| Sequence of Events |
Issue (Date) |
| See also: Chronology
of the Pre-20th Century |
| 20,000 Years Ago: The Guardians of the Universe are drawn to the Mars, where a savage, burning race threatens to soon bring chaos to the universe. The Guardians modify the Martians' genetic makeup so that they can no longer burn or asexually reproduce. They are engineered with a weakness to flame and the green and white Martian races are born. Before this, one rogue Martian reaches Earth and slaughters thousands of people. Vandal Savage's people call it Dakath, the Burning. After several months, Savage succeeds in slaughtering it. He locks Dakath's skull in another dimension. |
JLA2 #84-87 (10-11.03) |
| Starro, the Conqueror begins life as a boy named Cobi,
of Hatorei. His peoples' shared psychic link leads to their enslavement
by Star parasites. As the Starro motherstar dies, it hatches new
queens, and Cobi's brother, Andrez, plots to kill them. The
remaining queen possesses Cobi, who then kills his brother. Enraged,
Cobi tears the star from his face and absorbs the psychic essence
of his race. The backlash overwhelms the star queen, who attaches
to Cobi's chest and is enslaved by him. Their combined psychic
powers allow them to enslave whole galaxies with spores. NOTES: Timeframe
is unknown. Starro's spores first appeared in Brave & Bold #28
(2.60). Starro (Cobi) first appeared in R.E.B.E.L.S. v.2 #5 (8.09). |
REBELS v2 Annual #1 (2010) |
| THE OBSIDIAN AGE OF ATLANTIS: 1000 BCE |
| 1043 BCE: Because of superstition, the blond-haired child, Gamemnae is expelled from underwater Atlantis.1020 BCE: Gamemnae returns to Atlantis as a great sorceress.
She raises the city above the water and becomes its ruler. This
act binds her soul to the continent and gives her godlike powers.
The bond cannot be broken unless the continent itself is destroyed.
NOTE: Follow the 21st century events here. |
JLA2 #75 (1.03) |
| The statesman, Rama Khan travels from Jarhanpur to Atlantis. He is ensnared by Gamemnae, and the pair leads the nation to greatness. This is Atlantis' "Obsidian Age." |
JLA2 #70 (L10.02) |
| 1015 BCE: As part of a
magical contingency plan, all of 21st Century Atlantis is shunted
3,000 years into the past. They find it has been raised above sea
level and many suffocate. Aquaman leads the survivors to the water.
He is soon trapped in aqueous form in a magical pool by Gamemnae.
The Atlanteans are enslaved beneath the water. |
JLA: Our Worlds at War #1 (2001), JLA2 #72 (L11.02) |
| 1004 BCE: Rama Khan and Gamemnae recruit heroes from across the globe (and rival societies) to form a multicultural League of Ancients: the Annointed One, Manitou Raven, Sela, Tezumak and the Whaler). This is Atlantis' "Obsidian Age." |
JLA2 #70 (L10.02), JLA/JSA Secret Files (1.03) |
| In response to a dire prophecy by Gamemnae, Manitou Raven and Tezumak travel to the 21st century to destroy the JLA. |
JLA2 #66 (7.02) |
| 1000 BCE: The JLA cast a spell and arrive in Atlantis to find Aquaman. |
JLA2 #68 (9.02) |
| Part 2: Raven and Tezumak return from the future. They alert the Ancients that the JLA have arrived as well. The JLA discover Aquaman's essence, trapped in a pool. |
JLA2 #70 (L10.02) |
| Part 4: The JLA locate
Mera and the remains of 21st century Atlantis. She explains how
Atlantis' fabled "Chronicles" had been altered to reflect
a golden era of peace. This is what misled Aquaman to lead them
to this time period. |
JLA2 #72 (L11.02) |
| Part 6: The JLA are slain by the Ancients, but Green Lantern's bravery convinces Raven to switch sides. He uses GL's heart as a sacrifice in order to save the JLA's souls. Raven uses this power to cast a containment spell around Atlantis, effectively trapping Gamemnae. |
JLA2 #74 (E12.02) |
| Part 7: The JLA's successors arrive with a plan: they free Aquaman from the pool. He then re-sinks Atlantis, breaking Gamemnae's soul-bond to the continent and nullifying her magicks. (This returns Aquaman to human form.) Raven and his wife, Dawn, sneak through the portal to the future along with the returning Atlanteans. |
JLA2 #75 (1.03) |
| June 10, 1916: Morpheus, the Lord of Dreams is imprisoned. His ruby passes through several hands, eventually becoming Dr. Destiny's "Materioptikon." |
Sandman v.2 #1 (1.89) |
The
Golden Age
SEE ALSO: JSA Chronology. |
| 1939: Thanagarian agent Paran Katar arrives on Earth and, using the name Perry Carter, befriends Carter
Hall (Hawkman). Paran Katar surreptitiously helps Carter develop his ninth metal (alternately, "nth metal") harness, which allows him to defy gravity. NOTES: Carter's use of the metal as Hawkman later inspires Paran to form the winged police of Thanagar. This Annual contains an essay on changing continuity by Mike Gold. |
Hawkworld Annual #1 (1991) |
| 1940: The Justice Society of America (1st app.) forms: Atom, Dr.
Fate, Flash, Green
Lantern, Hawkman, Hourman, Sandman, Spectre. RETCON: in pre-Crisis continuity, this roster included Superman and Batman. |
All-Starm Comics #3 (Win.40) |
| December 6-7, 1941: More than a thousand American soldiers
die at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii when the Japanese attack. America's heroes
learn about the Japanese attack and President Franklin D. Roosevelt
asks them to mobilize all costumed heroes—including the JSA—to form
an All-Star
Squadron.
