Comic book sidekicks tend to get a bad rap, but they're as integral to the medium as capes and cowls. Created as surrogates through which children could vicariously slam evil along with their favorite characters, second bananas have evolved into more than just helping hands, revealing a little something about a superhero's persona and pitching in during a fight in equal measure. The presence of fledgling crimestoppers doesn't necessarily mean cutesy capers are afoot, and there have been few shows that took as much pleasure in quashing that stereotype as Young Justice. Though it lasted only two seasons, this animated program hit the sweet spot with fans and put to rest many a naysayer's claims that all we'd get were watered-down riffs on the same superhero antics we've seen for years. In fact, the show clicks because its protagonists differ so much from their more notable counterparts, with the drama stemming from their urge to run into danger and do good oftentimes overwhelming their discipline. Balancing a roster of complex characters with its usual duties as an action-packed kid's cartoon, Young Justice is a fun and well-rounded slice of comic-based media, one whose first season is now out on Blu-ray for the first time, courtesy of the Warner Archive Collection.

The day that all junior Justice Leaguers have been waiting for has finally arrived. Following years of combating the forces of evil alongside their mentors, Robin (voice of Jesse McCartney), Kid Flash (voice of Jason Spisak), and Aqualad (voice of Khary Payton) are excited to be allowed greater access to the League's inner sanctum than ever before. Unfortunately, all this amounts to is a glorified rec room, much to the teens' displeasure. Eager to prove themselves to the League, the kids launch an unauthorized mission, only to come upon an unexpected discovery: Superboy (voice of Nolan North), a being cloned from the Man of Steel himself. Despite disobeying direct orders to stay put, the team's first outing is a success, and they're quickly joined by a trio of new members: Superboy, expert archer Artemis (voice of Stephanie Lemelin), and the psychic Miss Martian (voice of Danica McKellar). Under the League's guidance, these young heroes set out to hone their special talents, fighting the good fight whenever they can -- unaware of the sinister conspiracy working behind the scenes to bring Earth's greatest defenders to their knees.

As the series revolves around high school-aged heroes, that Young Justice gets a tad emotional at times is to be expected. Fortunately, the show's creative team has, for the most part, come up with interesting storylines entailing said drama, rather than have its main characters act all mopey about having powers. Our protagonists go through the typical motions of unrequited crushes and letting their impulsive desires to take down baddies override their best judgment, but some more mature subplots are effectively introduced during this inaugural season's 26 episodes. This holds especially true with Superboy and Miss Martian, the outsiders of the group who each have their own identity crisis; the former didn't even ask to exist (let alone get a Kryptonian legacy hoisted upon him), while the latter goes to great lengths to conceal her true form. All of Young Justice's do-gooders receive at least one episode in which they stand out, but these two are the heart of the show, shining examples of what could've been whiny side characters done just right. Overall, the writers have fared very well in establishing a universe that will attract viewers with action and daring heroics aplenty but keep them invested with complex narratives that rarely feel preachy.

This isn't to say that Young Justice's long-form storytelling is completely sterling. The series has a habit of inserting new characters with next to no build-up (even Miss Martian comes in out of the blue), as well as ending nearly every episode on the same sort of cliffhanger. It's all meant to lead into the primary villains' plan to dismantle the Justice League, but the execution seems seriously convoluted, ultimately feeling devised at the last second instead of something that's been cooking for an entire season. But as much as certain aspects of Young Justice irked me, I always found myself ready and raring to jump into the next episode. There's much fun to be had with the fast-paced action, varied roster of heroes/villains, and, best of all, distinctive protagonists. This is due in no small part to an assembly of actors who do great jobs of instilling their roles with pluck and personality. From North as the tortured Superboy to Spisak as smart-aleck supreme Kid Flash, this cast covers the gamut of emotions without becoming too one-dimensional or grating...okay, so most of Robin's catchphrases are as funny as a root canal from Bane, but nobody's perfect.

Though it doesn't match the also prematurely-cancelled Green Lantern: The Animated Series in epicness, Young Justice had a lot of promise it both delivered on and still had en route. Fans have been clamoring for a complete series set for a while, and after they see what fantastic work was accomplished in bringing the first part to Blu-ray, that second season shouldn't be too far down the pipeline. I know I'll be waiting, because Young Justice was a neat little show with nowhere to go but up, up, and away.

(Young Justice can be purchased through the Warner Archive Collection: http://www.warnerarchive.com)