"Shadows still conceal our light"
So I've been watching Young Justice, the new DC Comics animated show on Cartoon Network. 'Cause, well. DC Comics. Like I'm NOT gonna check it out.
The most recent episode was pretty spectacular, even if I do have one or two quibbles. Not that I believe anyone on my friends list watches it (I THINK), but I'm going throw up a spoiler cut just in case.
So, Young Justice was tasked with taking down the "Injustice League" (I'll explain the quotations in a bit). This League had some awesome villain shoutouts in it. Ultra Humanite, Poison Ivy, The Joker, Count Vertigo, Black Adam, Wotan, Atomic Skull. With the exceptions of Poison Ivy, Joker, and Black Adam, it was great to see some more...second string villains get some screen time.
This "Injustice League" set in motion an attack plan. Poison Ivy created a giant aggressive vine, which spewed Joker venom, was powered by Atomic Skull's radiation, and controlled and spread in several major cities by Wotan's magic. They demanded $10 billion, or they'd keep attacking major cities across the globe.
The Justice League was needed to attack the various vines attacking Paris, Metropolis, Gotham, Star City, and many other locations. This, in itself, featured some lovely cameos that tickled my little fanboy heart. I mean, seriously, it was awesome to see Blue Devil, Zatara, and Captain Atom get some play. Though I didn't need to see Guy Gardner show up. I mean, they could use Hal Jordan or Kyle Raynor or John Stewart for Green Lantern? Hey, even Jade would've been cool. I'm just not a fan of Guy Gardner. He's a total jackass. But anyway.
Meanwhile, Batman sends Young Justice to tackle the "Injustice League" itself. Which they do in fine form, with a little help from Dr. Fate's Helm of Nabu. After this "League" was defeated, though, it's revealed they were proxies for the real Injustice League, operating under the name The Light. The real masterminds behind this major scheme include big guns like Lex Luthor, Vandal Savage, Queen Bee, Ocean Master, and Ra's al Ghul. There were a few that I thought didn't quite fit, though. Brain? Klarion the Witch Boy? I get Brain's a genius and Klarion's got some power, but they don't strike me as Ra's, Savage, or Luthor level threats.
Here, though, come my quibbles. Number one is about voice casting. Let me say that I fan been a big fan of Brent Spiner's since he played Data on Star Trek: The Next Generation. But he does not have the voice to pull of the Joker. Love the guy, but his voice doesn't jibe with Joker for me. I don't think Alyssa Milano was really the right choice for Poison Ivy, either. Ivy's supposed to sultry, a level Milano's voice just didn't reach for me.
Number two is about characterization. I get they had wanted Young Justice to take down the Injustice League. But there's no way in hell Batman sends teenagers to go up against any team that included Joker. It just wouldn't happen. He wouldn't even send the team to take on Joker solo. If the Joker is involved, so is Batman. He feels responsible for every life Joker takes, and he knows the depths of Joker's insanity. He's not sending teen heroes up against a psychopath like that.
I will say this, though. They did, at least, do a go job drawing Joker. They nailed his sneer. And the way his face just lights up maniacal joy when Batman finally does show up. It's just so...Joker. He's about to lunge at Robin with a knife and a Batarang comes out of nowhere, knocking the knife out of Joker's hand and he is just suddenly ecstatic. That was absolutely perfect.
Okay. Done being all nerdy now.
The most recent episode was pretty spectacular, even if I do have one or two quibbles. Not that I believe anyone on my friends list watches it (I THINK), but I'm going throw up a spoiler cut just in case.
So, Young Justice was tasked with taking down the "Injustice League" (I'll explain the quotations in a bit). This League had some awesome villain shoutouts in it. Ultra Humanite, Poison Ivy, The Joker, Count Vertigo, Black Adam, Wotan, Atomic Skull. With the exceptions of Poison Ivy, Joker, and Black Adam, it was great to see some more...second string villains get some screen time.
This "Injustice League" set in motion an attack plan. Poison Ivy created a giant aggressive vine, which spewed Joker venom, was powered by Atomic Skull's radiation, and controlled and spread in several major cities by Wotan's magic. They demanded $10 billion, or they'd keep attacking major cities across the globe.
The Justice League was needed to attack the various vines attacking Paris, Metropolis, Gotham, Star City, and many other locations. This, in itself, featured some lovely cameos that tickled my little fanboy heart. I mean, seriously, it was awesome to see Blue Devil, Zatara, and Captain Atom get some play. Though I didn't need to see Guy Gardner show up. I mean, they could use Hal Jordan or Kyle Raynor or John Stewart for Green Lantern? Hey, even Jade would've been cool. I'm just not a fan of Guy Gardner. He's a total jackass. But anyway.
Meanwhile, Batman sends Young Justice to tackle the "Injustice League" itself. Which they do in fine form, with a little help from Dr. Fate's Helm of Nabu. After this "League" was defeated, though, it's revealed they were proxies for the real Injustice League, operating under the name The Light. The real masterminds behind this major scheme include big guns like Lex Luthor, Vandal Savage, Queen Bee, Ocean Master, and Ra's al Ghul. There were a few that I thought didn't quite fit, though. Brain? Klarion the Witch Boy? I get Brain's a genius and Klarion's got some power, but they don't strike me as Ra's, Savage, or Luthor level threats.
Here, though, come my quibbles. Number one is about voice casting. Let me say that I fan been a big fan of Brent Spiner's since he played Data on Star Trek: The Next Generation. But he does not have the voice to pull of the Joker. Love the guy, but his voice doesn't jibe with Joker for me. I don't think Alyssa Milano was really the right choice for Poison Ivy, either. Ivy's supposed to sultry, a level Milano's voice just didn't reach for me.
Number two is about characterization. I get they had wanted Young Justice to take down the Injustice League. But there's no way in hell Batman sends teenagers to go up against any team that included Joker. It just wouldn't happen. He wouldn't even send the team to take on Joker solo. If the Joker is involved, so is Batman. He feels responsible for every life Joker takes, and he knows the depths of Joker's insanity. He's not sending teen heroes up against a psychopath like that.
I will say this, though. They did, at least, do a go job drawing Joker. They nailed his sneer. And the way his face just lights up maniacal joy when Batman finally does show up. It's just so...Joker. He's about to lunge at Robin with a knife and a Batarang comes out of nowhere, knocking the knife out of Joker's hand and he is just suddenly ecstatic. That was absolutely perfect.
Okay. Done being all nerdy now.