As DC’s multiverse has bloomed, so too has its roster of young heroes, from entirely new characters to stylized new versions. So with the DC Multiverse making it possible to bring together heroes of different Earths, a Multiversal version of Young Justice is long overdue to spotlight young heroes in need of a comeback.
While the Multiverse was only officially restored in Dark Crisis (and its future remains unclear thanks to the launch of DC's Absolute Universe), DC has kept their funnel of creative stories going with creative books that delved into the ‘what ifs’ of superhero history. Over time, standout characters have emerged: newer characters either completely new or vastly changed from their prime Earth counterpart. These are the Multiversal DC heroes who deserve to a new Young Justice team.
10 Jackie Napier
The daughter of the Joker from Batman: White Knight Presents: Generation Joker
The daughter of the Joker and Harley Quinn, Jackie Napier and her brother Bryce were raised without much knowledge of their father’s evil deeds, as Harley raised them with the insistence that Jack Napier and his evil counterpart were two separate people. While originally appearing as an infant in Batman: Curse of the White Knight, Jackie played a larger role in Batman: Beyond The White Knight, before going on to lead alongside her brother in Batman: White Knight Presents: Generation Joker, which saw Jackie and Bryce connecting with their father for the first time.
In Batman: Beyond The White Knight, Jackie was shown to be more interested in her heritage than her brother, dressing like the Joker. It took an adventure with the FBI on their tails for both siblings to understand how being children of the Joker had affected their fears of growing older. While only 12 years old, Jackie was headstrong, with a good sense of right and wrong. Raised by Harley Quinn, daughter of the Joker, with Bruce Wayne as her step-father, there’s no doubt Jackie could eventually become a vigilante herself.
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9 Bryce Napier
The son of the Joker from Batman: White Knight Presents: Generation Joker
Unbeknownst to his twin sister, Bryce Napier was similarly affected by his father being the Joker, though he displayed his worries much differently. Debuting as an infant in Batman: Curse of the White Knight, Bryce was originally presented as a foil to his chaotic twin in Batman: Beyond The White Knight, before it was revealed in Batman: White Knight Presents: Generation Joker that Bryce had done his own research into the Joker’s history, fearful that his own mental state would take a swing like his father’s had.
Despite only being twelve-years old, Bryce showed a large level of emotional intelligence concerning his own future and his parents’ histories. While the world of Batman: White Knight doesn’t have many superheroes out in the limelight, unlike the prime universe, Bryce would fit in perfectly with a superhero team, allowing him to hone his competence in emergencies. His calm and headstrong demeanor would serve well alongside his sister’s chaotic energy.
8 Jess Chambers
Jess Chambers appeared as part of Earth-11's Teen Justice in Multiversity: Teen Justice
Originally appearing as Future State’s Flash, Jess Chambers received a deeper storyline, delving into what their future could mean for them in Multiversity: Teen Justice, a limited series that focused on Earth-11’s version of the Teen Titans, featuring gender-bent versions of characters readers are familiar with. Fans of Jess Chambers got to see firsthand the experience that would eventually back Jess’s heroism and their dynamics within a team.
With time, DC has started to move away from the heroes spotlighted during Future State, with them taking on ing roles for larger League (like with Yara Flor in Tom King and Daniel Sampere’s Wonder Woman). But as a speedster with such an impressive future, Jess doesn’t deserve to be ignored. The next chapter in their story could further complete their journey from young hero to future Flash.
7 Ashley Rayburn
Ashley starred as Primer in her self-titled YA DC graphic novel
Ashley Rayburn is a newer addition to the DC universe—and still has yet to be added to the prime universe. Part of DC’s Young Adults graphic novels, Ashley becomes Primer, a teenage superhero with the ability to harness a variety of superpowers with chemically altered paints. The paints were originally designed for military use and can only be equipped after inhaling a special gas. Primer’s powers are entirely unique to her, and they’re well suited to her creative abilities. What's more: Primer has never been part of a team.
With so many speedsters and Kryptonians populating the DC universe, Primer’s powers are a game changer. Not only are they completely unique, but they make her a strong adversary to powerful foes. A multiversal team could not only bring Primer fully into the DC prime universe but work on perfecting her teamwork, making her the best hero she could possibly be.
6 Mia Queen
Mia Queen originally came from CW's Arrow played by Katherine McNamara
DC might have moved away from their ‘Arrowverse’—the TV show universe that spanned shows like CW’s Flash and CW’s Batwoman—but the DC Universe hasn’t forgotten its contribution to the DC Universe. Not only did it allow for heroes like Batwing, Jesse Quick, and Mister Terrific to make their live-action debuts, but it also gave back new heroes that could have a long history in the comics. Mia Queen, to name one, is a notable addition to Green Arrow lore: daughter of Oliver Queen, she grew up without her father in a dystopian Star City before becoming the Green Arrow.
