The Shocking Truth Behind the Worst Justice League Members Who Nearly Destroyed DC’s Finest!

Summary

Mystek was an intriguing superhero with energy-based powers, killed off suddenly by her creator.
Bloodwynd’s aversion to violence made him a liability to the League, rarely contributing.
Vibe, a breakdancing stereotype, was better on screen than in comics and was ultimately killed off.

Prior to groups like the Avengers, Teen Titans, and The Seven, there existed the Justice League. Originating as a reimagining of DC Comics’ initial superhero team, the Justice Society, they became the most recognized band of heroes. Over time, they’ve evolved, welcoming new members, saying goodbye to old ones, and branching off into separate teams, but they’ve consistently stood out across different DC realities.

To put it another way, although some individuals managed to secure a place on the team, their participation often proved detrimental rather than beneficial. They either failed to contribute positively, created safety concerns, or even attempted to sabotage the League from within. It’s important to note that they aren’t necessarily the least capable members of the team, but they certainly stood out as the most problematic.

10. Mystek

Intriguing Superhero Goes Out As Soon As She Comes In

Debut: The Ray Vol.2 #12
She has an interesting array of energy-based superpowers
Behind-the-scenes planning caused her creator to kill her off shortly into her run

Jennifer “Seong” Barclay, a Korean-American woman, was known as Mystek. She wore high-tech armor with a masculine aesthetic and used it to battle The Ray. With this armor, she had the ability to control subatomic energy, fly, and create matter. Martian Manhunter invited her to join the Justice League Task Force, which she agreed to be part of. While she might not have been popular among fans, given the chance, she could have made significant contributions to the team.

According to her creator, Christopher Priest, he believed that assigning her to the Task Force would potentially lead to her own miniseries in the future. However, when these plans didn’t work out, he opted to have her perish immediately upon introduction, making an explosive exit due to a claustrophobia-triggered panic attack from within the League’s spaceship. This ensured that DC couldn’t capitalize on her character without his input, but her demise could have been more graceful.

9. Bloodwynd

Hero’s Dedication to Pacifism Keeps Him from Doing Anything Useful

Debut: Justice League America #61
With his mystical gem, he could fly, read minds, cast spells, and raise the dead through necromancy
Unfortunately, his aversion to violence made him more of a liability to the League

As a devotee, I’m intimately acquainted with Bloodwynd, famously known as Quintus Arce beyond his armored persona. This dynamic character is a direct descendant of a band of enslaved individuals who harnessed an ancient rite to imprison their oppressor within a gemstone, the ominous Blood Gem. Over generations, the malevolent spirit of their master intermingled with the demon Rott, endowing each successive owner with the power to manipulate the wielder through the gem’s influence. Eventually, the gem found its way into Quintus’ possession, forever merging his fate with that of the Blood Gem and the tormented spirit it contained.

Rott transformed Martian Manhunter into Bloodwynd and used him to secretly work against the League from within their group. When the League managed to thwart Rott, they allowed the genuine Bloodwynd to join them. However, he seldom responded to their calls and occasionally withheld crucial information, a result of his pacifism contradicting the League’s objectives. Eventually, he left the team without making any significant contributions to it.

8. Vibe

Breakdancing Gangbanger Proved Better On Screen Than in Comics

Debut: Justice League of America Annual #2
His sonic-shocking powers and seismic beats at least made him on par with Marvel’s Shocker
In execution, he ended up being a weak, outdated attempt to appeal to Hispanic readers

When Vibe entered the Justice League, both Martian Manhunter and Aquaman harbored reservations. Initially envisioned as a more street-savvy, contemporary addition to the squad (at least in 1984), he utilized his seismic abilities for his gang, Los Lobos. However, in reality, he became a breakdancing stereotype representing Hispanic culture, who unwittingly drew the League into a gang conflict. Consequently, it’s understandable that his teammates were cautious about accepting him as a member.

