WARNING: The following article contains spoilers for Young Justice #15 by Brian Michael Bendis, David Walker, John Timms, Scott Godlewski, Gabe Eltaeb and Wes Abbott, on sale now.
Young Justice returned to DC continuity when writer Brian Michael Bendis arrived at the publisher and launched the Wonder Comics imprint. The comic reunited original Young Justice members Robin (Tim Drake, now going by the Drake moniker), Superboy (Conner Kent), Impulse (Bart Allen) and Wonder Girl (Cassie Sandsmark), as they traveled to Gemworld and throughout the Multiverse, gaining new teammates along the way.
Soon, their ranks grew to include Amethyst, Teen Lantern, Jinny Hex, the Wonder Twins, Dial H for Hero, Naomi, Aqualad, Spoiler, Arrowette and Sideways.
Issue #15 brings their most recent mission to an end, as they team up to take down Dr. Glory, the S.T.A.R. Labs representative who is responsible for Superboy being trapped on Gemworld. Before all the various heroes go their separate ways, a resolution to officially remain an active superhero team results in Drake adding a slight variation to the Young Justice name.
As the F.B.I. is arresting Dr. Glory and cleaning up the mess caused by rampaging monsters outside S.T.A.R. Labs, Superboy sits back to enjoying being reunited with his friends again. Drake and Spoiler share a kiss, Impulse name-drops a magical DC hero for Jinny Hex and passes a clue to Naomi regarding her homeworld. This is when Drake suggests Young Justice stick around as a team going forward.
Earlier, Impulse reveals how their memories of each other were erased after the most recent "crisis" event: 2011's Flashpoint, which reset the DC Universe and ushered in the New 52. Some DC heroes remembered their lives pre-New 52, while others lived out completely new adventures. The launch of the DC Rebirth era and Wally West's return to continuity were the first signs of pre-New 52 continuity slipping back through the cracks.
Drake tells his teammates and friends that Young Justice doesn't need an official clubhouse or meeting times, but since there is strength in numbers, anyone from Aqualad to Amythest can be called upon for help. Zan then speaks up to say that as the Justice League field liaison to the Young Justice squad, he can declare the team a sanctioned youth organization of the Justice League. This naturally leads to Drake enthusiastically changing their name to "Young Justice League."
Of course, the "Young Justice" name is just a variation of the adult "Justice League." Many of the codenames and abilities of the teenage heroes on Young Justice are derived from Justice League members, similar to how all the former sidekicks like Robin and Kid Flash came together to form the Teen Titans.
Instead of just reusing the Teen Titans name -- which was available after the heroes grew into adulthood and dropped the "Teen" -- Tim Drake, Conner Kent and Bart Allen decided on being referred to as "Young Justice" back in 1998. It's also fitting that Tim Drake comes up with the new name, considering he recently changed his superhero moniker from Red Robin to Drake.
By calling themselves "Young Justice League," the heroes are acknowledging their roots and connection to the Justice League while also showing that they strive to be recognized in the same respected manner as their mentors.
Animated shows like Justice League and Justice League Unlimited displayed how DC's premier superheroes can gather any combination of characters to fight crime and they don't have to consist of household names like Flash, Green Lantern or Martian Manhunter. Now, Young Justice can do the same with up-and-comers like Teen Lantern and Naomi -- and this all can happen while being called Young Justice or Young Justice League.