What do you think?
Rate this book
Young Justice de Norma Editorial #0
JLA: World Without Grown Ups
When every everyone over the age of sixteen suddenly disappears from the face of the Earth, the world is thrown into an upheaval of adolescent amusement and chaos. But when the initial euphoria wears off and the dark reality of the situation sets in, Superboy, Robin, and Impulse must figure out what happened to half the population while simultaneously attempting to maintain order in a world of unrestrained children. Featuring Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, and Green Lantern, this book is an amusing portrayal of the grave consequences of an existence devoid of grown-ups.
128 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 1998
2 people are currently reading
97 people want to read
About the author
Todd Dezago
530 books16 followersTodd Dezago is an American comic book writer. He is best known for his collaborations with penciller Mike Wieringo on The Sensational Spider-Man (1996) and their creator-owned fantasy series Tellos, which premiered in 1999, as well as for co-creating Young Justice with artist Todd Nauck in the 1998 oneshot Young Justice: The Secret. His other Young Justice work includes the 1998 miniseries JLA: World Without Grown-ups. From 1999 to 2002 Dezago also wrote Impulse #50-89. In 2005 he co-created The Perhapanauts with artist Craig Rousseau.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
November 14, 2015
Can't believe it's 15 years since I read this back in my other life. Liked this because it was lots of fun and barmy but mainly because it spawned Young Justice which was more fun and more barmy, which eventually gave birth to Teen Titans Vol 3 which was also fun but less barmy.
May 18, 2020
nice JLA/Young Justice team up story. While the art was not my favorite style it was not horrible. Recommended
September 3, 2013
This really was the start to something beautiful. I love Peter David's Young Justice series that came after it and the animated series that was adapted from them. This is where it all began, being how much I love what it created it really doesn't have to be that good.
But it is.
But it is.
April 23, 2022
Teen superheroes were a big deal in the ‘90s. It’s actually easy to forget, but it went beyond DC and Marvel, where the likes of Generation X (which was a teenage team of X-Men, naturally) led the explosion. DC’s was led by the third Robin, Tim Drake, as well as Superboy, a clone of Superman, and Impulse, the new Kid Flash. Originally they were all quite separate and weren’t even considered prospects for the Teen Titans, which had been created some thirty years earlier by combining similar sidekicks (including the first Robin, Dick Grayson). Superboy, in fact, had his own team, the Ravers, while a new generation of Titans explored their potential. Then Grant Morrison’s JLA debuted as a whole phenomenon, and someone had the idea to just go ahead and create Young Justice.
Together, Robin, Superboy, and Impulse were on average the least subtle versions of themselves. They lost their capacity to be anything but caricatures. And the birth of this team led, inexorably, to the end of their adventures. They had all had solo series. By the end only Robin did. Superboy and Impulse, in their own books, had no choice but to follow the vapid interpretations of their team personalities. And then Geoff Johns came around, turned them into the Titans anyway, made them “grow up,” and that was the end of the teenage dream.
This short collection is probably the best of what came of that era. In a lot of ways it encapsulates everything that was possible and everything that went wrong. And now I’m just going to abandon a review of a superhero comic and complain about the real world as it exists around us today. We’ve kind of regressed to the state of Bedlam. We lack all awareness that although we certainly know things and have cool toys, we don’t know what to do with any of it. We’re stuck in a world that forgot to grow up, the awareness that there’s real responsibility to be had and not just endless self-gratification. There really are few intellectuals, and the ones, the real ones, that exist we marginalize. And it sucks. Most of our entertainment is comprised of cartoons of one variety or another, whether they’re animated or not, with little depth and less useful insight into the world around us. It tells us what we want to hear. And anything with ambition is successfully dismissed as unworthy of our attention, “low quality.” Obviously this won’t continue forever. I’m just eager for it to change. But I have no idea how that will happen.
Together, Robin, Superboy, and Impulse were on average the least subtle versions of themselves. They lost their capacity to be anything but caricatures. And the birth of this team led, inexorably, to the end of their adventures. They had all had solo series. By the end only Robin did. Superboy and Impulse, in their own books, had no choice but to follow the vapid interpretations of their team personalities. And then Geoff Johns came around, turned them into the Titans anyway, made them “grow up,” and that was the end of the teenage dream.
This short collection is probably the best of what came of that era. In a lot of ways it encapsulates everything that was possible and everything that went wrong. And now I’m just going to abandon a review of a superhero comic and complain about the real world as it exists around us today. We’ve kind of regressed to the state of Bedlam. We lack all awareness that although we certainly know things and have cool toys, we don’t know what to do with any of it. We’re stuck in a world that forgot to grow up, the awareness that there’s real responsibility to be had and not just endless self-gratification. There really are few intellectuals, and the ones, the real ones, that exist we marginalize. And it sucks. Most of our entertainment is comprised of cartoons of one variety or another, whether they’re animated or not, with little depth and less useful insight into the world around us. It tells us what we want to hear. And anything with ambition is successfully dismissed as unworthy of our attention, “low quality.” Obviously this won’t continue forever. I’m just eager for it to change. But I have no idea how that will happen.