Degaton also launches an attack on San Francisco. |
All-Star Squadron #1 (9.81) |
| |
|
| Petty crook Patrick "Eel" O'Brian gains
the power to stretch his body and change his shape after being
doused with acid. Renouncing his life of crime, he becomes Plastic
Man. NOTES: The
weight of current evidences suggests that Plastic Man is from the
Golden Age, not Silver Age as amended by Zero Hour #0. Police was
published by Quality Comics. His 1st DC app. was Plastic Man #1
(1966). |
Police Comics #1 (8.41) |
| June 30, 1941: By distributing year 2000 technology in 1941, T.O. Morrow attempts to conquer Earth. The JLA travel back in time to recollect the items, but are captured by the Spectre and a suspicious JSA. 1st app. Spider & Fly. |
DC2000 #1 (2000) |
| July 1, 1941: The JSA are shown what future T.O. Morrow hopes to build. Finding it more horrific than the the JLA's future, they release the JLA and defeat Morrow. When the JLA return to the future, the JSA lose all memory of the event. |
DC2000 #2 (2000) |
| Dec. 1941: President Roosevelt ponders the formation of an All-Star Squadron — the United States' super-battalion. |
JLofA #193 (8.81) |
| Dec. 1941: The United States declares war against Japan. Joining the war effort, many heroes band to form the All-Star Squadron to fight Axis forces. |
All-Star Squadron #1-67 (9.81-2.87) |
| 1942: The JLA, JSA, and All-Star Squadron stop Per Degaton from conquering the world. When defeated, Per Degaton is sent back to 1947 and all participants lose knowledge of the event. RETCON: This team-up heavily involved the Crime
Syndicate and Earth-Prime and so may not exist at all in post-Crisis continuity |
JLofA #207-209 (10-12.82), All-Star
Squadron #14-15 (10-11.82) |
| World War II: Soldier Joseph Jones becomes General
Glory. On a mission to destroy a secret Nazi installation, Glory parachutes over the Arctic Circle and plummets into the icy waters. Though he is rescued, he forgets the magic words to activate his power. |
JLA #48-50
(3-5.91) |
| Late October 1948: When the Seven
Soldiers of Victory are betrayed by their comrade, the Spider, they are are scattered throughout time by the Nebula Man. The Crimson Avenger's partner Wing dies in defeating the Nebula Man. The Vigilante's partner Billy Gunn also dies, at the hands of the Spider. |
JLofA
#100-102 (8-10.72), Stars & S.T.R.I.P.E. #9 (4.00) |
| 1951: The JSA is forced into retirement. |
Adventure #466 (11-12.79) |
| 1957: Upon the creation of the
European Economic Community, member nations also establish the
Dome, a supra-national police organization. The Dome's
main operative, Dr. Mist, later forms the Global
Guardians. NOTE: In post-Infinte Crisis continuity, many of
the original Dome operatives did not debut until after Batman.
The history of the Dome is uncertain. |
Infinity, Inc. #34 (1.87) |
| The Silver Age |
| 35 Years Ago: Traumatized by the loss
of his people, J'onn
J'onzz is accidentally transported
from Mars to Earth by Dr. Erdel. He soon adopts the identity
of the deceased detective John Jones. He operates covertly
for years, until other super-heroes debut. NOTE: Although
the Martian Manhunter debuted in print prior to the
Flash, his popularity wasn't sufficient to be generally considered
the first Silver Age hero. |
Detective #225 (11.55) |
| As the planet Krypton explodes Jor-El and his
wife Lara prepare their infant son, Kal-El, for an interstellar
voyage. Kal-El's ship is launched into space moments before
the planet's destruction, bound for Earth. NOTES: Post-Infinite
Crisis Superman continuity is governed by Superman:
Birthright maxi-series. This series took cues from
both the "Smallville" television
series, the Superman movie
series, and the "Legion
of Super-Heroes" cartoon series, all of which show
a young Clark Kent gradually coming into his powers, but never
taking the name "Superboy." In post-Infinite Crisis
continuity, he is not Krypton's sole survivor. |
(Action #1, 6.38); (Superman: Birthright #1,
9.03) |
| 35 Years Ago: Kal-El's rocket lands in
Smallville, where he is found and adopted by Jonathan and Martha
Kent and given the name Clark Kent. The boy's powers
develop gradually and do not fully manifest until he is almost
18 years old. NOTES: Superman's
foster parents first appeared in Superman #1 (Sum.39). Action #1
(6.38) said only that he was found by "a passing motorist." Jonathan
Kent was first named in Adventure #149 (2.50), Martha
Kent in Superboy #12 (2.51). Superman Secret Files #1
described Superman as 35 years old. |
Superman v.1 #1 (Sum.39), Man
of Steel v.1 #1 (6.86) |
| 35 Years Ago: Bruce Wayne is born to Thomas and Martha Wayne. NOTE: Date based on Bruce Wayne's age (25) in the "Batman: Year One" story. |
Batman #404 (2.87) |
| 35 Years Ago: Queen Atlanna of Atlantis gives birth to Orin, whose lineage enables him to communicate with sea creatures. |
Aquaman Secret Files #1 |
| 35 Years Ago: Ray Palmer is born. |
DCU Heroes Secret Files #1 |
| 31 Years Ago: Dinah Laurel Lance is born to Dinah Drake and Larry Lance. Dinah's "canary cry" does
not appear until she is an adolescent. NOTES: Date based on JLA: Year One #1, which says she was 19 at the JLA's formation. This contradicts Starman Annual #2, which says Dinah was born a year before David Knight (35 years ago). Dinah's pre-Crisis origin was told in Justice League of America #220, the post-Crisis version in Secret Origins #50. |
JLofA #220 (11.83), Secret Origins #50 (8.90), JL:YO #1 (1.98) |
