Happy New Year

"Happy New Year" is the first episode of the second season of Young Justice, and the 27th of the overall series. It aired on April 28, 2012.

Logline
The Team takes on the intergalactic bounty hunter Lobo... as a precursor to an alien invasion!

Synopsis
The new season starts off from the last scene of season one where the team and the Justice League discuss the missing members that disappeared for 16 hours during the Vandal Savage attack on the watch tower, where Batman wonders what they'd done for that time.

We then cut to what seems to be Superboy running through the Gotham City sewer systems, he's then suddenly attacked by Clayface (who is no longer effected by electricity) but with some intervention from Miss Martian and the "New Robin" he's easily defeated, but we learn that there has suddenly been other new Additions to the team, Blue Beetle, Beast Boy,and Bumblebee have joined. Miss Martian has also grown and has even cut her hair. After the team assembles in the sewer, Miss Martian calls a person called "Nightwing", Who congradulates the team of their good work. the audience soon learns that this not only doesn't take place after Auld Aquaintance, but five years since the previous episode.

Back at Mount Justice an Atlantean named Lagoon Boy is sparring with another young man. After Lagoon Boy is beaten, he praises him of his skills but claims that he'll beat him one day. He also calls him Nightwing and Robin revealing that this is Dick Grayson, all grown up. The team finally shows up at the cave and Mal Duncan stops Bumblebee (who he is dating) for a romantic dinner he had planned, but she tells him that they can arrange a rain check as she is busy. Lagoon Boy then greets Miss Martian and even kisses her infront of Superboy, but it appears that the two may no longer be dating, although he does seem jealous. Superboy heads for the showers and Blue Beetle suggests to Beast Boy that he may also want to take a shower. Nightwing congradulates the new Robin (Tim Drake) for capturing Clayface, but he claims that he didn't do much. Their conversation is cut short however as Captain Atom alerts the team of an attack at the united nations. Nightwing tells Atom that their beta squad will handle the situation.

A bounty hunter by the name of Lobo easily takes down the the united nation security and reaches his target, General Xang. He tells Xang that he was hired " to put up a show " and that he should surrender or die. Xang claims that he doesn't know what he's talking about, but he's soon saved by an interference of Wonder Girl and Batgirl. After Batgirl gets Xang away, Wonder Girl takes Lobo head on. But she is easily defeated as he is shown to have greater strength, then insults her by calling her a "Keezy Phem". Downstairs, Batgirl tells Xang that they can escape through the general assembly building. Unfourtantely Lobo quickly catches up with them, Batgirl then throws one of her smoke grenades which distracts him but also angers him. Once reaching with the two again Wonder Girl returns and proceeds to combat him. Batgirl tells Xang to move as she makes a distraction. She leaps over and jumps to Lobo's head to a table, which he flips and knocks her over, but it turns out she planted two small bombs at his chest,but they have little effect. Wonder Girl uses the moment to attack, Lobo simply dodges and slams her into Batgirl With both heroes defeated he approaches Xang who begs for mercy. The girls run over to help but are to late as the bounty hunter rips apart his body.

Although it seems that not only is Xang's body a mechanized machine, but is also being controlled by an alien being. Lobo takes the creature and tells the female heroes that they can "keep their planet" and escapes on his ship. Wonder Girl is confused of the fact that Lobo is an alien. Batgirl then tells her that's not even the scary part.

The security footage is the top story for the G. Gordon Godfrey show. Godfrey then uses the footage to blame it on the Justice League. Cat Grant tries to get some answers out of Zatanna and Rocket. who are also grown up and are now members of the League. Zatanna refuses to answer and leaves.

