Young Justice Wiki
Register
Advertisement

This article is about the second Guardian, Jim Harper. For his predecessor and successor, see Jim Harper I and Mal Duncan, respectively.

James[2] "Jim" Harper is a Cadmus clone, formerly active as the head of security at Cadmus's Washington, D.C. facility as Guardian. He is now co-owner of Bowhunter Security.[3]

Personality[]

Guardian is a calm level headed figure of authority. Unlike his employer, Dr. Desmond, he tends to be a bit more open-minded on certain issues and will seek a peaceful resolution if possible. This annoys Desmond to no end and he often has to use Guardian's G-Gnome to make him see things his way instead.[10][11]

After discovering that he was a clone, Jim gave up his status as Guardian and attempted to find his own identity. He also tried to relate with his fellow clone about it but to no avail.[6] Once time passes, Jim appears to have come to terms with his status as a clone and has come to accept both Will and the original Roy as his family.[12] Jim even extends this familial attitude towards Will's daughter [8] and other genomorphs such as Superboy.[13]

Physical appearance[]

Guardian is a strongly built Caucasian male with red hair and blue eyes. He strongly resembles his "nephew", Red Arrow.[7] During his time as Guardian, he wore a dark blue jumpsuit with a golden helmet and golden shoulder and wrist pads.[10] By 2018, he had shaved the sides and back of his head up to above his temples.

History[]

Early life[]

Jim Harper was cloned by Cadmus[6] from the original Roy Harper. Although he was the younger clone chronologically, he was force-grown to be physically older than Red Arrow.[4] He was implanted with false memories that he was the grandson of the original Guardian, also named Jim Harper.[14]

He officially joined Cadmus as head of security in 2009.[15] Guardian was already a figure of some notoriety before joining Cadmus.[10]

2010[]

 
Washington, D.C.
July 4, approx-14:00 EDT

Guardian investigated a small fire on at ground level, and after notifications from genomorphs, he found three intruders: Robin, Aqualad and Kid Flash. He tried to make them leave peacefully, but when Kid Flash mentioned the weapons made in the facility—something Guardian seemed unaware about—his G-Gnome made him attack them. They fled, and eventually locked themselves in with Project Kr. They released the Superboy, but the clone's programming turned against them. They were quickly defeated.[10]

 
Washington, D.C.
July 5, 00:01 EDT

With the sidekicks in containment pods, Guardian saw no need to return Superboy to his pod immediately. Desmond disagreed, and used the G-Gnomes to sway Guardian. But on his way back, Superboy rebelled and broke the sidekicks out. Guardian and the genomorphs chased them.

At the ground level, Dubbilex revealed that he was behind the events set in motion the previous day, so Superboy could be free. He lifted the telepathic control on Guardian, who vowed to deal with Desmond whilst the other exposed Cadmus. But Desmond would not go without a fight. He ingested Project Blockbuster, and in his new, monstrous form, knocked Guardian out.

After Desmond was defeated, and the Justice League arrived, Guardian told his story to Batman, Aquaman, and Flash.

Later, The Cadmus Board of Directors appointed him as the new head at their DC branch. On his first day, Guardian appointed Dr. Spence as acting chief scientist and declared that no more G-Gnomes would be used to suppress wills nor would there be any more secret breeding projects and that he would usher in a new "kinder, gentler Cadmus".[11]

 
Washington, D.C.
November 25, post-11:28 EST
Guardian Face

Guardian without his helmet.

Guardian had his hands full searching for missing genomorphs. Over the past months, many genomorphs had disappeared. Dubbilex promised to help him, but there were no results.

When Superboy demanded entrance into Cadmus, Spence tried to dissuade Guardian from actually letting him in. Guardian did so anyway and welcomed Superboy with open arms. Superboy inquired about another super-clone, but Guardian knew nothing of it. Instead, he gave a tour to show the new and improved Cadmus, where scientists and genomorphs worked side by side on medical research. During this tour, Superboy learned that Guardian was the uncle of Roy Harper.

