How did the Justice League of America form? It depends on who you ask and when you ask them. Usually, it’s due to an alien invasion, but the aliens in question vary depending on the retelling. Sometimes Batman and Superman are involved, and sometimes they aren’t. And don’t even get me started on Triumph. Let’s brush up on your DC history, and dive into the evolution of the Justice League’s origin…
 

1960 – The Brave and the Bold #28

When the Justice League of America first appeared in 1960’s The Brave and the Bold #28, they weren’t given an origin. The team already existed, but dialog in the story implied that they had only recently formed.

Founding Members: Wonder Woman, Aquaman, Superman, Batman, Martian Manhunter, Flash and Green Lantern
 

1962 – Justice League of America #9

Two years later, in Justice League of America #9, the team would celebrate its third anniversary by telling Snapper Carr and Green Arrow how they first came together. As the story goes, a group of alien invaders known as the Appellaxians challenged their finest warriors to conquer Earth.  Each of the founding Justice League members investigated and they all wound up joining together to thwart the invaders. Also, during the invasion one of the Appellaxians briefly turned the heroes into trees.

I guess you could call that version of the team the Justice Leaves of America. Eh?

Okay, moving on.

After they’ve repelled the invasion, Batman suggests that the heroes form “a club or society.” That’s right, the hero known for being a lone wolf is responsible for the JLA’s formation. We don’t see who gives the team its name, but Flash does follow Batman’s suggestion by saying, “A league against evil! Our purpose will be to uphold justice against whatever danger threatens it.”

Founding Members: Wonder Woman, Aquaman, Superman, Batman, Martian Manhunter, Flash and Green Lantern
 

1977 – Justice League of America #144

In 1977’s Justice League of America #144, Green Arrow suddenly discovers a discrepancy with the fifteen-year-old Appellaxian origin story and demands an explanation. Seriously, read the issue, he’s very overdramatic about it.

Superman and Green Lantern reveal that the Justice League had secretly formed six months prior to the Appellaxian invasion after fighting off an attack by White Martians. The heroes at that time suggest forming a group, but decide to wait six months so the anti-Martian hysteria can calm down for J’onn’s sake. Flash’s quote about a league to uphold justice from Appellaxians is repeated here (although technically this took place first).

Founding Members: Wonder Woman, Aquaman, Superman, Batman, Martian Manhunter and Flash
 

1978 – Super Friends, “History of Doom”

When Super Friends premiered in 1973, the Justice League of America (also called the Super Friends in the series) were presented as an already existing team. An origin for the team wasn’t seen until season three’s 32^nd episode, “History of Doom,” and even then, it wasn’t much of an origin. A group of extraterrestrials arrive at a post-apocalyptic Earth and watch videos about the history of the planet’s heroes and villains. One of the videos contains a brief sequence where Superman has gathered the world’s heroes.

“The best way for us to combat crime and be prepared for worldwide emergencies is to work together,” Superman proclaims. “From now on, we’ll be Super Friends!”

That’s it. It’s less than ten seconds long (although I hear the Snyder Cut is longer).

Founding Members: Wonder Woman, Aquaman, Superman, Batman, Robin, Flash, Green Lantern, Samurai, Black Vulcan and Hawkman
 

1988 – Secret Origins #32

The reality-altering events of Crisis on Infinite Earths shifted DC’s continuity, resulting in Wonder Woman making her debut later in the timeline. This raised some questions about the Justice League’s history, which 1988’s Secret Origins #32 answered. The issue is mostly a retelling of the Appellaxian invasion story from Justice League of America #9, but a few things have changed. Wonder Woman has been replaced with Black Canary, Batman is completely absent and Superman never interacts with the other heroes.

As a result, Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman are no longer founding members of the Justice League. However, we finally see how the group gets their name. Green Lantern pitches Justice Society II, Flash counters with the Avengers (har har) and Martian Manhunter says he likes the idea of having Justice in their name. And thus, Flash suggests the Justice League of America and the rest is (Post-Crisis) history.

Founding Members: Black Canary, Aquaman, Martian Manhunter, Flash and Green Lantern
 

1994 – Justice League America #92

It wouldn’t be the ’90s if we didn’t get a revised origin that was just a little extra! In Justice League America #92, we revisit the events of Secret Origins #32 (which is really Justice League of America #9), but with a new revelation—there was another member that everyone forgot. A hero named Triumph not only helped form the League, but he was their leader. Due to hypertime shenanigans, he was erased from the timeline and everyone in the League forgot him. Interestingly, this version of events has Superman as a founding member of the League once more. I guess everyone forgot about that too.

