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{{short description|DC Comics superhero team}}
{{about|the superhero team|the comic book|Justice League (comic book)}}
{{Other uses|Justice League (disambiguation)}}
{{use mdy dates|date=July 2021}}
{{Infobox comics organization <!--Wikipedia:WikiProject Comics-->
|image = JLA-AlexRoss.jpg
|imagesize = 300
|caption = The original members of the Justice League, from left to right: [[Hal Jordan|Green Lantern]], the [[Barry Allen|Flash]], [[Superman]], [[Batman]], [[Wonder Woman]], [[Aquaman]] and the [[Martian Manhunter]].<br>Art by [[Alex Ross]].
|alt = 
|publisher = [[DC Comics]]
|debut = ''[[The Brave and the Bold]]'' #28 (March 1960)
|creators = [[Gardner Fox]]
|base = [[Hall of Justice (comics)|The Hall]]<br />[[Justice League Watchtower|Watchtower]]<br />[[Justice League Satellite|Satellite]]<br/>[[Secret Sanctuary]]<br/>Detroit Bunker<br/>The Refuge<br/>JLI Embassies
|fullroster = [[List of Justice League members]]
|cat = teams
|subcat = DC Comics
|hero = 
}}
The '''Justice League''', or '''Justice League of America''' ('''JLA'''), is a group of <!--Do not add "fictional" as it is tautological; superheroes (and characters in general) are by definition implied to be fictionalized to some extent.-->[[superhero]]es appearing in [[American comic book]]s published by [[DC Comics]]. The team first appeared in ''[[The Brave and the Bold]]'' #28 (March 1960). Writer [[Gardner Fox]] conceived the team as a revival of the [[Justice Society of America]], a similar team from DC Comics from the 1940s which had been pulled out of print due to a decline in sales. The Justice League is an all-star ensemble cast of established superhero characters from DC Comics' portfolio. Diegetically, these superheroes usually operate independently but occasionally assemble as a team to tackle especially formidable villains. This is in contrast to certain other superhero teams such as the [[Doom Patrol]] or [[Marvel Comics|Marvel]]’s [[X-Men]] whose characters were created specifically to be part of the team, with the team being central to their identity. The cast of the Justice League usually features a few highly popular characters who have their own solo books, such as [[Superman]], [[Batman]], and [[Wonder Woman]], alongside several lesser-known characters who benefit from exposure.<ref>[[#refHickey2011|Hickey (2011), ''An Incomprehensible Condition'', p. 19]]</ref>

The Justice League was created to boost the profiles and sales of these characters through cross-promotion and helped develop the DC Universe as a shared universe, as it is through teams like the Justice League that the setting's characters regularly interact with each other.<ref name=Kaveney2008p28>[[#refKaveney2008|Kaveney (2008), ''Superheroes!'', p. 28]]: "One of the major driving forces of the creation of these universes was the commercial imperative to create brand loyalty to more titles within a single publishing house's products. Crossovers, in which a character from one comic produced by a house visited the story of another, meant that there was a chance that readers who were not buying the first comic would start to buy it in addition to the second. Team-up comics like the ''Justice League of America'' were even more likely to interest readers in characters they had not previously bothered with."</ref>

Beyond comic books, the Justice League has been adapted to television shows, films, and video games.

==Publication history==
{{see also|List of Justice League titles}}

Since 1960, the Justice League has appeared in comic books published by [[DC Comics]] (periodicals and graphic novels). These comic books constitute the bulk of Justice League fiction.

===Silver Age and Bronze Age (1960–1984)===
[[File:Brave bold 28.jpg|right|thumb|''[[The Brave and the Bold]]'' #28 (March 1960), their first appearance. Superman and Batman do not appear on the cover, but do appear in the story within.]]
In its inception, the Justice League was a revival of the [[Justice Society of America]], created by editor [[Sheldon Mayer]] and writer [[Gardner Fox]] in 1940. After World War II, superheroes fell out of popularity, which led to the cancellation of many characters, including the Justice Society, which last appeared in ''[[All-Star Comics]]'' #57 (March 1951). A few years later, sales rose again, and DC Comics revived some of these retired characters, reinventing a few of them in the process. Editor [[Julius Schwartz]] asked writer [[Gardner Fox]] to reintroduce the Justice Society of America. Schwartz decided to rename it the "Justice League of America" because he felt "League" would appeal better to young readers, evoking sports organizations such as the [[National League (baseball)|National League]].<ref>Rhoades (2008), ''A Complete History of American Comic Books'', p. 70</ref> The Justice League of America debuted in ''[[The Brave and the Bold]]'' #28 (March 1960), and after two further appearances in that title, got its own series, which quickly became one of the company's best-selling titles.<ref>{{cite book|last = Daniels|first = Les|author-link = Les Daniels|title = DC Comics: Sixty Years of the World's Favorite Comic Book Heroes|chapter= The Justice League of America A Team of Good Sports|publisher= [[Little, Brown and Company|Bulfinch Press]]|date= 1995|location= New York, New York|page = 127|isbn = 0821220764|quote= ''Justice League'' was a hit. It solidified once and for all the importance of superhero groups, and in the process provided a playground where DC's characters could attract new fans while entertaining established admirers.}}</ref> This led DC Comics to create a bunch of other superhero teams, such as the [[Teen Titans]]. [[Marvel Comics]], a rival comic book publisher, noticed the Justice League's success and created the [[Avengers (comics)|Avengers]] and the [[Fantastic Four]].

