The Comprehensive Evolution of American Comics

"Wow, it's really Mount Justice!"

Kid Flash Wally's eyes widened as he continuously scanned the surroundings, visibly excited. He looked like a child attending a science summer camp with their parents.

"I thought the Justice League had really decommissioned it. Honestly, I was disappointed for a while. I would come and check it out whenever I had the chance."

"Sort of."

The Flash gave an awkward yet polite smile, deciding to speak less today for fear of saying the wrong thing.

"It was indeed decommissioned for a while, but after a brief upgrade, it's back in use. After all, it would be a waste to leave it unused."

Green Arrow walked over with Speedy, explaining to Wally as he walked. He and Batman had anticipated that Barry wouldn't be able to handle this situation, so Batman instructed him to keep an eye on Barry and prevent any leaks.

"I see," Wally said, enlightened. Then he noticed Speedy beside Green Arrow and immediately shifted his attention.

"Um, hello," Wally said, flashing in front of Speedy. He extended his right hand. "I'm Wally West, the Flash's sidekick. You can also call me by my hero name, Kid Flash."

"Roy Harper," Roy said, grasping Wally's outstretched hand, though his expression seemed somewhat indifferent. "Hero name, Speedy."

"You're Green Arrow's sidekick, right?" Wally asked, a little nervous. The thought of potentially becoming a real superhero soon made him unable to control himself, so he had to talk to ease his nervousness. Roy, being his peer, seemed like a good conversation partner, so he consciously tried to find topics, starting with their common ground, or so he thought.

Indeed, starting with their common ground was a good way to begin a conversation, but the sidekick aspect wasn't a good topic for Roy.

Roy frowned and said, "Not for long. After today's Justice League meeting, I'll definitely become a real superhero. I think you're here for the same reason, right?"

Wally scratched his head, unsure why Roy was reacting so strongly, but he honestly replied, "That's right."

Maybe it was just his imagination, but Wally felt that this newly met friend wasn't so easy to get along with, not the type he was good at handling.

Wally had been looking forward to it when Barry told him that there would be four sidekicks of similar age, thinking that maybe they could form their own team like Barry and the others. But Roy had set a bad precedent.

'Hopefully, the remaining three aren't like this,' Wally prayed in his heart, wearing the same awkward yet polite smile that Barry had shown earlier.

"We're not the first ones here?"

The hearty voice came from behind. Oliver and Barry didn't need to turn around to know who it was. As expected, the tall and mighty Aquaman Arthur was leading a black-haired boy who looked young but had a physique that surpassed his peers.

"Of course, we're the fastest," Barry said, laughing and patting Wally beside him.

"We left a little earlier," Green Arrow shrugged.

"Come on, Barry," Arthur laughed heartily. "You were the last one to arrive at the last Christmas party. I suspect you tripped over a candy cane on the way."

"I was late because I had to persuade Batman to come to the party, okay?" Barry said helplessly. Being late to the Christmas party was something that happened years ago, but Arthur always brought it up.

"Besides, it's a very remarkable thing, okay? None of you dared to invite him back then, but I went and succeeded."

Barry proudly raised his head, looking quite pleased. In the Flash's eyes, bringing Batman to the Christmas party was more rewarding than defeating any supervillain.

"Actually, I was kidnapped by you," a cold voice said, and everyone felt the room temperature drop several degrees. Wally even couldn't help but rub his hands.

Batman appeared behind everyone at some point. Robin Dick Grayson, who was beside him, also tried to maintain the same cold expression as the former, provided that you ignore his ears perked up with curiosity.

'So that's where Bruce went that day?' Dick thought expressionlessly.

"Don't say that, Bruce," Barry said awkwardly, waving his hand. "Didn't you have a lot of fun that day too?"

Batman didn't speak, only revealing a disapproving look.

Green Arrow coughed lightly, helping the Flash out of the awkward situation. He looked around and asked, "By the way, where's J'onn? Why haven't I seen him? He's always the most punctual."

"J'onn told me he'd be a little late," Batman said, withdrawing his gaze locked on the Flash. "It seems to be because of his sidekick. It's her first time interacting with so many humans, and she needs some mental preparation."

'She? Seems like it's a girl?' Dick caught the keyword. Even though he was Batman's sidekick, Batman wouldn't actively tell him unnecessary information unless he asked, which indirectly cultivated Dick's reasoning ability.

After all, he was the sidekick of the world's greatest detective. If he couldn't overcome even this difficulty, how would he be able to stand on his own in the future?

But Martian Manhunter's sidekick should also be a Martian, right? What would a Martian girl be like?

Imagining Martian Manhunter and then feminizing him in his mind, Dick couldn't help but shudder.

"We're here," a steady and gentle voice sounded, and Martian Manhunter appeared in front of everyone out of thin air with a young girl.

Dick subconsciously looked at the girl beside Martian Manhunter, mainly to verify his guess and out of curiosity about Martians.

The result was that it was completely different from what he thought. Unlike Martian Manhunter, the girl had a head of red hair. Her skin was the same green as Martian Manhunter's, but this didn't hide the girl's original beautiful appearance. The few freckles on her face not only didn't ruin the girl's beauty but also added a touch of cuteness to her.

"Sorry, I'm late," J'onn expressed his apology.

"No need to worry, J'onn," Arthur said, walking to J'onn's side and patting his shoulder before looking at the girl beside him. "Is this little girl your junior?"

"Yes," J'onn said, looking at the girl beside him, a hint of gentleness in his red eyes. "Megan, introduce yourself to everyone, and remember not to use telepathy."

"Y-yes," Megan said, covering her mouth. Judging by her strange tone just now, it seemed like she bit her tongue.

"She's cute, isn't she?" Wally didn't know when he had run to Dick's side, tilting his head and whispering secretly.

And Dick quietly rolled his eyes.