Throughout the years, I’ve seen some redesigns that really resonated with fans, such as those in The New 52 and the various series within the Arrowverse (even his evil counterparts from alternate universes like Echo, Reverb, and Breakdance made an appearance!). However, when it came to his original comic book persona, not many were fond of his Spanglish lingo and Poochy-like demeanor. Even fewer expressed sorrow when he was written out in 1987.

7. Blue Jay

Marvel Mockup Becomes a Marvel Mockery

Debut: Justice League of America #87
He can shrink, grow, fly, and has enhanced vision
But he spent most of his time being saved by his colleagues rather than saving others

In one way or another, comic book publishers often create characters that mimic their competitors’ rosters. For instance, Marvel has characters like Hyperion and Nighthawk who are similar to DC heroes, while DC responds with characters such as Blue Jay, which seems to be a nod to Marvel’s Yellowjacket (or Hank Pym, the original Ant-Man). Blue Jay, resembling Hawkman with powers akin to the Atom, was essentially designed as a parody of Marvel’s Yellowjacket. He hails from the doomed world of Angor and is here to protect Earth.

Despite his infrequent contributions, it was clear that he acknowledged his ineffectiveness as a member of the Justice League of Europe. Instead, he often found himself causing trouble and becoming a pawn for various villains. In search of a universe where he could shine as a hero, he eventually departed from the DC universe, only to meet an untimely end at the hands of Savitar in the “Heroes in Crisis” saga. However, he did get a chance to fight Owlman in the “Omega” storyline.

6. Geo-Force

Terra’s Brother Proves to Be a Better Outsider Than a League Member

Debut: The Brave and the Bold #200
He can manipulate the earth, lava, heat, and gravity, and has experience working in superhero teams
But his attempts to turn his blackmailer’s scheme back on him as a double agent made

Geo-Force, born Brion Markov, didn’t bring better fortune to the League, despite being an earthshaker. He was previously associated with DC characters such as Terra, the half-sibling of the Teen Titans traitor, and was part of a group including Batman, Metamorpho, Katana (who later joined the Suicide Squad), and others in the Outsiders. Despite his rocky past and fluctuations over time, he could have been beneficial to the League. However, he was not officially a member of the team.

Initially, he was considered an informal member when he sought assistance from the League regarding his malfunctioning abilities, later discovered to have been manipulated by Deathstroke who forced Geo-Force into becoming a spy within the League. He revealed this information and attempted to work as a double agent on their behalf. However, this resulted in the League’s capture and Geo-Force’s torture. Miraculously, he survived but was ultimately returned to the Outsiders.

5. Maxima

Supervillain’s Baby Fever Drives Her to Join Superhero Team

Debut: Action Comics #645
She has a wide range of superpowers and helped fight off the likes of Brainiac, Doomsday, and Starbreaker
She spent much of her time on the team trying to seduce Superman, and turned on him when he said no

It’s quite surprising that characters like Booster Gold often find themselves excluded from the core JLA team due to various reasons, while Maxima is accepted immediately. Granted, she possesses an array of abilities such as super strength and telekinesis, and played a significant role in defeating Brainiac and Starbreaker. However, these accomplishments only partially explain why she desires to join the League â there are likely other factors at play as well.

Initially, what she yearned for was to conceive offspring with Superman, aiming to create powerful heirs for her planet Almerac. However, when they first met, he rejected her proposal, a rejection she persistently encountered until she joined the Superman Revenge Squad out of resentment. Her relentless desire for children, which had become somewhat awkward for DC Comics, was reworked in The New 52, portraying her as a lesbian trying to evade a compulsory union on Almerac.

4. Lobo

The Ultimate Bastich Becomes the League’s Unlikeliest Member

Debut: Omega Men #3
He’s one of the strongest beings in the universe and has his own moral code
His moral code doesn’t stop him from maiming and murdering anyone in his way

It’s quite possible that even those with casual knowledge of DC characters can grasp why Lobo was an unsuitable fit for the League. After all, he is a self-parody of gritty antiheroes such as Wolverine and The Punisher, who are just as likely to kill the innocent as they are the guilty. He attempted to join the team in the Justice League cartoon after Superman’s (temporary) death. However, it may surprise you to learn that he actually became a member of the team in the comics. So, one might wonder, how did this notorious outlaw find himself among the ranks of heroes?

