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Young Justice (1998)
Young Justice, Book Three
The third volume of Young Justice spotlights the "Sins of Youth" event that pitted DC's teen heroes--including Superboy, Robin, Impulse and more--against each other!
In this volume's "Sins of Youth" epic, the machinations of the covert organization known as the Agenda affects the team's respective ages -- leaving some heroes grown to adulthood and others reverted to adolescence!
Beloved writer Peter David's classic series is re-collected here in YOUNG JUSTICE BOOK THREE. Collects YOUNG JUSTICE #18-19, and the SINS OF YOUTH titles JLA JR. #1, AQUAMAN/LAGOON MAN #1, BATBOY AND ROBIN #1, KID FLASH/IMPULSE #1, STARWOMAN AND THE JSA #1, SUPERMAN JR./ SUPERBOY SR. #1, WONDER GIRLS #1, THE SECRET/DEADBOY #1, plus SUPERBOY #74 and SINS OF YOUTH SECRET FILES #1
In this volume's "Sins of Youth" epic, the machinations of the covert organization known as the Agenda affects the team's respective ages -- leaving some heroes grown to adulthood and others reverted to adolescence!
Beloved writer Peter David's classic series is re-collected here in YOUNG JUSTICE BOOK THREE. Collects YOUNG JUSTICE #18-19, and the SINS OF YOUTH titles JLA JR. #1, AQUAMAN/LAGOON MAN #1, BATBOY AND ROBIN #1, KID FLASH/IMPULSE #1, STARWOMAN AND THE JSA #1, SUPERMAN JR./ SUPERBOY SR. #1, WONDER GIRLS #1, THE SECRET/DEADBOY #1, plus SUPERBOY #74 and SINS OF YOUTH SECRET FILES #1
408 pages, Paperback
First published December 4, 2018
18 people are currently reading
153 people want to read
About the author
Peter David
3,598 books1,368 followersaka David Peters
Peter Allen David, often abbreviated PAD, was an American writer of comic books, novels, television, films, and video games. His notable comic book work includes an award-winning 12-year run on The Incredible Hulk, as well as runs on Aquaman, Young Justice, SpyBoy, Supergirl, Fallen Angel, Spider-Man, Spider-Man 2099, Captain Marvel, and X-Factor.
His Star Trek work included comic books and novels such as the New Frontier book series. His other novels included film adaptations, media tie-ins, and original works, such as the Apropos of Nothing and Knight Life series. His television work includes series such as Babylon 5, Young Justice, Ben 10: Alien Force and Nickelodeon's Space Cases, which he co-created with Bill Mumy.
David often jokingly described his occupation as "Writer of Stuff", and he was noted for his prolific writing, characterized by its mingling of real-world issues with humor and references to popular culture, as well as elements of metafiction and self-reference.
David earned multiple awards for his work, including a 1992 Eisner Award, a 1993 Wizard Fan Award, a 1996 Haxtur Award, a 2007 Julie Award and a 2011 GLAAD Media Award.
Peter Allen David, often abbreviated PAD, was an American writer of comic books, novels, television, films, and video games. His notable comic book work includes an award-winning 12-year run on The Incredible Hulk, as well as runs on Aquaman, Young Justice, SpyBoy, Supergirl, Fallen Angel, Spider-Man, Spider-Man 2099, Captain Marvel, and X-Factor.
His Star Trek work included comic books and novels such as the New Frontier book series. His other novels included film adaptations, media tie-ins, and original works, such as the Apropos of Nothing and Knight Life series. His television work includes series such as Babylon 5, Young Justice, Ben 10: Alien Force and Nickelodeon's Space Cases, which he co-created with Bill Mumy.
David often jokingly described his occupation as "Writer of Stuff", and he was noted for his prolific writing, characterized by its mingling of real-world issues with humor and references to popular culture, as well as elements of metafiction and self-reference.
David earned multiple awards for his work, including a 1992 Eisner Award, a 1993 Wizard Fan Award, a 1996 Haxtur Award, a 2007 Julie Award and a 2011 GLAAD Media Award.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
July 2, 2019
We veer away from the normal Young Justice book for the Sins of Youth event. This spins out of a long running Superboy story which I don't think has ever been collected. This group called The Agenda has enlisted Klarion...BUM, BUM, BUM, the Witch Boy to cause chaos throughout the superhero community by shifting everyone's age. Young Justice becomes adults. The Justice League becomes teenagers while the Justice Society become little kids. All with the attitudes and emotions of their new age. I have a feeling this worked better then. It was just OK to me now. Hopefully, we'll be back to our regular programming with volume four.
August 21, 2019
"Ted Barton wonders why so many of you wear your underwears on the outside of your clothes."
"You ever been three feet from Darkseid? We wear them on the outside so we don't soil them."
Now, finally there is some answer to *the big question*!!!
(1) So...the de-age thingy (a.k.a superheroes being de-aged into children) is canon? Good to know! This de-age thing is rather cute.
(2) I do like the story about Superman Jr. and Superboy Sr. a lot.
(3) The Sin of Youth stories are good, especially the Batman and Robin's story.
