The Justice League is an organization made up of the greatest heroes on Earth. It is headquartered on the Watchtower. It has had numerous leaders including Batman, Captain Atom, Black Canary, Aquaman and Wonder Woman, and Black Lightning (incumbent).
Organization[]
Membership[]
The addition of new members is decided by a majority vote of the existing membership. Rarely, someone might be granted membership on a probationary basis prior to a confirmatory vote. A member can also be ejected by majority vote if they are felt not to uphold the League's standards.[1][2]
It has become a generally accepted norm that only legal adults are considered for League membership, and that minors who cannot be persuaded away from superheroics are best served by joining the Team. There is one notable exception to this rule.[1][3][4]
The League offers a stipend to its members, as well as members of the Team.[5][6] Members recieve membership cards,[3] and a designation allowing them access to the computer system and Zeta-Tubes.[7]
Leadership[]
Leadership is determined by regular elections. Chairpersons typically serve one-year terms, and usually do not seek more than two terms in a row.[8] All other members are considered equals. Batman was the leader in 2010.[9] In late 2015, Captain Atom became the leader,[10] until July 4, 2016, when Black Canary took over.[11][12] By 2018, the leaders were Kaldur'ahm, the second Aquaman, and Wonder Woman, acting as co-chairs and representatives for the League on Earth and in space, respectively.[13] On February 24, 2019, Black Lightning was elected to leadership,[14] and later re-elected for a second consecutive term.[8]
Reserves[]
Following the global crisis wrought by Child in May 2020, Superman suggested setting up an official reserve system for large scale emergencies.[15] A recruitment committee was set-up by July of that year. Among the many individuals considered were former League and Team members, Atlanteans allied to Aquaman, and Zatanna's magical protégés and friends, as well as other heroes known to the League.[16]
Oversight[]
The League is permitted to operate by means of a U.N. Charter. League members have no jurisdiction within the borders of nations that have not signed the U.N. Charter, such as Bialya,[17] Markovia[18] Russia[19] and Santa Prisca.[20] During Lex Luthor's tenure as U.N. Secretary General, the League's diplomatic reach was curtailed considerably.[18]
The League also has a relationship with the U.S. government,[11] and is considered by some to be an American organization.[21][19]
Funding[]
The League gets some of its funding from the United Nations, as well as private donations. The Wayne Foundation is a major donor.[22]
History[]
Early history[]
The Justice League was founded around February[23] 2003,[24] after seven heroes—Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Flash, Green Lantern (Hal Jordan), Aquaman and Martian Manhunter—had to work together[11] to defeat an Appellaxian invasion.[25]
They were initially based in the Secret Sanctuary, a cave hollowed out in Mount Justice by Superman and Green Lantern.[26] They did not go public with their alliance at first.[24]
In May, 2004,[27] the League had expanded to ten members—Green Arrow, Hawkman and Hawkwoman had joined. Two years later,[28] the Joker discovered the location of the Sanctuary, and attacked Snapper Carr and the League inside.[29][30] The League went public shortly after.[24]
In August, 2008,[31] six new members joined the group.[15] A new hideout was chosen: the orbiting Watchtower satellite, although they also used the Hall of Justice as a front for tourists and the media.[7]
2010[]
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With the foundation of the Team, the League focused on the bigger issues, and stole the limelight so their former sidekicks could operate on the sly.[32]
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After Green Arrow and Black Canary encountered Amazo in rural Connecticut, half the League, including the powerhouses Superman and Captain Atom, responded. Their presence nearly proved disastrous as Amazo was able to copy all their powers. Eventually, the android was dismantled.[33]
