Justice League Timeline
This timeline is designed to detail the exploits of the Justice League throughout different eras of comic book history. These summaries are here to help make reading about the League easier. For more information regarding our timeline project, see our about page here.
This timeline is heavily based on our “Justice League Reading Order“. Non-indented sections correspond with the Justice League’s “Essential” storyline while indented sections correspond with the Justice League’s “Extra” storyline. Make sure to check out our reading order here for more information.
New 52
With the beginning of the New 52, the DC Universe’s continuity was reset. The Justice League’s history is completely wiped out to the point where no Justice League has ever existed. However, Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, the Flash, Green Lantern, Aquaman, and Cyborg form a Justice League soon after the New 52 begins.
Also be sure to view the New 52 era of our “Justice League Reading Order“.
Origin
In a story set years before the most other DC comics books, the origin of the Justice League is shown. At first, Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, the Flash, Green Lantern, and Aquaman all operate independently from one another, only the Flash and Green Lantern have met before. However, an invasion from a hostile world causes them to come into direct contact with one another. Though they are initially skeptical of one another, they eventually decide to team up for the greater good.
This forces them to fight Darkseid, a powerful being who is only defeated thanks to their combined strength. Along the way, a young man is fused with the power of a Motherbox and becomes Cyborg. He teams up with the rest of the heroes and they all manage to close the portals to the hostile world. With this threat in the past, the heroes decide to work together and officially form the Justice League. The storyline ends by showing a mysterious woman who has altered the universe’s timeline for unknown reasons.
This storyline extends through issues #1-6 of Justice League Vol. 3. These issues are collected in Justice League Vol. 1: Origin (Review).
The Villain’s Journey
Years later, the Justice League is an established superhero team working closely with the US government. Their official contact is Steve Trevor, who used to have some sort of relationship with Wonder Woman and is clearly still infatuated with her. Other members try to join their ranks but none are successful; Green Arrow is rejected and Martian Manhunter betrayed them somehow. While all this is happening, a man named David Graves begins blaming the Justice League for the loss of his wife and child.
The League is then attacked by Graves, who obtained the codes to their Watchtower by torturing Steve Trevor. He tricks the League into fighting each other, a sight that is broadcast on national television. Graves is eventually defeated by the League. In the aftermath, Green Lantern leaves the team so that he can take the blame for their televised embarrassment and Steve Trevor loses his job as the League’s official contact. At the very end of the storyline, Superman and Wonder Woman kiss.
This storyline extends through issues #7-12 of Justice League Vol. 3. These issues are collected in Justice League Vol. 2: The Villain’s Journey (Review).
The Secret of the Cheetah
The Justice League goes head to head with the Cheetah, who used to be a good friend of Wonder Woman. They have some initial trouble with her and Superman is even infected by a form of mind control in the fight. However, they are able to defeat her when Wonder Woman tosses her into a river to be incapacitated by Aquaman. It is later revealed that the woman who became the Cheetah was a career criminal who had deceived Wonder Woman for years.
This storyline extends through issues #13-#14 of Justice League Vol. 3. These issues are collected in Justice League Vol. 3: Throne of Atlantis (Review).
Throne of Atlantis
This storyline kicks off with a few separate events designed to elicit war. Someone freed monstrous underwater beings and also launched a missile strike on Atlantis. The Atlantians believe the missile strike to be a purposeful attack from the surface and respond accordingly. Most of this is a reference to events that took place earlier in Aquaman’s New 52 Timeline.
This leads to all out war between Atlantis and the Justice League, who step in to defend the surface world. The two forces battle for a while and the Justice League is even forced to call in new recruits in order to respond to the threat. Eventually, Aquaman defeats his brother and takes over as King of Atlantis, instantly calling an end to the invasion. The storyline ends with a tease suggesting Amanda Waller has nefarious plans for the Justice League.
This storyline extends through issues #14-16 of Aquaman Vol. 7 and issues #15-17 of Justice League Vol. 2 (see our “Throne of Atlantis Reading Order” for more details). These issues are all collected in Justice League Vol. 3: Throne of Atlantis (Review), Aquaman Vol. 3: Throne of Atlantis (Review), or the Aquaman by Geoff Johns Omnibus.
The Grid
The members of the Justice League recognize that they need to expand their roster. They hold tryouts and end up picking Element Woman, Firestorm, and the Atom as new members of the Justice League. Soon after, the new members are alone in the Watchtower when they are ambushed by Despero, who is holding a Kryptonite Ring. They hold their own against him for a while but he is eventually subdued by Martian Manhunter, who appears and disappears without warning. During the fight, the Justice League’s Watchtower falls out of orbit.
