Common Sense Media Review
By Matt Springer
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Former sidekicks battle villains in action-packed cartoon.
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Young Justice
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 25 parent reviews
What's the Story?
Based on a comic book series of the same name, YOUNG JUSTICE chronicles the coming-of-age adventures for a group of prominent superhero sidekicks -- Robin (voiced by Jesse McCartney), Kid Flash (Jason Spisak), Aqualad (Khary Payton), Arrowette (Stephanie Lemelin), and Miss Martian (Danica McKellar). They face down typical world-threatening challenges while also emerging from the shadows of the adult heroes who have trained them.
Is It Any Good?
For many years, Warner Bros. animation studios have churned out a continuous stream of exceptional series based on DC Comics properties. Young Justice is another series in that vein, with a style closer to the cartoonish realism of Justice League Unlimited than the anime-inspired Teen Titans Go!
With more than 70 years of comic books to draw from, the storytelling in Young Justice has plenty of imagination, and the characters provide dependable touchstones for young viewers -- the impatient speedster, the sly computer hacker, the stoic strongman. Superboy (voiced by Nolan North) is based on the comics' most recent incarnation (he's a clone of the adult Superman) and returns the character to its roots as an alien trying to fit in, which is one of the all-time great metaphors for the awkwardness of childhood and the teenage years. Young Justice provides a dose of sharp animated action for superhero fans of all ages.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how the show presents violence between the heroes and villains. Is violence ever a good way to resolve conflict? Would other approaches have worked in the show?
What do you think is the best approach when you believe an authority figure is wrong about something? How would you approach that situation?
TV Details
- Premiere date: January 7, 2011
- Cast: Bruce Greenwood , Danica McKellar , Phil LaMarr
- Network: Max
- Genre: Kids' Animation
- Topics: Superheroes
- TV rating: TV-PG
- Last updated: February 26, 2023
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