Young Justice 2.03

Alienated

Blue Beetle and Bumblebee chase down a Crolotean that has diguised himself as Bibby, the owner of a dinner. They catch up to the Crolotean but he gets away.

The Zeta Team (Miss Martian, Superboy, Beast Boy, Adam Strange) return from Rann. Miss Martian shares what she learned about the Croloteans activities and the missing 16 hours. Vandal Savage sent the six leaguers to Rimbor where they wrecked havoc. It was this that brought them to the attention of the Croloteans who had already infiltrated Rann. Or had they?

Miss Martian reads the mind of the one Crolotean that they have in custody. Her uncle J'onn was unsuccessful in getting anything out of the troublesome alien. M'Gann uses a more aggressive technique, or so it seems. She learns and shares with the others that the Croloteans have another base in a volcano on Malina Island.

The Justice League and Young Justice team up to investigate the Corolotean operation on the island. The initial plan is to just do some reconnaissance but they are spotted and a fight ensues. The Batman Family (Batman, Nightwing, Batgirl, Robin) plus Aquaman and Lagoon Boy quickly find themselves in a fight for their lives. It turns out that the pesky aliens have some allies on Earth, whose leader looks like Black Manta.

The leader's mask comes of in the course of the fight and his true identity is revealed. It is Kaldur'ahm, aka Aqualad from Season 1. He has switched sides. He blames the league for the death of Tula, Aquagirl, and blames Aquaman for not telling him who his father really is, Black Manta.

The fight goes on until Aqualad reveals that there's a bomb planted in the base and they only have minutes until it detonates. Aqualad escapes but he doesn't take the Croloteans with him. All the heroes flee the volcano except Superman who stays behind to try and save the Croloteans. They don't trust him and (unlike the Man of Steel) are killed when the island explodes.

Black Manta contacts the Light and is congratulated for dealing with the Croloteans and the superheroes. He is now officially a member of the Light, which is still led by Vandal Savage. The Light is working with another group of aliens, possibly the same ones that hired Lobo,

The six heroes who wrecked havoc on Rimbor decide that they have to go to Rimbor and deal with the consequences of their actions. The episode ends with them departing for Rimbor.

Thoughts

This is another good episode. I prefer more focused ones like the previous one but there are lots of little nuggets of information that get dropped here. The biggest reveal has to be that Aqualad has changed sides. I was also intrigued by Superboy's nonverbal reaction to Miss Martian's approach to interrogation. He doesn't seem to approve of it but he has yet to say anything. Bumblebee and Blue Beetle only appear in the opening scene. I understand the epic nature of this season but I wish there was less of the Justice League in this show.