| 30 Years Ago: J'onn J'onzz adopts the identity of the Bronze Wraith and fights crime alongside the Justice Experience. |
Chase #6 (7.98) |
| 30 Years Ago: John Zatara meets Sindella of the Homo magi race in Turkey. They relocate to America and their daughter, Zatanna, is born within a year. Several months later, Sindella fakes her death in a car crash to spare Zatanna from being captured by the Homo magi. |
JLofA #164 (3.79), DCU Heroes Secret Files #1 |
| 25 Years Ago: All members of the Justice Experience are killed by their foe, Dr. Trap. The Justice Society rescues J'onn (the Bronze Wraith) from the same fate and capture Dr. Trap. |
Martian Manhunter #17 (4.00) |
| 25 Years Ago: Gotham City
socialites Thomas and Martha Wayne are murdered by a mugger,
leaving their nine-year-old son Bruce an orphan. |
Batman Secret Files #1 (11.97) |
| 25 Years Ago: Captain Nathaniel Adam disappears for 20 years when an Air Force experiment goes awry. |
Captain Atom #1 (3.87) |
| 21 Years ago: The African nation of M'Changa achieves independence, led by Reverend Richard Jiwe, who is elected President. The day after elections, his half-brother, General Mustapha Maksai, stages a coup assassinates Jiwe. Jiwe's daughter disappears and is presumed dead. In truth, she survives and takes the name Mari McCabe. |
JLofA #234 |
| 17 Years Ago: Bruce Wayne begins a world-wide odyssey to develop the skills he will need to fight crime. |
Batman Secret Files #1 (11.97) |
| 17 Years Ago: At different times, Ted Grant (Wildcat) trains Dinah Lance and Bruce Wayne and in the pugilistic arts. |
Secret Origins #50 (8.90), JLA2 #31 (6.99) |
| 16 Years Ago: 15-year-old Dinah Laurel Lance succeeds her mother as Black Canary II and invstigates a poll-fixing scandal. NOTE: First chronological appearance; she does yet possess her "canary cry." |
Black Canary v.2 #1 (1.93) |
| 14 years ago: Oliver Queen refuses a request for money from Anton Allegro, who vows revenge. Later, as Green Arrow, he foils Allegro's bank robbery and causes his deafness. NOTE: Six years before the JLofA #163. |
JLofA #163 |
| 14 Years Ago: On the planet Thanagar, the evil Byth plans the downfall of his enemy, Paran Katar. Paran's son, Katar Hol saves the life of a very special girl (Shayera Thal II). This girl is the illegitimate daughter of Shayera Thal (I). NOTE: Placement in continuity is based on Hol's 10-year exile. The little girl is later revealed to be the first Shayera's illegitimate daughter. |
Hawkworld v.1 #1 (1989) |
| Shayera Thal is killed in an explosion. Byth tricks Katar Hol into killing his own father; Hol is subsequently arrested and imprisoned on the Isle of Chance. After this, Byth is promoted to Thanagar's highest post: Administrator of Protection. NOTE: After this, the young girl from issue #1 is rescued by her grandfather, who renames her Shayera Thal II. |
Hawkworld v.1 #2 (1989) |
| A young Arthur Curry meets Princess Diana of Themyscira. |
Aquaman Annual #1 (1995) |
| The
New Age of Heroes |
| January 4: Bruce Wayne returns to Gotham
City. 1st app. James Gordon and Selina Kyle. NOTES: The
post-Crisis history of Batman developed gradually. As official
stories such as Batman: Year One were told,
the principal characters' histories changed retroactively.
Batman's 1st historical app. was Detective Comics #27
(5.39). |
Batman #404 (2.87) |
| Clark Kent interviews for a job at the Metropolis
newspaper, The Daily Planet. He meets Jimmy Olsen and
Lois Lane. When a terrorist robot
opens fire on the Daily Planet building, Clark ducks out to
don his costume and confront it. |
Superman: Birthright #4 (12.03) |
| The Daily Planet dubs Clark "Superman" and
Clark is hired as a reporter. NOTE: Superman's
1st historical app. was Action Comics #1 (6.38). |
Superman: Birthright #5 (1.04) |
| April: Bruce Wayne adopts the guise of Batman (Batman #405). 1st app. of Harvey Dent. |
Bataman #405 (3.87) |
| Superman meets Batman. NOTE: This
tale has not been told for post-Infinite Crisis continuity.
The post-Crisis version was Man of Steel v.1 #3 (1986) |
* |
| Princess Diana
of Themyscira wins
a contest to become the Amazons' ambassador to the outside
world. The media dubs her Wonder
Woman. NOTE: In post-Infinite
Crisis continuity, Wonder Woman debuted around the same time
as the other Justice League founders. This retcons her post-Crisis
origin, in which she debuted years later. Wonder Woman's
first historical appearance was All-Star
Comics #8
(1942). The Trinity mini-series asserts that she was
active for some time before meeting Superman and Batman. |
* |
| When Ra's al Ghul uses Bizarro to transport
a nuclear warhead, the bomb detonates near Paradise Island.
This draws Wonder Woman into first contact with Superman. (#1) He
takes her to meet Batman, who is also on the case. (#2) After
she is forced to revive herself in a Lazarus Pit, they visit
Diana on Themyscira. Batman encounters Aquaman for the first
time, while in his submarine. (#3) NOTES: This
series was the first to reverse post-Crisis continuity, reinstating
Wonder Woman as a Silver Age hero. It's unclear whether writer
Matt Wagner was told to make this change in anticipation of
the Infinite Crisis. It keeps Bizarro's origin from Man
of Steel #5 (1986) intact. It also depicts Robin, which
is probably apocryphal, since most sources assert that Robin
did not debut until the third year of Batman's career. 1st
chronological app. of the Bana-Mighdall Amazon Artemis (III).