The initial Justice League lineup included seven of DC Comics' [[superheroes]] who were regularly published at that time: [[Superman]], [[Batman]], [[Aquaman]], the [[Barry Allen|Flash]], [[Hal Jordan|Green Lantern]], the [[Martian Manhunter]], and [[Wonder Woman]]. Fox also created a new, non-superhero character called [[Snapper Carr]] that was intended to represent DC's teenage readership and joined the League as an Honorary member in their debut story.<ref>Eury (2005), ''The Justice League Companion: A Historical and Speculative Overview of the Silver Age Justice League of America'', p. 14</ref> While Superman and Batman were included in the Justice League's initial lineup, they were largely absent from the League's early stories, playing only minor roles as the pair were already starring together in DC's ''[[World's Finest Comics]]'' and Fox was worried the two more famous heroes would detract attention from their less popular teammates. As the series went on however, Superman and Batman became more and more present as readers increasingly demanded to see more of them in the League's stories. The team roster would quickly expand with the [[Green Arrow]], the [[Atom (Ray Palmer)|Atom]] and [[Hawkman (Katar Hol)|Hawkman]] being added to the team over the next four years.

In the Justice Society stories from the 1940s (in ''All-Star Comics''), the Justice Society was used more as a framing device for its members' solo adventures. The stories tended to have the following structure: the Justice Society meets to discuss some new menace, they split up to undertake individual missions that somehow connect to that menace, and finally regroup for the showdown with the main villain. In the 1940s, most comic books were anthologies, and ''All-Star Comics'' was in practice not a major deviation from that. By contrast, the Justice League worked together more closely in their stories, thereby having a stronger identity as a team.

In another change from the Justice Society stories of the 1940s, Batman and Superman were regular members of the cast, not mere "honorary members" who made occasional cameos.

''Justice League of America'' (vol. 1) #21 (August 1963) featured the first crossover story in which the Justice League meets and teams up with the Justice Society of America. In doing so, DC Comics brought back a number of legacy characters such as Doctor Fate and the Black Canary. The issue was a hit with readers and such crossovers became a recurring event.

''Justice League of America'' (vol. 1) was published from 1960 to 1987.

===Detroit era (1984–1986)===
From the Justice League's inception in 1960 until 1984, the team's roster always included a number of A-list characters to draw in readers, such as [[Wonder Woman]] and [[Superman]]. But in ''Justice League of America Annual'' #2 (October 1984), the Justice League was revised to entirely comprise more obscure characters such as [[Vixen (comics)|Vixen]], [[Vibe (character)|Vibe]], and the [[Martian Manhunter]]. The original A-list members would not be brought back into the cast until 1986. The motives behind this change were to dispense with the convoluted [[Continuity (fiction)|continuities]] of the classic characters by using lesser-known and new characters, thus giving the writers more flexibility to write character-driven stories; and to give the team a more youthful, hipper feel similar to that of the [[Teen Titans]] and the [[X-Men]], which were selling better.<ref>{{cite web |date= December 4, 2018 |title=Chuck Patton talks Justice League Detroit |website=DC in the 80s |url=http://www.dcinthe80s.com/2018/12/chuck-patton-talks-justice-league.html}}: "I think it was Len Wein who ultimately decided that it was time for a change in the JLA, especially when all of the other major DC books started to crack under the weight of each other's differing storylines and changes in continuity. [...] Gerry [Conway] strongly felt that a new 'JLA' needed a younger, hipper roster to reflect the times, but most important, have little to no connection with the then-current DC roster and more freedom. I enthusiastically agreed with him, wanting to capture the same youthful spirit that made hits of X-Men and Teen Titans."</ref> The cast was multicultural: [[Gypsy (comics)|Gypsy]] was [[Romani people|Romani]],{{efn|Gypsy's origin was [[retcon]]ned in 2013, revealing her to be a refugee from another dimension.}} Vibe was Latino, [[Vixen (comics)|Vixen]] was Black. However, the writing of Vibe and Gypsy was criticized for using clichés of their ethnic groups, symptomatic of writers who were well-meaning but out of touch, something for which said writers ([[Gerry Conway]] and [[Chuck Patton]]) later expressed regret.<ref>{{cite web |author=Bug Norman |date=May 27, 2021 |title=Where The X-Men Thrived, The Justice League Died |website=Screen Rant |url=https://screenrant.com/justice-league-detroit-xmen-failure-vibe-gypsy-stereotypes/}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date= December 4, 2018 |title=Chuck Patton talks Justice League Detroit |website=DC in the 80s |url=http://www.dcinthe80s.com/2018/12/chuck-patton-talks-justice-league.html}}: "However I really really wished we had avoided a lot of the gimmickry or played them a lot less clichéd from the jump. I do share responsibility in my part of that, but I always felt uncomfortable with Vibe's accent. It was meant to be a blind, something he hid behind to keep people from knowing he wasn't that "streetwise", but it was handled clumsily and we took our lumps for it."</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=April 25, 2021 |title=JLI Podcast – Meanwhile… Gerry Conway Interview on Justice League Detroit |website=The Fire and Water Podcast Network |url=http://fireandwaterpodcast.com/podcast/jli-37z/}}</ref> This era of the Justice League, which lasted about two years, is popularly known as "Justice League Detroit" because they were headquartered in [[Detroit]].

