WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Episode 9 of Young Justice: Phantoms, "Odnu!," now streaming on HBO Max.
The latest episode of Young Justice: Phantoms, "Odnu!," began a new story arc, and with it come a new host of troubles for Earth-16's heroes. A renegade Lord of Chaos known only as "Child" has arrived with sinister intentions and it's up to mystical characters like Doctor Fate and Klarion the Witch Boy to figure out what they are and how to stop them -- or, in Klarion's case, simply protect himself from whatever his old masters have planned.
Along for the ride are the Sentinels of Magic, a group of young sorcerers led by Zatanna Zatara. A former member of Young Justice's eponymous team of covert teenage heroes, Zatanna has since graduated to being a fully-fledged member of the Justice League, following in the footsteps of her father. She's also taken on a trio of young magic-users to be her pupils and aid in defending the planet from otherworldly threats; one familiar to fans of the show, one newcomer and one who's debuting here after being part of the show's world for a long time.
First in the Sentinels' line-up is Traci Thurston, a.k.a. Thirteen. Traci was introduced as a member of the Team during Young Justice's third season, subtitled Outsiders. She was a rookie sorcerer on the team whose magic specialized in causing bad luck to befall her enemies. Traci was eager but untested, and occasionally her powers backfired and jinxed herself and her allies. By the time of Phantoms, Traci is not only more comfortable with her luck magic, but is beginning to master a type of "urban magic," allowing her to draw on mystical power from cities. She's also joined in her adventures by her pet iguana and familiar, Leroy, who in the comics was able to turn into a fire-breathing dragon with a spell.
New to the show and indeed to being a Sentinel is Khalid Nassour. A medical student of Egyptian descent, Khalid demonstrates a mastery over nature in "Odnu!," controlling a tree to help capture a wild imp. Khalid is also the least established member of the team, his character having first debuted in the comics in 2015. There, he donned the mantle of Doctor Fate and became one of Earth's most powerful wizards. Young Justice is likely setting its version of the character on a similar trajectory, as he is seen taking an interest in the late former Doctor Fate, Kent Nelson.
Rounding out Zatanna's students is Mary Bromfield, probably the most well-known of the three. Mary was once Sergeant Marvel, a former sidekick to Captain Marvel (the DC one) and member of the Marvel family. Her history is mentioned but not detailed in "Odnu!" Mary was once a member of the covert Team but had to give up her portion of the power of Shazam -- and by the sound of it, it's not a particularly happy story. By the time of Phantoms, Mary has grown into a young woman and has a new talent: the ability to channel magic from outside forces, like Earth's ley lines, and use it to replicate the Shazam powers -- Strength of Hercules, Speed of Mercury, etc.
"Odnu!" also brings brings back another previously-introduced magical character: Nimue Inwudu, a.k.a. Madame Xanadu. The character debuted way back in the first season of Young Justice as a fortune teller who ran a parlor in New Orleans. Kent Nelson scouted her as a potential ally, but was disappointed to see that despite her having "the perfect aura" for real magic, Xanadu was content to use cheap tricks and sleight of hand to swindle her customers. When she's reintroduced in Phantoms, Xanadu has fully embraced her mystical talents, becoming "the greatest seer and medium on Earth" and a valuable ally to Zatanna and the Sentinels of Magic.
Young Justice has always marked itself by including an eclectic array of DC heroes and villains, and the third story arc of Phantoms continues that tradition. With a climactic face-off between the Lords of Order and Chaos coming to Earth, the Sentinels of Magic will need all the power at their disposal and all the help they can get to save the world from Child and whatever dark plans she has.
The first nine episodes of Young Justice are available to stream on HBO Max.