Diana is already in possession of her invisible jet, described
as "alien." This series did not bear the "Elseworlds"
icon, which was discontinued around this time. |
Batman/Superman/Wonder Woman: Trinity (2003) |
| The public debut of the Flash II, Barry Allen (1st app.). |
Showcase #4 (9.56) |
| The public debut of Green Lantern II, Hal Jordan (1st app.). |
Showcase #22 (9.58) |
| The public debut of Aquaman; he meets the Flash
and helps defeat the Trickster. NOTE: Aquaman's
first historical appearance was More Fun
Comics #73 (November
1941). Silver Age app was. Adventure
Comics #260,
5.59) |
Aquaman: Time & Tide #1 (12.93) |
| Socialite brat Oliver Queen is stranded by
his aide, Hacket, on a desert island where he hones
his skill and brings down the heroin distributor called China
White.
A local woman dubs him Green
Arrow. NOTES: Green
Arrow's first historical appearance was More
Fun Comics #73 (11.41). A similar origin was told in Secret Origins v.2 #38 (3.89). Green
Arrow v.2 #3 (1988) also contains an editorial rundown
of his origins. |
Green Arrow: Year One #1-6 (09-11.07) |
| Aquaman meets Superman. |
Aquaman Annual #1 (1995) |
| The public debut of Atom II, Ray Palmer (1st app.). |
Showcase #34 (3.59) |
| August 7: Selina Kyle changes careers from dominatrix to burglar, becoming Catwoman. |
Batman #406 (4.87) |
| J'onn J'onzz goes public as the Martian Manhunter. |
Detective #273 (11.59) |
JLA: Year One
 |
| Aquaman, Batman, Black Canary, Flash, Green Lantern,
Martian Manhunter, Superman and Wonder Woman defeat the alien Appellax creatures.
This is Black Canary II's
public debut. NOTES: The JLA's post-Crisis
origin was retold in Secret Origins #32,
substituting Black Canary for Wonder Woman and omitting Batman;
Superman did not join thereafter. In post-Infinite Crisis continuity,
the Big Three were added back into this origin in JLofA v.2
#0 and 52 #51 (4.07). The latter story also confirmed Black Canary
as an eighth founder. The JSA
Sourcebook claims
Canary's debut preceeded Flash and Green Lantern, which seems unlikely. |
JLofA
#9 (2.62), JLofA
#200 (3.82), Secret Origins v.2 #32 (11.88), 52 #51 (4.07) |
| After their battle with the Apellaxians, Superman meets Batman and Wonder Woman at the Batcave to discuss the JLA's viability. They join the other five, but their involvement is limited during the League's first year. This meeting establishes a yearly tradition between the three, in the League's interest. NOTES: This flashback reverses post-Crisis continuity, which purposely de-emphasized the Big Three's involvement in the early JLA. |
Justice League of America v.2 #0 (09.06) |
| An unknown eighth Apellaxian inhabits the body of Simor Carr and forms the criminal organization called Locus. Their aim is to prepare proper Terran climate and vessels for Apellaxian colonization. |
JLA: Year One #9 |
| The eight heroes officially form an alliance following
the cleanup of the Appellax creatures (but do not name the group). Locus steals
the corpse of one of the creatures from the League's new base — a
coastal cave in Happy Harbor, Rhode Island. NOTE: This
issue retold the post-Crisis origin with only five founders. In
post-Infinite Crisis continuity, there are eight. |
JL:YO #1 (1.98) |
| Five of the eight charter members hold a press conference in Gotham City at the site of the JSA's former headquarters. There they adopt the name of the Justice League of America. Millionnaire Oliver Queen (Green Arrow) sends Simon Carr to offer the league the resources to set up their headquarters. Queen remains anonymous. Working with Locus, Vandal Savage sends Thorn, Eclipso, Solomon Grundy and Clayface after the JLA. GUEST APPS: Metamorpho, Green Arrow, Batman, Challengers, Blackhawks, Jack Ryder, Green Lantern I & Wildcat. 1ST APPS: Vandal Savage Green Lantern, v.1 #10 (Win.43); Eclipso House of Secrets #61 (8.63); Solomon Grundy All-American #61 (10.44); Thorn Lois Lane #105; Clayface Detective #298 (12/61). |
JL:YO #2 (2.98) |
| The League adopts the cave in Rhode Island as their Secret Sanctuary. It acts as a "Silica Macrochip," storing data. |
Secret Origins #46 (12.89) |
| The League begin to set up their headquarters in Rhode Island. They meet young inventor, Ted Kord (later Blue Beetle), who constructs their security system and they acquire singal devices from S.T.A.R. Labs. They meet Simon's nephew, "Snapper," who becomes their resident handyman. The JLA defeats the Killer Shark. Locus hires T.O. Morrow to help examine the Apellaxian corpse and engineer a host body. |
JL:YO #3 (3.98) |
| Gardner Fox & Mike Sekowsky begin as writer & artist |
| Snapper Carr tips the Justice League of America on how to defeat Starro the Conqueror (1st apps. in print). RETCON: In pre-Crisis Snapper was designated an "honorary" member here. JLA: Year One does not portray him with that distinction. |
Brave & Bold #28 (2.60), JLE #26 (5.91) |
| The Locus gathers some remains of the recently defeated Starro. The Brotherhood of Evil (The Brain, Mallah, Madame Rouge) deliver the Blue Beetle I to Locus for experimentation. The elder Black Canary hosts a birthday party for Wes Dodds (Sandman). The JSA attend, and Dinah, Sr. reveals her former affair with Starman. This news shatters Dinah, Jr.'s view of her idols. NOTE: The Brotherhood of Evil 1st appeared in Doom Patrol #86 (3.64); their history is uncertain in the wake of the 2004 Doom Patrol "reboot." |