===''Justice League International'' and its spin-offs (1986–1996)===
{{Main|Justice League International}}
The 1986 company-wide crossover "[[Legends (comics)|Legends]]" concluded with the formation of a new Justice League. The new team was dubbed the "Justice League," then "Justice League International" (JLI) and was given a mandate with less of an American focus. The Justice League International was recognized by the United Nations as a political entity and established "embassies" all over the world. The new series was character-driven and had a quirky, humorous tone which proved popular with readers. Numerous spin-off teams such as ''[[Justice League Europe]]'', ''[[Extreme Justice]]'', and ''[[Justice League Task Force (comics)|Justice League Task Force]]'' were created. In 1996, these series were cancelled due to low sales.

The Justice League International featured characters that had previously not been part of the [[DC Universe]], which had been absorbed from the portfolios of other publishers that DC Comics had purchased. These included [[Captain Atom]] and the [[Ted Kord|Blue Beetle]], which were created for [[Charlton Comics]] in the 1960s. In 1983, DC Comics purchased Charlton Comics and, a few years later, integrated the Blue Beetle and Captain Atom into the DC Universe. [[Shazam (DC Comics)|Captain Marvel]], originally from the [[Fawcett Comics]] universe, was similarly integrated.

===''JLA'' (1996–2006)===
The cancellation of the aforementioned spin-off books prompted DC to revamp the League as a single team in a single title. A new Justice League of America was launched in a September 1996 [[Limited series (comics)|miniseries]] ''Justice League: A Midsummer's Nightmare'' by [[Mark Waid]] and [[Fabian Nicieza]], which returned to the classic cast. In 1997, DC Comics launched a new book titled ''[[JLA (comic book)|JLA]]''. [[Grant Morrison]] wrote ''[[JLA (comic book)|JLA]]'' for the first four years, and they gave the book an epic feel by making the Justice League an allegory for a pantheon of gods, and in their stories they regularly fought villains who threatened the entire world or even the entire cosmos.<ref>{{cite web |author=Rosie Knight |date=8 October 2020 |title=How Grant Morrison's JLA Saved DC's Biggest Heroes |url=https://www.dccomics.com/blog/2020/10/08/how-grant-morrisons-jla-saved-dcs-biggest-heroes}}</ref> The ongoing series began its monthly run in January 1997, and concluded in April 2006 after 126 issues.

This series utilized a "back-to-basics" approach by shifting the focus back on the team's original and most famous seven members (or their successors): Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, the Flash ([[Wally West]]), Green Lantern ([[Kyle Rayner]]), and the Martian Manhunter.<ref>Kirk, Jason. "[http://geocities.com/TheTropics/1185/newera/jla1997.htmlJLA (1997)]{{cbignore|bot=medic}}" Yahoo! [[GeoCities]], December 2000{{dead link|date=March 2011}}</ref> Additionally, the team received a new headquarters, the "[[Justice League Watchtower|Watchtower]]", based on the [[Moon]]. ''JLA'' quickly became DC's best-selling title,<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.cbgxtra.com/Default.aspx?tabid=1670 |title= North American Comics Market Estimates for January 1997|first= John Jackson|last= Miller|author-link = John Jackson Miller |year= 2007|magazine= Comics Buyer's Guide|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090501091723/http://www.cbgxtra.com/Default.aspx?tabid=1670|archive-date=May 1, 2009 |url-status=dead |access-date= April 8, 2012}}</ref> a position it enjoyed on and off for several years.<ref>Manning "1990s" in Dolan, p. 278: "Renewed as one of DC's most popular titles, ''JLA'' ran for 125 issues before its next relaunch. Earning countless spin-off miniseries and specials, the Justice League reclaimed its place atop DC's hit titles list".</ref>

===Volume 2 (2006–2011)===
The Justice League books more or less continued the trend set by the ''JLA'' era: world-shaking threats with epic stakes, with a focus on plot over character development, and strong tie-ins to all the company's crossover events. In 2006, DC began an ongoing comic series titled ''Justice League of America'' (vol. 2).

===[[New 52]] (2011–2016)===
{{anchor|The New 52}}In ''[[The New 52]]'' era, further changes to the [[retroactive continuity]] of the [[DC Universe]] were made, such as [[Cyborg (DC Comics)|Cyborg]], one of DC's premier African American heroes, becoming a founding member of the team. In 2011, DC Comics also released a spin-off title called ''[[Justice League Dark]]'', which is an ensemble team of prominent magic users of the DC Universe, such as [[John Constantine]], [[Zatanna]], [[Madame Xanadu]], and [[Swamp Thing]].

===[[DC Rebirth]] (2016–2017)===
{{Empty section|date=August 2023}}
A new volume of Justice League was launched as part of the DC Rebirth initiative, written by [[Bryan Hitch]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Beedle |first1=Tim |title=Fan News Looking Back on Volume One: An Interview with Justice League's Bryan Hitch |url=https://www.dc.com/blog/2017/01/27/looking-back-on-volume-one-an-interview-with-justice-leagues-bryan-hitch |website=DC |access-date=July 30, 2025}}</ref>

In 2017, following [[Justice League vs Suicide Squad]], a new volume of Justice League of America was published featuring Batman, [[Black Canary]], [[The Atom]], [[Vixen (comics)|Vixen]], [[Ray (DC Comics)|The Ray]], [[Lobo (DC Comics)|Lobo]], and [[Killer Frost]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://batman-news.com/2017/02/08/justice-league-of-america-rebirth-1/|title=Justice League of America: Rebirth #1|date=February 8, 2017}}</ref> This series was written by [[Steve Orlando]] and published concurrently with Justice League.

