In 1960, DC Comics assembled the Justice League of America, an all-star team that included Wonder Woman, Flash, Batman and Superman. In their sixty-four-year history, the team have been written into some of the greatest stories in comics, ranging from alien invasions to Elseworlds “what if” style stories. Despite their god-like abilities, the League’s best stories play up their humanity, demonstrating the meaning they bring to readers.

The Justice League have a rich history of brilliant stories, dating all the way back to their first appearance as a team in their battle against Starro the Conqueror. Some of the most prolific writers and artists in the industry have left their mark on these heroes, and have the League better for it. While some of the team’s comics are divisive, others stand out for some of the best writing and art available in print.

10

The Death Metal Saga

Scott Snyder & Greg Capullo

To say that Scott Snyder is one of the most successful creators of the last decade at DC would undersell his influence on the universe. In the aftermath of Rebirth, he began his epic Metal saga, a story that begins with the arrival of Dark Multiverse nightmare Batmen to Earth-0. Originally heralds of the demon Barbatos, these evil Batmen later conquer the world, with the Batman Who Laughs ascending to godhood as his army faces the Justice League.

The Death Metal saga technically encompasses over three years of DC Comics, beginning with Dark Nights Metal, continuing through his Justice League series and concluding with the 2021 event. From its heavy metal tone to non-stop action and dark fantasy world-building, Snyder and Capullo’s story stands out as one of the most epic stories in DC history.

9

Woman of Tomorrow

Grant Morrison, Howard Porter & John Dell

In the aftermath of the Justice League’s battle with the Hyperclan in the debut story arc of Grant Morrison and Howard Porter’s relaunch, the team seeks out new members. Candidates for the new roster include Steel, Plastic Man, Aztek and more. At the same time, the evil scientists, T.O. Morrow and Professor Ivo, conspire to create a sentient android superhero, Tomorrow Woman, to infiltrate the League. While the cybernetic hero is of the genuine belief that she is a hero, unbeknownst to her the villains plan to use her as a bomb, building a special EMP that would disable the brainwaves of any life in its radius — even Superman.

“Tomorrow Woman” follows the titular heroine as she is accepted into the JLA, serving as the team’s new hotshot. In the end, she realizes her true purpose and chooses to sacrifice herself to save her new friends. The entire story, despite only being a single issue, stands out as one of Morrison’s most beautiful and profound scripts, serving as a love letter to the work of Isaac Asimov. The best aspect of the story is the hero’s desire for freedom, despite the scientists’ intentionally programming her without the concept. The story is often overshadowed by the bigger arcs in the run, but is worth a look for fans of science fiction and philosophy.

8

Justice League Last Ride

Chip Zdarsky & Miguel Mendonca

Over the years, various comic book writers have tried to tell the definitive “last Justice League” story. In 2021, Chip Zdarsky tackled that very concept in a story set in the aftermath of Martian Manhunter’s death, following the JLA as they transport Lobo to face justice. The miniseries alternates between their mission and their retelling of their final battle with Darkseid, and how J’onn died. At the same time, the Manhunter androids arrive, intent on capturing the Main Man.

Justice League Last Ride went somewhat overlooked, despite working well as a final chapter in the annals of JLA history. The miniseries includes some great character moments, fantastic action sequences and a satisfying conclusion, one that opens the door for a new cosmic outlook for the team. Despite being set firmly outside of main continuity, the story can serve as a great conclusion to the League, should readers want one.

7

World War Three

Grant Morrison, Howard Porter & John Dell

The Justice League have had some epic battles in their history, but it’s tough to top the action-packed nature of “World War Three.” The story sees the JLA, New Gods and Justice Society of America team up to take on Mageddon, a sentient cosmic weapon controlling Lex Luthor’s newest Injustice Gang. Attacking the JLA aboard the Watchtower, the villain intends to plunge Earth into a state of endless war.

“World War Three” serves as the conclusion to Morrison and Porter’s main JLA run, and is full of the writer’s signature characters of that era, such as Aztek and Prometheus. An eight-issue saga, the story is perfect for fans of the cosmic side of the JLA, and features one of the most epic team battles in comics. Delving into fresh New Gods lore, the story is a love letter to Jack Kirby, and paved the way for future DC stories.

6

Final Crisis

Grant Morrison & J.G. Jones

After the explosive events of Countdown, Final Crisis follows the long-awaited arrival of Darkseid to Earth, where he begins his conquest of free will after acquiring the Anti-Life Equation. With his agent, Libra, assembling an army of villains, it’s revealed that he’s using humans as a host for him to arrive. In response, Superman ventures into the multiverse, rounding up a small army of alternate Men of Steel, as the Justice League face off against the villainous New God and his army.