JL:YO #4 (4.98) |
| The J.L.of A. is drawn to Alabama, where the Brotherhood of Evil are harvesting bodies for Locus. GUEST APP: Green Arrow. |
JL:YO #5-6 (5-6.98) |
| Having traveled back in time the J.L.I. witness the new J.L.of A. discussing the appointment of a chairperson. By consensus, the Flash is unofficially elected soon thereafter (alluded to in JL:YO #9). NOTE: Over the years, almost every member of the original JLofA is depicted chairing a meeting. Only Flash and Zatanna (#206) are ever mentioned having being elected. |
JLQ #3 (Sum.91) |
| In a matter of weeks, the new JLA encounter several opponents: the Invisible Destroyer, Gorilla Grodd & the Icicle and the Phantom Doom. Bruce Wayne meets Maxwell Lord IV at the Gotham City Exectutive's Club. NOTE: These stories remain untold in their entirety. |
JL:YO #7 (7.98) |
| Superman aids in the defeat of Xotar, the Weapons Master, a man from 10,000 years in the future. Flash is depicted as chairman. NOTE: This tale is also referenced in Action #650 (2.90) & Superman: Man of Steel Annual #4 (1995) |
Brave & Bold #29 (4.60), JL:YO #7 (7.98) |
| Locus readies an army of host bodies engineered from the Appellaxians' remains. Green Arrow expresses interest in joining. Snapper discovers a hidden camera in the Sanctuary which leads the League to discover J'onn's secret files on them all. |
JL:YO #8 (8.98) |
| Snapper discovers that his uncle is possessed by the eighth Apellaxian, their "Kalar" (leader). Locus attacks their former ally, Vandal Savage. The Leaguers' suspicions of J'onn lead to a devastating inferno. |
JL:YO #9 (9.98) |
| Locus begins terraforming the planet for Apellaxian colonization. Snapper warns the JLA about the Kalar's plans and the Flash makes a move to restore trust within the League: he reveals his secret identity. The others follow suit. J'onn discovers that a mental neuroshock can cripple the Apellaxians. |
JL:YO #10 (10.98) |
| The Kalar vacates Simon Carr for a newly-engineered host body. Using the intelligence stolen from the Martian Manhunter, the Kalar orders the capture of Earth's super-heroes, and places them in concentration camps. Simon Carr is freed from the alien possession. |
JL:YO #11 (10.98) |
| Vandal Savage attempts to defeat both the Apellaxians and the heroes by seizing a mindwipe device. J'onn filters the device's energies through his own mind and subdues the aliens. Earth's heroes are freed and together, they send the Apellaxians back to their homeworld. The two Green Lanterns meet for the first time. Hawkman tells the JLA members that the Justice Society considers them worthy successors. NOTES: Includes the JSA, Blackhawks, Freedom Fighters and Global Guardians. The appearances in this story of the Seven Soldiers of Victory (not freed until JLofA #100), and Uncle Sam (who vanished shortly after World War II, explained in Spectre v.3 #38); their apps. should be considered apocryphal. |
JL:YO #12 (11.98) |
| While cleaning up after an earthquake in Milan, Flash and Black Canary unleash the giant skeleton Yask and the fairy Liverstains. Liverstains helps them defeat Yask, but demands the Flash as payment—to eat. He gives up after being beaten by the Flash in a race and by Black Canary in a singing contest. |
JLA Showcase 80-Page Giant #1 (2.00) |
| Ralph Dibny downs the gingold elixir, becoming the Elongated Man. NOTE: His future wife Sue Dearborn first appears in Flash v.1 #119. |
Flash v.1 #112 (4-5.60) |
| The League battles with Amazo and his creator Professor Ivo. |
Brave & Bold #30 (6.60), JLQ #5 (Wtr.91) |
| Adam Strange vanquishes
the Ulthoon, the Tornado Tyrant,
whom he believes destroyed. Instead, the Tyrant begins to roam the
universe. NOTE: Adam Strange 1st appeared
in Showcase #17 (12.58) |
Mystery in Space #61 (8.60) |
| The League battles Despero of Kalanor. |
JLofA #1 (10.60), JLTF #31(2.96) |
| The JLA calls on the magician Merlin to restore their powers and defeat three sorcerors from "Magic-Land" (Terra Arcana): Lord Saturna, Simon Magus & the Troll King. NOTES: These villains (and some from the next issue) resurface much later in Creature Commandos #1 (5.00). |
JLofA #2 (1.61) |
| Adam Strange steps in to help defeat the alien Kanjar Ro, who is warring with Hyathis of Alstair, Kromm of Mosteel, and Sayvar of Llarr. |
JLofA #3 (2.61) |
| The Tornado Tyrant watches in the wings as Adam Strange and the JLA again defeat Kanjar Ro. The Tyrant is overcome by their heroism and repents, becoming the Tornado Champion. He leaves Rann in search of a world of his own. NOTE: This is a flashback story; the editor remarks: "Justice League readers ... will recall that The Flash proposed Adam Strange for membership in [JLofA #4]. The adventure you are reading occured before that membership meeting." Years hence, the Tornado Champion will come to rest in the android body of the Red Tornado, giving him sentience. |
Mystery in Space #75 (5.62) |
| The Leaguers vote on the admission of Green Arrow. NOTES: This issue shows that the JLA have already battled Kanjar Ro. |
JL:YO #12 (11.98) |