===[[New Justice]] (2018–2021)===
In the [[New Justice]] era, the fourth volume of the Justice League begins its run, and continues into the following [[Infinite Frontier]] era.<ref>Justice League (2018-2022) #1-75</ref>

A connected new title ''Justice League: No Justice'' emerged and ran for 4 issues, taking place shortly after ''[[Dark Nights: Metal]].'' Furthering focus on the aftermath is a following title called ''[[Justice League Odyssey]]'' that established its 25-issue run from 2018 to 2020. Continuing to deal with the concerns of the [[Source Wall]] being broken, Cyborg, [[Starfire (Teen Titans)|Starfire]], [[Green Lantern Jessica Cruz]], and Azrael find themselves being lured by Darkseid into a newly inhabited area in outer space named the Ghost Sector. The title was created by [[Scott Snyder]], Joshua Williamson, [[James Tynion IV]] and [[Francis Manapul]].<ref>Justice League: No Justice (2018) #1-75</ref>

A second volume of [[Justice League Dark]] was announced, and ran regularly for 29 issues from July 2018 to February 2021.<ref name="JLD #1">{{cite comic||writer=James Tynion IV|artist=Raúl Fernández, Alvaro Martinez|story=The Last Age of Magic|title=Justice League Dark|volume=1|issue=#1|date=July, 2018|publisher=DC Comics}}</ref><ref name="JLD #29">{{cite comic||writer=And Lanning, Ron Marz|artist=Amancay Nahuelpan, Marco Santucci|story=Endless Winter|title=Justice League Dark|issue=#29|date=February, 2021|publisher=DC Comics}}</ref> Being led by [[Wonder Woman]], the team members include [[John Constantine]], [[Zatanna]], [[Swamp Thing]], [[Man-Bat]], [[Detective Chimp]], [[Doctor Fate]], and briefly [[Animal Man]].

===[[Infinite Frontier]] (2021–2023)===

The fourth volume of the definitive ''Justice League'' title continues well into the ''Infinite Frontier'' era and reaches a conclusion with a total of 75 issues in June 2022. Despite not having a title run during the ''Infinite Frontier'' era, the team from ''[[Justice League Dark]]'' would continue to appear as a backup feature in the mainline ''Justice League'' series during the ''[[Dark Crisis]]'' story arc, from issue #59 in May 2021 to issue #71 in March 2022, with guest appearances throughout issues #72 to 74.<ref>''Justice League'' (vol. 4) #59 (2021). DC Comics.</ref><ref>''Justice League'' (vol. 4) #71 (2022). DC Comics.</ref><ref>''Justice League'' (vol. 4) #72 (2022). DC Comics.</ref><ref>''Justice League'' (vol. 4) #74 (2022). DC Comics.</ref>

Also sharing a tie to ''Dark Crises'' is ''Justice League Incarnate''.  Consisting of a different team, the 5-issue title shortly ran from January 2022 to May 2022<ref>Justice League Incarnate #1-5</ref> Some pivotal members are [[Superman of Earth 23]], [[Flashpoint Batman]], Mary Marvel of Earth 5, Captain Carrot of Earth 26, among others, including their own Flash, Green Lantern and Wonder Woman, plus a new character by the name of Doctor Multiverse.

===[[Dawn of DC]] (2023–2024)===
With the end of ''Dark Crisis on Infinite Earths'', the Justice League was brought back from the dead. This has now inspired [[Amanda Waller]], now working under ''The Light'', to take action against all [[metahuman]]s, as she believes that they have become too powerful. Waller tasked [[Peacemaker (character)|Peacemaker]], her new right hand, in the goal of getting the Helmet of Hate. While Peacemaker was off on his mission, Waller met up with a group of villains giving them a new task, which is to kill superheroes.

With the ''Justice League'' going on hiatus as a team, the [[Teen Titans|Titans]] step forward to become the DC universe's premier superhero team, with [[Dick Grayson|Nightwing]] being the leader.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Schedeen |first1=Jesse |date=January 25, 2023 |title=Dawn of DC: Why the Titans Are Replacing the Justice League in 2023 |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/dawn-of-dc-titans-comic-interview-nightwing-justice-league |access-date=April 3, 2023 |website=[[IGN]]}}</ref> The Titans are now located in [[Blüdhaven]] with their new Titans Tower being rebuilt over an old prison, which was destroyed following a prison breakout, led by the villain Heartless.<ref>{{Cite web |title=NIGHTWING #100 |url=https://www.dc.com/comics/nightwing-2016/nightwing-100 |access-date=April 28, 2023 |website=[[DC Comics]] |language=en-US}}</ref>

===[[DC All In]] (2024–present)===

For DC's DC All In aimed at providing a jumping on point for new readers, a new Justice League series ''Justice League Unlimited'' debuted, written by Mark Waid and illustrated by Dan Mora. The premise of the new series is that following ''[[Absolute Power (comics)|Absolute Power]]'', the superhero community has enlisted the majority of the world's heroes as Justice League members, stationed together in a new Watchtower orbiting Earth and dispatching heroes to counter threats. The main team comprises Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Flash, [[Atom (Ryan Choi)]], [[Black Lightning]], [[Carol Ferris|Star Sapphire]], Green Lantern, and many others.