(4) Don't like the artwork, said artwork gave me a headache, it is really hard on the eyes from time to time.
(5)
"...and everything gets blamed on Marilyn Manson or something."
You go, Wonder Girl!"
(6) It's pretty entertaining to see the JLA heroes acting like angst, silly teenagers, hahaha.
(7) The few stories with Justice Society as the MCs do look very unfocused, I'm not very interested with them.
3.2 stars.
February 27, 2025
This volume consists mostly of the Sins of Youth arc/crossover. This storyline goes on far, far too long. That’s my primary concern, because most of what happens in these issues is meandering inconsequence and I was so excited for it to be over.
Here’s my other concern, which someone out there is going to tell me I’m overreacting about, but frankly, I’m entitled to my opinion. The adult heroes-turned-kids behaving immaturely got old before it even began. Apparently if you’re a man and get turned back into a child, you can be a menace to girls and women, and that’s excused by the narrative. Like… is that supposed to be entertaining? Am I meant to be entertained by Aquaboy’s horndog behavior? Or Victor Stone (who we have witnessed as a teen before, and was not nearly this hyperbolically immature) harassing the girls on his team? Do you think this is what real teenagers are like? And what was the deal with Lagoon Man? Count me out. At the same time, the costumes— the boys’/men’s costumes grow to their new size just fine, but they just couldn’t help themselves making the girls-to-women’s costumes teeny tiny and of course there had to be a joke in there about Wonder Woman’s top no longer fitting when she becomes a child! Because comics are not for girls, silly!!
This book is probably not the place to criticize the relationship between Superboy and Tana Moon, but I haven’t read the other Superboy stuff from this era yet, so I wanted to mention it anyway. I get that he didn’t have a name for a while, but is calling him simply “kid” not giving anyone else the ick? It’s a constant reminder that he’s a child and she’s not. Weird, weird, weird behavior. Not cool just because he’s a boy. Not excused just because he doesn’t age like everyone else.
At least the Young Justice kids— as adults— really shined here (except for Lagoon Man). Robin, Superboy, Impulse, Cassie, Secret, and Stargirl learn a lot about leadership and decision making. Stargirl had a lot of JSA to wrangle and Superboy was dealing with his grief at the same time. I think Secret might’ve been the best part. It’s all very impressive. These characters are compelling when they’re given the chance to be.
Some final miscellaneous thoughts: Empress is a fun little mystery, Helena Sandsmark continues to be the coolest parent around, and I miss Cissie a lot.
Here’s my other concern, which someone out there is going to tell me I’m overreacting about, but frankly, I’m entitled to my opinion. The adult heroes-turned-kids behaving immaturely got old before it even began. Apparently if you’re a man and get turned back into a child, you can be a menace to girls and women, and that’s excused by the narrative. Like… is that supposed to be entertaining? Am I meant to be entertained by Aquaboy’s horndog behavior? Or Victor Stone (who we have witnessed as a teen before, and was not nearly this hyperbolically immature) harassing the girls on his team? Do you think this is what real teenagers are like? And what was the deal with Lagoon Man? Count me out. At the same time, the costumes— the boys’/men’s costumes grow to their new size just fine, but they just couldn’t help themselves making the girls-to-women’s costumes teeny tiny and of course there had to be a joke in there about Wonder Woman’s top no longer fitting when she becomes a child! Because comics are not for girls, silly!!
This book is probably not the place to criticize the relationship between Superboy and Tana Moon, but I haven’t read the other Superboy stuff from this era yet, so I wanted to mention it anyway. I get that he didn’t have a name for a while, but is calling him simply “kid” not giving anyone else the ick? It’s a constant reminder that he’s a child and she’s not. Weird, weird, weird behavior. Not cool just because he’s a boy. Not excused just because he doesn’t age like everyone else.
At least the Young Justice kids— as adults— really shined here (except for Lagoon Man). Robin, Superboy, Impulse, Cassie, Secret, and Stargirl learn a lot about leadership and decision making. Stargirl had a lot of JSA to wrangle and Superboy was dealing with his grief at the same time. I think Secret might’ve been the best part. It’s all very impressive. These characters are compelling when they’re given the chance to be.
Some final miscellaneous thoughts: Empress is a fun little mystery, Helena Sandsmark continues to be the coolest parent around, and I miss Cissie a lot.
January 9, 2019
When Klarion (bum bum bum!) The Witch Boy alters the ages of Young Justice, the JSA, the JLA, and the Titans, Sins of Youth runs rampant on the DC Universe in this third volume of Young Justice!
Eh.
I feel like this was probably a lot more fun when it was initially released, but it's mired in continuity about a conspiracy that was threaded through Superboy and a few other books about the same time which I haven't read and so the context and even the villains motivation (other than just being evil for evil's sake) are mostly a mystery.
Some of it's quite fun, and seeing the age-swapped characters interacting is interesting at points with some good character moments mined out of it, but they're few and far between. Most of the one-shots are forgettable, and the Superboy issue especially flew completely over my head. The Kid Flash issue was probably the strongest of the bunch, while the main Sins Of Youth mini-series and the preceding issues of Young Justice which are easily the best issues of the volume.
Can we get back to our regularly scheduled programming now?