| Green Arrow joins. Flash proposes to offer Adam Strange membership as well. |
JLofA #4 (4.61) |
| Pre-Crisis only: Katar and Shayera Hol come to Earth from Thanagar as Hawkman and Hawkgirl. In current continuity, the Golden Age Hawks have assumed much of the Thanagarians' role. See Silver Age Hawkman Timeline |
Brave & Bold #34 (2-3.61) |
| Dr. Destiny infiltrates the JLA by impersonating Green Lantern. |
JLofA #5 (7.61) |
| 1st app. Amos
Fortune. NOTE: The cover of this issue reprises All-Star Comics #42. |
JLofA #6 (9.61) |
| First team-up between the two Flashes. NOTES: This is also the 1st reference to Earth-2; its popularity prompted the return of the JSA. Showcase #34 followed with the JSA's first Silver Age appearance, and Flash #129 was their official reintroduction. |
Flash v.1 #123 (9.61) |
| The Leaguers' significant others accompany them to the Happy Harbor circus, where pesky aliens make everything go haywire. |
JLofA #7 (11.61) |
| Versus small-time crooks! |
JLofA #8 (1.62) |
| Felix Faust takes the JLA away from their battle with the Lord of Time and uses them to free the demons Abnegezar, Rath & Ghast (the Demons Three). NOTE: Recalled post-Crisis by Ghast. |
JLofA #10 (3.62), JLQ #15 (Sum.94) |
| The JLA capture the Lord of Time in 3786. On their way back, they get trapped 100 years in the future by the Demons Three. |
JLofA #11 (5.62) |
| 1st app. of Dr. Light III. NOTE: The first Dr. Light was a golden age villain. The second was the third's short-lived partner. |
JLofA #12 (6.62) |
| Versus robot duplicates! |
JLofA #13 (8.62) |
| The Atom II joins after saving the JLA from Amos Fortune, who had recruited Hector Hammond, Pied Piper, Sea-Thief, Angle Man, Dr. Davis & the Joker. |
JLofA #14 (9.62) |
| Versus giant stone men! |
JLofA #15 (11.62) |
| The JLA solve a hypothetical challenge posed by one of their fans. |
JLofA #16 (12.62) |
| The repentant Tornado Champion creates his own world with JLA duplicates. In observing the real JLA, he is able to overcome a new evil duplicate of himself. |
JLofA #17 (2.63) |
| The League attends a society function at Oliver Queen's mansion which is disrupted by the Packrat. Superman, Batman and Speedy help out. Queen succeeds in convincing Bruce Wayne to fund the JLA's activities. NOTE: It is suggested here that Green Arrow and the Atom had already joined. |
Legends of the DCU #12 (1.99) |
| Laurel, the Moon Maiden, joins. NOTES: Though Moon Maiden currently exists, her past was removed entirely from the timestream. The past in which she was a JLA member was overwritten and no longer exists. This tale describes her as an early member of the JLofA. |
JLA 80-Page Giant #3 (10.00) |
| The JLA is shrunk and battles androids! |
JLofA #18 (3.63) |
| Dr. Destiny creates evil duplicates of the JLA from their own dreams using his materioptikon. When the real JLA are brought to trial for the crimes, the Atom's girlfriend Jean Loring defends them in court. |
JLofA #19 (5.63) |
| Versus Spaceman X! |
JLofA #20 (6.63) |
| The two Flashes join forces to rescue the JSA—Atom, Dr. Mid-Nite, Green Lantern, Hawkman and Johnny
Thunder—from Vandal
Savage. The JSA re-forms. NOTES: 1st Silver Age app. of Vandal Savage, Johnny Thunder and the Earth-2 Wonder Woman. 1st actual Silver Age app. of the JSA (not in a flashback). |
Flash v.1 #137 (6.63) |
| 11 Years Ago |
| Wally West becomes Kid Flash. NOTE: Current Flash continuity places his debut later than originally published. |
Flash v.1 #110 (12.59-1.60) |
| JLA/JSA 1: The first team-up between the J.L. of A. and the Justice Society. They battle the Crime Champions: Wizard, Icicle, Fiddler, Chronos, Felix Faust, Dr. Alchemy. NOTE: 1st Silver Age appearance of the original Hawkman, Black Canary, Hourman, Green Lantern, Dr. Fate and Atom. |
JLofA #21-22 (8-9.63 ) |
| 1st app. Queen Bee, Zazzala from the planet Korll. NOTE: According to the Sourcebook this Queen Bee is not the same woman who appears in the JLI stories. |
JLofA #23 (11.63) |
| Adam Strange helps to recapture Kanjar Ro. |
JLofA #24 (12.63) |
| Snapper Carr graduates high school after temporarily gaining the strange power to manifest his every wish. The Atom discovers that it was actually the work of a tiny alien who needs his help. NOTE: This makes Snapper now roughly 30 years old. |
Atom #4 (12.62-1.63) |
| Versus Kraad the Conqueror! NOTES: Kraad resurfaces in Creature Commandos #1 (5.00). |
JLofA #2 (2.64) |
| Despero traps several members inside hourglasses housing other dimensions. |
JLofA #26 (3.64) |
| The JLA activates Amazo to defeat the I. |
JLofA #27 (5.64) |
| Dick Grayson becomes Robin. NOTE: His first modern app. was Detective #327; first historical app.: Detective #38. |
Detective #327 (5.64), Robin: Year One #?? |
| The Headmaster Mind steals the Leaguers' powers then sends in Matter Master, Tattooed Man and the Top after them. |
JLofA #28 (6.64) |
| JLA/JSA "1.5": Wotan manipulates the JLA and JSA into fighting against each other. In the wake of the battle, Hawkman and Hawkgirl (Carter and Shiera Hall) join the JLA as liaisons to the Justice Society. NOTES: The Golden Age Hawks' membership in the JLA was revealed in Hawkworld Annual #1; the circumstances were revealed in Incarnations #1. The JSA Sourcebook claims this is their first team-up, but a letter column in Incarnations later states that this tale was not necessarily their first encounter. |