===Inter-company crossovers===
The Justice League has on a few occasions appeared in crossover stories with superhero characters from rival publishers such as [[Marvel Comics]] and [[Dark Horse Comics]]. In general, such inter-company crossovers are rare because a lot of resources must be spent in sorting out the legal issues and corporate politics of the two companies, and due to licensing issues, they cannot create spin-off merchandise and media, which all reduce the profitability of such projects.

The last crossover between [[DC Comics]] and [[Marvel Comics]] was ''[[JLA/Avengers]]'', which they jointly published in 2003. Now that Marvel Comics and DC Comics are part of major multimedia corporations (Disney and Warner Brothers, respectively), those aforementioned hurdles are even more complicated, which makes another project like ''JLA/Avengers'' much less likely.<ref>{{cite web |title=Marvel and DC team-up: An oral history of JLA/Avengers, the most ambitious crossover event ever |author=Jermaine McLaughlin |date=15 June 2015 |website=SyFy Wire |url=https://www.syfy.com/syfywire/marvel-and-dc-team-up-an-oral-history-of-jlaavengers-the-most-ambitious-crossover-event |access-date=October 2, 2021 |archive-date=October 2, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211002151857/https://www.syfy.com/syfywire/marvel-and-dc-team-up-an-oral-history-of-jlaavengers-the-most-ambitious-crossover-event |url-status=dead }}<br/>
<br/>
Tom Brevoort: "Those were really the final days of both companies being "Mom & Pop" shops. Now, with both Marvel and DC being integrated multi-platform companies, the inter-mingling of competing IP is a much more complicated and complex situation, along with the fact that you wind up spending considerable resources on a project for which you only recoup half of the eventual profits (and that you cannot utilize across other lines of business beyond the publishing) make it a lot more difficult to justify. It's hard to justify both the allocation of resources and also the difficulties of navigating the politics between two competing corporate giants. So it's not impossible that it could never happen again, but the factors against it happening are considerable."</ref> In 2017, [[Dan Didio]] remarked that DC Comics and Marvel are very competitive toward each other and only did crossovers when their sales were low.<ref>{{cite web |author=Brendan Hughes |title=Could We Get A New Marvel/DC Crossover In The Near Future? |date=19 March 2018 |url=https://lrmonline.com/news/could-we-get-a-new-marvel-dc-crossover-in-the-near-future/}}<br/>"Dan Didio, DC's Co-Publisher, squashed the idea of any crossover with Marvel during the 2017 San Diego Comic-Con stating that the best way for DC to succeed is to compete with Marvel. He linked that the past Marvel/DC crossovers were a temporary measure due to the comic market reaching all-time lows."</ref> However, DC Comics did go on to feature the Justice League in crossovers with smaller companies such as [[Dark Horse Comics]], such as a crossover with ''[[Black Hammer (comics)|Black Hammer]]'' in 2019.

In 2025, the Justice League was featured in the five-issue-miniseries ''[[DC X Sonic the Hedgehog]]'', written by [[Ian Flynn]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Scullion |first1=Chris |title=DC x Sonic the Hedgehog: Here’s the first art and plot details from Sega and DC’s crossover comic |url=https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/dc-x-sonic-the-hedgehog-heres-the-first-art-and-plot-details-from-sega-and-dcs-crossover-comic/ |website=[[Video Games Chronicle]] |access-date=March 19, 2025 |date=March 13, 2025}}</ref> The miniseries features the League (consisting of Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern (John Stewart), the Flash and Cyborg) teaming up with [[Sonic the Hedgehog (character)|Sonic]] and his friends ([[Tails (Sonic the Hedgehog)|Miles "Tails" Prower]], [[Amy Rose]], [[Knuckles the Echidna]], [[Silver the Hedgehog]] and [[Shadow the Hedgehog]]) when Darkseid invades their universe for the [[Chaos Emeralds]]. Additionally, Sonic and his friends also become their version of the League while taking the monikers of their partners; Sonic suiting up as the Flash, Tails donning and armor resembling Cyborg's components, Amy wearing a dress resembling Wonder Woman's, Silver donning a Green Lantern Ring and costume, Knuckles wearing a Superman costume, and Shadow donning a Batman suit. Other members include Mister Terrific, Hawkgirl and Supergirl.

==Fictional history==
===Members===
{{Main|List of Justice League members}}
The members of the Justice League are heroes who normally operate independently but who occasionally team up to tackle especially formidable villains. This is in contrast to teams such as the X-Men or the [[Fantastic Four]], who normally operate as a team and for whom the team is central to their identity.

Most versions of the Justice League feature a select cast of highly popular characters from the DC Comics portfolio, such as Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman, to attract readers with their star power; and they often co-feature a few lesser-known characters who benefit from exposure, such as Cyborg or Black Canary. DC Comics has in several periods deviated from this formula, most notably in the late 1980s and early 1990s with books such as ''[[Justice League International]]'', which deliberately featured a cast of lesser-known characters. The advantage of this was that lesser-known characters are not burdened by convoluted continuities, which gave writers more creative flexibility to write character-driven stories. This was done to emulate the model of Marvel Comics' ''[[X-Men]]'' comic books, whose stories were more character-driven and which favored more obscure or new characters.

The Justice League is an independent group, although it usually accepts some constraints from the U.S. government or the United Nations so as to receive their sanction. Particularly in the early decades of publication, DC Comics was keen for its superheroes to be perceived as law-abiding because children were the main audience. The cast is rarely more than a dozen people in size so as to give a reasonable and equal time for each character. While sometimes the League is shown to have a designated chairperson or leader, there is otherwise no hierarchy; they are a small band of equals who make major decisions, such as inducting new members, by vote.

