So - the circus is interesting as a type of modern gladiatorial games? And this is why it still exists?
This says nothing good about the ticket buyers - and about the culture in which this circus exists, in general.
So - the circus is interesting as a type of modern gladiatorial games? And this is why it still exists?
This says nothing good about the ticket buyers - and about the culture in which this circus exists, in general.
The circus has always been about the thrill and danger. People will always be attracted to that, be it a circus, a stunt show or a sporting event.
Today, the thrill of sports comes primarily from ~'who will win?' or 'How fast/far can one go?'. Safety measures are paramount.
One doesn't watch the olympics to see if and who will get maimed or killed.
That's not to say the ancient roman lust for battle to the death and gore is gone; today, primarily series/movies/other simulations are responding to this niche, and all who watch them know they are simulations (on a decency scale, this is far above roman gladiatorial games).
Watching a sport/circus/other widespread event due to the potential for injury and death - is this truly the message one wants transmitted in a superhero cartoon?
It's all about the illusion of danger. That's the thrill. As the saying goes
" don't try this at home, these people are professionals."
Its a superhero show were kids are regularly fighting adults in life or death situations. Or would you prefer a return to the Super Friends?
I remember a line from a poem about the circus and the reactions of the audience watching the high-wire act and the daredevils: "They ought to perish, but they don't. Some fear they will -- some fear they won't." But I can't remember who wrote it (maybe Ogden Nash or someone of the sort?) and I get no hits on Google.
Anyway, I wonder why the bad guys wanted to open a black hole over Geneva. Given the Intergang connection, and the fact that Intergang has traditionally been affiliated with Darkseid in the comics, I wonder if the "black hole" was actually a boom tube.
This is a theme that is actually explored a little bit in the regular Batman comic book.
Haley's Circus it turns out has been the training ground for the enforcers of a secret society that lurks in Gotham And they have an entire arena built under Gotham just to see their champions kill their enemies.
Ah, I knew I'd read about Intergang, but I couldn't remember which villain they were associated with. Is Parasite's connection to them something original to the show, or does that come from the comics? I wonder if perhaps some of this Apokolips stuff will tie into the "Invasion" storyline. I wouldn't be at all surprised if one of the alien races involved was Darkseid and his followers.
As for episode itself, I enjoyed it.
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I just checked Wikipedia, and the only occurrence of "Intergang" in the Parasite article is in the entry for this Young Justice episode.
Avoiding lip-sync may be a nice bonus, but I think the uses make sense. In last week's episode, they used it on a stakeout (where they might've been overheard or had their radio signals intercepted if they'd spoken aloud) and in the train (where people in adjacent compartments might've overheard them and they couldn't risk breaking character).
I imagine if metas openly got into mundane professions there would be a shitstorm from unionized "they took our jobs" protesters. Consider, 3 or 4 muties with the right mix of superpowers could replace an entire FX company on a movie shoot. Wait, one. Illusion master: Just film what my mind is conjuring up!
So I assume, to avoid a marvelesque backlash, they stay out of professions they could make a killing in. Alternatively, if you're a god among men you might rightfully feel you were meant for something more than putting on a show for chimps to eek and ook at. Like word domination; or saving the world for your superior posterity.
There were some Russian Speedsters in Flash Comics back in the 80s who earned some serious folding as Couriers.
Could you imagine how much money the wrecking crew could make as a wrecking crew?
Turning a building to powder and then opening a space warp and dumping the debris other dimensionally? Actually, why powder the building? Just open a portal underneath the building and watch it fall into another universe?
Which is what the Chunk from Flash Comics used to do... Disposal for cash. He must have been using a sliding scale since he'd do jobs for regular people and governments with their atomic waste and such egalitarianly.
Could you imagine how much money the wrecking crew could make as a wrecking crew?
Turning a building to powder and then opening a space warp and dumping the debris other dimensionally? Actually, why powder the building? Just open a portal underneath the building and watch it fall into another universe?
Which is what the Chunk from Flash Comics used to do... Disposal for cash. He must have been using a sliding scale since he'd do jobs for regular people and governments with their atomic waste and such egalitarianly.
It's been pointed out that if Supervillians were to use their abilities honestly they could make more real legit money and become famous without worrying about getting into battles with Batman or Superman.
Which is why so many supervillains are defined by their compulsions, insanity, or fatal character flaws like arrogance or hate. Those personality traits get in the way of making reasonable decisions like "I should just use these inventions to make a legitimate fortune instead of using them to trap Captain Dogooder in a pocket dimension."
I hate you, Superman! I hate you with every fiber of my being! I swear I'll use every means at my disposal to destroy you (not to mention conquering/destroying the world/universe while I'm at it) because... you made my hair fall out!
Exactly...this is what makes the post crisis version of Lex Luthor so interesting. Lex Luthor does not need the money. He's already rich. Hell he took a pay cut to be President. He also has power. What he does not have is control over his nemesis. I actually thought that the President Luthor story line was brilliant for that very reason. It was never about money or power, it was about being in a position where Superman HAD to publicly respect him and listen to what he said. Not only that, it was about using the very institutions of Democracy that big blue believes in, against him.
This is why "Corrupt Corporate Executive" Lex is so much better. 
ETA: As Gotham Central put it so well.
I imagine Luthor will be even more Xanatosian on Young Justice, which is good by me.
Haven't said anything about the last couple eps, but they were quite good. Especially glad to see Roy come to trust the three "potential moles" - if rather quickly I thought. And somewhat ironically, because now we know that they're all compromised to some extent (Queen Bee's blackmail, the Shields, and Artemis' continuing feelings of inferiority and fears about her background).
Was nice to see Dick get a focus-y episode again.
ETA: As Gotham Central put it so well. I imagine Luthor will be even more Xanatosian on Young Justice, which is good by me.
Haven't said anything about the last couple eps, but they were quite good. Especially glad to see Roy come to trust the three "potential moles" - if rather quickly I thought. And somewhat ironically, because now we know that they're all compromised to some extent (Queen Bee's blackmail, the Shields, and Artemis' continuing feelings of inferiority and fears about her background).
Was nice to see Dick get a focus-y episode again.