JLA: Incarnations #1 (6.01), Hawkworld Annual #1 (1991) |
| JLA/JSA 2: Pre-Crisis only: 1st app. the Crime Syndicate: Ultraman, Superwoman, Johnny Quick, Power Ring, Owl Man. NOTE: This event did not happen in post-Crisis continuity, as the Crime Syndicate do not appear until years later in JLA: Earth 2. |
JLofA #29-30 (8-9.64), JLQ #8 (Aut.92) |
| 1st app. of Zatanna, daughter of Zatara the magician. |
Hawkman v.1 #4 (10-11.64) |
| PRE-CRISIS ONLY: Katar Hol (Hawkman)
of Thanagar joins the JLA. Retcon: In post-Crisis continuity, the
JSA's Carter Hall first joined the JLA as Hawkman. Katar Hol of Thanagar
does not arrive on Earth until years later. |
JLofA #31 (11.64) |
| Aquaman marries Mera. The JLA and their teen partners attend
the ceremony in Atlantis. NOTE: Brave
and the Bold v.2 #10 depicts
a behind-the-scenes story at this event. In it, the JLA proteges
meet, but have not yet formed the Teen Titans. The JLA also appear
in this story. |
Aquaman v.1 #18 (11-12.64), Brave & the Bold v.2 #10 (4.08) |
| Robin, Kid Flash, Aqualad, Wonder Girl and Speedy form the Teen
Titans. NOTE: Their first appearance
in Brave & Bold featured only the first three. |
Brave & Bold #54 (7.64), Teen Titans #53 (2.78) |
| Versus Brain Storm! |
JLofA #32 (12.64) |
| 1st app. of Rex Mason, Metamorpho. |
Brave & Bold #57 (12.64-1.65) |
| Versus the Alien-ator! |
JLofA #33 (2.65) |
| Dr. Destiny's uses his increasing power to mentally menace the Leaguers' dreams. |
JLofA #34 (3.65) |
| The JLA are turned evil by the Antithesis and battle the fledgling Teen Titans. |
Teen Titans #53 (2.78) |
| The Demons Three use the Pied Piper, Killer Moth, and Dr. Polaris to attack the JLA. They are defeated when the JLA use the Demon's artifacts to reimprison them. |
JLofA #35 (5.65) |
| Brain Storm returns to create duplicates of the JLA! NOTE: In this story, Flash draws a parallel between this case and that from All-Star Comics #27. |
JLofA #36 (6.65) |
| JLA/JSA 3. Pre-Crisis only: Versus the Earth-1 Johnny Thunder and his "Lawless League." It is unlikely that this event exists in post-Crisis continuity. |
JLofA #37-38 (8-9.65) |
| 1st app. Animal Man. NOTE: He did not appear in costume until Strange Adventures #190. |
Strange Adventures #180 (9.65) |
| NOTE: Contains all reprints: Brave & Bold #28 & 30, JLofA #5 and a JLofA #index. An 80-page giant. |
JLofA #39 (11.65) |
| A young boy inadvertently turns the whole world evil. |
JLofA #40 (11.65) |
| The Key tricks the JLA into disbanding. NOTE: This could be the same villain who menaced the JSA in All-Star Comics #57. |
JLofA #41 (12.65) |
| After an interview with Clark Kent and a battle against Goldface,
the JLA offers membership to Metamorpho. He rejects it because
he does not like being a "freak" and
wishes to return to a normal life. The alien Unimaginable,
desires JLA membership and seeks to better Metamorpho. When the
JLA reject him, he kidnaps them into space. NOTE: This
tale was embellished in Metamorpho: Year One #6. The Unimaginable
returned in (the now out-of-continuity) Valor #6-7
(1993). The JLA also considered Elongated Man and Adam Strange
for membership. |
JLofA #42 (2.66), Metamorpho: Year One #6
(02.08) |
| Amos Fortune creates the Royal Flush Gang (Amos is the Ace of Clubs). NOTE: The cover logo changes with this issue. |
JLofA #43 (3.66) |
| Metamorpho helps once again to vanquish the Unimaginable (posing as "Dr. Bendorion"). |
JLofA #44 (5.66) |
| When the League are called to dispatch the android Shaggy Man, they create a duplicate Shaggy Man, bury them, and leave the two to battle endlessly. |
JLofA #45 (6.66) |
| JLA/JSA 4. The alien Anti-Matter Man (from the anti-matter universe) incites Solomon Grundy & Blockbuster to attack the JLA and JSA respectively. He is booted back to his universe when the Atom forces the Spectre to explode. NOTE: This story foreshadows the Crisis — the Spectre literally holds Earths 1 and 2 apart. |
JLofA #46-47 (8-9.66) |
| NOTE: Contains only reprints: Brave & Bold #29 and JLofA #2 & 3. An 80-page giant |
JLofA #48 (11-12.66) |
| Felix Faust returns accidentally creates two duplicates of himself in a bid to escape prison. |
JLofA #49 (11.66) |
| Barry Allen marries Iris West. |
Flash v.1 #165 (11.66) |
| The JLA attend a mock funeral for Aquaman. |
Aquaman v.1 #30 (11-12.66) |
| The Lord of Time returns. |
JLofA #50 (12.66) |
| Independent of Batman, Barbara Gordon debuts as Batgirl. NOTE: The
Batgirl: Year One series erroneously notes that Larry Lance
is dead, which doesn't happen until JLofA #74, but Batgirl
aided the JLA in #60. |
Detective #359 (1.67), Batgirl: Year One #1-2 (2-3.03) |
| Zatanna creates magical duplicates of several JLA heroes she has encountered (plus Elongated Man) in order to fight the evil elemental known as Allura and rescue her father, Zatara. Later, she tells the Justice Leaguers of her adventure. NOTE: 1st modern appearance of Zatara. The Warlock of Ys is mistakenly referred to as being from "Dis," which becomes important in JLofA #161. |
JLofA #51 (2.67) |