Eh.
I feel like this was probably a lot more fun when it was initially released, but it's mired in continuity about a conspiracy that was threaded through Superboy and a few other books about the same time which I haven't read and so the context and even the villains motivation (other than just being evil for evil's sake) are mostly a mystery.
Some of it's quite fun, and seeing the age-swapped characters interacting is interesting at points with some good character moments mined out of it, but they're few and far between. Most of the one-shots are forgettable, and the Superboy issue especially flew completely over my head. The Kid Flash issue was probably the strongest of the bunch, while the main Sins Of Youth mini-series and the preceding issues of Young Justice which are easily the best issues of the volume.
Can we get back to our regularly scheduled programming now?
March 28, 2020
Not a fan of this book sadly.
It starts off interesting enough where the group Young Justice is trying to clear their name. However, once kid magic whatever the fuck his name is comes into the picture things get messy. He basically uses his powers to transfer all the adults into teenagers and all the teenagers into adults, and all the older people into tiny children...so this is just basically having mentors watch their sidekicks become heroes.
But that's the thing. This could be great. There's issues that work like with Bruce and Tim, and even Superboy and Superman, but a lot of them miss. I didn't understand the point of this crossover, and it's wayyyyyy too goofy to take serious at all. Also the art is ALL over the place in this volume.
Overall, a weak book hurt by a mega crossover with a few decent spots. A 2 out of 5.
It starts off interesting enough where the group Young Justice is trying to clear their name. However, once kid magic whatever the fuck his name is comes into the picture things get messy. He basically uses his powers to transfer all the adults into teenagers and all the teenagers into adults, and all the older people into tiny children...so this is just basically having mentors watch their sidekicks become heroes.
But that's the thing. This could be great. There's issues that work like with Bruce and Tim, and even Superboy and Superman, but a lot of them miss. I didn't understand the point of this crossover, and it's wayyyyyy too goofy to take serious at all. Also the art is ALL over the place in this volume.
Overall, a weak book hurt by a mega crossover with a few decent spots. A 2 out of 5.
June 30, 2021
Young Justice: Book Three continues where the previous trade paperback left off collecting two issues (Young Justice #18–19) of the 1998 on-going series with Superboy #74, Young Justice: Sins of Youth #1–2, it's tie-ins: Sins of Youth: JLA, Jr., Sins of Youth: Aquaboy and Lagoon Man, Sins of Youth: Batboy and Robin, Sins of Youth: Kid Flash and Impulse, Sins of Youth: Starwoman and the JSA, Jr., Sins of Youth: Superman, Jr. and Superboy, Sr., Sins of Youth: Wonder Girls, Sins of Youth: Secret and Deadboy, and Young Justice: Sins of Youth Secret Files and Origins.
Only two issues from the core series were included in this trade paperback. It has the Young Justice team on the run as they are accused of something they didn't do. In these two issues, they meet and fight two teams – the Point Men, a team of cloned superheroes loyal to the secret organization The Agenda and Old Justice, who is the embittered and aged superhero sidekicks of the Golden Age that has fallen on old times. Introduced in the core series is Anita Fite as the Empress and in the Superboy issue reveals that the Superboy on the team was actually Match – an evil clone in disguise.
The Young Justice: Sins of Youth event takes the bulk of the trade paperback. It has the Young Justice team decides to hold a rally at Washington, D.C. for the prevention teenage abuse. The JLA, JSA and Titans all show up, but once all the heroes are gathered in one spot, Contessa and Klarion enact their plan to create chaos. Klarion the Witch Boy turns all the adult heroes into teenagers and all the teenaged heroes into adults and the older JSA member turned into little more than infants. Finally, Young Justice: Sins of Youth Secret Files and Origins is a collection of five vignettes and profiles of characters important to the event.
Peter David (Young Justice #18–19 and Young Justice: Sins of Youth #1–2), Karl Kesel (Superboy #74 and Sins of Youth: Superman, Jr. and Superboy, Sr.), Dan Curtis Johnson (Sins of Youth: JLA, Jr.), Ben Raab (Sins of Youth: Aquaboy and Lagoon Man and Young Justice: Sins of Youth Secret Files and Origins), Chuck Dixon (Sins of Youth: Batboy and Robin and Young Justice: Sins of Youth Secret Files and Origins), Dwayne McDuffie (Sins of Youth: Kid Flash and Impulse), Geoff Johns (Sins of Youth: Starwoman and the JSA, Jr. and Young Justice: Sins of Youth Secret Files and Origins), Brian K. Vaughan (Sins of Youth: Wonder Girls), Todd Dezago (Sins of Youth: Secret and Deadboy), Jay Faerber, Larry Stucker, Scott Beatty, Jim Alexander, and Brian Vaughn (Young Justice: Sins of Youth Secret Files and Origins) penned this trade paperback.
For the most part, it is written moderately well. The event is an interesting idea, switching the roles of the mentors and their disciples – à la Freaky Friday. It was an interesting premise, but not executed all that well as the lessons learned about this switch was rather predictable. The many tie-in stories were done moderately well with a few outstanding stories, but a tad repeatable. The additional vignettes seem a tad superfluous, but fun to read.