Guardian was shocked when Superboy uncovered Project Match and denied any involvement on his part, or Dr. Spence's.[7]

 
Genomorph City
November 25, 14:41 EST

The fight that broke out between Superboy and Match lead to a secret underground city created by Dubbilex. Guardian stopped Superboy from completely destroying Match, and prepared to have all of Dubbilex's secreted genomorphs placed back with Cadmus.[7]

2011[]

 
Cadmus
January 1, post-00:00 EST

Guardian stared blankly into space at full attention, while Dr. Spence, Dubbilex, and various genomorphs lay unconscious on the ground. He was oblivious of Ra's al Ghul, Queen Bee, Lex Luthor, Ocean-Master, Brain, and Monsieur Mallah carting away Cadmus experiments such as the cryogenically frozen bodies of Match and Roy Harper.[16] After getting a mental scan from both Martian Manhunter and Miss Martian to ensure no trace of Cadmus programming remained inside his mind,[17] he gave up his position at Cadmus, as well as the Guardian suit and identity.[6]

 
Washington, D.C.
March 8, pre-18:46 EDT

Jim and Roy did a sweep of all 52 sub-levels of Cadmus hoping to find the original Roy. They had no success, though Jim did confirm he was also a clone of Roy. He hoped it would make the other clone feel better, but it didn't.[18] He continued to help Roy for some time, longer than any of the others, but by October the year later he too quit.[19]

2013[]

Guardian assisted in the liberation of the Genomorphs from Cadmus and the construction of Geranium City.[13] Jim had homes in both Geranium City and Star City.[20]

2015[]

 
Suicide Slum
December 1, 10:46 EST

Jim was in Metropolis when the Collector of Worlds trapped downtown in a spherical prison.[21]

 
Metropolis
December 1, 13:45 EST

Jim and Batgirl looked on as Black Lightning blasted the force field with electricity from inside, while Zatanna tried to breach it with magic from outside, to no avail.[22]

 
Metropolis
December 1, 14:01 EST

Jim waited at the edge of the field with Lightning and Batgirl.[22]

 
Metropolis
December 1, 16:22 EST

After Nightwing displayed a holo-message telling those inside the force field about the probe that may be generating the field, Lightning went to investigate. Jim volunteered to go with him.[22]

 
Metropolis
December 1, 16:56 EST

Jim approached the hole left by the probe and examined the depth of it.[23]

 
Metropolis
December 1, 17:54 EST

Jim returned to the surface with Lightning, after failing to destroy the probe.[23]

 
Metropolis
December 1, 18:16 EST

Black Lightning and Jim Harper cracked down a group of looters at an electronics store.[24]

 
Metropolis
December 1, 18:31 EST

With all looters arrested, Black Lightning advised people to head home and reassured them the Justice League was on it. Jim guarded the tied-up criminals.[24]

 
Metropolis
December 1, 18:33 EST

Black Lightning and Jim Harper made it back to the park, where they helped up Batgirl. There was no sign of Match.[25]

 
Metropolis
December 1, 19:03 EST

They noticed the force field was down, but also that those inside were 20 percent smaller.[25]

 
Metropolis
December 1, 22:03 EST

Jim stood with the other heroes as they met up to discuss the next steps.[25]

2016[]

 
Washington, D.C.
February 13, post-21:51 EST
Salvage

Jim takes part in the intervention of Red Arrow.

With Green Arrow, Black Canary, Nightwing and Wally West, Jim confronted Red Arrow about his self-destructive search for Speedy. Jim tried to relate to him since they were both Cadmus clones, but Roy wouldn't listen.[6]

Red Arrow succeeded in rescuing Speedy on February 28,[26] and Jim saw him for the first time shortly afterward. He and Roy met for the first time shortly after Roy returned to Star City with Red and Green Arrow after his aborted attempt to kill Lex Luthor on March 21. [27]

On April 1, Mal Duncan began using the Guardian suit and identity.[28] At some point, Jim became aware of it and acted as a mentor to Mal.[9]

In late June,[29] Jim attended Wally West's funeral.[30]

2018[]

 
Star City
August 01, 10:38 EDT

Jim and Roy were contacted by Dick Grayson to aid him in taking down a meta-human trafficking operation in Star City. Will was also invited, but only went along if the others helped him fill a gap in personnel. They had to guard and oversee shipping of Goode Goggles at a GWS lot. Brick managed to steal the goggles anyway by changing the drivers to his henchpeople. After finding out, the guards pursued.[12]

 
Pacific Coast Highway
August 01, 12:21 PDT

The quartet of guards took down the thieves, with Jim taking out one of the drivers by jumping on his cab and easily detaining him. With Brick and his accomplices arrested, Jim commented that working in private security was "more exciting" than he initially assumed. That night, Jim and the others helped Dick take down the meta-human trafficking operation.[12]

