The 10 Best Justice League Stories In The Comics, Ranked | CBR
The Justice League is one of comics’ most important teams. Combining the greatest heroes of the DC Universe, it was the first big superteam of the Silver Age and since then has been one of the premiere homes for big-time superhero action. It’s hard to go wrong with stories that star some of the most iconic superheroes ever created, and the Justice League has constantly delivered for decades.
The team’s history is full of dizzying highs and cavernous lows, but when Justice League stories are good, they’re some of the best out there. The team’s greatest tales have stood the test of time.
JLA: The Obsidian Age Is An Underrated Gem
Writer Joe Kelly came on JLA after superstars Grant Morrison and Mark Waid had finished their runs, so he had some big shoes to fill. He proved that he was up to the task, and the highlight of his run is The Obsidian Age, with art by Doug Mahnke. The cross-time epic sees the Justice League searching for their friend Aquaman and getting way more than they expected.
Kelly is one of the industry’s most unsung talents, and this story proves why. The Obsidian Age is a Justice League classic, introducing great new members to the team and providing some of the coolest Plastic Man moments in recent memory.
JLA: Tower Of Babel Reveals One Of Batman’s Darkest Secrets
JLA: Tower Of Babel, by writer Mark Waid and artist Howard Porter, pits the team against Ra’s al Ghul. Usually, that wouldn’t be much of a challenge, but al Ghul has an ace in the hole — Batman’s secret anti-Justice League plans. The fight against the Demon’s Head is only the icing on the cake, as the team has to deal with a friend’s betrayal.
Waid kicked off his run in an unforgettable fashion with this story. While it wasn’t the first story that had Batman keeping secrets from his fellows, it was the most damaging time, and it changed the dynamic of the Justice League forever.
JLA/JSA: Virtue And Vice Is One Of The Best Modern Crossovers Between The Two Teams
JLA/JSA: Virtue And Vice, by writers Geoff Johns and David S. Goyer and artist Carlos Pacheco, was the first crossover between the two teams in the modern age. At the first JLA/JSA dinner party in years, the teams are entangled in a scheme by villains Despero and Johnny Sorrow, and the two teams give it their all to defeat the Seven Deadly Enemies Of Man.
This story represented a return to a classic Justice League/Justice Society tradition. Johns and Goyer are at the top of their game for this one, and Pacheco’s art is amazing, capturing the grandeur and action of two of comics’ greatest teams working together again for the first time.
Justice League Of America: Last Survivors Of Earth Showcases The Best Of Writer Denny O’Neil
Denny O’Neil is one of DC’s greatest legends, most recognized for the classic Green Arrow/Green Lantern: Hard-Traveling Heroes. He’s left his mark on many DC titles, including Justice League Of America. His best stories are collected in Last Survivors Of Earth, with writers Robert Kanigher, Len Wein, and Mike Friedrich and artists Dick Dillin, Neal Adams, and Joe Giella.
O’Neil’s time on the Justice League saw the introduction of the Justice League satellite and touched on the hot-button political issues of the day. This collection combines some of his best stories and is a treasure for any League fan.
Justice League Of America: The Tornado’s Path Combines The Classic And The Modern
The history of the League is full of must-read stories. One of the best of the 21st century is Justice League Of America: The Tornado’s Path, by writer Brad Meltzer and artist Ed Benes. As Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman assemble a new League, Leaguers old and new band together to figure out what’s going in a mystery that involved C-list villains, Red Tornado, and a surprise mastermind.
Meltzer brought a classic Satellite League feel to this story while also keeping it modern. The story is full of twists and turns, introducing one of the best League rosters of recent memory, and has wonderful art from Benes.
Justice League Of America (Vol. 1) #29-30 Introduced The Crime Syndicate
The Crime Syndicate is a venerable DC institution, the evil inverse of the Justice League from Earth-3. The team’s first appearance is Justice League Of America (Vol. 1) #29-30, by writer Gardner Fox and artist Mike Sekowsky. Titled “Crisis On Earth-Three,” the story pit the League and Justice Society against the Crime Syndicate in a multiversal showdown.
Fox and Sekowsky are responsible for some of the greatest Justice League stories of the Silver Age, and this story has all of the hallmarks that make the team’s work so classic. The Crime Syndicate made a massive impact in their first outing, and this story remains a Justice League classic.
Formerly Known As The Justice League Is A JLI Greatest Hits Reel
The Justice League International combined the adventures of some of DC’s most powerful heroes with madcap superhero humor for a unique batch of League stories. Their ’80s heyday is full of incredible tales, but for a fan who wants all killer, no filler JLI, there’s the 2000s reboot Formerly Known As The Justice League, by writers J.M. DeMatteis and Keith Giffen and artist Kevin Maguire.
Reminding readers why they loved the JLI so much, Formerly Known As The Justice League brings the band back together in more ways than one. It’s hilarious superhero action as only DeMatteis, Giffen, and Maguire could provide.
JLA: New World Order Began A Bold New Era For The Justice League
The ’90s weren’t a great time for the Justice League until writer Grant Morrison and artist Howard Porter took over. Their first story was JLA: New World Order, a transformative moment in the history of the Justice League. When new heroes the Hyperclan show up to save the Earth, things turn out to be too good to be true, and the League gets into more trouble than ever.
New World Order was a sea change for the Justice League. Morrison took the team back to basics in the best possible way. Porter was a rising star at DC at the time, and his art took Morrison’s widescreen action approach to the next level.
Justice League Of America #21 Brought The Justice League And Justice Society Together For The First Time
DC’s Multiverse is one of its most iconic features. Its Silver Age introduction opened up all kinds of story options. The biggest was a crossover between the Justice League and Justice Society, which took place in Justice League Of America #21, by writer Gardner Fox and artist Mike Sekowsky. The two groups team up to take on their greatest villains in their first multiversal crossover.
This story opened the door for all of the DC Multiverse shenanigans that would come to define the Silver Age Justice League’s adventures. This one is a classic story from an amazing Justice League creative team that changed DC forever.
JLA: Rock Of Ages Is As Epic As They Come
Grant Morrison’s time on JLA made them one of the Justice League’s most influential writers. Their finest hour on the book took place in JLA: Rock Of Ages, with series artist Howard Porter and Gary Frank. After Lex Luthor finds a new weapon, he brings together a new Injustice League to destroy the new JLA. Things get even more complicated as the Justice League’s victory has a devastating effect on the future.
This story represents the Justice League at its finest. It combines DC’s greatest heroes with their biggest villains for a story that’s much bigger than it seems. Fantastic writing, great art, and big action make this the epitome of a perfect Justice League story.
NEXT: 10 Times Batman Made Things Worse For The Justice League