Todd Nauck (Young Justice #18–19, Young Justice: Sins of Youth #1–2, and Young Justice: Sins of Youth Secret Files and Origins), Tom Grummett (Superboy #74 and Young Justice: Sins of Youth Secret Files and Origins), Carlo Barberi (Sins of Youth: JLA, Jr. and Young Justice: Sins of Youth Secret Files and Origins), Sunny Lee (Sins of Youth: Aquaboy and Lagoon Man and Young Justice: Sins of Youth Secret Files and Origins), Cary Nord (Sins of Youth: Batboy and Robin and Young Justice: Sins of Youth Secret Files and Origins), Angel Unzueta (Sins of Youth: Kid Flash and Impulse), Drew Johnson (Sins of Youth: Starwoman and the JSA, Jr.), Rob Haynes (Sins of Youth: Superman, Jr. and Superboy, Sr.), Scott Kolins (Sins of Youth: Wonder Girls and Young Justice: Sins of Youth Secret Files and Origins), Michael Avon Oeming (Sins of Youth: Wonder Girls), Mike S. Miller, Norm Breyfogle, Pascal Ferry, Cully Hamner, Matthew Clark, Georges Jeanty, Michael Avon Oeming, Lee Moder, Drew Johnson, Terry Dodson, Matt Haley, and Justiniano (Young Justice: Sins of Youth Secret Files and Origins) penciled the trade paperback.
For the most part the pencilers have distinct penciling styles and suffer from too many cooks in the kitchen, as some pencillers are better than others, and it is up to the individual taste, the artistic flow suffers greatly. However, it is mitigated greatly as most penciled had one story or vignette to depict.
All in all, Young Justice: Book Three is a good continuation to what would hopefully be a wonderful series.
Only two issues from the core series were included in this trade paperback. It has the Young Justice team on the run as they are accused of something they didn't do. In these two issues, they meet and fight two teams – the Point Men, a team of cloned superheroes loyal to the secret organization The Agenda and Old Justice, who is the embittered and aged superhero sidekicks of the Golden Age that has fallen on old times. Introduced in the core series is Anita Fite as the Empress and in the Superboy issue reveals that the Superboy on the team was actually Match – an evil clone in disguise.
The Young Justice: Sins of Youth event takes the bulk of the trade paperback. It has the Young Justice team decides to hold a rally at Washington, D.C. for the prevention teenage abuse. The JLA, JSA and Titans all show up, but once all the heroes are gathered in one spot, Contessa and Klarion enact their plan to create chaos. Klarion the Witch Boy turns all the adult heroes into teenagers and all the teenaged heroes into adults and the older JSA member turned into little more than infants. Finally, Young Justice: Sins of Youth Secret Files and Origins is a collection of five vignettes and profiles of characters important to the event.
Peter David (Young Justice #18–19 and Young Justice: Sins of Youth #1–2), Karl Kesel (Superboy #74 and Sins of Youth: Superman, Jr. and Superboy, Sr.), Dan Curtis Johnson (Sins of Youth: JLA, Jr.), Ben Raab (Sins of Youth: Aquaboy and Lagoon Man and Young Justice: Sins of Youth Secret Files and Origins), Chuck Dixon (Sins of Youth: Batboy and Robin and Young Justice: Sins of Youth Secret Files and Origins), Dwayne McDuffie (Sins of Youth: Kid Flash and Impulse), Geoff Johns (Sins of Youth: Starwoman and the JSA, Jr. and Young Justice: Sins of Youth Secret Files and Origins), Brian K. Vaughan (Sins of Youth: Wonder Girls), Todd Dezago (Sins of Youth: Secret and Deadboy), Jay Faerber, Larry Stucker, Scott Beatty, Jim Alexander, and Brian Vaughn (Young Justice: Sins of Youth Secret Files and Origins) penned this trade paperback.
For the most part, it is written moderately well. The event is an interesting idea, switching the roles of the mentors and their disciples – à la Freaky Friday. It was an interesting premise, but not executed all that well as the lessons learned about this switch was rather predictable. The many tie-in stories were done moderately well with a few outstanding stories, but a tad repeatable. The additional vignettes seem a tad superfluous, but fun to read.
Todd Nauck (Young Justice #18–19, Young Justice: Sins of Youth #1–2, and Young Justice: Sins of Youth Secret Files and Origins), Tom Grummett (Superboy #74 and Young Justice: Sins of Youth Secret Files and Origins), Carlo Barberi (Sins of Youth: JLA, Jr. and Young Justice: Sins of Youth Secret Files and Origins), Sunny Lee (Sins of Youth: Aquaboy and Lagoon Man and Young Justice: Sins of Youth Secret Files and Origins), Cary Nord (Sins of Youth: Batboy and Robin and Young Justice: Sins of Youth Secret Files and Origins), Angel Unzueta (Sins of Youth: Kid Flash and Impulse), Drew Johnson (Sins of Youth: Starwoman and the JSA, Jr.), Rob Haynes (Sins of Youth: Superman, Jr. and Superboy, Sr.), Scott Kolins (Sins of Youth: Wonder Girls and Young Justice: Sins of Youth Secret Files and Origins), Michael Avon Oeming (Sins of Youth: Wonder Girls), Mike S. Miller, Norm Breyfogle, Pascal Ferry, Cully Hamner, Matthew Clark, Georges Jeanty, Michael Avon Oeming, Lee Moder, Drew Johnson, Terry Dodson, Matt Haley, and Justiniano (Young Justice: Sins of Youth Secret Files and Origins) penciled the trade paperback.
