Almost six years after its abrupt cancellation, animated sequence Young Justice is again on tv as a part of DC Universe, DC Leisure’s streaming platform. The primary three episodes premiered final Friday, bringing the workforce of superheroes again for long-time followers and introducing new solid and battle.

Choosing up two years after the ending of season two (subtitled Invasion), Young Justice: Outsiders finds the superheroes dealing with a heightened, meta-human trafficking crises. Discovering room for an almost-full line-up of the Justice League, returning characters from the youthful workforce and the introductions of recent ones, the primary three episodes juggle a powerful solid, however does so with finesse.

[Ed. note: This post contains spoilers for the first three episodes of Young Justice: Outsiders, as well as the ending of Young Justice: Invasion]

Whereas there are new recruits to keep watch over, most notably Prince Brion of Markovia (eagle-eyed followers will spot that he’s the notorious Terra’s brother) and the mysterious Halo-Girl, the core of Young Justice: Outsiders’ drama focuses on the unique solid.

Miss Martian now leads the Young Justice workforce, whereas Kaldur has assumed the position of Aquaman and heads the League. Nightwing, in the meantime, is off doing his personal covert missions (with the assistance of an unseen, off-screen Oracle), and recruits Artemis (now going by Tigress) and Superboy for assist. The one member of the unique lineup lacking is Wally West, who perished within the final moments of season two, however his presence continues to be felt — Artemis retains an image of him by her bedside; their canine cuddles with a Child Flash plush; Beast Boy mentions attending the funeral of a speedy good friend.

The primary episode finds the Justice League at a crossroads. Clearly, they should do one thing about this uptick in meta-human trafficking, particularly after a 14-year-old woman was discovered on a distant planet, her genes warped past comprehension. However the United Nations — headed by Secretary Normal Lex Luthor as we’re reminded within the subsequent episode — blocks them from taking additional motion. Whereas Aquaman (Kaldur, who has taken the position from his unseen mentor) and Wonder Woman want to work round these parameters, not everybody agrees.

Batman declares that if the UN doesn’t need to work with the League, then there would possibly as nicely not be a League and he, together with Inexperienced Arrow, Batwoman, Katana, Plastic Man and {Hardware}, resign. Their respective proteges, Robin (Tim Drake), Spoiler and Arowette depart with them. Black Lightning additionally exits, not as a result of he was a part of the coup, however as a result of he’s shocked on the dying of the 14-year-old meta-human.

Warner Bros. Animation/DC Universe

In the meantime, the king and queen of Markovia plan to announce the nation’s help of Quraci refugees and their denouncement of meta-human experimentation. Nightwing has picked up intel that means that the nation is a hub of meta-human trafficking, nevertheless, and the assassination of the king and queen additional cements this. He recruits Artemis, now residing with brother-in-law Roy Harper, who has modified his title to Will as a result of the unique Roy Harper is again in motion (this new one is a clone — look, there’s two seasons about this), and Superboy (residing with Miss Martian, who he later proposes to) and Black Lightning additionally take part on a covert mission to Markovia.

Warner Bros. Animation/DC Universe

The following two episodes comply with Nightwing on his journey to Markovia, the place he investigates some suspicious scientists working on the kids’s hospital, and the imposing regent ruler Frederick DeLamb, who’s simply declared Markovia below martial legislation. The mission reveals that Rely Vertigo of neighboring Vlatava heads the meta-human operations in Markovia with DeLamb. However one resilient Quraci refugee doesn’t keep lifeless, finally manifesting powers of her personal.

The third episode culminates in Prince Brion activating his personal meta-gene and manifesting earth and lava manipulation powers and dealing with off in opposition to DeLamb. Frederick DeLamb is defeated and all appears nicely for a second, earlier than earlier than Brion’s twin brother, Crown Prince Gregor, banishes him for Markovia. Although the workforce managed to destroy the labs in Markovia, Rely Vertigo managed to flee and regardless of Black Lightning’s efforts, one other mutated teenager is lifeless.

Warner Bros. Animation/DC Universe

With out the restrictions of Cartoon Community’s tips, Young Justice: Outsiders embraces violence; when the murderer who kills the king and queen emerges from their room, they achieve this with bloody fingers. Later, Halo will get her face burnt off earlier than she regenerates. It’s darker and grittier, however by no means out of the realm for the tone of the present — the truth is, it’s virtually as if Young Justice was ready for an opportunity to actually delve into its darker features.

This newfound lenience has many followers longing for favourite pairing “BluePulse” (Jaime Reyes’ Blue Beetle and Bart Allen’s Impulse) to be official. However past a quick interplay within the first episode, neither character made a significant episode look simply but, so phrase’s nonetheless out on their relationship standing.

Make no mistake, even with extra blood, Young Justice: Outsiders continues to do what it does greatest, specifically steadiness a darker, action-driven plot-line with reasonable character improvement and relationships. Nightwing, Artemis and Superboy get pleasure from their acquainted banter and dynamic, although they’re nonetheless conserving secrets and techniques (why does Nightwing lie about Oracle’s existence to Artemis) and the lack of their good friend hangs within the air. That’s a urgent query many followers have that also must be answered — will Wally West come again or is the speedster lifeless for actual?

The following three episodes of Young Justice: Outsiders air on Friday, Jan. 11 on DC Universe.