Final Crisis serves as something of a soft conclusion to the pre-New 52 DC universe, and effectively concludes Morrison’s tenure on the team. The series wraps up plot threads from past Crisis events, such as Infinite Crisis (Geoff Johns, Phil Jimenez & Andy Lanning), and delivers one of the most shocking deaths in the universe’s history.

5

Tower of Babel

Mark Waid, Howard Porter, Drew Geraci, Steve Scott & Mark Propst

As one of the most memorable League stories of its era, “Tower of Babel” follows a plot by Ra’s al Ghul to use Batman’s extensive contingency plans against the JLA. The story follows the heroes as they’re immobilized by the Demon’s Head, just as a mysterious disease overwhelms the people of Earth. Realizing that his plans are being used against his friends, The Dark Knight confronts his rival and rushes to the aid of the team.

“Tower of Babel” remains one of the most influential Justice League stories in modern DC, especially in how it shifted the idea of Batman into a paranoid, scheming character. The hero had always been a man who plans ahead, but this story showed just how self-destructive and dangerous his secrecy could be — and it lost him his spot in the League.

4

Crisis On Infinite Earths

Marv Wolfman & George Perez

As one of the most significant events in DC history, Crisis On Infinite Earths follows the collision of the multiverse in a desperate attempt to save existence from the Anti-Monitor. A being capable of consuming entire universes, the villain’s wrath leads a Monitor to assemble some of the greatest heroes in the multiverse, from the Justice League to the JSA. As the hour of destruction draws near, the heroes construct a machine that will unite the universes to strengthen them against the villain. At the same time, Brainiac leads the villains in an effort to become the rulers of the universe.

Crisis On Infinite Earths is a masterclass in epic storytelling at every level, and succeeded in its mission to simplify DC’s continuity. The series pulls no punches, and houses some heartbreaking deaths, phenomenal action sequences and a non-stop barrage of characters, thanks to the career-best art of George Perez. Effectively serving as a jumping on point, the title is essential reading for the franchise, and helped explain a new chapter in the universe’s trajectory.

3

Rock of Ages

Grant Morrison & Howard Porter

“Rock of Ages” begins when, after a battle against Lex Luthor’s Injustice Gang, Metron takes the team on a quest through time to find the Philosopher’s Stone, Luthor’s source of power. After coming up with nothing, they try and get back to the present, only to arrive on Earth fifteen years after leaving — and finding that Darkseid now rules the planet. Now in weakened bodies, Flash, Aquaman and Green Lantern join the surviving heroes and declare war on the New God.

Widely considered to be Grant Morrison’s most epic tale, “Rock of Ages” came to influence years of DC, teasing a possible alternate future that almost came to fruition more than once. The story is full of memorable moments, from Batman’s disguise as Desaad to the battle itself. As one of the better stories to shift the focus away from the Trinity, the story showed a new roster of mostly B-tier heroes, who formed a new League to resist Darkseid.

2

DC: The New Frontier

Darwyn Cooke

As one of the most celebrated comic book creators of his generation, it was inevitable that Darwyn Cooke would leave his mark on the Justice League. In The New Frontier, he revised the origin story of the team, placing them in the 1950s in the waning days of the Golden Age. The story begins with the revelation that Dinosaur Island is a primordial entity, the Center, a monster in the style of Lovecraftian terror. As the being spreads its influence across the world, the Justice League comes together to save the world. The series merges everything from political thriller to science fiction horror, honoring the best of all its heroes.

New Frontier has since become the best telling of the JLA’s origin story, thanks in large part to its broad look at the DCU. Where many stories have a tendency of becoming too fixated on Batman and Superman, Cooke’s story instead makes characters like Hal Jordan, Martian Manhunter and the Challengers of the Unknown its heart. The miniseries is a window into 1950s comics, and serves as much as a Silver Age beginning as it does a wonderful send-off to the Golden Age of Comics.

1

Kingdom Come

Mark Waid & Alex Ross

Mark Waid and Alex Ross’ Kingdom Come is set in a future where Superman has retired, the Justice League disbanded and a new generation of antiheroes has taken their place. Resorting to extreme methods to face their foes, these younger heroes draw the ire of their predecessors when a skirmish causes a nuclear disaster. In response, Clark Kent returns to his duties as the Man of Steel, and rebuilds the Justice League. He gives super-powered beings an ultimatum: join the team or face imprisonment. At the same team, the latest incarnation of the Legion of Doom convenes to plot their final victory against the heroes.

As much a Superman story as a Justice League one, Kingdom Come represents the importance of the iconic Golden Age DC heroes. The characters were written as a stand-in for the creative and philosophical differences between the edgy 1990s-style of antihero, as shown in Magog, and the classically heroic protagonists of the 1940s. The series is loaded full of poignant messaging about the importance of remembering the past and honoring our heroes, rather than dismissing their legacy. It’s no small coincidence that the miniseries was almost immediately followed by a return to form during the 2000s.