For the most part the pencilers have distinct penciling styles and suffer from too many cooks in the kitchen, as some pencillers are better than others, and it is up to the individual taste, the artistic flow suffers greatly. However, it is mitigated greatly as most penciled had one story or vignette to depict.
All in all, Young Justice: Book Three is a good continuation to what would hopefully be a wonderful series.
December 6, 2018
Rating of 4.5.
Before the third season of the Young Justice television show debuts after its long hiatus, go back to the comic book series that inspired it all, with the third volume of DC Comics’ reprint of the 1990s Young Justice comic book series, which includes the full collection of the Sins of Youth crossover event from 2000.
Before this new reprinting of the original series I had not had much of a chance to read Young Justice, but it has always been high on my list of must-read comics. This is mainly because I am such a big fan of Geoff John’s 2003 run on Teen Titans, which followed several characters from Young Justice after their team was disbanded. This run on Teen Titans has to be one of my all-time favourite series and I was always very curious to see what happened to the characters during their Young Justice years. So I was very happy when DC decided to reprint this original run and I have been having fun seeing these younger versions of some of my favourite characters before they got more mature and serious after the events of Graduation Day.
They are the next generation of superheroes, but being the second round of sidekicks to the leading members of the Justice League is tough, and sometimes having your own group of friends is what you need. So Young Justice was formed: part superhero team, part friendship group. Originally made up Robin (Tim Drake), Superboy (Kon-El/Conner Kent), Impulse (Bart Allen) and Wonder Girl (Cassandra Sandsmark), the team was later joined by new heroes Arrowette and Secret, while also being monitored by veteran hero Red Tornado.
Recent events have rocked the group and exposed them to negative attention. The team have continuously been drawn into destructive fights and been forced to partially destroy Mount Rushmore, and Arrowette has been forced to retire after nearly killing a suspect. At the same time, a new superhero team, Old Justice, made up of the aging sidekicks of the Golden Age of heroism, have been calling out the actions of their younger counterparts. Railroaded by the press, politicians and even their mentors in the Justice League, the situation keeps going from bad to worse for the young heroes when they lose their base to an attack from a new superpowered group, the Point Men.
Attempting to regain public opinion, Young Justice and a supporting group of heroes attempt to hold a rally in support of young heroes, but a villainous presence wants to stop the young heroes from developing to their full potential. A mysterious organisation, Agenda, headed by Lex Luthor’s ex-wife Contessa Erica Alexandra Del Portenza, wants to discredit all superheroes and believes that Young Justice is their weakest link. Agenda uses the magical agent, Klarion the Witch-Boy, to cause havoc at the event, and Klarion’s magic leads to some accidental side effects.
The members of Young Justice have all been aged into adults, while their contemporaries, the members of the Justice League of America and the Justice Society of America, have all been turned into children or teenagers. Worse, these de-aged heroes now have the emotional maturity of their age, while the members of Young Justice have the patience and wisdom of their mentors. Forced to switch roles with the world’s greatest heroes, the members of Young Justice must find a way to not only stop the sinister machinations of Agenda but also find a way to reverse the effects of the spell. Can Young Justice grow up to be the heroes they were always meant to be, or is the future of the DC universe a whole lot darker than anticipated?
Click link for full review:
https://unseenlibrary.com/2018/12/06/...
Or visit my blog at:
https://unseenlibrary.com/
Before the third season of the Young Justice television show debuts after its long hiatus, go back to the comic book series that inspired it all, with the third volume of DC Comics’ reprint of the 1990s Young Justice comic book series, which includes the full collection of the Sins of Youth crossover event from 2000.
Before this new reprinting of the original series I had not had much of a chance to read Young Justice, but it has always been high on my list of must-read comics. This is mainly because I am such a big fan of Geoff John’s 2003 run on Teen Titans, which followed several characters from Young Justice after their team was disbanded. This run on Teen Titans has to be one of my all-time favourite series and I was always very curious to see what happened to the characters during their Young Justice years. So I was very happy when DC decided to reprint this original run and I have been having fun seeing these younger versions of some of my favourite characters before they got more mature and serious after the events of Graduation Day.
They are the next generation of superheroes, but being the second round of sidekicks to the leading members of the Justice League is tough, and sometimes having your own group of friends is what you need. So Young Justice was formed: part superhero team, part friendship group. Originally made up Robin (Tim Drake), Superboy (Kon-El/Conner Kent), Impulse (Bart Allen) and Wonder Girl (Cassandra Sandsmark), the team was later joined by new heroes Arrowette and Secret, while also being monitored by veteran hero Red Tornado.
