DC’s First 10 Superhero Teams, Ranked by Legacy

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DC Comics is largely responsible for creating the superhero world as we know it. It all began in 1939 with Superman, who quickly became popular and established the idea of people in costumes fighting crime and protecting others. Building on this success, DC created a wide range of other heroes with thrilling stories. It wasn’t long before they came up with the idea of bringing these heroes together as a team. While not every team stuck around, some became incredibly influential and set the standard for superhero teams in general, becoming a core part of the genre.

Ever since the early days of comic books, superheroes have teamed up to battle villains too powerful for any one hero to handle. This list includes teams originally created by companies DC Comics later acquired, as they’ve become an essential part of DC’s history and identity. Here are the first ten DC superhero teams, ranked by their influence and how well they’ve stood the test of time in the comic book world.

10) Blackhawks

In the early days of comic books, around 1941, the Blackhawks were a popular team of fighter pilots battling the Axis Powers during World War II. Originally published by Quality Comics and later bought by DC Comics, they operated from a hidden base on Blackhawk Island under the leadership of the enigmatic Blackhawk. What made them unique was that the squadron was made up of pilots who had come from countries occupied by the Axis powers, making their fight deeply personal. While incredibly popular during the Golden Age of comics, the Blackhawks eventually faded from view and haven’t regained their former prominence, appearing only sporadically in recent years.

9) Seven Soldiers of Victory

Following the popularity of the Justice Society, DC Comics created the Seven Soldiers of Victory in 1941. However, this team was largely made up of lesser-known heroes, including Green Arrow, Speedy, Vigilante, Shining Knight, Crimson Avenger, Star-Spangled Kid, and Stripey. The original team didn’t last long, disbanding after just one year. DC has attempted to revive the Seven Soldiers several times with mixed results. While Grant Morrison’s 2007 version is often praised, the team hasn’t become truly popular and generally only appears sporadically.

8) Challengers of the Unknown

The Challengers of the Unknown first appeared in 1957 as a team of daring explorers, constantly seeking out strange new worlds and creatures through incredibly risky adventures. After miraculously surviving a plane crash, Professor Haley, Ace Morgan, June Robbins, and Rocky Davis decided to make the most of their second chance. They embarked on seemingly impossible missions that took them across time and space, relying on advanced technology rather than superpowers. While not a hugely popular group themselves, the Challengers’ exciting adventures and team dynamic heavily influenced the creation of Marvel’s Fantastic Four. More recently, the Challengers have been reimagined as the team running the Justice League’s Watchtower.

7) Batmen of All Nations

Batman was already a hugely popular hero for DC Comics, so in 1955, the company created “Batmen of All Nations” to broaden its appeal internationally. This team consisted of heroes from different countries who were inspired by Batman and adopted similar masked identities. Batman himself welcomed them and helped train them to fight crime. The original team included British heroes Knight and Squire, France’s Musketeer, Argentina’s El Gaucho, Italy’s Legionary, and the Ranger from Australia. Although they didn’t appear often, the Batmen of All Nations paved the way for a later team, Batman Inc. Notably, this group introduced some of DC’s first international heroes, like El Gaucho, who was the company’s first Latino hero.

6) Legion of Super-Pets

As a comics fan, I always find it fascinating to look back at DC’s more unusual creations, and the Legion of Super-Pets definitely fits that bill. Debuting in 1962, this team wasn’t about humans with powers – it was about Superman’s pets getting in on the action! You had Krypto the Super-Dog, Streaky the Super-Cat, Beppo the Super-Monkey, and Comet the Super-Horse, all banding together to tackle threats that were a little too…animal-specific for regular heroes. While their history got a bit tangled after the Crisis on Infinite Earths, they’ve really made a comeback, expanding to include other superhero pets like Ace the Bat-Hound and Kanga. They even got their own animated movie in 2022! Ultimately, the Legion of Super-Pets represents a fun, lighthearted, and wonderfully weird corner of the DC universe.

5) Shazam Family

The group known today as the Shazam Family started as the Marvel Family in 1942, originally published by Fawcett Comics before DC Comics took over. To build on the success of Captain Marvel (originally Billy Batson), the creators introduced one of the first superhero families in comics. Just like Captain Marvel, each member of the family received powers from the wizard Shazam. The initial team included Mary Marvel and Captain Marvel Jr., and was later joined by characters like Uncle Marvel and the three Lieutenant Marvels. Eventually, legal issues led to a name change to the Shazam Family, and the group expanded to include Billy Batson’s foster siblings, who also gained Shazam’s powers.

4) Suicide Squad

The Suicide Squad is now famous as a team of imprisoned supervillains sent on dangerous missions for the government. But the original team, created in 1959, was quite different. They were a group of spies and soldiers—without superpowers or costumes—who tackled incredibly risky operations during and after World War II. Key members included Rick Flag Sr., Jess Bright, Karin Grace, and Hugh Evans. Rick Flag Jr. later led the more well-known version of the team. Today, the Suicide Squad stands out in comics for its unusual premise and ever-changing lineup of flawed characters—anti-heroes and villains forced to work for the greater good.

3) Legion of Superheroes

As a lifelong cinema and comic book devotee, I always loved discovering the roots of superhero teams, and the Legion of Superheroes is a fascinating one. Back in 1958, Superboy actually met the very first team of teenage heroes in DC Comics – these were the guys who would become the Legion. It all started with just three teens from the 30th century: Cosmic Boy, Lightning Lad, and Saturn Girl. Honestly, they were only meant for a single appearance, but fans absolutely fell in love with their youthful energy and that cool, futuristic vibe. The team exploded in popularity, growing from those initial three into one of the biggest, most diverse groups DC ever created. The Legion, and the hopeful future they represented, really became a cornerstone of DC lore, all stemming from the idea of Superman’s legacy of peace. They’re still incredibly iconic, and I think they really set the stage for other young hero teams we know and love, like the Teen Titans.

2) Justice Society

The Justice Society of America, the first-ever superhero team, revolutionized the comic book world when it launched in 1940. It brought together iconic Golden Age heroes like the Flash, Green Lantern, Doctor Fate, Hawkman, the Spectre, Sandman, the Atom, and Hourman, with Superman and Batman as special members. The JSA’s popular lineup established the model for all superhero teams that followed. Though the team faded in popularity during the 1950s, DC Comics later reintroduced them as a leading force during World War II, with new heroes eventually inheriting their legacies. In many ways, the Justice Society paved the way for the success of teams like the Justice League.

1) Justice League

As a lifelong movie and comic book fan, I still remember being blown away when the Justice League first appeared back in 1960. Sure, team-ups existed before, but this was different. DC brought together its biggest heroes – Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Flash, Green Lantern, Aquaman, and Martian Manhunter – and it just worked. They quickly became the go-to team for any massive threat, defending not just Earth, but the entire universe. Honestly, they’re the most powerful and inspiring group DC has ever created, and they’ve been central to pretty much every important story the company has told. For me, the Justice League isn’t just a superhero team; they’re a symbol of hope and a true icon of the genre.

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2026-02-08 17:11