Meanwhile, the rest of the League is having some internal troubles. Superman and Wonder Woman are becoming closer and responding to threats that the Justice League has no jurisdiction over. This leads Batman to become concerned and he talks with the two heroes. The storyline ends by revealing that the Atom is secretly working for Amanda Waller.
This storyline extends through issues #18-20 of Justice League Vol. 2. These issues are collected in Justice League Vol. 4: The Grid (Review).
Shazam!
While the Justice League is going on regular missions, Billy Batson is moving in to his next foster home. He is still upset over the mysterious fate of his birth parents and has a tough time befriending this new family. He has only just started to connect with them when he is randomly summoned by a dying wizard. The wizard selects Billy as his champion and grants him a host of magical powers.
Billy is forced to use this powers to fight Black Adam, an ancient warlord who has recently been raised from the dead. Along the way, Billy’s new family members try to help him and he uses his power to give them all powers, though this is only temporary. They find themselves still unable to defeat Black Adam but Billy is able to trick him into returning to his human form. Doing so causes him to die, as his human form is hundreds of years old. Billy ends the storyline feeling like a true member of his new family.
This storyline extends through the backup stories in issues #7-11, #0, #14-16, and #18-21 of Justice League Vol. 2. These issues are collected in Shazam! (Review).
Trinity War
This is a crossover event that combines plot threads from Justice League, Justice League of America, and Justice League Dark. It starts with Pandora trying to convince various heroes and villains to open Pandora’s Box; none are able to do so. Shortly afterwards, the Justice League and the JLA meet in Khandaq, where Billy Batson has gone to spread Black Adam’s ashes. The two teams fight and Superman loses control of his powers, accidentally killing Dr. Light.
From here, members of the Justice League, the JLA, and the JLD split up to form three new groups of heroes, each of which begin their own investigation into what happened. Eventually, every investigation leads them back to Pandora, who is still traveling around with her Box. The Box brings out all of the evil within the heroes and causes them to fight each other over possession of the Box.
While fighting, the Atom reveals that she was never on anyone’s side and that she put a piece of Kryptonite in Superman’s brain, which caused him to lose control of his powers. She then activates a virus in Cyborg, ripping his machine parts away and forming a new being, called Grid. A mysterious figure then picks up the Box and uses it to open a portal to Earth 3, the evil version of the main DC Universe. An evil version of the Justice League, called the Crime Syndicate, steps through the portal.
This storyline extends through issues #22-23 of Justice League Vol. 2, issues #22-23 of Justice League Dark Vol. 1, and issues #6-7 of Justice League of America Vol. 3. These issues are collected in Trinity War (Review). See our “Trinity War Reading Order” for more information.
Survivors of Evil
These chapters show what the members of the Justice League are going through while the Crime Syndicate rules the world. Each member is trapped in a prison specifically designed for them. Their prison feeds them hallucinations which keep them constantly busy and leave them unable to escape.
This storyline extends through issues #8-9 of Justice League of America Vol. 3. These issues are collected in Justice League of America Vol. 2: Survivors of Evil (Review).
Forever Evil
Batman and Cyborg are the only members of the Justice League who escape imprisonment by the Crime Syndicate. They are now loose in a world where villains rule and begin to make plans to take them down. However, their efforts are eclipsed by the efforts of Lex Luthor, who is actually able to defeat the Crime Syndicate. The storyline ends with Ultraman and Superwoman (who is pregnant) in prison and Owlman on the run. Lex Luthor also discovers that Bruce Wayne is Batman. Readers are also shown that the Anti-Monitor was the one who destroyed Earth 3.
This storyline extends through issues #1-7 of Forever Evil. These issues are collected in Forever Evil (Review).
Injustice League
Lex Luthor has built the Justice League a new Watchtower and states that he and Shazam should be allowed to join the League. The League is initially reluctant but eventually allow him to join since he shows that he truly wants to do good and because having him close would be safer than having him at arm’s length.
Their first mission involves finding out where the evil version of Green Lantern’s ring has gone. They discover it on a woman named Jessica Cruz, who suffers from a number of phobias and anxieties. The League and the Doom Patrol attempt to separate her from the ring, since she cannot currently control its power. However, no one is successful until Batman tries simply talking to her to get her to calm down. She does so and the League take her to the Watchtower, where they promise to help her control her new abilities.
This storyline extends through issues #30-34 of Justice League Vol. 2. These issues are collected in Justice League Vol. 6: Injustice League (Review).