Recent events have rocked the group and exposed them to negative attention. The team have continuously been drawn into destructive fights and been forced to partially destroy Mount Rushmore, and Arrowette has been forced to retire after nearly killing a suspect. At the same time, a new superhero team, Old Justice, made up of the aging sidekicks of the Golden Age of heroism, have been calling out the actions of their younger counterparts. Railroaded by the press, politicians and even their mentors in the Justice League, the situation keeps going from bad to worse for the young heroes when they lose their base to an attack from a new superpowered group, the Point Men.
Attempting to regain public opinion, Young Justice and a supporting group of heroes attempt to hold a rally in support of young heroes, but a villainous presence wants to stop the young heroes from developing to their full potential. A mysterious organisation, Agenda, headed by Lex Luthor’s ex-wife Contessa Erica Alexandra Del Portenza, wants to discredit all superheroes and believes that Young Justice is their weakest link. Agenda uses the magical agent, Klarion the Witch-Boy, to cause havoc at the event, and Klarion’s magic leads to some accidental side effects.
The members of Young Justice have all been aged into adults, while their contemporaries, the members of the Justice League of America and the Justice Society of America, have all been turned into children or teenagers. Worse, these de-aged heroes now have the emotional maturity of their age, while the members of Young Justice have the patience and wisdom of their mentors. Forced to switch roles with the world’s greatest heroes, the members of Young Justice must find a way to not only stop the sinister machinations of Agenda but also find a way to reverse the effects of the spell. Can Young Justice grow up to be the heroes they were always meant to be, or is the future of the DC universe a whole lot darker than anticipated?
Click link for full review:
https://unseenlibrary.com/2018/12/06/...
Or visit my blog at:
https://unseenlibrary.com/
January 2, 2026
I appreciated that this event had a message that it wanted to leave and that the tie-ins (mostly) stuck to it too. Obviously, the tie-in’s’ quality varied , but I really enjoyed the Batman/Robin and Wonder Woman/Wonder Girl issues in specific. Both Wonder Woman and Batman have really sweet conversations with their respective sidekicks (if you can call Cassie a criminal). I also loved the costume that Wonder Woman wore that was reminiscent of the outfit she originally wore during the impossible tale issues that accidentally created Donna Troy. Another positive for the tie-ins was that (some) actually mattered to the story, so reading them all didn’t mostly seem like a complete waste of time. Alas, reading disconnected issues is never going to be as fun as reading a complete arc, so I had a hard time getting invested. Especially because, for some reason, the event is much more tied to the Superboy miniseries in the end than the Young Justice series itself. As a final note, I’m not excited at all for young Lobo to appear.
June 26, 2022
Very very confusing. Way too many characters to follow and understand what's going on. I did enjoy the beginning of it (first 100 pages) where all the older superheroes decided to go and help the teens in solidarity. I also liked the Bruce/Tim issues, I thought they really got the dynamics down, Tim wasn't acting too differently from when he was a teen, Bruce not too different from when he was an adult. The stories really captured their dynamic and it was an interesting take on their relationship. I think this is what was most upsetting about this story. Just because they got age swapped all the characters now feel like completely different characters with all their original personality and goals gone. And like. That's not what aging does. And I will die on this hill but Bart Will Not Be Like That When He Grows Up. Bart's characterisation was all wrong and upsetting. And like. The entire way kids/teens are treated in this story is actually laughable (and also very upsetting).
November 15, 2019
There were a few issues collected in here that I didn't care for. But, for the most part this was a great read. The cartoon-y art style is a long-time favorite of mine and I won't deny it. Also, Peter David's sense of humor often works well for me in general, but when coupled with this art is just magical.
February 9, 2024
3.75
Kids’ Stuff was my favorite episode of JLU growing up, so I truly wanted to enjoy this book more. I liked the story of the heroes becoming young and having to navigate being young again and that change in mindset. The original story (JLA: World without grown-ups) the episode was based on was also great. In this book, the characters just felt odd. I think its main fault is that there was just not enough communication between the writers, so it made it confusing go at times. I was confused about whatever was going on with the JSA (not just the points that relied on reading their stories but like their whole sequence of events in this book).
I also wish we could’ve seen more from the YJ team themselves all interacting. I know it’s another storyline just placed in the book, but reading this just made me long to get past it. I want to see their goofy convos.
Most of all I miss Cissie, she’s such a dynamic character and the team feels incomplete without her. I hope the addition of new members in the next book can help counteract this.
Extra note: I really appreciate how the “D” on Deadman’s suit became a “d” when he became Deadboy lmaooooo. I loved his character in this. It’s always good when a book makes me interested in a character I had no interest in. Secret said he was just like Bart as a kid, so maybe that’s why I enjoyed him, but I also enjoyed his role as an adult.
I also really love Klarion… bum, bum, bum… the Witch Boy for some reason. What a funny little brat with a love for his kitty.
Kids’ Stuff was my favorite episode of JLU growing up, so I truly wanted to enjoy this book more. I liked the story of the heroes becoming young and having to navigate being young again and that change in mindset. The original story (JLA: World without grown-ups) the episode was based on was also great. In this book, the characters just felt odd. I think its main fault is that there was just not enough communication between the writers, so it made it confusing go at times. I was confused about whatever was going on with the JSA (not just the points that relied on reading their stories but like their whole sequence of events in this book).
