Time travel is a common plot device in comic books, and for good reason. It instantly creates high stakes because even small changes to the past can have huge repercussions. It’s also a fun way to throw heroes into unexpected adventures and introduce surprising encounters with people from different time periods. Since heroes have existed throughout history, bringing them together across eras makes for exciting team-ups that highlight their unique strengths. As DC’s flagship superhero team, the Justice League has experienced this type of storyline many times over.
Let’s explore seven of the Justice League’s greatest battles throughout history! While many stories feature time travel, we’re focusing on comics where it’s central to the plot. These adventures prove the Justice League might be the best heroes not just of today, but of all time. Let’s get started and rank their most memorable time-bending experiences.
7) “The Terrific Ten”
After the events of DC K.O., the world was nearly destroyed. The demon Neron then tried to cause even more trouble by offering villains a safe haven in Hell and giving them greater powers if they promised to destroy everything. Though the story doesn’t involve time travel directly, it relies on a team assembled by Mister Terrific – a group of heroes pulled from different points in time. While the mission to stop Neron is exciting, the most compelling part is seeing how these characters react to the present day.
It’s rare to see time travel explored this way – with so many people unexpectedly stuck in the present from different eras. Watching these characters grapple with what their futures might hold, or how their pasts shaped them, is powerfully emotional. This story doesn’t focus on the mechanics of time travel, but rather on the consequences and impact it has on people’s lives. It’s difficult to bring something new to a familiar idea like time travel, but this story manages to do so brilliantly.
6) Flashpoint
Although not strictly a Justice League story, Flashpoint heavily features the team and is close enough to be included. The story begins with Barry Allen waking up in a drastically different reality: he never became the Flash, Superman is missing, and Wonder Woman and Aquaman are locked in a global war. While the narrative itself is strong, Flashpoint is truly memorable for its lasting impact. It introduced Thomas Wayne as the Batman, a version of the character that quickly became incredibly popular. More importantly, this event merged all of DC’s universes – DC, Vertigo, and WildStorm – resulting in the ‘New 52’ reboot. Its influence on DC Comics is undeniable, shaping some of the most famous characters and stories of that time.
5) 2000
Time travel is a common theme in Justice League stories, often involving encounters with the Justice Society of America, their predecessors. One plot involved the villain T.O. Morrow sending future tech to his younger self in the year 2000, hoping to create a world he could dominate before the Justice League even existed. The League journeyed back in time to the JSA’s early days to stop him, but the WWII-era heroes were suspicious, having glimpsed a future they didn’t trust.
What really struck me about this story is how it explores overcoming that awful feeling of being helpless. It felt like the Justice Society of America, and especially the Spectre, were almost playing into the villain Morrow’s plans because they were so worried about what might happen. It’s fascinating because Morrow himself was driven by his own fears – he wanted control because he was afraid! This idea of facing fear is woven throughout the whole story, and I thought the original Flash, Jay Garrick, really embodied that strength. It’s a quick read, but a really powerful one.
4) “Crisis In the 30th Century”
Before the Justice League and Justice Society of America shared a single world, they regularly crossed over into each other’s universes. This particular story features time travel and the iconic Legion of Superheroes. The villainous sorcerer Mordu captures the Legion and compels the League and JSA to find artifacts that will release three powerful demons – demons he believes will help him conquer the world. However, the demons instead possess one of the hero teams each, leading to a massive battle as they fight for control of everything. This story skillfully handles a huge cast of fan-favorite heroes and delivers a really enjoyable adventure, and I highly recommend it along with all the other annual team-up events.
3) “Obsidian Age”
The Justice League journeyed back in time three thousand years to save Aquaman, but encountered earlier versions of heroic figures. These ancient heroes were tricked into believing the League were the enemy by the wicked queen of Atlantis, and they brutally attacked the modern heroes – unlike the League, they were willing to kill. The League fell in battle, and in the present day, a new team was assembled to take the place of those lost to time. This led to a conflict that had been brewing for three millennia, a plan set in motion long ago and finally succeeding because the Justice League had faith in their allies.
Initially, the Justice League’s strong moral code appeared to be a weakness – they refused to kill, even when their lives were at risk. But their commitment to saving everyone, even their enemies, ultimately inspired others to help them. This proved crucial, especially since they had been lost and presumed dead for thousands of years at the bottom of the ocean. The story emphasizes the importance of always doing what’s right, regardless of the consequences, and it cleverly uses time travel as a key element.
2) “Rock of Ages”
The story began with Lex Luthor assembling the Injustice Gang to destroy all superheroes. Their conflict with the Justice League unexpectedly flung the team forward in time. They arrived in a future where, without the League’s protection, Darkseid had conquered Earth using the Anti-Life Equation, creating a devastated world. The League eventually realized the only way to restore the timeline was to release the Injustice Gang, a difficult decision that caused major conflict within the team, but ultimately brought a satisfying conclusion to a complex and exciting story.
1) DC One Million
Similar to our last example, this big team-up happened during Grant Morrison’s famous run on JLA. The Justice League traveled to the distant future – the 853rd Century – to join a celebration with the heroes of that time, known as the Justice Legions. The very first Superman was still alive, having spent fifteen thousand years inside the sun. To mark his return, they threw an enormous party, the biggest the universe had ever seen.
As a huge DC fan, this event felt like a total love letter to the Justice League! What really got me excited was seeing a possible future for our heroes, and getting introduced to Superman-Prime One Million – seriously, that version of Superman is amazing. It’s a fantastic celebration of everything DC, and the way they used time travel was brilliant. The ending was a complete surprise, and seeing the League race through time to achieve victory was just incredible. I honestly can’t recommend this enough – it’s the JLA at their absolute best!
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2026-01-11 20:15