Algernon writes...

“Young Justice: Drop-Zone” review

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Really great episode all round, I think this is what most of us have been waiting for since “Independence Day” first aired back in November.

First off, I know a lot of folks thought Desmond’s transformation into Blockbuster was pretty disturbing but damn, Mammoth just took it to a whole new level of nightmare fuel. Not only do we get his skin ripping of but exposed muscle tissue and everything. You guys must have the most laid back S&P exec in history.

Back to the actual plot, this episode really sells the idea of Young Justice as the League’s covert-ops team. I especially liked how the team still hasn’t completely gelled yet, as befits their first official mission. Everyone’s unsure of their roles and they don’t even have a leader yet. Robin’s got a lot of natural talent and he’s probably the best suited for covert work, but he lacks the necessary maturity. I like the idea of Kaldur taking on the “burden of leadership” until Robin’s ready. I got to say Kaldur’s my favourite character so far and I’m looking forward to seeing how he grows as a leader in the future.

I’m a big supervillain geek, so this episode had a lot for me to like. Bane was very cool, a lot of writers forget Bane’s supposed to be a strategist as well as a brawler, so it was refreshing to see him playing the YJers and the Kubra Cult against each other. I also enjoyed Lord Kobra, any dude created by Jack Kirby is automatically worth looking into for me but I loved what Arnold Vosloo did with the character, supremely arrogant yet very cold and understated. It’s easy to see how a cult of personality formed around this guy.

Sportsmaster seemed pretty left field but interesting. I’m familiar with the character from “Batman: The Brave & The Bold” but never expected to see him in a show like this. Still, I liked the way you guys re-imagined him as more of a mercenary then weirdo with a gimmick.

It was also very cool to see the Light again, I’ve been looking forward to seeing these guys again and it looks like their conspiracy seems to stretch across the super-criminal community. Project Cadmus, the Kobra Cult and even Professor Morrow and Mr. Twister, they seem to have their fingers in many dubious pies.

Like I said great episode that just makes my hungry for more, can’t wait to see where you guys are going with this.

Mike writes...

Almost every show seems to do a Christmas themed episode at some point down the line. Any chance there can ever be a Chanukka themed episode in YJ at some point. (Though I don't know how you'd make it work considering none of the main characters are Jewish, but it's just a thought. The last cartoon to have a chanukka themed episode was Rugrats, I think.)
Anywho, Love the show, keep up the good work!

All the best,
Mike

Brian L writes...

Hi, Greg! I did a search but I couldn't find where it was answered in full, so about how old are the Justice League in Young Justice? The ki -- young adults are well known, but the adults seem considerably vaguer. Thank you for your time and the answer (hopefully).

Grant writes...

Is the French member of the Light suppose to be the Brain?

Grant writes...

1) Were the twins from Drop Zone, the Terror Twins from your YJ comic?

2) Since you have Shimmer and what is presumably Mammoth, will the rest of the Fearsome Five soon appear?

conner writes...

Does Superboy speak Spanish? It seemed like he could understand what Bane was saying when he was listening with his super hearing?

FightingDreamer writes...

Hi, just wanted to ask some questions about Young Justice (which I'm LOVING so far):
1. Do you have an actor doing the noises/grunts/screams for characters like Mammoth or Blockbuster, or is your sound design team just that awesome?
2. What inspired the decision to have Spanish dialogue in "Drop Zone"? Was it out of a desire to be more realistic, or did it just tickle you to have Danny Trejo give a bilingual performance?
3. Did Superboy's smirk at the end of Bane's Spanish dialogue while he was tied up indicate that Superboy knew Bane planned to betray them? If so, why did he decide not to say anything to the others? I loved that moment, mind you, but it's an extremely curious touch.

Maki P writes...

After watching "Drop Zone" I have only one question:
Why! Greg why! Why did you let them butcher la Lengua de Cervantes like that? Trying to listen to those lines was just painful, the accents alone were impossible to understand and what I could gather from the grammar was... not right.
You seem like a respectful, careful sort, so I need to know, Why?

Logan writes...

Drop Zone was a fantastic episode, keep up the good work.
i just read an episode description for Feb. 11's episode "Infiltrator"
Who are the league of shadow's? are you taking about the league of Assassins? i remember in batman begins, the league of assassins was watered down for audiences.

Who had to drop the ax on the assassins for this instance? Comics fans know that they've always been the league of assassins and when they hear the league of shadow's it will most likely take them out of the moment.

I had assumed that with a pg v rating that your target demographic was young teens, do you have to fight censorship in order to actually take advantage of this rating.

to be real Greg, you and i both know EXACTLY what the kids want to see, blood, excessive violence and sexual innuendo. its just the facts. i have seen tv pg v ratings get way with some of the gritiest, realistic, and schoking material.

How are they gonna screw you on the sensorship? i am a huge fan of the show and your work but im still waiting to see a pg v fight. listen to the devil of your conscious and let the angel take a vacation.

Ann writes...

I'm really liking the take on Batman in Young Justice. It's pretty refreshing to see a Batman that isn't completely cold and cruel, and who can actually give out praise when it's warranted. Was this a concious decision?