Don't Call Us Sidekicks

Season 1, Episode 1

"*Man, we the shit.*"
—Aqualad

## Description

“Don’t Call Us Sidekicks” is the first episode of the first season of *Young Justice Abridged*, and the first-produced installment of the *DC Abridged Universe*. It was uploaded to YouTube on November 1st, 2011. The episode was taken down because of copyright issues and was made available at thefedoraplayers.com for a while until it was re-uploaded to YouTube on October 5th, 2015. The first part can be watched here.

## Plot

On Independence Day, four young heroes help defeat four ice-themed villains with their mentors. Batman and Robin take down Mr. Freeze; Green Arrow and Speedy stop Icicle Jr.; Aquaman and Aqualad defeat Killer Frost; the Flash and Kid Flash fight Captain Cold. All the superheroes then proceed to the Hall of Justice in Washington, D.C., the young heroes getting to see the Justice League's headquarters for the very first time. However, Speedy becomes disenfranchised with the League when he discovers that the heroes mostly just party and drink all day, and leaves. After getting a call from Zatara, the League members leave to go assist Kevin Smith after he was kicked out of a plane due to his 'proportions.' Wishing to prove themselves to their mentors, Robin, Aqualad, and Kid Flash decide to investigate the Cadmus facility, which the League has linked to various criminal and terrorist activities. In order to sneak into the building, the young heroes start a fire under the guise of Ronald McDonald.

Once inside, the heroes discover some strange activity, including an express elevator that takes them down to dozens of sub-levels, filled with Guillermo-del-Toro-esc monsters. They come up against a "demonic Fu Manchu," but manage to escape and hide in a special chamber. It is here that the heroes discover Project Kr, a clone of Superman called the Superboy. They release the clone in the hopes of his help, but Superboy attacks and takes down all three heroes.

Back on the Watchtower, the real headquarters of the Justice League, Batman reveals that the young heroes are being trained to take part in a "junior Justice League" called Young Justice. To help aid in their transport to the Watchtower and around the globe, Batman teleports the Flash without his consent.

While Kid Flash slumbers, two mysterious entities (Nabu and Klarion) discuss the boy's fate, with the latter expressing his intentions to rape the young speedster, greatly upsetting the other cosmic spirit. Once awake, the heroes question Superboy, who reveals that he is a Russian clone of Superman, created by Lex Luthor to replace the Man of Steel. He informs the young heroes that Cadmus once took him to see a *Star Wars* movie, but tragically, it was *The Phantom Menace*. Promising to show the young Russian a competent *Star Wars* movie, the heroes team up with Superboy and escape. Once outside, they encounter the Flaming C and the rest of the Justice League. The discovery of Superboy's origins angers Superman, an ignorant American patriot who is disgusted by the idea that his clone is Russian. With their sidekicks having disobeyed direct orders by going to investigate Cadmus, Batman attempts to shut down the Young Justice initiative. However, the young heroes manage to convince the League that they are worthy of forming a team.

Batman sets the team up at Mount Justice under the following guidelines: the teens must play at least four hours of *Call of Duty: Black Ops* every day; Red Tornado will live with the kids and act as their janitor; Black Canary will train them; Batman will serve as their commander; the team will be strictly covert ops. Finally, the former sidekicks will be joined by Martian Manhunter's niece Miss Martian.

Robin goes home and "hacks" the Batcomputer all night, which displeases Batman. Kid Flash finally gets all the Dr. Pepper he can drink. Aqualad continues to put up with his mentor's attempts to related to him, knowing that he will soon have to slap him. Green Arrow keeps trying to patch things up with Speedy, failing spectacularly. Superboy continues to search for Superman's approval, knowing it's a lost cause.

In an epilogue, Speedy, now calling himself Red Arrow, takes down the villain Brick at the Star City pier, killing him. This greatly upsets a mysterious organization of villains known as the Light, as the young heroes are getting bolder. Still, their main priority remains destroying Batman and with it the League, which is why they activated Project Lazarus: an experiment to revive the Dark Knight's dead son Jason, Batman's greatest failure. In Gotham City, Jason, now operating as the murderous vigilante Red Hood, kills several mafiosos involved in Black Mask's operation. This greatly angers the mob kingpin, who vows revenge on the antihero.

## Cast

* Leik777 as Tim Drake/Robin, Oliver Queen/Green Arrow, Guardian, and Lex Luthor
* ShadyVox as Wally West/Kid Flash
* Sehanort as Kaldur'ahm/Aqualad
* Starbeastrave as Clark Kent/Superman, Superboy, and The Flaming C
* Midgettoe2000 as Roy Harper/Speedy/Red Arrow, Barry Allen/The Flash, Leonard Snart/Captain Cold, Dr. Mark Desmond, Demonic Fu Manchu, and Nabu
* EliteF50 as Bruce Wayne/Batman, Brick, and Darkseid
* LordMoonstone as Arthur Curry/Aquaman
* LordJazor as Victor Fries/Mr. Freeze, Giovanni Zatara, Ra's al Ghul, and Roman Sionis/Black Mask
* daRKIERAWR as Cameron Mahkent/Icicle Jr., J'onn J'onzz/Martian Manhunter, and Klarion
* PhantomGirl19911 as M'gann M'orzz/Miss Martian
* Tallestsilver as Ms. Li
* MsHarley as Diana/Wonder Woman
* LoststeamVAA as Jason Todd/Red Hood

Additionally, Louise Lincoln/Killer Frost, Red Tornado, Billy Batson/Captain Marvel, Dinah Lance-Queen/Black Canary, and John Stewart/Green Lantern all appear in a non-speaking capacity. Batgirl and Bane are also mentioned.