This week in the world of cartoons, EVERYTHING comes back! Star Wars:The Clone Wars (now on Saturday mornings), Green Lantern: The Animated Series, and Young Justice: Invasion return this week, putting the DC vs. Marvel cartoon wars into full effect.
Adventure Time is off this week, but definitely check out Riders of Berk and the amazing Empire Strikes Out special that aired this week. As always - minor spoilers ahead!
Star Wars: The Clone Wars – "Revival"
Picking right up from last season's finale, Darth Maul and Savage Opress set out with a motley band of bounty hunters and warriors to get revenge on Obi-Wan Kenobi.
Opress and Maul have conflicting views on leadership arising from the Sith "Rule of Two" doctrine, leading to a duel between the brothers in the this clip.
Ultimate Spider-Man – "The Iron Octopus"
This episode title sounds like a move the Iron Shiek used to pull on Hacksaw Jim Duggan.
"The Iron Octopus" is actually a Marvel crossover doozy, as Doctor Octopus gains control of several of Iron Man's more unusual sets of armor and attacks both S.H.I.E.L.D. and Oscorp.
Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes – "Winter Soldier"
Bucky - the one comic book hero that died and stayed dead. Well, he did, until Ed Brubaker masterfully re-introduced Bucky in 2005 as the Winter Soldier in a resurrection that blew DC's revival of Barry Allen away.
This episode serves as a Cliffs Notes version of Winter Soldier's origin, with the clip above beginning the tale.
Green Lantern: TAS – "New Guy"
Hal Jordan returns to Earth after his travels in the first part of season one, but upon his arrival, Hal finds that another Green Lantern has taken his role as defender of the planet.
Guy Gardner makes his debut in this episode, providing for some comic relief and posing as the perfect foil for Hal Jordan. The duo team up to fight a new foe, Manhunters, in this clip.
Young Justice: Invasion – "Satisfaction"
Young Justice: Invasion continues its decidedly darker tone in its return to Saturday mornings.
In this episode, Roy Harper, A.K.A. Speedy, is on a mission, a mission of revenge against the man who ruined his life.
Dragons: Riders of Berk – "Alvin and the Outcasts"
Can dragons commit vandalism? Mildew thinks so, and he uses alleged accused crimes to ban them from Berk.
Without the dragons, the warriors of Berk begins to arm themselves for an imminent attack from Alvin the Treacherous and the Outcasts. Will the dragons come back and aid the humans?
Transformers: Prime – "Alpha Omega"
It's time for a trip to Cybertron! Megatron and Dreadwing head back home to garner the power of the Primes.
Why? So he can use the Forge of Solus Prime to kill Optimus Prime. Based on this clip, the Autobots have some work to do.
Gravity Falls – "Little Dipper"
Grunkle Stan is an idiot when it comes to contract law, as he accidentally signs over ownership of the Mystery Shack to Lil' Gideon.
Will Dipper and Mabel be able to help Grunkle Stan get his shop back?
Super Best Friends Forever
In this new DC Nation S.B.F.F. short, the trio take on Solomon Grundy and attempt to vocalize their acronym.
One problem rears its head however — Solomon Grundy doesn't fight girls.
Lego Star Wars – "The Empire Strikes Out"
This Lego Star Wars special aired earlier this week on Cartoon Network, and it's a veritable labor of love. The 22 minute special mixes humor and the Star Wars Universe while showing some of your favorite Original Trilogy characters meeting Prequel characters.
Ever wonder what would happen if Han Solo met Jar Jar Binks? Want to see Darth Vader and Darth Maul treated like siblings? Luke on Naboo with R2-D2 dressed as an ewok? The special airs in repeat on the Cartoon Network throughout this weekend.
Top image courtesy of Cartoon Network. Transformers: Prime airs Friday nights on The Hub, while Gravity Falls airs Friday nights on the Disney Channel. Ultimate Spider-man and Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes air Sunday mornings on Disney XD. Clone Wars, Green Lantern:TAS, and Young Justice: Invasion air Sunday nights on Cartoon Network.