JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA

The Justice League Library

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Eras in Publishing and Continuity

Founding Members

The JLA in Other Media

Justice League Online

Introduction

The Justice League Library (formerly FAQ) is one of the longest standing DC fan pages on the Web. Though admittedly text-heavy, my aim has been to provide fans with an easily accessible onIine reference volume of Justice League information. Here you'll find the essential and the super-trivial. To this end, the Library has grown to also include much other DC Universe information as well.

This, like my Legion section sprang from my own curiosity. All I really wanted to know was: "So... who was a member of this team?" Well, that (not-so-simple) list spawned this monstrous library. I'm proud of this site (it was once recommended in Wizard #124), and of the fact that it is hand-coded, and free from ads and other noise.

Input from fans helps me keep this site fresh! If, as you peruse, should find outdated or incomplete material, I encourage you to send me your corrections, additions, suggestions, etc. I aim for accuracty. It's more than just my site, it's a resource for all DC Comics' fandom.

*** If you maintain a JLA or DC site and intend to "put it to sleep," drop me a line! I can surely integrate your material into this Library.

The rest of this page providea a sort of "Justice League 101," to help guide you through the team and this site.

 

Eras in Publishing and Continuity

+ Original/Pre-Crisis (1960–1987)

The original Justice League was engineered by editor Julius Schwartz and Golden Age writer Gardner Fox. Schwartz had recently envisioned the new Green Lantern and Flash, and this “Silver Age” of heroes were brought together in the same spirit as their Golden Age counterparts, the Justice Society of America. In 196?, the JLA would meet the JSA. They resided on Earths-One and -Two, respectively. In this era, the team added members only sporadically. Key creators: Gardner Fox, Mike Sekowsky, Dick Dillin, Denny O’Neil, Gerry Conway, George Pérez.

Series:

  • Justice League of America v.1, 261 issues (1960–87)
 

+ Post-Crisis/New Earth (1986–1996)

The Justice League Sourcebook (1990)

With the conclusion of Crisis on Infinite Earths, DC's "infinite Earths" were collapsed into one, and the histories for DC's "Big Three"—Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman—was significantly rewritten. Although Superman and Batman were still around at the time of the JLA’s formation, they were no longer founding members. For years, writers struggled to explain these circumstances.  Eventually, Batman and Superman were reinserted into continuity (as sort of reserve members). Wonder Woman's post-Crisis history began many years after the formation of the JLA. The post-Crisis boom in popularity led to a broadening of Justice League family to include Justice League Europe and Task Force, and the corresponding swell in membership. Key creators: Keith Giffen, J.M. DeMatteis, Kevin Maguire, Bart Sears, Adam Hughes, Dan Jurgens, Gerard Jones, Chuck Wojtkiewicz.

Series:

  • Justice League/Justice League International v.1/Justice League America, 113 issues (1987–96)
  • Justice League Europe/Justice League International v.2, 68 issues (1989–94)
  • Justice League Quarterly, 17 issues (1990–94)
  • Justice League Task Force, 37 issues (1993–96)
  • Extreme Justice, 18 issues (1995–96)
 

+ The Big Seven (1997–2006)

Many years after the post-Crisis formula began to fail, DC greenlit a fundamental revival of the team based on the original seven members, by Grant Morrison. This was not a reboot, but a re-assembling of the original seven members (two of them now successors to the roles). It was a runaway success and spawned endless mini-series and specials, though no other ongoing series. With each new creative team, new first-time members joined. During this time, the Justice League and Justice League Unlimited cartoons aired, and there were animated-style comics to go with them. With some controversy, the cartoon's founding members were altered to represent better diversity: John Stewart was Green Lantern, and Hawkgirl replaced Aquaman. Key creators: Grant Morrison, Howard Porter, Bryan Hitch, Mark Waid, Joe Kelly, Dough Mahnke.

Series:

  • JLA, 125 issues (1997–2006)
  • Justice League Adventures, 34 issues (2002–04). Based on the animated series.
  • Justice League Unlimited, 46 issues (2004–08). Based on the animated series.
 

+ Post-Infinite Crisis (2006-2011)

This era rather completed a sort of “mirrored history” of the Justice League. As with Morrison's revival, it was not a total reboot but this Crisis altered the DCU timeline again and restored Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman as founding members. The rebuilt team featured a roster that harkened somewhat back to the 1970s. This concept quickly devolved as DC editors once again mandated that the main three heroes could not appear in JLA due to the circumstances in their solo titles. Regardless, some great storytelling ensued, involving some novel membership rosters.  Key creators: Brad Meltzer, Ed Benes, Dwayne McDuffie, James Robinson, Mark Bagley.

