that really surprised me to see, it seems this is playing these young heroes as a tad higher-tier than your average group of 'side-kicks'.

Two in particular were Ra's Al Ghul and Vandal Savage, I have to say.. They played it mostly safe with Ra's Al Ghul's design, there's not really anything changed about him from any other form he's appeared in other DCAU content but it's definitely not bad, I definitely don't dislike it.. Vandal Savage on the other hand.. Vandal Savage's design I love, he is truly Neanderthal looking and I adore that complete with the scars and the true to Savage fighting style which while savage and brutal is also somewhat strangely refined. But let's see because that's not else, who else is up next?

A Lord of Chaos!

Klarion the Witch Boy who is done in true form in this series, a freaky little shit who almost gives me the chills. They've chosen the perfect voice and voice actor for this fella and he truly drips creepy to me, he truly seems like a Lord of Chaos and frankly I approve. Klarion has only been featured in a few episodes but he's been pretty high-tier when he has appeared and I like that. Typically Dr. Fate is the great equalizer the team requires which makes sense since Dr. Fate is a Lord of Order and that's their bit, the Lord of Chaos vs Lord of Order. Nicely done, they've clearly paid attention to the lore.

But it's also the Joker, I mean.. When he appeared I could not believe it, I didn't expect an Arch Nemesis like the Joker to appear at all and while typically I loathe redesigns of the Joker in any DCAU continuity diverging from Mark Hamil's Joker I think this Joker is right on the fucking money, he's creepy, he's crazy, he's funny and I'd be genuinely scared of this motherfucker in real life. He's a Joker I can get behind because his voice-actor and portrayal in the animation is so spot on that you can believe this guy is genuinely some completely unfathomably crazy whack-job looking to do nothing more than filet you.

Speaking of characters I never expected to appear in this series, I'd like to go ahead and mention that a ton of obscure characters show up in this series and many of them are clearly placed there to play to the DC Fan Base because well.. It's really cool to see that the producers and those responsible for the show actually know the source material and integrate these characters into it. Even characters like Amanda Waller appear in one form or another and there seems to be quite a few layers to the story so far as we don't quite know what exactly is happening though things seem to be centering around the creature I'm assuming is Starro and likely it and it's mind-control powers being utilized by "The Light" if I had my guess right.. That's what I'd assume from what I've been able to draw from the evidence at least..

We've seen up until the most recent episodes at this point, I may add more to the review at a later date so it may be broken up a little but so far I can say being at Season 1 and Episode 21 that this is probably one of the best DCAU series to come out by far. It's truly engaging and enjoyable and while it has it's 'moments' that are irritating such as Superboy being a whiny Anakin emo bitch from time to time they're forgivable moments that are ultimately redeemed by the series as a whole.

ADDED:

So we recently watched an episode, the last episode to air s01e05 'Usual Suspects' and I've got to say that it was super romantic, I absolutely loved that they finally had Miss Martian reveal that she was in fact a White Martian and show her true form only to be met by Connors surprising and unconditional acceptance of her and the face that he still in spite of all that loved her and knew all along.

Oh be still my heart.. That is so cheesy romantic I can't help but swoon.

Dinner:

Tonight's dinner was a simple Sakana Sandoitchi (Fish Sandwich) with Pepper and Salt Spiced Baked Fish, two Oven Roasted Mushrooms, a special Asian Tartar all between two pieces of fresh and soft White Bread with a side of Buttered Mashed Potatoes (fresh and home-made) and a Blueberry Sweet and Salty Anpan (Sweet Roll)