April 27, 2022
When a sulky boy accidentally gains the godlike powers of an ancient evil sorcerer, everyone over the age of sixteen are displaced onto a parallel Earth. The magically empowered boy then names himself Bedlam and begins to use his growing powers to shape Kidworld into his personal playground. Adrift without the adult Justice League, Robin, Superboy and Impulse band together to save the world.
I have to say I rather enjoyed the basic premise of this book, forcing the younger superheroes to take on the world-saving responsibilities which usually fall on their older and more experienced counterparts.
The three main characters make for an interesting and engaging mix too, with Robin the most experienced but lacking powers, Superboy being the most powerful but lacking a sense of maturity and Impulse struggling to balance his responsibilities and his total lack of attention span.
The biggest downside to this book however is simply how heavily it plays into the teen-heroes trope. I'm not against the idea of teen heroes at all (in fact, some of my favourite ninja reptiles were teenagers) but in comics, particularly in the 90s, teen hero stories were painfully out of touch with actual teenagers and just smacked of adults trying to understand and, more importantly, cash in on the youth movement of the day. This book has that latter element written all over it and the (in my opinion) dreadful artwork doesn't help matters, with the main characters having anime-style eyes and grins, as well as weirdly oversized heads, hands and feet.
Overall an interesting concept, which later led to Young Justice, but which is weighed down by being too cynically teen-focused.
* More reviews here: https://fsfh-book-review2.webnode.com *
I have to say I rather enjoyed the basic premise of this book, forcing the younger superheroes to take on the world-saving responsibilities which usually fall on their older and more experienced counterparts.
The three main characters make for an interesting and engaging mix too, with Robin the most experienced but lacking powers, Superboy being the most powerful but lacking a sense of maturity and Impulse struggling to balance his responsibilities and his total lack of attention span.
The biggest downside to this book however is simply how heavily it plays into the teen-heroes trope. I'm not against the idea of teen heroes at all (in fact, some of my favourite ninja reptiles were teenagers) but in comics, particularly in the 90s, teen hero stories were painfully out of touch with actual teenagers and just smacked of adults trying to understand and, more importantly, cash in on the youth movement of the day. This book has that latter element written all over it and the (in my opinion) dreadful artwork doesn't help matters, with the main characters having anime-style eyes and grins, as well as weirdly oversized heads, hands and feet.
Overall an interesting concept, which later led to Young Justice, but which is weighed down by being too cynically teen-focused.
* More reviews here: https://fsfh-book-review2.webnode.com *
March 29, 2020
Gli albi che uno accumula in quasi 40 anni di collezionismo prima o poi tornano a saltar fuori anche quando li vorresti dimenticare. In realtà, a rileggerlo ora, un poco di divertimento lo trovo, ma poca cosa. I disegni restano brutti a mio modesto parere, le tavole in qualche caso proprio male impostate. McKone fa il possibile ma Ramos a quell'epoca era davvero irrecuperabile. Nel complesso, se l'idea per lanciare una testata dedicata ai super pre adolescenti DC è buona, la realizzazione è dimenticabile.
September 1, 2017
It isn't the best of stories, but it has its moments. Also, this may have been the first of its kind, but I'm sure it's been re-done a few times in different mediums, so it doesn't feel as fresh now.
This book's humor is very much rooted in the time it was published. As time goes by it may lose some of its charm.
This book's humor is very much rooted in the time it was published. As time goes by it may lose some of its charm.
August 15, 2019
painfully unlikeable cast combined with a dumb storyline
June 3, 2022
Pasable y con potencial.
November 25, 2024
they are so cute😭😭😭
September 15, 2025
(4.5) very fun story and each character gets their spotlight, the artist has a very unique style and batman looks great in it, I love robin and impulse, they’re my favourite young heroes in dc
October 21, 2025
The Young Justice’s worst villains: Depression, ADHD, and a giant green metal man
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 8, 2011
Rereading this book in light of what DC has announced was a jaunt down memory lane. I remember the good old days of comics when you didn't need to read 600 books to know what was going on in your comic, and chances were some character or other (usually a woman, gay or minority) wasn't being horribly disfigured, murdered,etc. Granted that 70 plus years of continuity will leave stories that readers do not like but seldom have comics been more gruesome and violent merely for the sake of emulating some foolish "one hit" book that actually succeeded more for being brilliant commentary on humanity or a great story (I'm looking at you Watchmen) than now.
Which brings me back to this delightful little book. I remember how excited I was when it first came out, being a big fan of Humberto Ramos and his character Impulse, and slowly falling in love with Robin and eventually Superboy. So the prospect of them teaming up was rather amazing and a little wonderful. On rereading the book its nice to see that the story, which I always thought a bit weak, still holds up. Yes, Superboy's haircut is so totally 90's, and yes, the dialogue is a bit dated as it was trying to be so hip and cool and teenagerly. But the story served its purpose then and it still does now. It stands alone, unfettered by countless issues of continuity and gratuitous violence. It neither employs nor needs any attempt at 'present day relevance' which comics' creators do not seem to understand is a wasted effort. Simply put if you want to be relevant forever write about the people not the things happening. How characters react, how we live, the times, not the trends.
