The 10 Best Characters In Young Justice, Ranked

Young Justice will return for a fourth season on Oct. 21, and fans can’t wait to see their favorite characters back in action. Since its premiere way back in 2010, the show has become a classic thanks to its sprawling cast, exciting action sequences, and a perfect mix of humor and seriousness.

The show has no clear lead. Instead, it features multiple leading players that may or may not appear in every episode. Still, some characters stand out because of their likability and importance to the team. They are now crucial for the show’s success and absolute favorites of the show’s devoted fanbase.

10 Blue Beetle

Jaime Reyes, aka Blue Beetle, arrived in season 2 and quickly became one of the leading players of the story. His complicated dynamic with the scarab in his body, not to mention his intimate connection to the Reach threat, made him a crucial member of the team and one of the season’s driving forces.

Outsiders featured him in a less prominent capacity, but Jaime remained one of the most dynamic characters in the group. His powerset is like no other, his background makes him extra relatable, and his action scenes are among the most visually dazzling. Fans hope he returns in season 4 and keeps elevating the Blue Beetle’s standing among DC fans.

9 Beast Boy

Beast Boy may not be one of the first members of the Teen Titans, but he is one of the most famous. He is also a unique character, with a powerset unlike anything else in the DC universe. Indeed, Beast Boy’s ability to transform into multiple animals makes him one of the most visually fascinating characters in Young Justice.

Garfield’s role in the show sees him going from a young, defenseless child to the capable leader of the Outsiders. His character arc represents the very essence of Young Justice, proving that a boy can become a full-on hero without sacrificing his individuality in the process.

8 Halo

Out of all the characters in Young Justice, Halo might be the most daring. She’s the product of the union between a deceased Quraci girl, Gabrielle Daou, and a Mother Box. She has an assortment of abilities that express themselves via multicolored auras, making her one of the most powerful characters in the show.

Young Justice makes excellent use of Halo. Although she starts a shy and awkward girl, she grows in confidence and becomes more willing to explore her newfound humanity. The show also uses Halo to explore themes of identity, liberation, and even sexuality, confirming its willingness to deal with issues that most animated shows often avoid.

7 Superboy

Conner Kent, alias Superboy, is a binary clone of Superman and Lex Luthor and one of the team’s original members. Superboy’s personality suffers a shift throughout the show, going from a perpetually angry newborn (literally) to a capable and understanding leader by season 3.

Superboy’s romance with Miss Martian is the heart of the first story arc. Their relationship plays a prominent role in all three seasons, providing some levity to the otherwise action-focused plot. Superboy’s initial relationship with both his dads is also intriguing, as is his journey to discover his humanity and his place, not only with the team but in the world as a whole.

6 Miss Martian

Comic book fans already knew about Martian Manhunter, but Young Justice put the spotlight on his niece instead. In many ways, Miss Martian is the show’s most overpowered character. She has a plethora of abilities, including flight, mental manipulation, shapeshifting, and density shifting.

Throughout seasons 1 and 2, Miss Martian deals with the might and consequences of her abilities. After rendering Aqualad catatonic, she confronts her actions and mistakes and comes out stronger because of it. Heroes often face no consequences for the damage they cause in the line of duty, but Miss Martian’s story arc is the rare exception.

5 Wally West

Young Justice has two versions of Kid Flash, but the original one, Wally West, remains the best. At first, he is the resident comic relief and the most typical teenager out of the cast. Wally is hyperactive and often makes innuendos and flirtatious comments to the girls but eventually enters a committed relationship with Artemis.

Season 2 sees him more mature than ever before. The show does an excellent job with his character development so that his personality seems like a natural progression from the one he had in season 1. Wally sacrifices himself to save the Earth at the end of season 2, providing a perfect albeit sad ending to his character arc. Wally’s ghost looms large during season 3, proving his importance for the characters and the show itself.

4 Will Harper

The Arrowverse has one of the best-known versions of Roy Harper, but Young Justice‘s is arguably the better take on the character. YJ‘s Roy is a Cadmus clone, unknowingly sent to infiltrate the Justice League. Learning he’s a clone drives him to look for the real Roy Harper for years, eventually finding him in Tibet. He then takes on the identity of Will Harper and retires from the superhero life to care for his daughter, Lian.

Will’s story is the most tragic and chaotic in the show. He is lost for most of season 2, trying to find meaning for his life. Season 3 sees him becoming a family man, caring for his daughter and providing wisdom for the other characters. Will may not be as “important” as other characters, but he has one of the most complex storylines in the show and offers the best interpretation of the character.

3 Kaldur’ahm

Kaldur is the leader of the team during season 1 under his Aqualad identity. He acts as a mentor for most of the show’s characters, who admire his maturity and leadership. Throughout season 2, he acts as an undercover agent in Black Manta’s organization. His act is so convincing that he’s even able to fool the senior members of the Light, including heavy hitters like Ra’s al Ghul and Lex Luthor.

By season 3, he is the new Aquaman and the new leader of the Justice League. No character in Young Justice grows as much as Kaldur, who proves his capability every step of the way. His relationship with his father and his love affairs with Tula and Wyynde add extra layers of complexity to his characterization. Kaldur’s romance with Wyynde is also one of the few instances of a major character having a same-sex relationship in an animated show, marking a huge step in terms of representation.

2 Artemis/Tigress

Like Will, Artemis also has her share of difficulties throughout the show. She is the daughter of supervillain Sportsmaster, but her shame leads her to pose as Green Arrow’s niece. She eventually comes to terms with her father and sister, Cheshire, claiming Tigress as her own identity outside the Arrow family.

Artemis is a natural leader who earned the trust of everyone in the team despite her background. Like Kaldur, she also posed convincingly within the Light and fooled most of its members. Artemis is one of the show’s most admirable characters. Her life is a series of tragedies, but she never backs down or stops fighting, making her a literal role model.

1 Nightwing

Without a doubt, Young Justice offers the best iteration of Nightwing. Most of the time, Dick Grayson is either nerfed in service of other characters, such as Damian Wayne, or treated as the butt of the joke. But Young Justice allows him to grow as a leader, turning him into an authority figure that stands in his own right.

Like the other original members of the team, Dick becomes more mature and capable throughout the show. Most importantly, the show proves that he is Batman’s greatest success. He has the best qualities of Bruce Wayne but none of his trauma or regret. Young Justice proves Nightwing’s status as an A-lister and DC’s most wholesome hero.

About The Author

David Caballero
(805 Articles Published)

David is a twenty-eight-year-old Mexican writer and reader. Having studied Marketing in school, he spent three years working a nine-to-five desk job before deciding to pursue a writing career. He now works as a Senior Writer in ScreenRant and does some more freelancing job, talking about the entertainment business he so loves. Currently, he’s also writing his second novel while actively working to get his first one published.

More From David Caballero