Warning: contains spoilers for Future State: Justice League #2
The Justice League stands as one of the greatest symbols of hope in the DC Universe. The team has managed to save the day countless times with a roster full of the world’s greatest heroes. Unfortunately, that impressive track record can distract people from the fact that the Justice League’s heroes aren’t perfect and that’s never been more evident than it is in Future State.
Despite the Justice League’s positive public image, many of its members have done some questionable, reckless, or downright despicable things during their time on the team. Stories like Brad Meltzer’s Identity Crisis, Mark Waid’s Tower of Babel, and Tom Taylor’s Injustice: Gods Among Us, provide just a few examples of the crazy lengths DC’s heroes can go in their fights against evil. They also help to reveal one key flaw in DC Comics: the Justice League answers to no one.
This issue of oversight is given attention in Future State: Justice League #2, by Joshua Williamson, Robson Rocha, Daniel Henriques, and Romulo Fajardo Jr., as White Martians pretending to be the Justice League take over the world. After being attacked by the aliens in their debut issue, the new Justice League heroes are trapped on a faraway planet, leaving the Martians to enact their plan to destroy the human race. In order for their sinister plot to work, though, the White Martians disguise themselves as the League’s members to avoid any suspicion.
It becomes apparent that people throughout the world have placed a little bit too much trust in the Justice League as the story continues. While some of the disguised White Martians distract the world by engaging in heroics, others work behind the scenes, kidnapping scientists and stealing technology to further their nefarious plans. One Martian posing as Superman even advances the Justice League’s influence around the globe by announcing, “Today we take a bigger role in global affairs.” All he has to do is say it’s decided. Luckily, the real Justice League heroes are able to return and stop their dopplegängers before any real damage is done, but it’s clear that people of the world need to keep a closer eye on their heroes.
Other stories, like Marvel’s Civil War, have shown how too much government influence over superhero communities can go wrong, but this story proves that some oversight is necessary. Bending to the will of superheroes and letting them do whatever they want is a recipe for disaster, so it’s important to establish a balance. Creating a better way of keeping heroes in check would not only stop a similar attack to the one in this issue, but it would also help prevent people from getting hurt by a hero’s lack of judgment. Fortunately, the Justice League was able to arrive in time to prevent the end of humanity, but hopefully, people will take this as a sign that change is needed.
