The following article contains spoilers for Young Justice: Phantoms, streaming now on HBO Max.
Young Justice is no stranger to worldbuilding, and it seems that with each new episode the series expands its universe in both major and minor ways. In fact, sometimes Young Justice manages to expand its world in major ways through minor details, as one of the latest episodes dropped a big hint in just a little dialogue.
In the Season 4 episode, "Leviathan Awakens," Aquaman let slip that there are two new members to the Justice League whom the audience have yet to meet. And one of them paves the way for massive speculation.
The episode capped off an arc centering primarily on Kaldur as the series moved to the aquatic kingdoms, where political turmoil threatened the harmony of the world. Originally known as Aqualad in the series, Kaldur came to inhabit the mantle of Aquaman after his predecessor stepped away from the Justice League in Season 3. By the end of the current arc, Kaldur also decided to take a leave of absence from the League in order to decompress and spend time with Wyynde. The original Aquaman, Orin/Arthur Curry, resumed the Aquaman mantle, but this time he'll share the role with the happily married La'gann.
When Kaldur expressed surprise at the idea that there could be two Aquamen in the League, the response pointed out how there have already been two heroes going by "Flash" and four going by "Green Lantern." The dialogue is easy to miss, particularly because both of those titles in the comics have been shared by a half a dozen different characters each, but in the world of Young Justice it actually stands out as an addition to the canon.
The following episode, "Beyond the Grip of the Gods," provided clarification that Jay Garrick was the second Flash that the line referred to, undergoing his very first League mission in the episode. The elder Flash had not been a member of the Justice League prior, and since speedster Wally West infamously died in the show's second season and Bart Allen was not ready, it was not immediately clear who the second Flash referred to could be.
But what is even more notable is the reference to a fourth Green Lantern. Fans already know that Hal Jordan, John Stewart and Guy Gardner have all been members of the Justice League in Young Justice. The line could very well be paving the way for Kyle Rayner's introduction, though it could be just as likely that it is Simon Baz, Jessica Cruz or Jo Mullein from more recent comics.
Immediately answering the question of who the second Flash was just makes the omission of identifying the next Green Lantern stand out all the more. With so many Green Lanterns to choose from, fans are left to speculate. But in a world that seemingly never stops growing, any fans disappointed that their favorite Green Lantern has not been introduced yet likely do not need to wait long.
Young Justice integrates characters from the comics by the dozen, and it's really only a matter of time before they all get their own share of episode space. Proving yet again how efficiently the show can introduce new characters to expand its roster -- anyone's favorite character could be just one simple line of dialogue away from joining at any time.
Season 4 of Young Justice is currently streaming on HBO Max, with new episodes arriving on Thursdays.