Series:

  • Justice League of America v.2, 60 issues (2006–11)
 

+ DCnU

In late 2011, the Justice League was chosen to anchor "DCnU/New 52" reboot of the entire DC Universe. Creators Geoff Johns and Jim Lee introduced a roster designed to maximize attention on certain characters in the DCU, most notably Aquaman, whom Johns revived to much fanfare. The addition of Cyborg instead of the Martian Manhunter is an example of DC's continuing efforts to include heroes of color across its line. Key creators: Geoff Johns, Jim Lee.

Series:

  • Justice League v.2, current (2011–)
  • Justice League International v.2, current (2011–)
  • Justice League Dark, current (2011–)

JLA in Print  •  JLA  History

 

Founding Members

From Justice League: Year One. Art by Barry Kitson.

This table shows how the interpretation of the team's founders (usually numbering a classic seven) has evolved across publishing eras and different mediums. Green Lantern is the only character consistent across all incarnations (though not always the same Green Lantern).

Comicdom now has a certain reverence for the "magic number seven" when it comes to team rosters, a number which owes to the Justice League's original line-up (the Justice Society was founded by eight).

JLA Membership • Allies and Branches

Original Post-Crisis Big Seven Animated Post-Infinite Crisis DCnU
Aquaman Aquaman Aquaman an ally deceased at the time Aquaman
Batman removed Batman Batman Batman Batman
joined later Black Canary no membership joined later Black Canary no membership
no membership no membership no membership joined later Black Lightning no membership
no membership no membership no membership no membership joined later Cyborg
Flash II (Barry Allen) Flash II (Barry Allen) Flash III (Wally West) Flash III (Wally West) joined later (Wally) Flash (Barry Allen)
Green Lantern II (Hal Jordan) Green Lantern II (Hal Jordan) Green Lantern V (Kyle Rayner) Green Lantern III (John Stewart) Green Lantern II (Hal Jordan) Green Lantern (Hal Jordan)
joined later joined later joined later Hawkgirl(Shayera Hol) Hawkgirl II (Kendra Saunders) an Earth-2 character
Martian Manhunter Martian Manhunter Martian Manhunter Martian Manhunter deceased at the time joined after foundation
no membership no membership no membership no membership Red Arrow no membership
joined later joined later no membership joined later Red Tornado no membership
Superman removed Superman Superman Superman Superman
  joined later joined later joined later Vixen joined J.L. International
Wonder Woman removed Wonder Woman Wonder Woman Wonder Woman Wonder Woman
 

The JLA in Other Media

JLA on TV  •  Collectibles  •  Elseworlds > Super Friends  •  JLA in Print

 

Justice League Online


Justice League in Print  •  DCU Links  •  Justice League Animated Links

Art by Ed McGuiness From JLA: Classified #1. Art by Ed McGuiness

» America Online: AOL Chat with Grant Morrison (15 July 1997).
I saved a transcript of one of the original online chats with Grant Morrison (from early in his run). Some things are interesting in retrospect.

» WORTH IT! The Captain's U:nofficial Justice League Homepage
Fantastic site where you can keep up on JLA news. Great profiles and general info.
(Jason Kirk; http://league.jmkprime.org)

» Cartoon Network: Timm Talks JUSTICE LEAGUE (5 December 2001).
DC Comics' greatest superheroes make their small screen debut in Cartoon Network's JUSTICE LEAGUE

» Comicon.com: Bruce Timm on Justice League Animated, Season Two (23 April 2003).

» Comic Book Resources Articles

» DC Comics: Message Boards
 Discuss JLA or any of DC's publications here.

» Fanzing: The JLA issues: #4 and #29
This online zine is an awesome place for fan-written articles, fiction and artwork!
(Michael Hutchinson; http://www.fanzing.com/mag/fanzing04/index.shtml)

» JLA/Avengers Cross-Over Port
 (http://members.fortunecity.com/jlaavenger/id45.htm)

» The Justice League Watchtower
Dedicated to the JL animated series.
(http://jl.toonzone.net/)

» Newsarama Articles

» Seanbaby's Super Friends Page
Wonderful profiles and video clips!
(http://www.seanbaby.com/super.htm)

» USA Today: 'Generation Lost' brings the JLI back into action (12 May 2010)

» Wikipedia: Justice League
 The free online encyclopedia!
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Justice_League)

» Yahoo! Groups
 There are actually (too) many Yahoo! JLA clubs. Do a search on this page.
(http://clubs.yahoo.com)

» Warner Bros.: JLA Cartoon Official Press Release (25 January 2001)