The Starro Incident
When a starfish turned heroes into puppets, teenagers became Earth's last secret weapon.
The Starro Incident is the pivotal event that catalyzed the formation of the covert team known as the Team in the Young Justice universe. Occurring early in the series, it involved an invasion of Earth by the alien conqueror Starro, a colossal starfish-like entity capable of controlling minds through parasitic clones. The incident exposed the vulnerabilities of Earth's defenses and forced the Justice League to operate in secrecy, ultimately leading to the recruitment of young sidekicks as a clandestine strike force.
- Role
- Catalyst for the Team's formation
- Affiliation
- Justice League, the Team
- First appears
- Young Justice Season 1, Episode 1
- Status
- Resolved; Starro defeated
Lore & Background
The Starro Incident began when the alien warlord Starro launched a coordinated assault on Earth, using its psychic spores to enslave key figures, including members of the Justice League. The League, caught off guard, was overwhelmed as their ranks turned against each other. In response, Batman, Superman, and other senior heroes devised a plan to deploy their young protégés—Robin, Aqualad, Kid Flash, Superboy, Miss Martian, and Artemis—as an unsanctioned black-ops team to rescue the League and neutralize Starro.
In Their Own Story
The night sky over Metropolis shimmered with an eerie violet glow as a massive, star-shaped creature descended, its tendrils stretching like living shadows. Inside the Hall of Justice, Robin watched his mentor Batman freeze mid-sentence, eyes glazing over with a faint pink film. 'It's happening,' he whispered, tapping his comm. Across the city, Aqualad saw Aquaman turn on his own allies, trident raised. The young heroes knew they were the last line of defense—untested, but ready.
Reader's Guide
The Starro Incident is a foundational event in the Young Justice timeline, occurring in the series premiere 'Independence Day.' It establishes the central premise: the Justice League's need for a covert, deniable team to handle threats too sensitive for public knowledge. Unlike the broader DC canon, where Starro often appears as a standalone alien menace, Young Justice reimagines it as a direct catalyst for the Team's creation, tying it to the League's decision to keep their young allies hidden from the public and even from most League members. The incident also introduces the concept of 'the Light,' as Starro's invasion is later revealed to be a distraction orchestrated by this shadowy organization, linking the event to the series' overarching conspiracy.
Did You Know?
- The Starro Incident was the first mission for the original Team, which included Robin, Aqualad, Kid Flash, Superboy, Miss Martian, and Artemis.
- Starro's mind-control spores were used by the Light as a tool to manipulate key figures, including the Justice League, during the invasion.
- The event was kept secret from the public and most of the Justice League, with only a handful of senior heroes aware of the Team's involvement.
- The Starro Incident is referenced throughout the series as the moment that solidified the Team's role as a covert ops unit.
More in Lore & History
Elsewhere in the Young Justice universe
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