Young Justice turned Aquaman into a real legacy title, with King Orin popping out of retirement to battle alongside Kaldur’ahm and La’gaan as Aquamen.
Warning: SPOILERS for Young Justice season 4, episode 17, “Leviathan Wakes.”
The title of Aquaman, lengthy a reputation of nice honor within the Atlantis of Young Justice, has turn out to be a real legacy, with three heroes now sharing the title and duties with the second Aquaman, Kaldur. Young Justice stands distinctive amongst animated superhero sequence in that its solid of characters has aged because the sequence has progressed, with sidekicks rising as much as turn out to be grownup superheroes with their very own sidekicks. The fourth season, titled Young Justice: Phantoms, is about 10 years after the occasions of Young Justice season 1, and every of its story arcs has centered on one of many teenage heroes who had been a part of the unique covert group of the Justice League’s junior companions.
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The sequence has seen these younger heroes develop and alter in surprising methods, however no character exemplifies Young Justice’s central theme of legacy fairly so strongly because the Atlantean hero Kaldur. Beginning the sequence as Aqualad and protégé to the primary Aquaman, Orin of Atlantis, Kaldur served because the group’s first chief. When Orin stepped down from the Justice League to deal with his duties as Excessive King of Atlantis, Kaldur assumed the Aquaman title and was given full membership within the Justice League, the place he additionally served because the chief of the Justice League members stationed on Earth. The occasions of the primary main story arc of Young Justice season 4, half 2, centered on Kaldur as he sought to defuse a civil battle in Atlantis.
Battle was averted when Orin stepped down as Excessive King, providing the crown to his spouse, the sorceress Queen Mera, as a compromise that happy all of the rulers of Atlantis. When Kaldur requested his mentor what he meant to do now that he was not burdened by the tasks of ruling, Orin mentioned that he was pondering of rejoining the Justice League. Kaldur accepted this along with his attribute calm, saying that he would gladly resign in order that Orin could possibly be Aquaman once more. Orin dismissed this concept, nonetheless, saying that “If the League can embrace 4 Inexperienced Lanterns and two Flashes, I consider it might probably embrace two Aquamen. Or three.”
This addition was aimed toward La’gaan, one other hero of Atlantis and member of the group as soon as generally known as Lagoon Boy, who had additionally been mentored by Orin. Kaldur agreed, noting that having three Aquamen within the Justice League could be a great factor given his have to take a go away of absence so he may grieve for his fallen buddy Superboy and Orin and La’gaan’s tasks because the fathers of younger kids. La’gaan was astonished however accepted the appointment after Orin mentioned it was time for La’gaan to be acknowledged as being as a lot a hero as Kaldur and himself.
This momentous event was the capstone of a prolonged story arc that launched many new characters from the Aquaman comics into the world of Earth-16. Whereas this was undoubtedly a deal with for the Aquaman devoted, it additionally showcased how deeply Young Justice delves into the lore of DC Comics and its wealthy historical past. It was additionally notable for its ultimate chapter being written by Aquaman’s voice actor Khary Patton, in his first skilled tv writing credit score.
New episodes of Young Justice launch Thursdays on HBO Max.