Young Justice is a fascinating study of a show growing and maturing with its audience. It’s a true character study that cares about the people behind the mask as much as it does the heroic facade. Each of its four seasons is vastly superior to pretty much every other DC show, but some are undeniably stronger. This article will rank all four seasons of Young Justice based on the quality of its writing, the overarching storyline, the emotional stakes, the cast of characters, and how iconic they are in today’s crowded superhero terrain.
Season 4: Phantoms is the most ambitious of the four seasons, featuring a novel “arc” approach with each member of the original Team receiving individual storylines. While it’s promising, it doesn’t always stick the landing, with some characters receiving weaker storylines. Artemis’ arc, which sees her reconciling with her sister and helping Cassandra Cain deal with her past, is perhaps the greatest and most emotionally resonant writing in the show’s history. However, Nightwing’s story is considerably weaker, and the season struggles with tying the larger mystery of Conner in the Phantom Zone. Despite this, Phantoms is still a standout season, marked by spectacular highs and some questionable lows.
Season 1: The Beginning is a masterclass of storytelling, introducing the main characters and their struggles to find their place in the world. It’s a classic coming-of-age story, with each hero going on a path of self-discovery and dealing with classic adolescence issues like falling in love and wanting to grow up too fast. Young Justice’s debut season is a breath of fresh air, a truly unique and daring take on some of the DC Universe’s best-known heroes. It stands out because of its intricate narrative and poignant, emotional storytelling driven by the inner turmoil of the main characters.
Young Justice (Image via Getty)
Season 3: Outsiders is a divisive entry in the series, juggling a lot of storylines at once. While it’s not as cohesive as some of the other seasons, part one is thrilling and engaging, with a focus on Nightwing, Superboy, and Tigress with the new heroes. The metahuman trafficking story is also fascinating, mirroring sensitive real-life issues without feeling like shameless pandering. The new characters, especially Black Lightning and Forager, are great fits for the show, and the focus on Vandal Savage leads to arguably the best episode in the series, “Evolution.” However, part two feels aimless and rushed, leading to a confrontation that never quite makes sense.
Season 2: Invasion is the peak of Young Justice and undeniably the best season in the series. It balances an extremely large ensemble cast and makes it look easy, giving everyone a chance under the spotlight and offering a high-stakes story that feels urgent without ever losing momentum. The season has everything: relationship drama, lies, deceit, elaborate plans, tragedy, out-of-nowhere twists, and thrilling action sequences that far surpass anything in Season 1. It’s a delight from start to finish, keeping the characters fans fell in love with in Season 1 but expanding the world and making it feel lived-in and immersive.
