A note before I begin: It’s difficult not to put the cart before the horse. When I realized how amazing the cartoon Young Justice was, I planned on doing a review for each episode with additional material addressing the design and other aspects of the show. I thought, logically, that beginning at the first episode was the way to go. It wasn’t until after I’d written that first article and published it (promising an analysis of Young Justice’s Cadmus Labs in the week to come) that I realized I needed a belated introduction. Then after a vacation and some procrastination I am finally getting back to it. Still, I am a firm believer in better late than never (I love you George R.R. Martin!) so, without further delay, here we go.
I’ve made the bold claim that Cartoon Network’s Young Justice represents the best version of the DC Universe that I have ever seen. In the amazing first episode (a two-parter), Young Justice demonstrates this was each of the main characters introduced, Robin, Kid Flash, Aqualad, and Superboy, and that’s not even mentioning the great representations from their respective mentors. Getting heroes right is pretty important, but what keeps me coming to comics is the love of the villains, and the first adversaries that the not-yet Team faces is Project: Cadmus.
The idea of Cadmus Labs goes back to the days of a comic called Superman’s Pal Jimmy Olsen and a little comic creator you might have heard of named Jack Kirby. Sure, the ideas of biological experimentation had been the subject of science fiction for decades, arguably all the way back to Mary Shelly, and I’m sure there are even a few examples in earlier DC comics as well, but Kirby’s creation, The DNA Project directly evolved into the Project Cadmus featured in DC Comics, Justice League Unlimited, Smallville, and Young Justice. The YJ version takes elements from the post-crisis comics and JLU, but it does so while hearkening back to the days of the King.
As mentioned in the show, the name Cadmus comes from Greek Mythology. Camdus did the normal Greek Hero thing, talk to oracles, fight monsters, found cities, etc. Relevant to a genetics lab, he was instructed by Athena to take the teeth of the water-dragon, whom Cadmus had slain, and sew them into the ground. A race of fierce armed warriors, the Spartoi, grew from these teeth. The name of Project: Cadmus is therefore not just a reference to the cultivation of artificial people but especially the creation of weapons.
By the mid-90’s several DC characters had become synonymous with the Cadmus and by the mid-2000’s the name Cadmus was synonymous with conspiracy. The oldest of these characters is Guardian. First appearing in Star-Spangled Comics in 1942, Guardian was playing second fiddle to his own sidekicks the Newsboy Legion, both created by Jack Kirby and Joe Simon. The Guardian was actually Jim Harper, a police officer who adopted his shield-bearing secret identity to protect citizens from threats the law failed to prosecute. He was also the legal guardian of the four trouble-making orphans of the Newsboy Legion (Tommy Thompkins, Big Words, Gabby, and Scrapper), who would have otherwise been imprisoned as delinquents.
In the 1970’s when Jack Kirby was attempting his cosmic magnum opus known collectively as The Fourth World, Superman’s Pal Jimmy Olsen was one of its featured titles. It was there that he introduced Project: DNA, the products of the project’s experiments known then as DNAliens, and within those same pages he reintroduced new Newsboy Legion and the security guard of the project, the Golden Guardian.
The Golden Guardian was more than just an employee of Project: DNA/Cadmus. As the clone of the original Jim Harper, he was also one of their early success stories. Incidentally, the Newsboys were the children of the original but inexplicably identical to their fathers with the addition of the hip young black character, Walter “Flipper Dipper” Johnson, Jr. and his father.
Ah, the seventies.
Many of the Kirby’s Fourth World concepts found analogues and updates in Grant Morrison’s megaseries, Seven Soldiers.
The Guardian was there reinterpreted as The Manhattan Guardian, a superhero employed by a tabloid newspaper of the same name. This Guardian was Jake Jordan, who was at one time a police officer like Harper, but unlike Harper had left the force in disgrace. He eventually agreed to apply for a mysterious job with the Manhattan Guardian newspaper where he was chosen as their hero. The newspaper’s owner, Ed Stargard, mentions buying the rights to the Guardian persona from Project Cadmus. Stargard, incidentally, employed a legion of volunteer reporters called the Newsboy Army.