John Stewart examines the footage and identifies the tiny alien as a Krolotean. Martian Manhunter introduces Adam Strange, creator of the Zeta-Tubes. Adam tries to explain but he can't, so Martian Manhunter telepathically connects everyone so he can explain how one of his tubes teleported him to an alien world called Rann. He also discovers that the Kroloteans are using the Zeta tubes to kidnap humans and steal technology. Captain Atom suggests they go to space and investigate but it turns out the 16 hours from 5 years ago made Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, Hawkwoman, John Stewart, and Martian Manhunter wanted criminals in the galaxy. And the whole League are hated by the galaxy so Nightwing suggests the team takes this mission. Captain Atom agrees and Nightwing, Superboy, and Miss Martian set off. Before they leave, Zatanna offers them a chance to join the League but they refuse and head to the cave. Nightwing needs the team to split up into 4 groups. 3 stay on Earth and destroy the Zeta-Tubes on Earth used by the Kroloteans. Nightwing and Wonder Girl are assigned to team Alpha. Batgirl, Wolf, and Bumblebee are assigned to team Beta. Mal stays in the cave and monitors them. Superboy, Miss Martian, and Beast Boy are assigned to go to Rann with Strange. Robin, Blue Beetle, and Lagoon Boy are assigned to team Gamma and Robin's in charge. Robin is unsure about him leading this mission but Nightwing assures him that he just needs to find confidence and that he'll be a great leader. Lagoon Boy complains throughout the whole trip about them getting the soft job. The 3 set off. Blue Beetle destroys a tool shed which he believes is the Zeta-Tube. Mal reports Zeta-Tube activity in the area. Robin finds out it's underground. The 3 then dive down. Lagoon Boy grows huge and busts the door down. The three arrive and find the mothership of the Kroloteans.

Alpha reports to Mal that they destroyed the Zeta Tube but the Krolotean got away. Beta report the same thing. Robin, Blue Beetle, and Lagoon Boy get spotted and the 2 face off. The Kroloteans appear to be afraid of Blue Beetle. One of them activates the self-destruct. Blue Beetle understands their language and interrogates a Krolotean about where the hostages are. The three set off and free the hostages but they don't make it in time and the ship explodes. The trio and the hostages manage to land safely in the water. The Justice League and the other members of the Team arrive on the scene. Nightwing congradulates Tim on a job well done.

Superboy, Beast Boy, Miss Martian, and Strange arrive on Rann. Beast Boy is wowed at the sight of the planet.

Title
"Happy New Year" is the common salutation given on New Year, which is where this episode takes place (January 1st). Also, the narrative jumps fives years forward, from 2011 to 2016, making it literally a new year to the audience.