| Snapper Carr explains how individual members cannot participate in every JLA case because of the demands of their own crimefighting careers. |
JLofA #52 (3.67) |
| Versus a criminal mastermind! |
JLofA #53 (5.67) |
| Amos Fortune and the Royal Flush Gang return. |
JLofA #54 (6.67) |
| After helping defeat Fire-Eye the dinosaur, Superman reluctantly accepts membership in the JLA (in part because of prodding from Batman). NOTES: This was a post-Crisis tale of Superman's joining the League and probably did not happen in post-Infinite Crisis continuity. His joining was referenced in Silver Age Secret Files #1 and JLA Secret Files #3. |
JLA: Incarnations #2 (8.01) |
| Batman again steps in to lead the JLA against Gorilla Grodd. When Batman calls Superman on a blunder, the Man of Steel requests honorary status but suggests that Batman join in his stead; the Dark Knight accepts. NOTES: This was a post-Crisis tale of Batman's joining the League and probably did not happen in post-Infinite Crisis continuity. Per Flash's comment, this story takes place soon after Flash and Superman's first race (Superman #199, 8.67; Superman wins). Hawkman is chairman in this tale. |
JLA: Incarnations #2 (8.01) |
| THE SILVER AGE |
| When Agamemno helps him defeat his rivals, Kanjar Ro tells his where to find the JLA. Before going to Earth, Agamemno watches the League as the defeat Despero. NOTES: It's impossible to place the Silver Age event precisely within continuity. Many referenced events and characters occured or first appeared at disparate times. This tale is placed loosely in continuity. The tale with Despero is an "untold" one. Though Hawkman (Carter Hall) was a member of the JLA by this time, he does not appear in this mini-series. |
The Silver Age Secret Files (7.00) |
| Agamemno convinces Luthor to form the Injustice League (with Black Manta, Catwoman, Chronos, Dr. Light, Felix Faust, Mr. Element, Penguin & Sinestro) in a plot to take over the Earth. The villains switch bodies with those of the JLA. NOTE: Black Manta 1st appeared in Aquaman #35 (9-10.67); Sinestro, Green Lantern #7 (8.61); Mr. Element, Showcase #13 (4.58); Chronos Atom #3 (11.62). |
The Silver Age #1 (7.00) |
| The Injustice League reveals the Leaguers' true identities. One group steals the central power battery from Oa. Another recovers a piece of jewel kryptonite from the abandoned ship of Brainiac. On the ship they discover numerous shrunken cities (which they destroy). NOTE: Both History of the DC Universe #2 and this issue suggest that Brainiac was active in the DCU before he possessed the body of Milton Fine (Adventures of Superman #438, 3.88). |
The Silver Age: JLA (7.00) |
| On Thanagar, Green Lantern manages to reach the central power battery and switch the heroes' and villains' bodies back. NOTES: Andar Pul appears as a Wingman in this story, not yet Administrator of Thanagar (Hawkworld, v.2 #1). Pul is the father of the spy, Fel Andar (Hawkman II). Also contains a flashback to an untold battle with Sonar. |
The Silver Age: Green Lantern (7.00) |
| Deadman coerces Adam Strange, Batgirl, Metamorpho, Blackhawk, Mento and a new Shining Knight II (Gardner Grayle) together as a sort of Silver Age Seven Soldiers of Victory. NOTES: The team never actually uses the SSoV name. Grayle eventually becomes the Atomic Knight. Mento's history is uncertain in the wake of the 2004 Doom Patrol "reboot"; his 1st app. was Doom Patrol #91 (11.64); Deadman, Strange Adventures #205 (9/67). CAMEO: Element Girl (1st app. Metamorpho #10, 2.67). |
The Silver Age: Showcase (7.00) |
| J'onn uses the H-E-R-O Dial to transform the
JLAers and take the Injustice League by surprise. Green Lantern
adds to the victory by enlisting the Wingmen of Thanagar (none
of whom are named). |
The Silver Age 80-Page Giant (7.00) |
| After witnessing the Injustice League's duplicity, Batman decides to begin compiling information on all major metahumans. From this data, he assembles protocols which can be used to disable or kill those people. |
JLA2 #46 (10.00) |
| The JLA attends the wedding of the Doom Patrol's Elasti-Girl and Mento. |
Doom Patrol v.1 #104 (6.66) |
| JLA/JSA 5. Mysterious black spheres crash to Earth, transforming four people (How Chu, Gem Girl, Horace Rowland and Marty Baxter). Johnny Thunder discovers that laughter is the cure to the "negative" radiation. RETCON: The Robin of Earth-2 joined the JSA here in his 1st Silver Age app. |
JLofA #55-56 (8-9.67) |
| Three Leaguers dedicate humanitarian hours to help Snapper write a paper for Brotherhood Week. |
JLofA #57 (11.67) |
| The JLA play spectators to the second race between Superman and the Flash. |
Flash v.1 #175 (12.67) |
| NOTE: Contains reprints only: JLofA #1 & 6. An 80-page giant. |
JLofA #58 (11-12.67) |
| Versus the Contras! |
JLofA #59 (12.67) |
| Batgirl helps the League against the Queen Bee. NOTE: The
Atom reveals his secret identity to the rest of the League. Reprints
a Captain Comet story from Strange Adventures #38. |
JLofA #60 (2.68) |
| Dr. Destiny unleashes a bevy of bad guys. |
JLofA #61 (3.68) |
| 1st app. Guy Gardner. |
Green Lantern v.2 #59 (3.68) |
| Versus Leo Locke and the Pyrotekniks! |
JLofA #62 (5.68) |
| The Key returns. |
JLofA #63 (6.68) |
| Versus Dr. Anomaly! |
JLofA #240 (7.85) |