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In 2022, DC premiered a limited series called Earth Prime, which saw many of the TV versions of heroes return in a brand-new story. Mia Queen was one of them. While female archers in Star City aren’t rare, Mia grew up in a city devoid of many heroes, having to fight and claw her way through surviving. Not only would bringing her into a multiverse team re-acknowledge the ‘Arrowverse’, but give her character a new chance to make a difference alongside like-minded peers.
5 Kal-El
Kal-El crashed the party in Earth 22's DC Mech with a Kryptonian mech
The DC Mech series stood out immediately in comparison to other multiverse stories, with all the best trappings of the genre: large parademons crashing to Earth, and humans generating gigantic mechs to match their size. Surprisingly, even though he came to Earth much later than other variations, Kal-El also showed up in a mech, ready to fight to defend Earth like his parents had wanted.
DC Mech not only served as an introduction to the new world Kenny Porter and Baldemar RIvas had created, but a new origin for Kal-El: his mech was created as a refuge for the infant Kryptonian, but also a means for him to avenge the destruction of Krypton. This perspective-altering origin gives DC Mech’s Kal-El an entirely new complex mindset as to his purpose in the universe, something that should be explored in a team setting.
4 Jacob Pierce
DC Dark Knights Of Steel's prince of the Kingdom of Storms had a tragic arc.
The kingdoms of DC Dark Knights of Steel suffered many tragedies upfront: specifically when the young prince Jacob Pierce of the Kingdom of Storms died seemingly to Zala Zor-El. While that was eventually revealed to be a deception, that didn’t undo the damage done. Though Jacob was later revived, his experience with death had changed his character and brought him an entirely new perspective. DC characters returning from the dead is a common occurrence for older characters but a hesitant approach to new ones: only this made his character stronger.
While the other characters of DC Dark Knights of Steel raged on, violence well-normalized in their eyes, Jacob wavered upon itting death to another being. This not only showed the uniqueness of his character on his Earth but a large expanse of stories about Jacob that have yet to be tapped into. Prince Jacob Pierce has potential, and it's within a team, with people familiar with death’s touch, that he could delve into his life-changing experience.
3 Cameron Kim
Cameron comes from the main universe, but his story has been left open
Cameron Kim, referred to as City Boy, starred in his self-titled limited series, a comic that followed his search for his mother following the events of Lazarus Planet, which marked his first appearance in the DC Universe. Unlike other heroes, Cameron struggled with an inner darkness related to his powers. While he eventually comes to peace with both his mother’s end and his conflict of morality, City Boy’s powers proved there are valuable tales to be told with him at the center.
For readers unfamiliar with Cameron, his powers allow him to tap into a city’s memories, as its people that define a space. While he started out speaking to cities made of metal and concrete, it was revealed that his powers also extended to less defined cities, specifically with an ant colony. There’s a lot more to explore with Cameron, especially with him already shown to be a character of wavering morality.
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2 Mia Mizoguchi
Mia ran into many Gotham vigilantes in the halls of Gotham Academy.
Gotham Academy was home to many colorful students, but Mia "Maps" Mizoguchi stood out for her unwavering belief in Batman and Robin’s ability to do good. Over the course of her time at the academy, Maps has run into many of Gotham’s vigilantes, but her future was always up in the air, until Kelly Thompson’s Birds Of Prey introduced a future version of Maps who has managed to invent a device that can move her through time. Maps' future might be explained, but her journey there is exactly the sort of mystery her old detective club used to investigate.
While Maps has always been closer to Batman’s allies than the rest of her student body, she’s never been explicitly tied to the superhero community before. With her idealism, figuring out her place in a world of metas and aliens is the perfect reason she should a superhero team.
1 Donald Troy
Teen Justice didn’t just expand on Jess Chamber’s story but uplifted their teammates too, giving them entirely unique arcs compared to their prime earth counterparts. One of their teammates was Donald Troy A.K.A. Troy: the Earth-11 version of Donna Troy. Unlike his teammates, Troy’s background wasn’t given much introspection, as most of his arc within the series had to do with his love-interest Raven, and the developing conspiracy at hand. A large part of the Amazons’ history in the prime universe has to do with historical sexism that shaped their culture. Donald—and the Amazons of Earth-11—never had their history explained.
While that might concern a greater story than one of Troy ing a multiverse team, it's his tie to Raven (who seemingly sacrificed himself) and the tease of a continuing story that has yet to be picked up on that makes Troy a great candidate for future teams going forwards. There’s more to tell with his character and the rest of Earth-11.