In the storyline DC Rebirth, Maxwell Lord manipulated him into joining the Suicide Squad, and Batman resolved this by placing a bomb inside Lobo’s skull that detonated, resulting in a fresh head free from Lord’s control. Later on, Lobo reciprocated by temporarily joining the League. It was unexpected of him, but he didn’t kill anyone during his time with the group. Ultimately, Lobo thrives better as the lead character in his own comic series rather than a bounty hunter with a golden heart within the League.

3. Snapper Carr

Average Guy Goes From Saving the League to Almost Dooming Them

Debut: The Brave and the Bold #28
He helped save the original League from Starro with quicklime
Then he betrayed them by telling a disguised Joker how to break into their base

As a passionate movie enthusiast, I must say, during the Silver Age of comics, the Justice Society started to feel a bit outdated. But then, DC introduced fresh takes on characters like The Flash and Green Lantern, donning their iconic red suit and space-cop personas. This revamp made the old team seem a tad stale. Yet, Superman, Wonder Woman, Batman, Aquaman, Martian Manhunter, and I, Snapper Carr, formed the initial Justice League version, adding a breath of fresh air to the team.

Originally, he was a typical individual who managed to join the group through mere coincidence at opportune moments. However, apart from his trendy charm, he had no extraordinary abilities. Over time, he grew resentful due to feeling excluded. In an attempt to seek revenge, he allowed John Dough (who was actually disguised as the Joker) into their secret hideout, where he held everyone hostage. Once the League successfully thwarted Dough’s plan, Carr chose to leave the team before facing dismissal. Since then, he has been wandering aimlessly.

2. Batman

One of Their Best Members Became One of Their Worst

Debut: Detective Comics #27
He’s a founding member whose vast knowledge and resources have helped the League out a lot
He also ended up putting all their lives in danger during the Tower of Babel and Infinite Crisis storylines

It’s tough to envision the League functioning without Batman. His detective abilities, technological prowess, wealth, and unique skills make him an indispensable member of the team. However, he has also been a source of trouble for his fellow heroes. For instance, after his memory was wiped in the events of “Identity Crisis”, he developed Brother Eye as a means of surveillance over his comrades, but unfortunately, this AI malfunctioned and caused chaos leading up to “Countdown to Infinite Crisis”.

Prior to this, in the story of Tower of Babel, his suspicion led him to devise methods to conquer his comrades. For instance, he considered using red kryptonite against Superman, making Aquaman fear water, causing the Flash to suffer from light-speed convulsions, and so on. However, Ra’s Al-Ghul uncovered his schemes and set them in motion, coming close to annihilating the League completely. They would eventually live through this ordeal but as a consequence, they decided to expel Batman from the team as retribution.

1. Maxwell Lord

Business Backer Broke the League From Within

Debut: Justice League Vol.1 #1
He re-established the Justice League after Crisis on Infinite Earths
He was also a metahuman who hated metahumans and tried to kill them off using the League’s resources

Maxwell Lord served more as the CEO of the team rather than a fellow hero after the Crisis. He handled matters that didn’t require punching supervillains and such. However, it’s important to note that his initial attempt to reassemble the League took place during a time when he was under the control of a program called Kilg%re. For many years, he was the one who managed the League and its various factions, including the Justice League International and the “Super Friends.

Afterward, it was unveiled that he had been orchestrating a grand deception all along, undermining his alliances from within. He ultimately used Brother Eye and the OMACs to eliminate superhumans across the globe. Before meeting his end at Wonder Woman’s hands, he had already eliminated Blue Beetle. The aftermath of his actions proved to be far-reaching and required extensive cleanup. Given the recent events, it is imperative that the League conduct a thorough background check on every member of their organization.

2025-05-11 15:29