The Manhattan Guardian was a consummate SWAT police-officer. His helmet looked less like the Kirby-original’s hardhat and more like riot gear, he wore a bulky black Kevlar vest over policeman’s blue; heck, he even carried a nightstick; and the shape of his shield had been redefined as a police officer’s badge.
Young Justice’s Guardian is very similar to artist Cameron Stewart’s model for the Manhattan Guardian, both versions representing the sensibilities of contemporary superhero-costume design. The underpants-on-the-outside being out.
The YJ Guardian also maintains the same SWAT color scheme of blacks and dark blues, but his armor is clearly more high-tech. Instead of the outdated blue tights, the animated Guardian also wears practical fatigues. The basic badge-shape of the Manhattan Guardian’s shield remains, however, including the sharper edges, subtly incorporating the shield silhouette into the helmet and belt buckle as well.
YJ designers shrank the shield into a buckler strapped onto Guardian’s arm, giving him use of both hands but providing him with a means of defense and an armored gauntlet for attack. The smaller shield was incorporated well into the fight animation between Guardian and Aqualad where the smaller shield gave the former freedom of movement. (Unfortunately for Guardian, the shield also made a good conductor of electricity for Aqualad who was otherwise outclassed by the Guardian’s fighting ability). I’m not sure if the shrinking of the shield was merely a stylistic choice or a corporate decision but either way, the character redesign not only provided a fresh realistic looking superhero figure, but also avoided any comparisons between the Guardian and that other shield carrying Simon/Kirby hero.
Appearance aside, the character of YJ’s Guardian, is 100% Kirby. Like the Golden Guardian, he serves as the security guard for Project: Cadmus. Also like the original, he has a soft-spot for boys in trouble. (I mean he’s altruistic, keep your minds out of the gutter). When he first confronts the intruding sidekicks, he’s happy to be reasonable before the G-Gnomes telepathically force him to attack. He later demonstrates the same empathy for Superboy, allowing the clone to “stretch his legs” before Dr. Desmond (again with a telepathic G-Gnome) orders him to put Superboy back in his chamber. And like Kirby’s character, this Guardian is a clone.
This isn’t explicitly stated in the first episode but strong evidence is given to that effect.
Let’s take a moment to revel in that. Adequate foreshadowing. Ahhh… bask in the warm glow of competent storytelling.
Aqualad recognizes Guardian, though from description not from personal experience. The other sidekicks are not familiar with him at all, which indicates to me that the original Guardian has been out of the superheroing business for a while. Perhaps even dead. More conclusive evidence occurs at the conclusion of “Fireworks,” after Guardian has become chief of Cadmus. Dubbilex calls him “brother”, a term he reserves for his fellow bio-engineered creations the genomorphs.[1]
Dubbilex, named in reference to the XX Chromosome, was the proverbial poster child of the “DNAliens” that predated the genomorphs the same way that Project DNA predated Cadmus. They were so named because they were altered human clones possessing superhuman abilities, telekinesis in Dubbilex’s case, and displaying alien physical characteristics. His features were recognizable by stony grey skin, a prominent skull, and the two horns growing from his forehead. By the mid nineties, his rounded bumpy horns had become noticeably pointed. He was usually depicted wearing a funky white and maroon high collared futuristic suit.
The YJ redesign takes significant liberties with the traditional model, but all in the name of story-telling. Dubbilex’s horns are much longer and more prominent and his stony skin has been supplemented by more alien features, including thorny bumps along the ridge of his brow, pointed ears, and what seems to be “flesh whiskers.” Like Guardian, his costume is updated to a much more practical and realistic design, a medical tunic and trousers, though maintaining the basic shape, such as the high collar, of the Kirby original. This Dubbilex is very thin, contrasting the power of his mind against the very slight physical frame.
It’s from the original DNAlien design of Dubbilex that YJ artists extrapolated Cadmus’ central line of biologically engineered monsters. With just a few stylistic elements: horns, grey skin, angular features, and shared distinctive markings; Cadmus’ genomorphs are established as a recognizable brand.
The main body of genomorphs (excepting the clones like Superboy and Guardian) are designated by fantasy-nicknames. While the fantasy aspect might be taken too far, I think it just makes the creatures seem more a part of a system. Rather than being throw-away henchmen, the genomorphs are a well developed culture of biologically engineered monsters. With each different type, their shape and function completely suits their designation.
