The expansive universe of Young Justice supplies ample alternative for exploring the DC Universe, however with co-creator Greg Weisman’s newest function, Catwoman: Hunted, many followers are left questioning if that universe simply expanded past the confines of the present. Though the film enjoys an artwork fashion that is nearer to the custom of anime, the characters and world it takes place in show extremely appropriate with the occasions of the animated sequence.
Weisman spoke to the film’s continuity with Young Justice earlier than its launch, however in describing Catwoman: Hunted as “YJ-adjacent,” he could have left followers with extra questions than solutions. What precisely does “adjoining” imply by way of continuity?
It is simple to see how the occasions of Catwoman: Hunted may match into the framework of Young Justice. Centered totally on Catwoman, who has but to look within the animated sequence, the story closely options different characters like Batwoman and Cheshire, who bear many similarities to their incarnations in Young Justice with out creating any discrepancies. Certainly, a lot of the artistic skills behind the present such because the voice actors stay congruent between the film and the present, and though the artwork fashion is totally different, most of the designs and options of every world show constant.
Weisman beforehand described Catwoman: Hunted as “YJ-adjacent,” relating it to the DC Showcase Inexperienced Arrow quick movie from 2010, which Weisman additionally wrote. Nonetheless, “adjoining” could not seem to be the clearest reply to the query of whether or not or not the initiatives share continuity. By way of a easy “sure” or “no” reply, saying they’re adjoining locations the movie in an ambiguous center floor that is handy for creators who need to stay unfettered by the restrictions of a bigger continuity; nevertheless, it is complicated for followers whose dogged devotion to the sequence can so typically deal with definitions of continuity as if they have been scripture.
In all probability the easiest way to think about “adjoining” on this context is that the occasions of Catwoman: Hunted don’t happen immediately inside the Earth-16 designation that defines Young Justice continuity. As a substitute, the very same or merely related occasions will be assumed to have occurred inside Earth-16, even when audiences do not see these occasions firsthand. As Young Justice progresses, the sequence could handle occasions from Catwoman: Hunted to cement the place of these objects inside the continuity, however till such references occur, followers cannot be completely safe in assuming there’s a one-to-one correlation.
Nonetheless, on the identical time, there’s little to nothing in Catwoman: Hunted that conflicts with Young Justice; certainly, the film options a number of characters and parts launched within the present that flesh out their roles on the earth. If the occasions of the film do happen in Earth-16, they would wish to happen prior to now relative to the place the timeline of Young Justice sits at the moment, contemplating that Cheshire seems to face off towards Catwoman on behalf of the League of Shadows regardless of severing ties with the group in current continuity.
For followers of the sequence, treating Catwoman: Hunted as an extension of Earth-16 is a good way to supply depth to facets of the bold world that the primary sequence has but to delve a lot additional into. Batwoman, for example, has been featured as little greater than a background character so far in Young Justice, however in her co-starring position within the film, she receives characterization and backstory that deepens her significance.
With such a large forged and a storyline that spans over a decade of occasions, even setting apart the far bigger historical past and mythology references all through the present, Young Justice may actually use help in relation to fleshing out its characters and story parts. Weisman could have bigger plans and even be leaving himself the pliability for future plot developments by labeling his newest undertaking as “YJ-adjacent,” however for followers of the present, such alternatives to additional discover such a wealthy and storied universe are few and much between. Merely being “adjoining” robs the chance for growth of a sure verve, however followers continuously hungry for extra could must accept what they will get.