Bad Idea
is a Young Justice (2010) fanfiction penned by Greensword101.
The story can be found here and here.
Dick Grayson, being confronted by his school's resident bulling clique and lining up with the Fandom's peculiar preferences, appears about to be assailed and beaten for the the sake of drama. That is, until Dick, the Boy Wonder, ends up turning the tables on the Bully's motley crew.
So begins the decimation of various Fandom cliches. Combining both humor and seriousness, Greensword101 seeks to unravel the common and nonsensical Fandom Specific Plots of the Young Justice Universe through means of enforcing reality upon its inhabitants.
This fanfic provides examples of:
- Berserk Button: Deconstructed. Zatanna getting mad at people for suggesting magic doesn't exist results in Voodoo magic and a Wonder Woman costume. However, it ends up damaging her friendship with Wally, who feels bullied for being on the receiving end of her wrath twice so far.
- Played straight with Wally, who is infuriated whenever someone doesn't get his superhero name right.
- Boom, Headshot!: How Ra's ends up dead. Also how the Joker kills Harley 2.
- Both Sides Have a Point:
Word of God states at the end of the second chapter that Artemis had a right to be concerned for Wally, despite not understanding the whole situation. Wally was right by defending his stance of having no Abusive Parents, but Artemis was also right for not taking his words at face value out of concern and friendship, and also because she wasn't there during the explanation during "Welcome To Happy Harbor." - Breather Episode: The author tends to write some more light-hearted chapters after some heavy hitters.
- Darker and Edgier: Downplayed, but there are chapters that are less light-hearted and more serious based on the cliches addressed.
- Dean Bitterman: Defied. The principal during the second Bullies segment sees through the Wounded Gazelle Gambit the bullies try to pull on him and makes sure 9-year-old Dick Grayson is alright and getting his side of the story as well. Also Lampshaded by the principal himself.
- Deconstruction: The author’s specialty.
- Didn't Think This Through: A recurring bad habit, but the first chapter has a bully attempting to be beat up Dick Grayson, only for the kid’s father to drill into him for putting his business relationship with Bruce Wayne on the line by assaulting his son.
- Double Standard: Abuse, Female on Male: Zigzagged, Subverted and Deconstructed. Artemis whacks Wally on the arm after he throws a barb at her, but quickly regrets it when she thinks she hurt him. M'gann is also quick to be concerned and looks for an ice pack. Zatanna threatens Wally with the Wonder Woman outfit and isn't called out on it... but changes her tune when she realizes how scared Wally is of her. When it is suggested that Artemis might be hurting Wally, Wally puts that to rest and states that Artemis puts great effort into not hurting him, turning her whacks into gentle hits. Later on, Wally feels scared by the bullying and is hesitant to tell Black Canary, who chews out Zattana for her pranks.
- Dude, Not Funny!: One of the Joker's remarks to Harley 2's torture list.
- Everyone Has Standards: Word of God says this word for word in his notes in chapter 9 regarding why not everyone in Gotham would be against Dick Grayson for his background.
- Idiot Ball: Subverted. The Justice League truly decide to fight against the Light, using their own scheme against them.
- They release information into public about Lex Luthor funding Unwitting Test Subject programs which ruins his reputation and ends his Arbitrarily Large Bank Account;
- They call upon the aid of New Genesis, which allows them to end the trafficking of Apokoipsian tech into Earth which strip Queen Bee and Savage without resources;
- The Guardians of the Universe embargo Apokolips, which results in Savage being stranded there.
- With the aid of New Genesis and Earth's magic users, the League is able to contain Klarion the Witch Boy.
- Insane Troll Logic: The Rogues seem to be using this to justify hanging out with (i.e. kidnapping) Wally and taking him to an amusement park, someone they fight and put in danger on a semi-regular basis. Wally deconstructs this logic, pointing out that his uncle, the Flash, wouldn't be as inclined.
- Kids Are Cruel: Played With. Chapter 8 has some bullies attacking a young Dick Grayson, but the next chapter that continues several days afterwards where several kids (even some from the high school) that are horrified and disgusted with the bullies' actions and befriend Dick.
- Off with His Head!: Ra's does this to an assassin messenger.
- Oh, Crap!: Captain Cold says this word for word when Wally points out that the Flash will be after them for kidnapping him. He is proven correct.
- Only Sane Man: Expect at least one per chapter, and allow them to react to the events accordingly.
- Papa Wolf and Mama Bear: Plenty of these.
- When Bruce hears that Dick got into a fight with other kids, he didn't hesitate to leave a meeting he was in with a Death Glare on his face. One of the kids' father - who was in the same meeting at the time - saw the look and knew that his kid was in trouble.
- Black Canary, calling out Zatanna and Robin for their pranks on Wally.
- Wally's father and the Flash, who don't think Batman would be a good parent to him. Also, when the Rogues kidnap Wally, Flash rescues him and knocks the Rogues out quickly.
- Running Gag: Aside from someone trying to invoke a cliche in real life, there is Captain Boomerang who has people failing to understand his Aussie slang in Chapter 6. Wally is also pissed when someone doesn't get his superhero name correct.
- Shown Their Work: Pops up from time to time, such as the first chapter regarding how and why Bruce would handle nasty gossip. The writer uses experience in counseling to create realistic therapy sessions with Black Canary from time to time.
- Take That!: Jabs are made at fandom cliches constantly. Several barbs were thrown at Becoming Robin and Daddy Bats, particularly for how they handled the bullying scenarios written.
- One barb was thrown at the "Dick Grayson is thrown into Juvie after losing his parents and Bruce doesn't punish the guilty parties for no reason" cliche, with Dick explicitly pointing out how there was no way anyone would have gotten out of that without punishment or consequence.
- Talking Is a Free Action: Averted, as Jason proves by killing the Joker while Batman tries to justify keeping him alive.
- The Friend No One Likes: Red Arrow gets this treatment in one chapter, albeit, downplayed and Played for Laughs.
- Thou Shalt Not Kill: Deconstructed. Jason points out that the Joker has killed innocent lives and keeping the murderer alive will only ensure the body count rises. The Team also questions Batman's willingness to let the Joker live, based on the body count in Chapter 19.
- You Have GOT to Be Kidding Me!: A father's reaction at the end of chapter 1, when he tries to explain how bullying Dick Grayson could affect business ties with Wayne Enterprises and the kid still doesn't get it.
- What Were You Thinking?: Bruce is on the receiving end of this after he goes out as Batman to set fear into one of the school bullies, which leads to said bully discovering both Robin and Batman's identifies.
- Wounded Gazelle Gambit: Deconstructed. Two bullies attempt to pull this on the principal of Gotham Academy, claiming that 9-year-old Dick Grayson threw the first punch in a fight against them. Not only does the principal see through their story based on a lack of injuries on their part and multiple bruises on Dick, he also notes their previous behavior contradicting claims that they only wished to be friendly with the boy. Instead of taking their word for it automatically, the principal also gets Dick's side of the story, with the nurse supporting it. Not to mention, there were security cameras that saw the whole thing unfold...