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With the Injustice League's plant creatures sprouting up all over the world, Batman made sure the entire Justice League fought them to draw attention away from the Team as they went for the Injustice League's headquarters in the Louisiana bayou. They eventually made their way there too to force them to surrender.[34]
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All sixteen active members of the League (including Doctor Fate replacing Zatara) convened in the Watchtower to discuss expanding the League to new members. Icon, Blue Devil, Guy Gardner, Atom, Plastic Man and Red Arrow were considered, as well as members of the Team and Rocket. The membership of Captain Marvel and Doctor Fate was also put to a vote. The League voted and unanimously ratified the results.[1]
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Icon, Atom, Plastic Man and Red Arrow were officially inducted to the Justice League at the Hall of Justice.[3]
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With the help of their inside operative Red Arrow, the Light enslaved the entire League with their echinoderm biotech.[3]
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The Team created an antidote and vaccine, and after a pitched battle, liberated the entire League from Savage's control. The League was under mind control for a little over a day. While most of that time was accounted for, six members (Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Martian Manhunter, John Stewart and Hawkwoman) were missing for sixteen hours.[35] In that time, they attacked the planet Rimbor, boldly declaring who they were and that they should be feared.[25]
2011-2015[]
After the incident on Rimbor with six mind-controlled Leaguers,[36] the entire Justice League was declared unwelcome in the sector surrounding Rann. Not having figured out what happened during the sixteen hours unaccounted for during their enslavement, the Justice League was initially unaware of this ban.[37]
Red Arrow left the League to find Speedy.[35] Guy Gardner,[38] Blue Beetle[10] and Black Lightning joined the Justice League, and Zatanna and Rocket graduated from the Team. Superboy, Miss Martian and Nightwing also received an open invitation, but they declined.[37]
The League has twenty-one active members, while Hal Jordan and Guy Gardner are currently on Oa.[25]
2016[]
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The League and the Team discussed an alien attack on the UN. From Adam Strange, they learned Kroloteans were behind Zeta-Beam thefts on Rann, and that the Leaguers were unwelcome there—six were even wanted criminals. The Team sent a squad to Rann, while the League and the Team set up strike groups to target Kroloteans on Earth.[37]
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After Mal Duncan alerted everyone that the main Krolotean hideout was found by Gamma Squad, all twenty-one active members of the League rushed to New Orleans. When they arrived, they saw Robin, Blue Beetle and Lagoon Boy had already freed the hostages, and the base was destroyed.[37]
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After Miss Martian discovered what the League had done in the missing sixteen hours, Captain Atom and John Stewart discussed what to do. John convened with the Guardians of the Universe, and they thought it best that the six Leaguers traveled to Rimbor to defend themselves. Hawkman accompanied his spouse, and Icon joined because he had experience with intergalactic tribunal law.[25]
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The general populace was not made aware that eight powerful members of the League were off-planet. The League and the Team set up a ruse, and Miss Martian and Superboy at times impersonated Martian Manhunter and Superman to keep up the impression that they were still at full strength.[39]
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The Hall of Justice was invaded by the alien gladiator Despero, who sought to best Earth's mightiest champions in single combat. Though the warrior was eventually defeated, the Hall was destroyed in the process. When the Reach ambassador arrived to "help" by removing the force field Despero had placed around the Hall, he casually let slip the existence of the Watchtower before the news cameras.[40]