===Headquarters===
The Justice League operates out of a [[headquarters]]. In the 1960s, their headquarters was secretly in a hollowed-out mountain outside the fictional town of Happy Harbor in [[Rhode Island]]. In ''Justice League of America'' #78 (1970), they moved to a satellite. In the ''[[Super Friends]]'' cartoons which ran from 1973 to 1985, they operated out of the [[Hall of Justice (comics)|Hall of Justice]] located in Washington, D.C. During the brief "Justice League Detroit" era, they were headquartered in a repurposed bomb shelter in Detroit. In the ''JLA'' comic book which ran from 1997 to 2006, their headquarters was on the Moon and called "the Watchtower". The centerpiece of the headquarters is a conference table around which the Justice League discusses menaces to deal with. The satellite and Moon base headquarters are equipped with teleporters for those members who cannot fly to it.

===Villains===
The [[Legion of Doom]] was created for the ''[[Challenge of the Superfriends]]'' animated TV series as a villainous counterpart to the Justice League. In that original incarnation, it consisted of established villains associated with each of the Justice League's members; e.g., [[Lex Luthor]] for Superman, [[Riddler]] for Batman, [[Sinestro]] for the Green Lantern, [[Black Manta]] for the Aquaman,  [[Gorilla Grodd]] for the Flash, and the [[Cheetah (character)|Cheetah]] for Wonder Woman. The Legion of Doom, or some variant of it, has since appeared in other TV shows and comic books.

=== Alternate versions ===
Due to the nature of the [[Multiverse (DC Comics)|DC Multiverse]], the Justice League has many alternate universe depictions introduced throughout it's history. Some are morally-inversed supervillain teams, most famously the [[Crime Syndicate of America]] from Earth-3, who the Justice League have had frequent battles with, being a team composed of villainous versions of the mainline heroes. There are also many versions of the League set in different time periods, such as the [[Wild West]]-themed Justice Riders of Earth 18, the medieval League of Earth 118 from [[Dark Knights of Steel]], or even various incarnations set in the far future, examples being the [[Justice Legion Alpha]] of the 853rd century, or [[Justice League 3000]]. Other more unique examples include; [[The Jurassic League]], dinosaur versions of the League, the gender-inversed Justice Guild of Earth-11, or the Justice Titans of Earth-41, a cross of the League and the [[Teen Titans]] consisting of fusions of various characters. 

In the [[Absolute Universe]], the Justice League isn't composed of its versions of the heroes, but rather their villains, being the [[Joker (character)|Joker]], [[Ra's al Ghul]], [[Eobard Thawne|Elenore Thawne]], [[Hector Hammond]], and led by [[Veronica Cale]], all power and wealthy figures in government and business who seek to stop the influence of upstart superheroes, believing that their own control over the world is the natural order and upholding that corrupt order is "justice".

==Collected issues==
{{see also|List of Justice League titles}}

==In other media==
{{Main|Justice League in other media}}

===Television===
====Animation====
In 1967, [[CBS]] aired three animated shorts titled "Justice League of America" as part of ''[[The Superman/Aquaman Hour of Adventure]]''. The cast featured Aquaman, the Flash, Superman, the Atom, Green Lantern, and Hawkman.
*''[[Super Friends]]''&nbsp;is an&nbsp;[[United States|American]]&nbsp;[[Animated series|animated television series]]&nbsp;about the Justice League, which ran from 1973 to 1986 on&nbsp;[[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]]&nbsp;as part of its&nbsp;[[Saturday morning cartoon]]&nbsp;lineup. It was produced by&nbsp;[[Hanna-Barbera]]&nbsp;and was based on the&nbsp;Justice League of America&nbsp;(JLA) and associated&nbsp;[[comic book]]&nbsp;characters published by&nbsp;[[DC Comics]]. There were a total of&nbsp;[[List of Super Friends episodes|109 episodes]]&nbsp;preceded by two&nbsp;[[Television pilot#Backdoor pilot|backdoor pilot]]&nbsp;episodes of&nbsp;''[[The New Scooby-Doo Movies]]''.
*An animated television series titled ''[[Justice League (TV series)|Justice League]]'' ran from 2001 to 2006 on&nbsp;[[Cartoon Network]]. It is part of the&nbsp;[[DC animated universe]]. The show was produced by&nbsp;[[Warner Bros. Animation]]. It is based on the&nbsp;Justice League of America&nbsp;and associated&nbsp;[[comic book]]&nbsp;characters published by&nbsp;[[DC Comics]]. After the second season, the series name&nbsp;changed to ''[[Justice League Unlimited]].''
*Another series titled ''[[Justice League Action]]'' was also released. It&nbsp;is an American&nbsp;[[animated television series]]&nbsp;based on the&nbsp;[[DC Comics]]&nbsp;superhero team of the same name. The series is produced by Jim Krieg,&nbsp;[[Butch Lukic]], and&nbsp;[[Alan Burnett]]. This show debuted on&nbsp;[[Cartoon Network UK]]&nbsp;on November 26, 2016,&nbsp;and premiered in the United States on&nbsp;[[Cartoon Network]]&nbsp;on December 16, 2016.
*The Justice League make minor appearances in the [[Adult animation|adult animated]] [[web television]] series ''[[Harley Quinn (TV series)|Harley Quinn]]''.