The Amazo Virus
An assassination attempt on Lex Luthor frees a deadly virus from his lab. Soon, most of Metropolis has been quarantined, only Superman and Wonder Woman are immune. The infected develop super-powers but are being controlled by some sort of hivemind. Eventually, the League tracks down and subdues Patient Zero, allowing them to distribute an antidote to the rest of the infected.
The storyline ends with the Flash introducing Jessica Cruz to Green Lantern, who he believes can help Jessica control her powers.
This storyline extends through issues #35-39 of Justice League Vol. 2. These issues are collected in Justice League Vol. 6: Injustice League (Review).
Justice League of America: Power and Glory
This Justice League adventure is completely unrelated to the rest of this timeline. It sees the League fight Rao, a false god from Krypton who sustains his life by absorbing the lives of others. At first Rao seems benevolent but, eventually, the League discovers his true intensions. They go on multiple time-traveling adventures that all lead up to Rao being defeated.
Along the way, readers are introduced to the Infinity Corporation, whose “Forever Stones” allow them to travel through time. By the end of the storyline, the Infinity Corporation also has access to “Life Stones”. The members of the Corporation leave with a warning that there is an even larger crisis on the horizon.
This storyline extends through issues #1-10 of Justice League of America Vol. 4. These issues are collected in Justice League of America: Power and Glory (Review).
Darkseid War Part 1
The Anti-Monitor reveals that he wants to break free of his current path and that Darkseid’s daughter, Grail, is helping him do so. The duo launch an attack on the Justice League and force the League to regroup. Most of the League learns of the Anti-Monitor’s plans from Mister Miracle and Metron, though Superman and Lex Luthor are stuck on Apokolips. While interrogating Metron, Batman wrests control of his chair and takes over as God of Knowledge. Meanwhile, Grail summons Darkseid on Earth, where he instantly engages the Anti-Monitor in war.
The two beings fight for a while, with the League unsure which outcome is preferable. During the fight, Darkseid summons an aspect of Death, but the Anti-Monitor binds it with the Flash. He uses this newly bound form of Death to kill Darkseid. The Anti-Monitor also reveals that the anti-life equation, Darkseid’s ultimate goal, flows within him. At the same time, Superman has become corrupted by the fires of Apokolips and now wants to kill Lex Luthor.
This storyline extends through issues #40-44 of Justice League Vol. 2. These issues are collected in Justice League Vol. 7: Darkseid War Part 1 (Review) or Justice League: The Darkseid War Saga Omnibus.
Darkseid War: Power of the Gods
Several quick stories show what the various members of the Justice League do with their new powers. Most of these stories are personal and relate to specific aspects of an individual character. However, Lex Luthor’s story sets him up as the new leader of Apokolips, which is important in the second half of the Darkseid War.
This storyline extends through the six “Justice League: Darkseid War” one-shot issues. These issues are collected in Justice League: Darkseid War- Power of the Gods (Review) or Justice League: The Darkseid War Saga Omnibus.
Darkseid War Part 2
In preparation for more war, the Justice League teams up with the remaining three members of the Crime Syndicate. Grail also prepares for further conflict by stealing the anti-life equation from the Anti-Monitor, who is currently resting. She uses the equation to power Steve Trevor and bind him to her will. This leads to another battle where Ultraman is killed by the Anti-Monitor but the Anti-Monitor is killed by Grail.
The fight now switches to one against Grail. Superwoman gives birth to her child and uses it to steal everyone’s god-powers but, Grail kills her and steals her child. She then uses the child to form a new Darkseid, one that is bound to her will. Everyone fights Grail and the new Darkseid but it is Grail’s mother, Myrina, that ends the battle. Myrina convinces Grail to unleash her power and end the entire war, which defeats Darkseid and kills Myrina. Over the course of this entire battle, all of the heroes are returned to their normal power levels and Jessica Cruz ditches her old Power Ring for a new Green Lantern Corps Ring.
The Darkseid War closes with a number of cliffhangers. Grail is shown nursing Darkseid, who is now a child, back to health. Superman learns that he is dying and Lex Luthor takes up Superman’s crest. Batman reveals that the Mobius Chair told him there were three Jokers. Wonder Woman learns that she has a twin brother. Finally, Owlman is killed by a mysterious being.
This storyline extends through issues #45-50 of Justice League Vol. 2 and Justice League: Darkseid War Special. These issues are collected in Justice League Vol. 8: Darkseid War Part 2 (Review) or Justice League: The Darkseid War Saga Omnibus.
Rebirth
Coming Soon.