The story
On Earth-16, the Justice League's teenage sidekicks, Robin, Kid Flash, Aqualad, Superboy, Miss Martian and Artemis, are formed into a covert team sent on missions too delicate for the grown-up heroes. Blending espionage, coming-of-age drama and threats on a cosmic scale, the series follows the young heroes as they grow up, recruit new members and confront enemies who prefer to work quietly in the shadows.
Why it matters
Young Justice shows how fan demand can carry a cancelled cartoon into the streaming age. Dropped by Cartoon Network, it returned as an exclusive for DC's own subscription service and then continued on HBO Max; Parrot Analytics ranked its DC Universe season among the two most in-demand digital originals in the US in early 2019.
How it was rescued
Cartoon Network aired two seasons from 2010 before the show was cancelled in 2013; producer Greg Weisman later said its funding depended on a Mattel toy deal that ended when the toys did not sell. After sustained fan pressure, a third season was announced in November 2016 and premiered on the DC Universe streaming service on 4 January 2019, with a fourth following on HBO Max in 2021.
Filed under: Cancelled, then revived online
Notable facts
- Greg Weisman said the show's funding depended on a Mattel toy deal, which collapsed when the toys did not sell. (source)
- The fourth season, Phantoms, debuted on HBO Max on the same day it was announced at DC FanDome. (source)
- The creators say they have plans for a fifth, sixth and seventh season, none of which has been greenlit. (source)