7 Great DC Stories That Defined The Justice Society of America

The Justice Society of America was the very first popular superhero team, and it influenced every team that followed. Comics like the Justice League, Avengers, and Fantastic Four all owe a debt to creators Gardner Fox and the original JSA. Their early stories weren’t like modern team-up books – each issue felt like a longer, multi-part adventure focusing on a few heroes at a time. But those stories were groundbreaking, establishing concepts like the multiverse and even the idea of villain teams. As a long-time fan, I’ve spent years enjoying the Justice Society’s incredible adventures.

The Justice Society of America has a long and impressive history filled with fantastic stories – from classic tales of its early days to more recent adventures that showcase why it’s considered the greatest superhero team ever. Over the years, readers have enjoyed countless brilliant stories about the JSA, and today we’re highlighting seven of the very best. These chapters will demonstrate exactly why the Justice Society of America stands above the rest.

7) Justice Society of America (Vol. 3) #1-12

The comic book event Flashpoint drastically altered the DC Multiverse, and unfortunately, the Justice Society was affected. Although characters from the Justice Society appeared in Earth-2 and World’s Finest, the original team fans had enjoyed for over sixty years was lost. Even after DC’s New 52 storyline ended, the Justice Society didn’t return until 2023, despite hints of their comeback. Thankfully, writer Geoff Johns, who had revitalized the JSA in the 2000s, brought them back in The New Golden Age #1, which then led into the twelve-issue Justice Society of America (Vol. 3) series, featuring artwork by Mikel Janin, Jerry Ordway, Marco Santucci, and Todd Nauck.

This epic storyline centers on Huntress, the daughter of Batman and Catwoman from the future, who travels back in time to save the Justice Society from a time-traveling Nazi named Per Degaton. The story follows Huntress as she gathers a team of villains she believes can be redeemed, all while a secret enemy plots against them from within. The series culminates with a focus on Stargirl – a character inspired by the author’s late sister – and her high school graduation. It’s a fantastic Justice Society story that successfully brings the team back to relevance and showcases their incredible power. This is considered a high point for the Justice Society, and a perfect way to reintroduce the characters. If you enjoy this series, be sure to also check out the related books: Stargirl: The Lost Children, Jay Garrick: The Flash, Wesley Dodds: The Sandman, Alan Scott: The Green Lantern, and the most recent JSA volume – they’re all excellent.

6) The Last Days of the Justice Society of America

The comic book event Crisis on Infinite Earths rebooted the DC Universe, requiring significant changes. The Justice Society was seen as an issue for this new universe, so DC decided to remove them from future stories. The Last Days of the Justice Society of America Special #1, created by Roy Thomas, Dann Thomas, and Mike Gustovich, was used to accomplish this.

The Justice Society faced a huge threat: the demon Surtur, who planned to destroy the world. Their battle led them to a strange pocket dimension where they were trapped in an endless fight against Surtur and his army, preventing them from invading Earth. Writer Roy Thomas, famous for his work at Marvel, crafted this story during his run on Justice Society comics in the late 70s and early 80s, and it’s a fantastic conclusion to his time with Earth-Two’s heroes. The artwork is typical of the period, but it suits the story well. This remains one of the most memorable Justice Society stories ever told, and it wasn’t until the early 90s that fans would see another adventure with this team.

5) DC Special #29

In 1977, DC Special #29 retold the origin story of the Justice Society in a story called “The Untold Origin of the Justice Society,” written by Paul Levitz and illustrated by Joe Staton. This story, published before the Crisis event, featured Hitler obtaining the Spear of Destiny – a legendary spear said to have pierced Jesus during the crucifixion, and which, in the DC Universe, grants control over superpowered individuals. Hitler used the Spear to summon the Valkyries and launch an attack on Washington D.C., with the Valkyries clearing a path for a specialized long-range bomber intended to destroy the White House.

When the heroes discovered an attack was underway, they converged on Washington D.C. and fought a fierce battle against the Valkyries to protect the White House. This story is a thrilling, classic adventure. Set in the alternate reality of Earth-Two, it features iconic heroes like Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman teaming up with the Justice Society to fight against the Nazis. Written by DC Comics legends Levitz and Staton, this story showcases their incredible talent. It can be difficult to find a copy today, but it’s well worth the search.