The story has Nazi Dinosaurs from Venus for the love of God, what's not to love about that? There's action, an almost all powerful being, cameos galore by teenage heroes, Captain Marvel the original, and the best part in the end the heroes save the day in a way that doesn't leave a bad taste in your mouth. Yes, I'm a sucker for happy endings.
My only quibbles with this book are the then horrible art of Mike McKone who has since then elevated himself in my eyes with his run on Teen Titans. Humberto Ramos art was also fresher and younger and less dark. Its his old style I love so well. The book has fun and laughs, and it includes Young Justice The Secret where the boys meet up with Secret who would later become a member of that beloved sidekick squad. I wish DC would trade Young Justice but they're not that smart. This is the best you can hope for today, and digging up back issues at your comic shop. But this is where it all began, the origins of Young Justice which would later include a whole slew of girls to even out the team. I'm glad I own all those issues because that book like this one was funny, happy, and a joy to read unmired in countless trends and continuity (on occasion). One of the few comics out there I think young girls would like. Todd Nauck's art was still raw, and not as good as today but still it was a great opener for this book.
I recommend it to anyone wary of dark comics, or as a way to get kids interested in comics, or to anyone who loves all ages books. Its cute its good and I still love it. I'd bet you would too.
Which brings me back to this delightful little book. I remember how excited I was when it first came out, being a big fan of Humberto Ramos and his character Impulse, and slowly falling in love with Robin and eventually Superboy. So the prospect of them teaming up was rather amazing and a little wonderful. On rereading the book its nice to see that the story, which I always thought a bit weak, still holds up. Yes, Superboy's haircut is so totally 90's, and yes, the dialogue is a bit dated as it was trying to be so hip and cool and teenagerly. But the story served its purpose then and it still does now. It stands alone, unfettered by countless issues of continuity and gratuitous violence. It neither employs nor needs any attempt at 'present day relevance' which comics' creators do not seem to understand is a wasted effort. Simply put if you want to be relevant forever write about the people not the things happening. How characters react, how we live, the times, not the trends.
The story has Nazi Dinosaurs from Venus for the love of God, what's not to love about that? There's action, an almost all powerful being, cameos galore by teenage heroes, Captain Marvel the original, and the best part in the end the heroes save the day in a way that doesn't leave a bad taste in your mouth. Yes, I'm a sucker for happy endings.
My only quibbles with this book are the then horrible art of Mike McKone who has since then elevated himself in my eyes with his run on Teen Titans. Humberto Ramos art was also fresher and younger and less dark. Its his old style I love so well. The book has fun and laughs, and it includes Young Justice The Secret where the boys meet up with Secret who would later become a member of that beloved sidekick squad. I wish DC would trade Young Justice but they're not that smart. This is the best you can hope for today, and digging up back issues at your comic shop. But this is where it all began, the origins of Young Justice which would later include a whole slew of girls to even out the team. I'm glad I own all those issues because that book like this one was funny, happy, and a joy to read unmired in countless trends and continuity (on occasion). One of the few comics out there I think young girls would like. Todd Nauck's art was still raw, and not as good as today but still it was a great opener for this book.
I recommend it to anyone wary of dark comics, or as a way to get kids interested in comics, or to anyone who loves all ages books. Its cute its good and I still love it. I'd bet you would too.
March 5, 2010
Por lo que veo en la cantidad de páginas, a la edición española le falta un capítulo o una catarata de extras que quizás le den un poco más de sentido a lo que leí yo de edición española. Pero la verdad, no creo que esas páginas de más cambien demasiado el resultado final, y de todos modos esta reseña es sobre la edición española, así que dejo el puntaje que se merece. Me llama la atención que el prólogo de una serie tan pero tan buena como "Young Justice" sea tan pero tan aburrido como este tomo. Está bien, el equipo creativo es completamente distinto, pero si la idea primigenia del grupo de "jrs." ya estaba acá ¿qué les costaba contar algo un poco más interesante de un modo un cachito más original? No me arrepiento de haberlo comprado porque me salió relativamente barato y de no haberlo hecho hasta hoy seguiría con la duda de si me convenía tenerlo o no. Pero tampoco fue una inversión de la cual sentirme orgulloso. Si lo releo, seguro lo rerreseñe y blablablá...
August 3, 2012
The world is seperated into 2, one with children and one with grown ups. The Young Justice team have to stop the kids hurting themselves and find a solution to the problem. A good read with some very fun moments.
August 29, 2012
Aww, this was a pretty good read. It's not as entertaining as Peter David's later issues of Young Justice, but it made for a fun experience and introduced me to the most adorable superhero team ever.
January 5, 2014
Clever idea, terrible execution.
April 12, 2018
Especial de la JLA que puede ser considerado como el prólogo a Young Justice.
December 2, 2015
Phenomenal, quick story that really gets to the heart of the characters.
December 18, 2016
This is a solid book; it's not amazingly good, but it sets up one of my favorite DC series, and it's got a large cast with some very fun art.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews