Young Justice "Drop Zone" Talkback (Spoilers)

[Triant]

I liked the episode, like the series, but Aqualad's words about Robin 'being born to lead the team' gave me some serious disconnect. I don't follow Kaldur's logic there; Robin acts like a brat, vanishes into the shadows, expects the team to read his mind, hasn't even told them his real name, and he's 'born to be the leader?' How the heck does that work?

 

[theRedDeath]

I liked the episode, like the series, but Aqualad's words about Robin 'being born to lead the team' gave me some serious disconnect. I don't follow Kaldur's logic there; Robin acts like a brat, vanishes into the shadows, expects the team to read his mind, hasn't even told them his real name, and he's 'born to be the leader?' How the heck does that work?

Well right before he said that Aqualad also said Robin has the most experience and has extensive training from Batman. Robin is easily the most trained of the group, he just doesn't have experience working with anyone other than Batman.

It's also worth pointing out that Aqualad is from Atlantis. So not only is Aqualad a [once] sidekick, but he's also a subordinate of his KING. Being raised in a classic monarchy and being the kid partner of that very same King has got to effect his mindset as far as taking orders/giving orders.

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[Knight]

Great ep. Aqualad is one of the standout characters for me and is definetly most deserving to be leader of this team because of his maturity. Glad he pointed out Robins habit of disappearing during combat because maybe that's the way he and Batman operate but on a team their needs to be verbal communication.

 

[AlgeaX]

“Drop-Zone” review

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. These 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 they 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 stretches 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 they’re going with this.

 

[the greenman]

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. These guys must have the most laid back S&P exec in history.

You ain't kidding. Even Tbtb has some moments. I still don't get the girl he was with or who she was and what she was doing there. Must be a set up, or I have to watch it again.

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 they re-imagined him as more of a mercenary then weirdo with a gimmick.

He appeared in the "Legends" episode of JL, but not like this.

 

[AlgeaX]

I still don't get the girl he was with or who she was and what she was doing there. Must be a set up, or I have to watch it again.

You mean Shimmer? She's Mammoth's sister.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shimmer_(comics)

 

[the greenman]

Oh didn't know that, thanks. I just got through the "Teen Titans" show and Mammoth was always with his HIVE buddies.

 

[suss2it]

You ain't kidding. Even Tbtb has some moments. I still don't get the girl he was with or who she was and what she was doing there. Must be a set up, or I have to watch it again.



He appeared in the "Legends" episode of JL, but not like this.

That wasn't Sportsmaster that appeared in that episode. It was a homage to him named Sportsman.

 

[CyclonatorZ]

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. These guys must have the most laid back S&P exec in history.

Eh, I thought Blockbuster's transformation was kind of lackluster, personally. And really, I'm not suprised that they're being easy on the censors with this show - it is rated PG, and look what some of the other similarly rated shows have gotten away with on Cartoon Network.

 

[Romanime]

Well I'm a couple years above the target audience for this show and it still gave me Goosebumps when I saw that his skin had literally torn apart to allow him to gain that much muscle.

 

[Mad Hatter]

Well I'm a couple years above the target audience for this show and it still gave me Goosebumps when I saw that his skin had literally torn apart to allow him to gain that much muscle.

You and me both.

I love this show. So much. But I'm betting that eventually, Mammoth's skin will heal. And if it doesn't, at least he'll be wearing a costume one the hideous gaping wound.

[SENTENCE DELETED] Mod Note: This belongs in the News and Speculation Thread, only.

 

[Yojimbo]

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 they re-imagined him as more of a mercenary then weirdo with a gimmick.

True. I think his new design on Young Justice makes him look like a more credible threat in the way Casey Jones from the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise and Jason Voorhees from Friday the 13th movies convey menace and terror. Of course, I doubt they could redesign Polka Dot Man.

 

[TwoFaced_Dark24]

and I don't like how Bane's lips are showing through his mask.

