'Young Justice' Season 3 Should Be Continued As a Comic Book

Post-Justice League Unlimited, there are three superhero animated TV series that I extremely liked:  Spectacular Spider-Man, The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, and Young Justice.   These three are also perfect examples of awesome, well-written TV animated series prematurely cancelled so that the networks can make room for way dumber, awfully-written cartoons that the producers can redirect their resources to, since these would actually prove to be more profitable for them.  All these three shows only had two seasons.  It’s so, so frustrating.     

Of course, I would love to have Season 3’s for all three of them.  But that is quite unlikely to happen in TV format.  But what about as a comic book series?  Smallville, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and Angel had their respective subsequent seasons done as a comic book series after its TV conclusions/cancellations.  The unfinished tale of Samurai Jack is being continued now in a must-read ongoing comic book series from IDW.  Even the Firefly/Serenity story is being continued in a comic book mini-series.  Hence, it’s a plausible option.  But among these three – Spectacular Spider-Man, The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, and Young Justice – it is Young Justice which story I would love the most to get continued as a comic book series.

The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, short-lived as it may have been, had a definite finale.  It would be nice to have more of it if the series had not already provided a satisfactory conclusion.

Both Spectacular Spider-Man and Young Justice still have a lot of unresolved plot points.  But I think Spectacular Spider-Man won’t be as much action-packed and fun if it isn’t an animated series.  Josh Keaton voicing Peter Parker/Spidey is significantly part of its charm.  And the wacky, exciting action that Spectacular has is fantastic in cartoon format.   Thus, I don’t think Spectacular Spider-Man would work as well in comic book format.  Any continuation should be done in a renewed season on TV (which, again, is unlikely to happen) or a direct-to-video animated movie.  Moreover, I don’t think Marvel can easily make a comic book series based on the animated series since, if I get it right, the show is partly owned by Sony (that’s why the show opted for Tombstone to serve as the “Big Man” crime boss, since the right for Wilson Fisk a.k.a. The Kingpin is with Fox at that time as part of its Daredevil licensing deal with Marvel.)    

I would like Young Justice’s Season 3 to be continued as a comic book since, among the three, it is the most likely to make the move from TV to comics and still retain most of the great quality it had from its original medium.  There’s also the fact that I like Young Justice best among the three.
   

Young Justice had everything: an exceptionally fresh and rich depiction of the DC universe; intense drama and action; interesting storylines; exciting plot twists; sharp and smart dialogue; wonderful animation; engaging characterizations; a great diversity of heroes and villains; and humor.   Its premise of a team of superhero sidekicks/teen superheroes that operates as a “junior” squad engaging in covert missions or serving as an auxiliary arm of the Justice League when required is perfectly executed, which resulted in an overwhelmingly awesome product.   I can’t find any other property that revolved itself around superhero sidekicks or teen superheroes – whether in comic books or TV or any other medium – that have been more delightful and enjoyable as Young Justice.     

Young Justice was overflowing of potential.  It could have been a second, fantastic DC animated universe in the making; could have become more awesome than the classic DC animated universe that Bruce Timm built and maintained (Batman: The Animated Series, Superman: The Animated Series, Justice League, Justice League Unlimited, Batman Beyond, etc.).  Other shows could have spun-off from it.  It’s a great waste of promise, really. 

The waste of the show’s awesome potential can no longer be fully recovered (unless the series and its universe are continued in TV or direct-to-video animated movies).  Still, some of it can be salvaged – at least as far as having the opportunity to give it a fitting end is concerned – by continuing its Season 3 as a comic book series.  In its finale, Nightwing has returned the leadership of the team to Aqualad and asked for a leave of absence; Wally West, a.k.a. Kid Flash, has seemingly perished by disappearing out of existence while saving the world alongside Flash and Impulse (the whole thing reminded me of Barry Allen’s sacrifice in “Crisis on Infinite Earths” in the comics.  Everybody thought that Allen was killed during the event, but his existence was merely displaced.  I theorize that this is also what happened to Kid Flash here, and that in Season 3, it would be revealed that he is still alive); Vandal Savage has taken control of Mongul’s War World and has allied the Light with Darkseid; Lex Luthor seems to be on his way on becoming UN Secretary General; and the “Team” is now stationed in the Watchtower, to work side-by-side with the Justice League.  Aside from tackling those details, there’s still a lot of the DC Universe to cover as material for future stories.   Moreover, the “Team” is likely to expand – other members will be promoted to the Justice League, and new faces will join – to keep the roster diverse, fresh, and engaging. 

So that’s why a Young Justice Season 3 needs to happen.  If not as an actual series continuation on TV, then at least as a comic book.  Make it happen, DC!  Please?

Seriously, DC, don't deny me the reunion of Artemis and Wally.  Don't be cruel.