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Superman testified before the High Court of Rimbor, explaining, not for the first time, how the League was compelled to attack the planet. The trial remained ongoing as the League refused to bribe their way to freedom.[41]
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The arrival of the Warworld in Earth orbit caused worldwide disasters due to the gravitational effects of the massive vessel. Justice League members deployed to help.[41]
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While most of the League continued to deal with the problems the Warworld created on Earth,[42] Captain Atom, Captain Marvel, Doctor Fate and Rocket defended Earth from Mongul's attacks and launched a counter-assault on the Warworld's surface. Meanwhile, the Team infiltrated the satellite and disbaled it.[41]
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Following the capture of most of the Team, and the loss of the Warworld's crystal key, the League began a full-time vigil over the key chamber. Rocket and Captain Marvel held the first watch.[43]
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The accused Leaguers were pronounced guilty of the charges laid against them.[12]
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After Miss Martian, Superboy and Adam Strange presented new evidence—a video recording of the Light admitting their subjugation of the League—and convinced the Tribune of the future profitability of a fair verdict in the case, the accused Leaguers were found innocent and released.[12]
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A group of forty heroes, including all the Leaguers on Earth, gathered for a briefing on the plan to stop the Magnetic Field Disruptors planted by the Reach to destroy Earth. The heroes paired off and attacked the MFDs simultaneously. Within thirty minutes, the twenty MFDs were disabled.[12]
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The Leaguers returning from Rimbor arrived at the ruins of Mount Justice. They were soon greeted by the Team.[12]
In late June,[44] the whole Justice League attended Wally West's funeral.[45]
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Captain Atom turned over chairmanship of the League to Black Canary. Later, Batman, Canary and the Team's mentors gathered to tell the Team that they would now operate from the Watchtower beside the League.[12]
2016-2018[]
The fallout of the Rimbor incident forced the League to repair its reputation. In 2016,[46] they split in two: one group traveled to space, and one stayed on Earth. Superman, Wonder Woman, Hawkman, Hawkwoman and Guy Gardner and others formed the away team. To counter this division, the roster was expanded. Kaldur'ahm succeeded his mentor as Aquaman, and Batwoman,[13] Blue Devil, Elongated Man,[14] Fire,[47] Hardware,[13] Ice,[14] Katana,[13] Magog[14] and Steel[13] joined. The group on Earth was limited by stricter and stricter regulations from the United Nations, championed by rogue nations like Greater Bialya and Rhelasia.[18]
2018[]
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Feeling the League could not escape the Light's spin, Batman and Green Arrow staged a walkout, taking several associated with them from the League and the Team.[13] Unbeknownst to the other Leaguers, co-chairs Aquaman and Wonder Woman were aware of this plan and agreed with it. Batman formed his own team to operate without U.N. scrutiny.[48] Black Lightning resigned on his own accord, after accidentally killing a child on an earlier mission weighed down his conscience.[13]
2019[]
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Batman and Nightwing set up an all-hands meeting for the League, The Team, the Outsiders and their own operatives. They came clean about their secret involvement in the Outsiders; they had orchestrated most of their successes to create a team that could better the public image of heroes and combat the Light in ways the League and Team couldn't.
