One of the most unexpected but pleasant surprises out of this year’s DC Fandome has been the return of Young Justice. Although not a show I follow heavily, it usually takes an interesting spin on the DC Universe while respecting many of its basic underpinnings. I quite enjoyed Season 3, which focused on a new version of the Outsiders, and I was curious to see where the show would go after this. This leads into the new season arc, called “Phantoms”, which focuses more on Superboy, Miss Martian, Beast Boy, and the society of the planet Ma’arz.
The first arc of the season deals with Superboy and Miss Martian’s arrival on Ma’arz and the complications of their presence there. While they are initially there to get married in the Martian custom, they also have a diplomatic goal to open up travel and communication via Zeta Tube teleportation. However, these goals face complication with racial tensions within Martian society, internal caste struggles on Ma’arz, the death of the previous Martian king, and acts of Martian terrorism. I come at this of two minds. On the one hand, the worldbuilding is fascinating and the setup is quite interesting. I can also respect the writers’ attempts to bring the different aspects of Mars as presented in the comics into a unified narrative. This series combines such different ideas as J’emm: Son of Saturn, the White Martians from Morrison’s JLA and Malefic from Ostrander’s Martian Manhunter in a way where it all fits the narrative. While some of these things are not new, the way the story is told illustrates a thoughtfulness to the worldbuilding that I appreciate. At the same time, it’s difficult to reconcile the level of racism and xenophobia of these Martians with a species who are telepathic shapeshifters. The early part of the episode shows that it is difficult even for experienced telepaths not to filter their own thoughts in this society, and yet the Martians are often suspicious of outsiders. It’s also difficult to understand such a deep level of prejudice when physical form is fluid. The result is a society that is at once fascinating but also contradictory, and not always in a way that makes sense for the characters and the setting.
That having been said, the story is interesting enough to capture attention, and the main characters are generally well chosen. Although Superboy and Miss Martian have not to my knowledge ever had a relationship in the comics, their relationship works very well within this animated series. Both of them have complicated family histories that have brought them to Earth, and they are both children of two worlds in many respects. Bringing M’Gann back to Ma’arz, especially with her fiancé Superboy in tow becomes a logical move, with the complications of family and marriage adding effectively to the drama. Although I’m not that much of a fan of Beast Boy, he has a valid reason to be present, and the episode hints at deeper issues he’s struggling with. Likewise, the villainous threats are compelling, hitting the couple on an emotional level and providing an interesting mystery for the heroes to solve. I’m especially curious about the death of J’emm’s father, the Martian king, and the possible conspiracy to end his life. However, I am most interested in the presence of the Legion of Super-Heroes, and why they are acting secretly on Ma’arz. As a longtime fan of the Legion, it’s good to see these characters on the show, and I look forward to the Legionnaires taking on a larger role later in the season. Overall, the setup is perfectly good, and compelling enough to make me want to see more from Phantoms.
The voice cast on Young Justice has always been excellent, and this episode is no exception to that. Nolan North is a veteran voice actor who has done outstanding work on many characters in his career, and he does well with his version of Superboy. There is a stoicism to this version of Kon-El that comes across in North’s portrayal, while at the same time defrosting during his moments with M’Gann. Danica McKellar is again quite solid as M’Gann, more than holding her own as the central character of this story arc. Greg Cipes likewise performs well as Beast Boy, starting the episode on a lighter, fun note, but slowly growing edgier as his time on Mars starts weighting on his character. Troy Baker is another highly accomplished voice actor who has voiced many of my favorite characters, but he shows some range in this episode. Here, he plays the Martian R’ees E’dda, one of the antagonists of this arc, and he plays it much smoother than I typically associate with Baker. Kevin Michael Richardson is also a good Martian Manhunter, with a deep voice that conveys his authority, wisdom and respect, while also giving J’onn the air of mystery that he needs. Ben Diskin returns as Malefic, where he offers some good scenes opposite Danica McKellar as M’Gann. This show has always done well in finding voice actors that are accomplished and fit the classic DC characters, and that remains true for Phantoms as well.
Returning fans of Young Justice will likely be pleased with the start of Phantoms, as it continues to offer everything this show does well. However, I would not recommend this as a starting point for new viewers, given that there are many changes and developments that the episode does not really explain. Still, you should catch up on the series and then watch this one; aside from possibly Doom Patrol, Young Justice is perhaps the most respectful to the comics of the DC shows currently out there, and this episode upholds that standard. If you’re a fan of DC and are up to date on this series, then Phantoms should give you a fun DC Comics experience in animation.
Score: 4/5
Network: HBO MAX
Writer: Greg Weisman
Director: Christopher Berkeley
Cast: Nolan North, Danica McKellar, Greg Cipes, Troy Baker, Ben Diskin, Carl Lumbly, Kevin Michael Richardson, Kari Wahlgren, Hynden Walch
Author Profile
- Steve Sellers had been a fan of superheroes ever since Superman: The Movie. But it took the JSA, the Legion of Super-Heroes, Dragonlance, Lord of the Rings, Twilight Zone, and Chris Claremont's legendary run on the X-Men to make him a writer and a longtime fan of comics, fantasy, and science fiction. Steve is the co-creator of WHITE DRUID & MICHAEL NERO and GUARDIANS OF ELAYIM for Omen Comics, and he is also the creator of BLITZ and SHOCKWAVE for Revelation Comics (an imprint of Omen Comics).
