After six years, the television show, Young Justice, is set to return for a long awaited and highly anticipated third season. Young Justice: Outsiders’ first three episodes premiered on DC’s new streaming service, DC Universe, on January 4, 2019.

“It is so good,” said Danielle Wendt, a Hebron alum who graduated in 2018. “The characters have matured so much even in two years and I love how much acceptance and love was preached in the new season.”

Young Justice was praised for its mature themes and complex story lines. It was one of the highest rated shows on the air for its first and second seasons with major fight scenes, real-life lessons, and character development.

Young Justice centers around a team of teen-aged sidekicks called “The Team.” The first season began with Wally West/Kid Flash, voiced by Jason Spisak, M’gann M’orzz/Miss Martian voiced by Danica McKellar, Conner Kent/Superboy voiced by Nolan North, Dick Grayson/Robin voiced by Jesse McCartney, and a new Aqualad, Kaldur’ahm voiced by Khary Payton. It kicked off with themes of secrets, lies, and independence. Whilst fighting a secret villain coalition, the sidekicks struggled to break from their mentors’ shadows to forge their own paths.

Folowing the show’s cancellation, fans rallied together, writing up petitions and starting kickstarter-style campaigns to keep the show alive. They petitioned for the show to either be on Cartoon Network, where it originally aired, or a more modern platform, such as Netflix. Despite their enthusiasm, DC Comics and Warner Brothers shut down the efforts.

“Thank you to all our fans for expressing just how much they love DC Nation on Cartoon Network. There’s still more new Young Justice and Green Lantern: The Animated Series to enjoy in the coming weeks. And DC Nation isn’t going anywhere; there will be plenty of new adventures coming your way later this year,” said DC Comics in an effort to subdue the massive blowback from the two shows’ rumored cancelling.

The statement only brought on a wave of massive feedback, as it failed to address or deny the rumors that Young Justice and its running mate at the time, Green Lantern: The Animated Series, were going to be cancelled. Warner Brothers also halted the efforts of the kickstarter by telling SMGO.tv, the leaders of the kickstarter, that the fans’ efforts were futile.

“Hey all, I’ve been trying all day to come up with a slightly better way to say this, but I’m just going to give it to you straight. Warner said no – they don’t think we can reach our goals – do you believe that?” said SMGO.tv’s official statement.

Rumors cycled for years as to the true reasoning behind the cancellation until Greg Weisman, the writer for Young Justice, revealed it in Jan 2016. The show’s funding by Mattel was pulled when toys and action figures for Young Justice did not sell as well as Mattel wanted. Other income sources were not enough for DC Nation to produce a third season.

In 2016, the possibility of a third season began to take form. June had Weisman urging fans to keep Young Justice trending on Netflix because the “possibility was very real” if there was enough interest.

In September, Weisman posted, “I think there’s a decent chance of the show coming back. Not a guarantee, mind you, but a solid decent chance. I don’t say that lightly either,” on his website, Station Eight.

By November, a third season was confirmed. Fans rejoiced and waited for the third season to air. Warner Brothers announced in April 2017 that the third series would be titled Young Justice: Outsiders.  Outsiders debuted on January 4, 2019 to elated fans on DC’s new streaming service.

Fans and critics alike applaud the new season. Outsiders’ mid-season finale will be available on January 25, 2019. The second half of Outsiders’ is presumed to begin in June 2019 on DC Universe.