Though not stated in the pilot, Dubbilex himself is a G-Goblin, a genomorph designed with telekinetic power. Apparently the only one of his type, Dubbilex has kept his additional telepathic powers hidden from Cadmus.
Next to Dubbilex in importance were the cleverly named G-Gnomes, a pun hearkening to the dare I say campiness of DNAlien, was probably the basis for the Cadmus convention of naming genomorphs after mythological creatures. The G-Gnomes are small but telepathically powerful and used by the company for communication and domination. The G-Gnomes are the most prominent genomorph type that we see, riding the shoulders of staff members, occasionally subverting their will, knocking out the sidekicks, herding the other genomorphs, and controlling Superboy.
Like Dubbilex, the horns of the G-Gnomes glow when they are exhibiting psionic abilities, a welcome change from the “glowing eyes,”“holding the head,” or “bleeding nose” tropes used to demonstrate psychic power in most fiction. It’s a minor choice but it was still commendable for being the better choice. The more interesting choice.
The G-Sprites are tiny creatures used as a power source[2]. Despite being little more than a background detail in their first appearance, nothing about the sprites is tossed away by the creators, the details of the design smartly balancing the insect and the horned-DNAlien in their appearance. Likewise, like fairies, the G-Sprites are basically just little winged lights.
The G-Dwarfs are squat creatures with tentacles and pincers. According to the Young Justice Wiki, the G-Dwarfs are unsurprisingly worker drones.
The G-Elves are lithe infantry warriors. When Guardian confronts the sidekick invaders of Cadmus labs, he takes a squad of the G-Elves as backup.
The behemoth G-Trolls serve as both heavy machinery and heavy infantry (closer to living tanks). While they represent a major physical threat in the first half of the issue, the G-Trolls get smacked around by the considerably stronger Superboy.
Speaking of Superboy, I have a lot to say on the matter of YJ’s rendition of the character, but since we are focusing on Cadmus at the moment I’ll save that discussion for another time. Suffice to say that Superboy is a product of a larger conspiracy surrounding the first season of Young Justice. As I said, before, conspiracy and Cadmus go hand in hand as far as DC superheroes are concerned.
The original Camdus was linked to Intergang and ultimately to Darkseid. The Cadmus ofJustice League Unlimited was a cadre of criminals, scientists, power brokers (including Lex Luthor), and government agents creating their own superhumans to balance power against the Justice League. Lex Luthor was also the owner of Cadmus Labs on Smallville.Finally, the Post-Crisis version of Cadmus was funded by Lex Luthor, who was directly involved in the creation of the Superman clone (Superboy).
In keeping with the espionage-vibe of Young Justice, the series begins by exposing Cadmus’ secret weapons project and the larger conspiracy that it represents. Cadmus’ director, Dr. Desmond, makes a vague reference to these conspirators as the “board of directors” of whom he fears even more than the Justice League. In “Fireworks,” Desmond actually reports the capture of the sidekicks to this organization, represented by overbright digital silhouettes. Through the course of the interview the board members make several references to the title they’ve adopted for themselves, the Light. By the shapes of the silhouettes and the voice talents involved, the members can be identified as various super-villains that recur throughout the series. I feel like I’m not giving too much away to reveal that Lex Luthor has ties to Cadmus in Young Justice as well. Frankly, considering the fictional history, it would be disappointing if he didn’t.
In the original Project DNA, it wa
s a scientist named Dabney Donovan that created their DNAliens. For Young Justice, Dr. Mark Desmond serves as the chief scientist. Dr. Desmond, by the way, is voiced by one of my heroes, Rene Aberjonois, best known as Odo from Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. I think that Aberjonois’ presence in the episode is a subtle homage to Batman: The Animated Series. Aberjonois voiced a suspicious and unstable scientist on the first episode of that series as well. Maybe he’s DC Animation’s lucky charm.
s a scientist named Dabney Donovan that created their DNAliens. For Young Justice, Dr. Mark Desmond serves as the chief scientist. Dr. Desmond, by the way, is voiced by one of my heroes, Rene Aberjonois, best known as Odo from Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. I think that Aberjonois’ presence in the episode is a subtle homage to Batman: The Animated Series. Aberjonois voiced a suspicious and unstable scientist on the first episode of that series as well. Maybe he’s DC Animation’s lucky charm.