For their complicity in the plot, Aquaman and Wonder Woman stepped down as leaders, as did Miss Martian for the Team. The recently rejoined Black Lightning, who had proven himself a moral compass in recent months, was unanimously elected new leader. Under his terms, the League would no longer scheme in the shadows, and Batman and his operatives folded back into the League and Team.[14]
2019-2020[]
Cyborg joined the League.[49][50]
Black Lightning placed a new emphasis on mental health, and had Black Canary and Miss Martian check in with members of the League, the Team and the Outsiders.[51]
Some time between February 2019 and July 2020, a fourth Green Lantern and second Flash joined the League.[52]
2020[]
Following Superboy's presumed death on Mars, the Justice League provideded assistance with the investigation. They had accounted for all known sources of Kryptonite on Earth and the Milky Way galaxy, but as a result they had run out of leads to who was responsible.[53]
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At Phantom Stranger's instigation, Madame Xanadu predicted where Child would create disasters and members of the League, the Team, the Outsiders and mystic heroes were dispatched to deal with them.[15]
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After dealing with the blizzard and pillar of fire created by Child, Superman suggested to Black Lightning that they needed to create an official reserve system to deal with such major crises.[15]
On July 3, Orin decided to return to the League as Aquaman. He suggested La'gaan also join as a third Aquaman. Kaldur'ahm began a leave of absence at this time,[52] which lasted approximately one month.[54] The new and returning Aquamen were later accepted.[55][56]
Lightning decided to pursue the reserves idea, and a recruitment committee was set up. On or around August 26, Superman met with Lightning on the Watchtower to recommend a number of specific candidates, as well as possible further recruitment from Russia, China, Themyscira, Atlantis and Geranium City. He talked about possible alliances with Mars and Thanagar, as well as the upcoming talks between the League, New Genesis and the Green Lantern Corps being led by Rocket. He also considered Markovia, but expressed doubts about whether Brion Markov's Infinitors could be trusted.[16]
Roster[]
Leaders[]
- Batman (2010 – Unknown)
- Captain Atom (late November 2015 – July 4, 2016)
- Black Canary (July 4, 2016 – prior to July 4, 2018)
- Aquaman II (prior to July 4, 2018 – February 24, 2019)
- Wonder Woman (prior to July 4, 2018 – February 24, 2019)
- Black Lightning (February 24, 2019 – Present)
Founders[]
- Aquaman (Orin/Arthur Curry)[57][58] (retired prior to July 4, 2018, rejoined on or shortly after July 3, 2020)[59][52]
- Batman (Bruce Wayne)[58] (resigned July 27, 2018, rejoined February 24, 2019)[13][14]
- Flash (Barry Allen)[58]
- Green Lantern (Hal Jordan)[58]
- Martian Manhunter (J'onn J'onzz/John Jones)[58]
- Superman (Kal-El/Clark Kent)[58]
- Wonder Woman (Diana/Diana Prince)[58][60]
Other inducted members[]
Prior to 2010[]
- Black Canary (Dinah Lance) (inducted in August, 2008)[31]
- Captain Atom (Nathaniel Adams/Cameron Scott)[61] (inducted in August, 2008)[31]
- Captain Marvel/Shazam (Billy Batson) (inducted in August, 2008)[31]
- Green Arrow (Oliver Queen) (inducted in May, 2004,[27] resigned July 27, 2018,[13] rejoined February 24, 2019)[14]
- Green Lantern (John Stewart) (inducted in August, 2008)[31]
- Hawkman (Katar Hol)[62] (inducted in May, 2004)[27]
- Hawkwoman (Shayera Thal)[62] (inducted in May, 2004)[27]
- Red Tornado (John Smith) (inducted in August, 2008)[31]
Inducted in 2010[]
- Atom (Ray Palmer) (inducted on December 30, 2010)[3]
- Doctor Fate (Nabu) (replaced Zatara;[1] officially inducted on December 30, 2010)[3]
- Icon (Arnus/Augustus Freeman)[63][64] (inducted on December 30, 2010)[3]
- Plastic Man (Patrick "Eel" O'Brien)[65] (inducted on December 30, 2010,[3] resigned July 27, 2018,[13] rejoined February 24, 2019)[14]
Between 2011 and 2016[]
- Black Lightning (Jefferson Pierce)[66] (inducted after January 1, 2011,[37] resigned July 27, 2018,[13] rejoined February 24, 2019)[14]