I also wish we could’ve seen more from the YJ team themselves all interacting. I know it’s another storyline just placed in the book, but reading this just made me long to get past it. I want to see their goofy convos.
Most of all I miss Cissie, she’s such a dynamic character and the team feels incomplete without her. I hope the addition of new members in the next book can help counteract this.
Extra note: I really appreciate how the “D” on Deadman’s suit became a “d” when he became Deadboy lmaooooo. I loved his character in this. It’s always good when a book makes me interested in a character I had no interest in. Secret said he was just like Bart as a kid, so maybe that’s why I enjoyed him, but I also enjoyed his role as an adult.
I also really love Klarion… bum, bum, bum… the Witch Boy for some reason. What a funny little brat with a love for his kitty.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 16, 2022
At first I wasn't impressed with this volume but I really appreciate how the "kids turn to adults and adults turn into kids" gimmick was used to explore more than a sudden influx of teen hormones.
Many of the characters in their individual one-shots (such as the Batman issue and the Flash issue) explored the pressure and weight of their roles as superheroes, especially when confronted with adulthood.
For example, Tim and Bruce have a heart-to-heart in the Batmobile (that Tim doesn't know how to drive, by the way) where Tim admits he doesn't think he'd ever want to take on the Batman mantle. He expresses interest in establishing his own legacy and costume, but the pressure of BEING Batman is a lot to bear. Also, the part where they swap costumes to keep up appearances is hilarious and I'm sad we don't get some of this good-natured chaos in more volumes of comics.
also, the beginning of this issue kicked off with the government and media noticing that Young Justice had created a lot of infrastructure issues while saving the world and trying to regulate them, prompting the rest of the teen heroes and even the adults to stand together and argue that they don't need a federal mandate to save the world. I thought this solidarity was really nice and it was cool to see the "New Teen Titans" or rather just the "Titans" reflect on their own experiences as teen heroes.
TL;DR just a good old fashioned age-swap volume for 400 pages to some disaster and hilarity.
Many of the characters in their individual one-shots (such as the Batman issue and the Flash issue) explored the pressure and weight of their roles as superheroes, especially when confronted with adulthood.
For example, Tim and Bruce have a heart-to-heart in the Batmobile (that Tim doesn't know how to drive, by the way) where Tim admits he doesn't think he'd ever want to take on the Batman mantle. He expresses interest in establishing his own legacy and costume, but the pressure of BEING Batman is a lot to bear. Also, the part where they swap costumes to keep up appearances is hilarious and I'm sad we don't get some of this good-natured chaos in more volumes of comics.
also, the beginning of this issue kicked off with the government and media noticing that Young Justice had created a lot of infrastructure issues while saving the world and trying to regulate them, prompting the rest of the teen heroes and even the adults to stand together and argue that they don't need a federal mandate to save the world. I thought this solidarity was really nice and it was cool to see the "New Teen Titans" or rather just the "Titans" reflect on their own experiences as teen heroes.
TL;DR just a good old fashioned age-swap volume for 400 pages to some disaster and hilarity.
April 29, 2020
Book Three of Young Justice is almost entirely made up of the Sins of Youth cross over. The bookend pieces to that story, Sins of the Youth #1-2 have the energy and fun of the regular Young Justice series by writer Peter David and artist Todd Nauck. However, all of the one-shots that fill out the story between the bookends are all over the place. Some stories are good, some stories are boring, and some just shouldn’t have been published.
I’m still giving the book a 3-star rating because it was while reading this collection of comics that I realized just how much I enjoy the DC universe of heroes from the mid-90s to the early 2000’s. It was the time of the Knightfall story for Batman, the Death and Rebirth of Superman, Kyle Rayner as Green Lantern, Grant Morrison’s relaunched JLA, Mark Waid on Flash and Impulse, Tim Drake on his own as Robin, Aquaman with a hook hand, and a clone of Superman calling himself Superboy.
I have an affinity for that era of DC heroes. So even when the storytelling isn’t the best (like it isn’t sometimes with Sins of Youth), I still enjoy revisiting the DC universe from that era.
I’m still giving the book a 3-star rating because it was while reading this collection of comics that I realized just how much I enjoy the DC universe of heroes from the mid-90s to the early 2000’s. It was the time of the Knightfall story for Batman, the Death and Rebirth of Superman, Kyle Rayner as Green Lantern, Grant Morrison’s relaunched JLA, Mark Waid on Flash and Impulse, Tim Drake on his own as Robin, Aquaman with a hook hand, and a clone of Superman calling himself Superboy.
I have an affinity for that era of DC heroes. So even when the storytelling isn’t the best (like it isn’t sometimes with Sins of Youth), I still enjoy revisiting the DC universe from that era.
September 22, 2021
I didn't enjoy this quite as much as book two, mostly because a significant portion of the book is devoted to individual members of Young Justice and their mentors/adult superhero doing things, and I... just don't really care about some of the individual runs of these heroes? So I liked the Batman and Robin section, since I already like Batman and Robin, but since I have never cared about the speedsters on their own (I like them in wider team-ups), I was kind of slowed down by those sections. The other parts that slowed me down were the groups that I know basically nothing about - I didn't know who they were, and I especially didn't know who they were with their ages all topsy-turvy. I liked the story well enough, and there are threads throughout that I find really interesting, but this was the book that I skimmed through in sections.
