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It’s time for another Stay Tooned Sundays! This week we take a look at Young Justice: Season One: Volume Two. Young Justice is no stranger to fans of STS, as we have covered its premiere here and more recently the  panel from the San Diego Comic Con here! The second volume features four episodes from the hit Cartoon Network show.

Title: Young Justice
Company: Warner Bros. Entertainment
Distributed by: Warner Home Video
US Release Date: October 25, 2011
Length: 90 mins.
Rating: Not Rated
Volume: Season One: Volume Two

In this volume we get to see our favorite sidekick super team face off against the super powerful android Amazo, the assassin Chesire, Klarion the Witch Boy, and Black Manta. Also, expect to see great guest appearances by Batman, Black Canary, multiple Flashes, Superman, Aquaman, Red Tornado, and Dr. Fate! (Just to name a few.) The episode “Downtime” is a particular favorite of mine, as we get to see our heroes in their personal lives, outside of the team. Many of the various personal relationships that play out over the course of the season get focused on here, especially Miss Martain’s crush on Superboy.

Red Arrow continues to make his appearance known as an unofficial member of the team, making appearances here and there. Most notably, he takes particular interest when Green Arrow introduces his new protégée and “niece,” Artemis, to the team. Speaking of strained relationships, this volume really illustrates the difference between Batman and Robin’s relationship, Aquaman and Aqualad’s relationship, and Superman and Superboy’s lack of a relationship. Superboy in general seems to be having a difficult time adapting to his new life, and it lands him in trouble more than once. Even team leader Aqualad experiences his own doubts with being part of the team when he goes home to Atlantis and reconnects with the life he left behind. Artemis also seems to have her own personal baggage and secrets that she is trying to deal with while keeping them off the team’s radar.

With a fun cast, great action packed stories, and plenty of mysteries yet to be revealed, Young Justice is a show you don’t want to miss. In style it combines the fun of Teen Titans with the scale and complexity of Justice League (Unlimited) in such a way that makes it fun for the whole family. My only real issue with the series as I have mentioned before, is with the identities of Kid Flash and Robin. In my opinion it would make more sense if they used the Tim Drake and Bart Allen versions of those characters, and while they are at it, make Robin the team leader. With his vast experience and teachings (from Batman, no less) he is clearly a better choice than Aqualad. Aside from my fanboy nit pickiness, this show is a great entertaining way to visit your favorite DC superheroes from week to week, and a worthy successor to the great animated shows that have come before.

Nick Zamora
nickz@comicattack.net