Fixed.

 

[FightingDreamer]

Fixed.

Yeah... no. Admirable effort, but I don't think that look works in this style.

 

[JTMarsh]

Good episode, very engaging, loved "No tights no cape no offense" (oh those Smallville references), but am I the only one here who feels that Nolan North's voice for Superboy doesn't really sound like a teenager? I know he voiced a teen Cyclops in the 'Breakdown' ep of W&TXM and he sounded more convincing there than he does here.

 

[Wonderwall]

Good episode, very engaging, loved "No tights no cape no offense" (oh those Smallville references), but am I the only one here who feels that Nolan North's voice for Superboy doesn't really sound like a teenager? I know he voiced a teen Cyclops in the 'Breakdown' ep of W&TXM and he sounded more convincing there than he does here.

I'm a big Nolan North fan but I think the same thing. He sounds too old and so far there wasn't much difference from his Superman voice from "Fireworks"( Or "Independence Day part 2" ) which I'm also not crazy about. I can't help but think he's been miscast but I want to hear more, it's just hard to not imagine Nathan Drake when I'm listening to him.

 

[KYO'NYUU IMOUTO]

Why does Superboy need to sound like a stereotypical depiction of a teenager in animation when the creators have chosen to go with North's sound? The acting has been superb, something that is key to this character over all else.

 

[Wonderwall]

I didn't see anyone saying he should sound like a stereotypical teenager. But his voice does sound significantly older than the rest of his teammates so it's a bit jarring.

 

[Christopher Glennon]

I thought the mission was cool and everything, interesting bad guys (Bane!), cool stealth costumes, and nice setting.

I'm still hoping to like the team more. Yeah, I know they haven't gelled yet, which is good, but I want to see more of their personalities come through. They seem to be hitting the same beat an awful lot (not bothered by M'Gann liking Superboy so quickly, just bothered by the fact that it's practically her defining trait).

Why do I have the feeling that when Robin takes over as leader, something bad will have happened to Aqualad?

As much as I loved Aqualad becoming leader, his line to Robin about taking over for him hit kind of a sour note. It feels too...expected, since we know Robin is usually the leader, and a bit forced because he hasn't shown too much potential. Sure, Robin will make a great strategist, but that doesn't mean he should be leader (look at how well Bruce functions on the League without having to be in charge).

It'd be nice if Aqualad didn't say that and Robin had to take over for whatever reason because he was ready to step up. I'm hoping Aqualad doesn't have tragedy in his future, but you have to wonder what made him say that. Maybe he thinks he'll graduate to the League faster than the others because of his age.

I kind of wish miss martian didn't already have some of those powers she has so we cud see them develop but its still good.

Well, she can't phase, so there's that. Plus, second week in a row she was unable to read the bad guy's mind (or get anything useful out of them), so her telepathy isn't that good.

As much as I appreciate his characterization, this is a guy who in other interpreations is powerful enough to break Batman's back.

People like to bring that up often, but in Knightfall, the only reason Bane was able to do that was because he orchestrated it so Batman had to exhaust himself capturing escaped Arkham inmates, then Bane surprised him, THEN he broke his back. Otherwise, Bane isn't really superior to Batman in a fair fight. In fact, if memory serves correctly, Black Canary once took him down by herself.

 

[Bat-Fan Beyond]

Good episode, very engaging, loved "No tights no cape no offense" (oh those Smallville references), but am I the only one here who feels that Nolan North's voice for Superboy doesn't really sound like a teenager? I know he voiced a teen Cyclops in the 'Breakdown' ep of W&TXM and he sounded more convincing there than he does here.

I thought the same thing, but at the same time I figured since Superboy is a clone that was age-advanced within a short amount of time, he probably wouldn't sound young anyway, because he didn't even have to go through puberty and was already in the midst of advanced adolescence. Basically, his voice wouldn't need to change because he's past that stage of physical development.