2019[]

 
Geranium City
February 14, 20:16 CST

Jim was at a cafe with Amanda Spence while Superboy gave Forager a tour of Geranium City.[13]

2020[]

 
Star City
February 23, 11:19 PST

Jim, Roy and Harlan Matthews guarded a warehouse of Wayne Tech goods for Bowhunter Security, which Jim now owned 25% of. They were attacked by Task Force X, who abducted Matthews. Later, after Will and some new Bowhunter temps rescued Harlan, Jim and Roy joined them all at the party at the Carr home in Happy Harbor, leaving the Wayne Tech goods unprotected. Jim figured lightning doesn't strike the same place twice.[3]

Guardian was among those considered as a possible Justice League reservist.[31]

 
Happy Harbor
September 16, post-16:16 EDT

Jim attended Conner and M'gann's wedding.[1]

 
Star City
November 09, 08:09 PST

Bowhunter Security was assigned to protect Queen Perdita Vladek during her visit to Star City. Jim was part of the squad that picked her up from the airport runway. They took Perdita in a three car convoy. Jim drove the first car, and reported no trouble.

The first stop was a tour of STAR Labs. After meeting with Serling Roquette, and an undercover Green Arrow and Black Canary, a group of armored attackers broke into the facility. They took down Arrow, Canary, Roquette and Perdita's bodyguard with poisoned darts, then flew out with Perdita.[32]

 
Star City
November 09, 18:02 PST

As Oliver, Dinah, Roquette, and Denny were in comas at Royal Memorial Hospital, Jim and Harlan waited outside their room.[33]

 
Star City
November 12, 09:05 PST

Jim was present with the Arrow family at Royal Memorial Hospital as the coma patients began to wake up. Everyone was relieved that everyone had come out okay.[30]

Abilities and equipment[]

  • Hand-to-hand combat: Guardian is proficient in hand-to-hand combat, besting Aqualad in it.[10] He was also able to grapple and handcuff a man with no effort.[12]

Appearances[]

Background information[]

  • In the comics, Guardian is Jim Harper, a Golden Age hero who is cloned many times by the Cadmus DNA Project since the 1970s. He was later (in 1977) revealed to be Roy Harper's uncle (the older brother of Roy's father Will). As the gap between the war and the present day got larger, Guardian was retconned into a great-uncle instead in 2001.
  • This is his first animated appearance.