- Green Lantern (Guy Gardner) (inducted in 2012)[67]
- Rocket (Raquel Ervin)[37] (inducted November 2015)[68]
- Zatanna (Zatanna Zatara)[37] (inducted November 2015)[68]
Between 2016 and 2018[]
- Aquaman (Kaldur'ahm)[13] (inducted around December 2017)[69]
- Batwoman (inducted around December 2017,[69] resigned July 27, 2018,[13] rejoined February 24, 2019)[14]
- Blue Devil (inducted after July 4, 2016)[14]
- Elongated Man (inducted around 2017)[70]
- Fire (inducted around December 2017)[69]
- Hardware (inducted around December 2017,[69] resigned July 27, 2018,[13] rejoined February 24, 2019)[14]
- Ice (inducted around December 2017)[69]
- Katana (inducted around December 2017,[71] resigned July 27, 2018,[13] rejoined February 24, 2019)[14]
- Magog (inducted in 2017)[72][14]
- Steel (inducted around December 2017)[71]
Between 2019 and 2020[]
- Aquaman (La'gaan) (inducted between July 3, 2020 and August 26, 2020)[52][16]
- Cyborg (Victor Stone) (inducted between February 24, 2019 and March 23, 2020)[49][50]
- Flash (Jay Garrick) (inducted between February 2019 and July 2020)[52]
- Green Lantern (a fourth Green Lantern was inducted between February 2019 and July 2020)[52]
- Metamorpho (inducted February 24, 2019)[14]
Support staff[]
- Catherine Cobert: the League's public affairs officer.[37]
- Lucas Carr: An associate of the League in his youth,[29] he briefly returned and served as mission coordinator during the Reach's attack with Magnetic Field Disruptors.[12]
Former members[]
- Zatara (Giovanni Zatara): inducted in August, 2008.[31] After donning the Helmet of Fate on November 6, 2010,[73] he was listed as "on leave".[74] He did not return to active duty after Doctor Fate moved to rotating hosts.[16]
- Blue Beetle (Ted Kord): joined after November 1, 2011,[75][76] murdered in July 2015.[77]
- Red Arrow (Roy Harper's clone): inducted on December 30, 2010,[3] left the Justice League to search for Speedy on his own.[35]
Allies[]
- The Team: acts as the League's covert ops unit for secret missions.[32]
- Outsiders: acts as group of young heroes in the limelight, not publicly affiliated with the Justice League, but still covertly answers to the Team.[78]
- Adam Strange: is a scientist at STAR Labs who maintains the League's Zeta-Beam technology.[37]
- New Genesis: signed a treaty with the League in August 2020.[79]
- Green Lantern Corps: signed a treaty with the League in August 2020.[79]
Designation numbers[]
- Main article: Designation
Each member of the Justice League has a membership number, which is read out when they enter restricted areas of the Hall of Justice.[7] With the exception of the seven founders, who have designations 01 to 07, these designations indicate the order of the members' induction into the League.[24] For the founders, their designations indicate the order in which they had arrived to battle the Appellaxians, before the League was formed.[80]
The following numbers are known:
- 01: Superman[55]
- 02: Batman[7]
- 03: Wonder Woman[81]
- 04: Flash[7]
- 05: Green Lantern (Hal Jordan)[81]
- 06: Aquaman (Orin)[7]
- 07: Martian Manhunter[7]
- 08: Green Arrow[7]
- 09: Hawkman[81]
- 10: Hawkwoman[81]
- 11: Zatara[82]
- 12: Captain Atom[81]
- 13: Black Canary[3]
- 14: Green Lantern (John Stewart)[81]
- 15: Captain Marvel/Shazam[83]
- 16: Red Tornado[7]
- 17: Doctor Fate[35]
- 18: Atom[3]
- 19: Plastic Man[81]
- 20: Icon[3]
- 21: Red Arrow[35]
- 22: Blue Beetle[81]
- 23: Black Lightning[13]
- 24: Green Lantern (Guy Gardner)[81]
- 25: Zatanna[37]
- 26: Rocket[37]
- 27: Aquaman (Kaldur'ahm)[13]
- 36: Steel[13]
- 39: Cyborg[84]
- 45: Aquaman (La'gaan)[56]
Appearances[]
- Season 1
- 01. "Independence Day"
- 02. "Fireworks"
- 05. "Schooled"
- 12. "Homefront"
- 14. "Revelation"
- 16. "Failsafe"
- 22. "Agendas"
- 25. "Usual Suspects"
- 26. "Auld Acquaintance"
- Season 2
- 01. "Happy New Year"
- 03. "Alienated"
- 15. "War"
- 20. "Endgame"
- Season 3
- 01. "Princes All"
- 08. "Triptych"
- 14. "Influence"
- 23. "Terminus"
- 24. "Into the Breach"
- 25. "Overwhelmed"
- 26. "Nevermore"
- Season 4
- Companion comics
- 00. "Stopover"
- 01. "Haunted"
- 02. "Monkey Business"
- 05. "What's the Story?"
- 06. "Fears"
- 08. "Wonderland"