When it got here to adapting fan-favorite DC Comics heroes and villains for Young Justice, solely 4 characters had been initially off-limits.
In a latest fan Q & A, showrunners Greg Weisman and Brandon Vietti revealed that they weren’t allowed to make use of Darkseid, Wonder Women Donna Troy and Cassie Sandsmark and Blue Beetle Ted Kord whereas engaged on Season 1 of the present. “We do not know why these specific characters had been off-limits,” Weisman stated, “And clearly these restrictions had been finally lifted, as all 4 have since appeared within the collection. Since then, there have been no different characters that had been declared off-limits.”
Whereas none of those characters appeared in Season 1 of the present, three of the 4 appeared in Season 2 — Young Justice: Invasion. Cassie Sandsmark was launched as a member of the Crew, occurring missions with heroes like Batgirl and Bumblebee, whereas Ted Kord was revealed to be the Blue Beetle earlier than Jaime Reyes, although he died in a battle in opposition to the Mild’s villains. Darkseid was the ultimate reveal within the finale of Invasion, however the present was cancelled, forcing followers to attend six years earlier than its resurrection on DC Universe — although it moved to HBO Max for Season 4, Young Justice: Phantoms.
Donna Troy was launched within the present’s third season, Young Justice: Outsiders, because the United Nations ambassador for Themyscira. Whereas she has been proven periodically all through the present, she has but to swimsuit up in her Wonder Girl apparel from DC Comics.
Weisman and Vietti could not know why these characters had been initially off-limits, nevertheless it would not be the primary time that DC animation was given restrictions. For instance, in Justice League Limitless, the present was not allowed to make use of Aquaman villain Black Manta in Season 3, prompting the creation of Satan Ray as a Black Manta substitute. Satan Ray was lately launched into the principle DC Comics continuity within the Black Manta miniseries.
With their restrictions lifted after Season 1 although, the 2 showrunners have significantly expanded the present’s roster of heroes throughout Seasons 3 and 4. Outsiders not solely launched Donna Troy, but additionally fan-favorites like Cassandra Cain/Orphan, the Doom Patrol and the Legion of Tremendous-Heroes, with the chance open for characters like Jason Todd’s Red Hood sooner or later. Within the case of Cassandra, her backstory was explored within the Artemis arc of Phantoms, whereas among the Legion has appeared all through the season.
Phantoms lately returned to HBO Max with the primary three episodes of a brand new arc specializing in Kaldur’ahm/Aquaman. It’s unclear if the present season will introduce extra heroes and/or villains, however Vietti joked that followers could at some point see the Wonder Twins be a part of the collection’ roster.
The primary three seasons and greater than half of Young Justice: Phantoms at the moment are accessible to stream on HBO Max.
Supply: DC Comics