References[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 Weisman, Greg (writer) & Heuck, Vinton (director) (June 9, 2022). "Death and Rebirth". Young Justice. Season 4. Episode 26. HBO Max.
  2. 2.0 2.1 Weisman, Greg (2021-08-05). Question #24794. Ask Greg. Retrieved 2021-08-05.
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 Weisman, Greg (writer) (September 12, 2020). "The Prize". Young Justice. Season 3.9. Episode 001. DC FanDome.
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Weisman, Greg (2012-07-25). Question #15211. Ask Greg. Retrieved 2012-07-25.
  5. Weisman, Greg (2011-12-19). Question #13818. Ask Greg. Retrieved 2011-12-19.
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 Weisman, Greg (writer) & Divar, Tim (director) (May 19, 2012). "Salvage". Young Justice. Season 2. Episode 4. Cartoon Network.
  7. 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 Hopps, Kevin (writer) & Chang, Michael (director) (March 24, 2012). "Agendas". Young Justice. Season 1. Episode 22. Cartoon Network.
  8. 8.0 8.1 Weisman, Greg (2022-01-31). Question #25480. Ask Greg. Retrieved 2022-01-31.
  9. 9.0 9.1 Weisman, Greg (2013-11-26). Question #19258. Ask Greg. Retrieved 2013-11-30.
  10. 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 10.5 Weisman, Greg (writer) & Oliva, Jay (director) (November 26, 2010). "Independence Day". Young Justice. Season 1. Episode 1. Cartoon Network.
  11. 11.0 11.1 Weisman, Greg (writer) & Liu, Sam (director) (November 26, 2010). "Fireworks". (Part 2) Young Justice. Season 1. Episode 2. Cartoon Network.
  12. 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 Vogel, Michael (writer) & Heuck, Vinton (director) (January 11, 2019). "Private Security". Young Justice. Season 3. Episode 4. DC Universe.
  13. 13.0 13.1 13.2 Weisman, Greg (writer) & Berkeley, Christopher (director) (August 27, 2019). "Overwhelmed". Young Justice. Season 3. Episode 25. DC Universe.
  14. Weisman, Greg (2013-05-16). Question #18622. Ask Greg. Retrieved 2013-05-16.
  15. Weisman, Greg (2012-02-14). Question #14379. Ask Greg. Retrieved 2012-02-15.
  16. Weisman, Greg (writer) & Chang, Michael, Montgomery, Lauren (directors) (April 21, 2012). "Auld Acquaintance". Young Justice. Season 1. Episode 26. Cartoon Network.
  17. Weisman, Greg (2013-04-17). Question #18315. Ask Greg. Retrieved 2013-04-18.
  18. Scott, Sharon, Brandon Vietti, Greg Weisman (writers), Young Justice: Legacy (November 19, 2013): Red Arrow journal #3. Santa Ana, CA: Little Orbit
  19. Scott, Sharon, Brandon Vietti, Greg Weisman (writers), Young Justice: Legacy (November 19, 2013): Red Arrow journal #4. Santa Ana, CA: Little Orbit
  20. Weisman, Greg (2022-03-15). Question #25662. Ask Greg. Retrieved 2022-03-15.
  21. Weisman, Greg (w). Jones, Christopher (a). Atkinson, Zac (col). Sienty, Dezi (let). Gaydos, Sarah (ed). "Players, Chapter Two: Directly to Jail" Young Justice 21 (October 17, 2012), New York, NY: DC Comics
  22. 22.0 22.1 22.2 Weisman, Greg (w). Jones, Christopher (a). Atkinson, Zac (col). Abbott, Wes (let). Gaydos, Sarah (ed). "Players, Chapter Three: Landing on Boardwalk" Young Justice 22 (November 20, 2012), New York, NY: DC Comics
  23. 23.0 23.1 Weisman, Greg (w). Jones, Christopher (a). Atkinson, Zac (col). Abbott, Wes (let). Gaydos, Sarah (ed). "Players, Chapter Four: Do Not Pass Go" Young Justice 23 (December 19, 2012), New York, NY: DC Comics
  24. 24.0 24.1 Weisman, Greg (w). Jones, Christopher (a). Atkinson, Zac (col). Abbott, Wes (let). Gaydos, Sarah (ed). "Players, Chapter Five: Milburn, Edgar and Jake" Young Justice 24 (January 23, 2013), New York, NY: DC Comics
  25. 25.0 25.1 25.2 Weisman, Greg (w). Jones, Christopher (a). Atkinson, Zac (col). Abbott, Wes (let). Gaydos, Sarah (ed). "Players, Chapter Six: Rolling Doubles" Young Justice 25 (February 20, 2013), New York, NY: DC Comics
  26. David, Peter (writer) & Zwyer, Mel (director) (June 2, 2012). "Bloodlines". Young Justice. Season 2. Episode 6. Cartoon Network.
  27. Weisman, Greg (2021-07-26). Question #24519. Ask Greg. Retrieved 2023-12-05.
  28. Dubuc, Nicole (writer) & Murphy, Doug (director) (January 12, 2013). "Cornered". Young Justice. Season 2. Episode 11. Cartoon Network.
  29. Weisman, Greg (2022-05-20). Question #25950. Ask Greg. Retrieved 2022-05-21.
  30. 30.0 30.1 Weisman, Greg (w). Jones, Christopher (a). Wright, Jason (col). Abbott, Wes (let). Meares, Ben, Kubert, Katie (ed). "Last Rights" Young Justice: Targets (November 8, 2022), DC Universe Infinite: DC Comics
  31. Stotts, Taneka (writer) & Sotta, Christina (director) (April 14, 2022). "Beyond the Grip of the Gods!". Young Justice. Season 4. Episode 18. HBO Max.
  32. Weisman, Greg (w). Jones, Christopher (a). Wright, Jason (col). Abbott, Wes (let). Meares, Ben, Kubert, Katie (ed). "Cherry Gig" Young Justice: Targets (June 14, 2022), DC Universe Infinite: DC Comics
  33. Weisman, Greg (w). Jones, Christopher (a). Wright, Jason (col). Abbott, Wes (let). Meares, Ben, Kubert, Katie (ed). "Ominous Tidings" Young Justice: Targets (July 12, 2022), DC Universe Infinite: DC Comics
Advertisement