Founding Members: Triumph, Superman, Black Canary, Aquaman, Martian Manhunter, Flash and Green Lantern
 

2001 – Justice League, “Secret Origins”

In 2001, Justice League premiered on Cartoon Network, and the team’s origin was told in a three-part pilot episode called “Secret Origins.” The origin here takes some cues from Justice League of America #144, with the heroes coming together to fight off an invasion of White Martians.

Realizing that they need to remain vigilant against future threats, Superman suggests forming a permanent group. Flash jokingly suggests “Super Friends” as a name (har har har) and Superman counters with Justice League.

Founding Members: Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Hawkgirl, Green Lantern (John Stewart), Flash (Wally West) and Martian Manhunter.
 

2006 – Justice League of America #0

The reality-altering events of Infinite Crisis tweaked DC’s timeline once again, changing the Justice League’s history. The new (or old?) history is revealed in 2006’s Justice League of America #0, which restores Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman as founding members. We get a flashback to the events of 1962’s Justice League of America #9, where we see Wonder Woman turning into a tree instead of Black Canary. 52 #51 would clarify that Black Canary was still a founding member, we just didn’t see her in that panel, which begs the question: if a Justice League tree sprouts in the woods, but nobody sees it, did it really happen?

Founding Members: Wonder Woman, Aquaman, Superman, Batman, Martian Manhunter, Flash, Green Lantern and Black Canary
 

2011 – Justice League #1-6

After the reality-altering events of Flashpoint (this seems to happen often), the DC Universe was given a new timeline, which debuted in 2011’s Justice League #1. Once again, it was an alien invasion that brought the world’s heroes together, but this time the invaders were Darkseid and his Parademon army. This version of the origin is also notable for making Cyborg a founding member.

The heroes were initially reluctant to form a permanent team, citing their personality clashes and individual responsibilities, but they relented once they realized the world needed them. Once again, Flash was involved in the naming of the group, suggesting they call themselves the Super Seven before the team finally settled on Justice League.

Founding Members: Aquaman, Cyborg, Wonder Woman, Flash, Green Lantern, Batman and Superman
 

2017 – Justice League

The 2017 Justice League film was heavily inspired by the 2011 version of the team’s origin, adapting elements such as the Apokolips invasion and maintaining Cyborg as a founding member.

Inspired by Superman’s sacrifice and fearing that bigger threats were on their way, Batman assembles a team of heroes. When the threat of Steppenwolf and his army of Parademons becomes clear, the team uses a hybrid of Kryptonian and Apokoliptian tech to revive Superman and complete their roster.

The name “Justice League” is never actually used in the film, but subsequent DCEU releases such as Peacemaker and The Flash reveal they adopted the name. It’s worth noting that the definitive version of the team’s DCEU origin can be found in the 2021 release Zack Snyder’s Justice League.

Founding Members: Batman, Aquaman, Wonder Woman, Flash, Cyborg and Superman
 

2025 – New History of the DC Universe #2

With all the various reality-altering events, timeline shifts and multiverse shenanigans, you might be wondering what version of the Justice League’s origin is currently considered canon. In the recent New History of the DC Universe #2, as Barry Allen recounts the history of the team, he reveals that the origins from 1962’s Justice League of America #9 and 2011’s Justice League #1 are both true.

Essentially, after stopping Darkseid’s initial invasion, the team formally came together to stop the Appellaxians and decided then to become a permanent group. This makes sense because the heroes seemed resistant to the idea of becoming a permanent group at the end of 2012’s Justice League #6. Plus, if my planet got invaded twice in one week, I’d be assembling a Justice League too.

Founding Members: Aquaman, Cyborg, Wonder Woman, Flash, Green Lantern, Batman, Martian Manhunter, Black Canary and Superman
 

Honorable Mentions

There are a few iterations of the team we’ve left off our list for space, and because they don’t quite fit the criteria of a Justice League origin. Clark Kent assembles a prototype version of the team in the 2007 Smallville episode “Justice,” but it doesn’t really count. The 2025 Superman film has a team called the Justice Gang, which is clearly inspired by the team’s Justice League International comic run, but it’s too early to call them a Justice League and it’s possible the story will go in another direction. And as for the 1997 CBS TV movie. Well…we don’t talk about that.

Joshua Lapin-Bertone writes about TV, movies and comics for DC.com, is a regular contributor to the Couch Club and writes our monthly Batman column, "Gotham Gazette." Follow him on Bluesky at @joshualapinbertone and on X at @TBUJosh.

NOTE: The views and opinions expressed in this feature are solely those of Joshua Lapin-Bertone and do not necessarily reflect those of DC or Warner Bros. Discovery, nor should they be read as confirmation or denial of future DC plans.