December 21, 2022
Boy, Sins of Youth really is a mess. It's not entirely the fault of Peter David and Todd Nauck - the "event" structure and all the crossover issues sort of necessitate watering down the authorial voice, so some issues just stink, some are solid enough. That said, even in the main chapters, there are just too many moving pieces and little of it feels sufficiently developed - the Old Justice/young superhero legislation becomes an afterthought and the Agenda/Contessa stuff is forgotten for stretches, as the book seems to be a chase to find Klarion, bum bum BUM, the Witch Boy with needless double-page spreads of young heroes vs young villains (seriously, that added nothing to the series, except to showcase Nauck's character designs and ability to very effectively draw an over-stuffed two-page spread).
April 23, 2025
I've enjoyed the Young Justice for the most part but this was tough to get through. An uneven and extremely bloated story about the teens and adult heroes getting age-swapped. It was clever but there were so many creators that most weren't on the same page. Some times the teens are portrayed as super young children and then they're horny teenagers. Also, there were so many repetitive chapters. It could have and should have been half the size. There were some fun interactions though, especially Tim and Bruce. The art ranged from great to awful. Overall, a fun idea that got stretched way too thin.
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October 14, 2020The vast majority of this volume is the Sins of Youth event. Klarion the Witch Boy turns adults into kids and kids into adults, so we get of bunch of issues featuring adult Young Justice members alongside their kid JLA counterparts. It’s okay. As with most big crossovers like this, it drags on too long. This type of silly swapping is nothing new for DC and I never really cared about the story. There are some laughs here and there, but it’s mostly a predictable slog. Only two or three issues rise above okay territory.
July 19, 2025
hmmmm, this one was okay but to be totally honest i didn’t loooove the team splitting up and going off with their older counterparts. it felt a bit too chaotic and required knowledge of (imo, sorry) c- to z-level heroes, which i don’t have. the team-ups felt both incongruous and unnecessary, so here’s hoping the next volume returns to form. oh, i did love the bart/wally issue though (godspeed, son. // thanks, but i’ll try to keep it under godspeed). also, the fact that chuck dixon wrote literally everythinggg batman?! he srsly had a chokehold on that family in the 90s.
September 6, 2025
I like the premise and characters but all of the issues just feel like filler. They don’t have much impact as consecutive issues in an event typically do. Reading Sins of Youth 1 and 2 is all you need. Superboy #74, Superman Jr/Superboy Sr and The Secret/Deadboy are the only issues that really contribute to the two main issues.
January 22, 2026
Tim Drake re-read: Part 14/?
I definitely find doing an event where everyone act annoying and fight and bicker a lot was... a choice. Also, I haven't read Superboy's running series, so all of the Agenda and clone stuff kinda fell flat for me. (I will one day though! Promise!)
Overall this had some nice moments, but overall this is the weakest TPB so far.
I definitely find doing an event where everyone act annoying and fight and bicker a lot was... a choice. Also, I haven't read Superboy's running series, so all of the Agenda and clone stuff kinda fell flat for me. (I will one day though! Promise!)
Overall this had some nice moments, but overall this is the weakest TPB so far.
May 6, 2020
3.5 rounded up.
As crossovers go, Sins of Youth is not bad it just feels mostly unnecessary. I skipped through 2 issues, but I know the others could have been skipped as well and I still would have followed the crossover well enough with the main issues.
Onto single issues!
As crossovers go, Sins of Youth is not bad it just feels mostly unnecessary. I skipped through 2 issues, but I know the others could have been skipped as well and I still would have followed the crossover well enough with the main issues.
Onto single issues!
July 31, 2020
I didn't like it then, and I don't like it all these years later having finally read all the .. bum bum BUM tie in issues.
Nothings really explored well with the concept and nothing really comes together as a satisfying conclusion.
Nothings really explored well with the concept and nothing really comes together as a satisfying conclusion.
July 19, 2022
Spectacular collection. The larger story near the end really was amazing in its complexity and the characters later in Teen Titans very much grew from this collection. Wonderful writing and art all around!
April 12, 2024
3.5*
Still fun, but this one felt like it dragged, probably because of all the sidestories. I can see that being more fun if you were reading it as a serial, but as a collection it gets a bit tedious.
Still fun, but this one felt like it dragged, probably because of all the sidestories. I can see that being more fun if you were reading it as a serial, but as a collection it gets a bit tedious.
May 4, 2019
I liked the first few issues but this one sort of felt like it was dragging.
May 5, 2021
Crazy and fun.
June 20, 2021
Wow I forgot how long Sins of Youth was ... and how annoying Klarion is 😭😭
July 7, 2021
I bought this book for completions sake, but it is basically just the same collection as the previous Sins of Youth book that came out a couple of decades ago.
December 30, 2024
3,7 + 2,9 + 2 + 3,5 + 3,02 estrelas
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