The series creators have made an intentional effort to create as few new characters as possible so as to better draw on the wealth of characters from DC’s massive catalog. Desmond comes to Young Justice by way of Batman’s Rogues Gallery. As a Batman villain he was originally a chemist who transformed himself into a hulking- pun intended- brute with a simple mind known as Blockbuster. His brother Roland used Mark’s strength for criminal purposes, later becoming a Blockbuster himself.
The animated Dr. Desmond is seen working on Project: Blockbuster in one of the laboratories during episode 1 and, desperate to stop the secrets of the project from escaping, transforms himself with the Blockbuster formula in episode 2. The original Blockbuster was bulky, primitive, and badly dressed.
The Blockbuster of this Project: Cadmus is a horrifying monster. Stylistically similar to the genomorphs, the markings on Blockbuster appear to be rips in the flesh caused by uncontrolled muscle growth. Even more disturbing are the shredded scraps of human skin torn and stretched across Blockbuster’s head and shoulders. The censors may make blood a no-no, but who needs blood when our monster is wearing his own horrifically torn flesh as an accessory?
While the original Blockbuster had an underdeveloped personality, like that of a Neanderthal or simpleton, this figure seems to be more like wild animal. He’s also far more powerful than his funny pages predecessor, clearly overpowering the G-Trolls and even Superboy.
Though Blockbuster was never linked to Cadmus in the comics, it doesn’t really feel like a major departure from the original. If anything, the cartoon Blockbuster, coming out of this genetic engineering laboratory, is a bit more plausible than the ridiculous old “formula x” routine. Besides, his basic origin remains the same: a brilliant scientist changes himself to a monstrous brute. The most drastic differences are the increase in his power level, making him a serious threat, and his design, which is distinct but in-keeping with the Genomorph brand. If anything, Blockbuster has gone from being a generic Hulk-clone to a villain with his own identity, albeit one tied to Cadmus.
If I may digress slightly, Blockbuster is perfectly adapted by YJ. He’s an obscure enough character that most viewers will have no preconceived notions about him but that same obscurity makes him appealing for the fanboy crowd. And though he differs from his comic book counterpart, he does not represent such a betrayal from the corps character concept that fans will be irritated with his presence (contrasted with Emma Frost or Blob being sloppily dropped into X-Men Origins: Wolverine).
I’m not sure that there are any die-hard Blockbuster purists out there, but even if there are I think that most of them could appreciate the changes in the character being made to raise the stakes, to deepen the world, and, in essence, to serve the story. I know that comic fans can be ridiculously conservative when it comes to their characters but I honestly think that they are completely capable of accepting change in their characters, when that change is in keeping with the story being told. Even then, every new interpretation of a character is a continuation of a tradition going on before many of our grandparents were born. When an adaptation hearkens back to the history of that character it not only demonstrates respect for the art form and the artists that came before, a respect that is more than earned, but it is a recognition of the power and beauty of those characters. Alternatively, adaptations that ignore the tradition and history in a vain attempt to pander to fanboys makes those same fanboys want to crucify the would-be panderers.
What you see with Young Justice as a whole and Cadmus specifically is a sense of history and a design aesthetic that serves the story rather than distracts from it. It seems like those two things would be minimum requirements for shared universe fiction in a visual medium, nowhere so much as in comics, and yet it is DC’s Comics, once the company known for its legacies, that has pretty much abandoned both. There’s no point in lambasting the company any more than it already has been for The New 52, but I think it important to understand those missteps and to understand just how deftly Young Justicehas avoided them.
The similarities in the genomorphs’ design helps to tell the story that these creatures all share a similar origin, just like Dubbilex’s thinness or the G-Gnomes’ diminutive stature help to tell the story of their mental prowess, or Guardian’s costume that he is super-cop. And with Dubbilex, Guardian, the Genomorphs and the rest of Cadmus, Young Justicepays their dues to the masters that came before. If the King could see what his ideas had inspired (and was getting some appropriate remuneration) I think he would be proud.
[1] It would later be confirmed by Dubbilex that Guardian is a clone in the episode “Agendas”. This would be corroborated by Guardian himself in the episode “Salvage”.