====Live-action====
*A [[Justice League (Smallville)|proto-Justice League]] lineup is featured in ''[[Smallville]]'', first appearing in the episode "Justice" of the show's [[Smallville season 6|sixth season]]. The group initially consists of [[Clark Kent (Smallville)|Clark Kent]], [[Barry Allen]], [[Aquaman|Arthur Curry]], [[Victor Stone (Smallville)|Victor Stone]], [[Oliver Queen (Smallville)|Oliver Queen]], [[Chloe Sullivan]] and [[Black Canary|Dinah Lance]]. In the show's comic book continuation ''Smallville: Continuity'', an assemblage more familiar to the Justice League in most other media is formed, including [[Martian Manhunter]], [[Hawkman]], [[Courtney Whitmore|Stargirl]], [[Tess Mercer]], [[Supergirl (Smallville character)|Supergirl]], [[Booster Gold]], [[Batman]], [[Wonder Woman]] and [[Green Lantern]].
*At the end of the [[Arrowverse]] crossover event "[[Crisis on Infinite Earths (Arrowverse)|Crisis on Infinite Earths]]", the heroes of the newly created [[Earth-Prime (Arrowverse)|Earth-Prime]] gather at an abandoned [[S.T.A.R. Labs]] building and around a table; forming a team to defend their new world following a memorial for [[Oliver Queen (Arrowverse)|Oliver Queen / Green Arrow]], who gave his life to save the [[Multiverse (DC Comics)|multiverse]]. While referred to as the Justice League in concept art, this group consists of [[Barry Allen (Arrowverse)|The Flash]], [[Kara Danvers (Arrowverse)|Supergirl]], [[Sara Lance|White Canary]], [[Kate Kane (Arrowverse)|Batwoman]], [[Jefferson Pierce (Arrowverse)|Black Lighting]], [[Superman]] and [[Martian Manhunter]], with an empty seat in honor of Oliver.<ref>''[[Crisis on Infinite Earths (Arrowverse)#Tie-ins|Crisis on Infinite Earths: Paragons Rising – The Deluxe Edition (Collected)]]'' (July 2020)</ref>
* The Justice League makes a cameo appearance in the first-season finale of ''[[Peacemaker (TV series)|Peacemaker]]'' (2022), set in the DCEU, with the group consisting of Wonder Woman, Flash, Superman and Aquaman.

===Film===
===Animation===
*The Justice League appears in ''[[Justice League: The New Frontier]]'' (2008), an adaptation of [[Darwyn Cooke]]'s graphic novel ''[[DC: The New Frontier]]''.
*The team appears in ''[[Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths]]'' (2010). The movie was based on an unused script for a never-made movie that was to bridge the TV shows ''[[Justice League (TV series)|Justice League]]'' and ''[[Justice League Unlimited]]''.
*An alternate version of the Justice League appears in ''[[Justice League: Gods and Monsters]]'' (2015). In this movie, Superman is the son of [[General Zod]], Wonder Woman is the New God [[Bekka]], and Batman is essentially the [[Man-Bat]]. This Justice League, while ultimately heroic, is more ruthless than the traditional Justice League. Along with the film, a three-part animated series entitled ''[[Justice League: Gods and Monsters Chronicles]]'' was released before the film on [[Machinima.com|Machinima]].
*The team appears in ''[[Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox]]'', an animated adaptation of the ''[[Flashpoint (comics)|Flashpoint]]'' graphic novel.
*The team is prominently featured in the following movies set in the [[DC Animated Movie Universe]]:
**''[[Justice League: War]]'' (2014)
**''[[Justice League: Throne of Atlantis]]'' (2015)
**''[[Justice League vs. Teen Titans]]'' (2016)
**''[[Justice League Dark (film)|Justice League Dark]]'' (2017)
**''[[The Death of Superman (film)|The Death of Superman]]'' (2018)
**''[[Reign of the Supermen (film)|Reign of the Supermen]]'' (2019)
**''[[Justice League Dark: Apokolips War]]'' (2020)
*The Justice League appears in the [[Tomorrowverse]]:
**''[[Green Lantern: Beware My Power]]'' (2022)
**''[[Justice League: Warworld]]'' (2023)
**''[[Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths|Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths - Part One]]'' (2024)
**''[[Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths|Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths - Part Two]]'' (2024)
**''[[Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths|Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths - Part Three]]'' (2024)
*The Justice League appears in the animated film ''[[DC League of Super-Pets]]'' (2022).

====Live-action====
* Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman appear together in ''[[Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice]]'' (2016), although not as a formal team. The Flash, Aquaman, and Cyborg make cameo appearances.
* The Justice League formally appears in ''[[Justice League (film)|Justice League]]'' (2017) and [[Zack Snyder's Justice League|its 2021 director's cut]]. The team is also referenced in several other DCEU films.
* A prototype version of the Justice League, called the '''Justice Gang''', appears in the [[DC Universe (franchise)|DC Universe]] (DCU) making their debut in the DCU film ''[[Superman (2025 film)|Superman]]'' (2025), It consists of [[Guy Gardner (character)|Guy Gardner / Green Lantern]], [[Kendra Saunders (DC Universe)|Kendra Saunders / Hawkgirl]], and [[Mister Terrific (Michael Holt)|Michael Holt / Mister Terrific]]. This version are sponsored by [[Maxwell Lord (DC Universe)|Maxwell Lord]]'s company LordTech. They assist [[Clark Kent (DC Universe)|Clark Kent / Superman]] in fighting a Kaiju unleashed by [[Lex Luthor (DC Universe)|Lex Luthor]] in his many attempts to kill Superman and later assists Superman in stopping Luthor's plans to become a king. After the final fight in Boravia, the Gang also recruit [[Metamorpho]]. In the [[Peacemaker (season 2)|second season]] of ''[[Peacemaker (TV series)|Peacemaker]]'', a previously trailer reveals the Gang appears at the aftermath of "[[Peacemaker (season 1)|Project: Butterfly]]" revealing Superman and his cousin [[Kara Zor-El (DC Universe)|Supergirl]] are members. Peacemaker later attempts to be recruited into the Gang but is mocked by Lord, Gardner and Saunders prompting Peacemaker to leave.