Cast and characters
! colspan="3"| Non-speaking roles
 * Cameron Bowen
 * Tim Drake
 * Lacey Chabert
 * colspan="2"| Zatanna
 * Tim Curry
 * G. Gordon Godfrey
 * Bruce Greenwood
 * colspan="2"| Batman
 * Stephanie Lemelin
 * Catherine Cobert
 * Eric Lopez
 * Blue Beetle
 * Yuri Lowenthal
 * Lagoon Boy
 * Jesse McCartney
 * colspan="2"| Nightwing
 * Danica McKellar
 * colspan="2"| Miss Martian
 * rowspan="2"| Masasa Moyo
 * colspan="2"| Bumblebee
 * colspan="2"| Cat Grant
 * rowspan="2"| Nolan North
 * colspan="2"| Superboy
 * colspan="2"| Clayface
 * Yuji Okumoto
 * colspan="2"| Tseng
 * rowspan="3"| Kevin Michael Richardson
 * colspan="2"| Mal Duncan
 * colspan="2"| Martian Manhunter
 * colspan="2"| John Stewart
 * David Sobolov
 * Lobo
 * Alyson Stoner
 * Batgirl
 * Michael Trucco
 * Adam Strange
 * Michael T. Weiss
 * Captain Atom
 * Mae Whitman
 * Wonder Girl
 * colspan="2"| Clayface
 * Yuji Okumoto
 * colspan="2"| Tseng
 * rowspan="3"| Kevin Michael Richardson
 * colspan="2"| Mal Duncan
 * colspan="2"| Martian Manhunter
 * colspan="2"| John Stewart
 * David Sobolov
 * Lobo
 * Alyson Stoner
 * Batgirl
 * Michael Trucco
 * Adam Strange
 * Michael T. Weiss
 * Captain Atom
 * Mae Whitman
 * Wonder Girl
 * Alyson Stoner
 * Batgirl
 * Michael Trucco
 * Adam Strange
 * Michael T. Weiss
 * Captain Atom
 * Mae Whitman
 * Wonder Girl
 * Michael T. Weiss
 * Captain Atom
 * Mae Whitman
 * Wonder Girl
 * Mae Whitman
 * Wonder Girl
 * colspan="3" | Aqualad
 * colspan="3" | Aquaman
 * colspan="3" | Black Canary
 * colspan="2" | Black Lightning
 * colspan="3" | Captain Marvel
 * colspan="3" | Doctor Fate
 * colspan="3" | Flash
 * colspan="3" | Green Arrow
 * colspan="3" | Hawkman
 * colspan="3" | Hawkwoman
 * colspan="3" | Icon
 * colspan="3" | Plastic Man
 * colspan="3" | Red Tornado
 * colspan="3" | Rocket
 * colspan="2" | Sardath
 * colspan="3" | Superman
 * colspan="3" | Wolf
 * colspan="3" | Wonder Woman
 * colspan="3" | Hawkman
 * colspan="3" | Hawkwoman
 * colspan="3" | Icon
 * colspan="3" | Plastic Man
 * colspan="3" | Red Tornado
 * colspan="3" | Rocket
 * colspan="2" | Sardath
 * colspan="3" | Superman
 * colspan="3" | Wolf
 * colspan="3" | Wonder Woman
 * colspan="3" | Rocket
 * colspan="2" | Sardath
 * colspan="3" | Superman
 * colspan="3" | Wolf
 * colspan="3" | Wonder Woman
 * colspan="3" | Superman
 * colspan="3" | Wolf
 * colspan="3" | Wonder Woman
 * colspan="3" | Wonder Woman
 * colspan="3" | Wonder Woman

Continuity

 * The opening monologue recaps (part of) the events of "Auld Acquaintance".
 * The ending, with the entire Justice League arriving, mirrors the ending of "Fireworks" (and to a lesser extent, "Revelation").

Trivia

 * Number 16:
 * 5 years later makes the year 2016.
 * The first timestamp of 2016 is 16:16.
 * The Team and League are still in the dark as to what happened in the missing 16 hours.
 * Adam Strange and the Zeta Squad arrive on Rann on 22:16.
 * The timestamp shown in the recap displays "03:21". The choice of numbers (3-2-1) may not be arbitrary, as it can be an in-joke to signal a countdown to the premiere of the new season.
 * The title "Justice League" showing on-screen behind G. Gordon Godfrey bears a striking resemblance to the logo of Justice League animated series.
 * Lobo speaks Interlac, a fictional language utilized by various alien races within the DC universe; most notably, by the Guardians of the Universe and Legion of Superheroes.

Unanswered questions

 * What happened to Superboy and Miss Martian's relationship?
 * How did Clayface become impervious to electricity?
 * Who hired Lobo and why did he have to "put on a show"?
 * How long has Tseng been replaced with an alien?
 * When did the new members join the Team?
 * Why are the Leaguers wanted criminals on Rann?
 * Where are Aqualad, Artemis and Kid Flash?
 * Are Artemis and Kid Flash still together? Are Nightwing and Zatanna?
 * What is the real reason Nightwing, Miss Martian and Superboy didn't want to join the League?
 * Why are the Kroloteans afraid of Blue Beetle?
 * What happed to Red Arrow and the original Roy Harper ?
 * Is this the future of young justice? Or will we be sent back to the original time period?
 * When did Black Lightning join the Justice League?

Quotes

 * Nightwing to Robin (Tim Drake): "Just don't die ... O.K.?"
 * Mal to Gamma Team: "Acknowledged, I'll send back up. Until then, lay low."
 * Blue Beetle to Mal: "That may be a problema, Ese."