4) The Golden Age

I really think the DC comics of the 1990s were something special. While other companies were focusing on visuals, DC really prioritized strong writing, and it paid off with some incredible stories. One that always sticks with me is The Golden Age by James Robinson and Paul Smith. It’s an ‘Elseworlds’ tale set right after World War II, showing how the original superheroes tried to adjust to peacetime. But things quickly go wrong when some classic villains resurface with a terrifying plan: to destroy America and bring about a new Nazi regime.

While not strictly a Justice Society story – it was updated with the JSA title after that series became popular – The Golden Age focuses on the entire group of Golden Age superheroes. Key characters like Alan Scott, Hourman, Johnny Thunder, Starman, and the Atom are central to the plot, alongside lesser-known heroes such as Manhunter, the original Cheetah, Captain Triumph, Tarantula, and Liberty Belle. The success of The Golden Age proved to DC that these older heroes could resonate with modern audiences, paving the way for series like Starman and JSA. James Robinson’s passion for these classic DC characters shines through, beautifully complemented by Paul Smith’s artwork. The book culminates in an incredible final battle, and its surprising twists will keep readers engaged from beginning to end.

3) “Black Reign”

JSA is a fantastic team comic that introduced the Justice Society to a new audience in the late 1990s and early 2000s. While the series has many great stories, a popular one is “Black Reign,” a crossover with the Hawkman comic. The story revolves around Black Adam, who had recently joined the JSA as a trial member. His aggressive behavior caused friction within the team. Feeling the JSA wasn’t doing enough to help his homeland, Kahndaq, Adam gathers a group – including Atom Smasher, Northwind, Brainwave II, Alexander Montez (who controlled the power of Eclipso through special tattoos), and Nemesis – to overthrow the oppressive government ruling the Arab nation.

As a huge JSA fan, I always come back to “Black Reign.” It’s a story by Geoff Johns, Don Kramer, and Rags Morales where the Justice Society tries to prevent a huge international crisis caused by Adam and his crew, and it really puts them through the wringer! What’s so fascinating is that the villain isn’t just evil – he actually believes he’s doing the right thing, even if his methods are way off. The story is full of surprises – it goes in directions you’d never see coming! Honestly, for me, this is what the Justice Society is all about: fantastic writing and incredible artwork, all rolled into one amazing story.

2) “Princes of Darkness”

“Princes of Darkness” is a major, team-up story – the kind you often see today – and it’s considered the high point of the JSA comic book series. Spanning issues #46-51, and created by Geoff Johns, David S. Goyer, Sal Valluto, and Leonard Kirk, the story brings everything that came before it to a thrilling climax. The villain Mordru gains control of the powerful Helmet of Fate and launches an attack, joined by Eclipso and Obsidian, with the goal of plunging the world into unending darkness. The Justice Society is forced to gather every available hero to combat this dangerous trio, resulting in a spectacular and action-filled story that demonstrates why the Justice Society is considered DC’s greatest team. This story arc also marks the end of Geoff Johns and David S. Goyer’s writing partnership, and they clearly went all-out to make it memorable.

1) “Thy Kingdom Come”

Mark Waid and Alex Ross’s Kingdom Come is a celebrated DC story that proved the publisher could still deliver compelling superhero narratives in the 1990s. Years later, following the Infinite Crisis event, Geoff Johns and Alex Ross created a follow-up story called “Thy Kingdom Come.” This storyline unfolded across issues #9-22 of Justice Society of America (Vol. 3), along with the Justice Society of America Annual (Vol. 3) #1 and three special issues—Superman, Magog, and The Kingdom—featuring artwork by Dale Eaglesham, Alex Ross, Fernando Pasarin, and Jerry Ordway.

This story explains where Magog comes from, brings the Superman from Kingdom Come to the main Earth, and hints at the return of the original Earth-Two. It’s a grand, exciting tale that delivers both big action and the strong character work that fans loved in Geoff Johns’ run on the team. Though it’s no longer considered official continuity – Mark Waid later wrote his own prequel in Batman/Superman: World’s Finest – it’s still a fantastic story for anyone wanting more of the Kingdom Come universe. It’s been hard to find for a while, but the three collected volumes that contain the story are available.

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2025-10-25 18:14