==Cultural impact==
Most of the characters that appear in DC Comics' books are set in the same fictional universe, known as the [[DC Universe]]. They occasionally make guest appearances in each other's solo books, and more regularly in team books such as ''Justice League''. Such crossovers encouraged readers to buy other books in the DC Comics catalogue, and readers became engrossed not just in the individual characters but in their web of relationships across the broader setting, thereby building brand loyalty. [[Marvel Comics]] copied this idea by creating a number of superhero teams of its own, the closest analogue being the [[Avengers (comics)|Avengers]], so as to promote and develop the [[Marvel Universe]]. Some readers focused their attention on just one of these two comic book universes, as they were both large and did not overlap. Thus, the superhero fandom developed sub-communities of DC devotees and Marvel devotees.<ref name=Kaveney2008p28/>

==Awards==
The original ''Justice League of America'' series won two [[Alley Award#1961|1961 Alley Awards]] in the categories "Best Comic Book" and "Best Adventure-Hero Group."<ref name="Alley1961">{{cite web|url= http://www.hahnlibrary.net/comics/awards/alley61.php|title= 1961 Alley Awards|publisher= Hahn Library Comic Book Awards Almanac|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150905190403/http://www.hahnlibrary.net/comics/awards/alley61.php|archive-date= September 5, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> In 1963, the series won "Favorite Novel" ("Crisis on Earth-One/Crisis on Earth-Two" in ''Justice League of America'' #21–22 by [[Gardner Fox]] and [[Mike Sekowsky]]) and "Strip that Should Be Improved." There also an award specific to the series, "Artist Preferred on ''Justice League of America''," that was won by [[Murphy Anderson]].<ref name="Alley1963">{{cite web|url= http://www.hahnlibrary.net/comics/awards/alley63.php|title= 1963 Alley Awards|publisher= Hahn Library Comic Book Awards Almanac|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150906001923/http://www.hahnlibrary.net/comics/awards/alley63.php|archive-date= September 6, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Theme park attractions ==
===''Justice League: Alien Invasion 3D''===

{{Main|Justice League: Alien Invasion}}

''Justice League: Alien Invasion'' is an interactive dark ride at [[Warner Bros. Movie World]] on the [[Gold Coast, Queensland|Gold Coast]], [[Australia]]. In the ride, guests board vehicles equipped with blasters as they join the Justice League in the fight against [[Starro]], who has mind-controlled the citizens of Metropolis.

=== Justice League: Battle for Metropolis ===
{{Main|Justice League: Battle for Metropolis}}

''Justice League: Battle for Metropolis'' is an interactive dark ride at seven [[Six Flags]] parks across the United States and Mexico. In the ride, Lex Luthor and the Joker have captured Supergirl, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, and Flash, and it is up to the combined forces of the remaining members of the Justice League and the Justice League Reserve Team to save them from their capture at LexCorp. Guests board motion-enhanced and stun blaster-equipped vehicles designed by [[A.R.G.U.S.]] as they ride through Metropolis and join the fight against the henchmen of Lex Luthor and the Joker.

==See also==
'''Affiliations and spin-off groups'''
* [[Avengers (comics)|Avengers]]
* [[Extreme Justice]]
* [[Justice League 3000]]
* [[Justice League Dark]]
* [[Justice League Elite]]
* [[Justice League Europe]]
* [[Justice League International]]
* [[Justice League Queer]]
* [[Justice League Task Force (comics)|Justice League Task Force]]
* [[Justice League United]]
* [[Justice Leagues]]
* [[Legion of Super-Heroes]]
* [[Legion of Super-Pets]]
* [[Squadron Supreme]]
* [[Super Buddies]]
* [[Super Friends]]
* [[Green Lantern Corps]]
* [[Teen Titans]]
* [[Young Justice]]

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=lower-alpha}}

==References==
{{Reflist|25em}}

==Sources==
*{{cite book |author=Andrew Hickey |year=2011 |title=An Incomprehensible Condition: An Unauthorised Guide To Grant Morrison's Seven Soldiers |publisher=Lulu.com |isbn=9781447780021 |ref=refHickey2011}}
*{{cite book |author=Roz Kaveney |year=2008 |title=Superheroes!: Capes and Crusaders in Comics and Films| publisher=Bloomsbury Academic |isbn=9781845115692 |ref=refKaveney2008}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
{{portal|Comics}}
* [http://www.dccomics.com/justice-league Justice League] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131023083940/http://www.dccomics.com/justice-league |date=October 23, 2013 }} at DC Comics.com
* [http://www.toonopedia.com/jla.htm Justice League of America] at [[Don Markstein's Toonopedia]] [https://archive.today/20120409003933/http://www.toonopedia.com/jla.htm WebCitation Archive]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060111090524/http://www.mykey3000.com/cosmicteams/jla/index.html The Justice League Library]

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