Unmasking Betrayal: 8 DC Characters Who Shocked the Justice League

Summary

Aquaman pretended to side with his villainous brother, defeating his teammates in a fight.
Maxwell Lord brutally murdered a hero and manipulated Superman into attacking the League.
Green Arrow worked with Amanda Waller to de-power meta-humans, revealing a time-sensitive twist.

For over eighty years, the universe of DC Comics has evolved significantly, with numerous storylines and a few complete revisions of the entire cosmos. It’s been 65 years since the debut of the original Justice League comic book, making it unsurprising that, in this time span, the team and its diverse iterations have seen various members join and some unfortunate instances of treachery.

In various incarnations of the Justice League, each member has faced issues with the team at certain points, including some of its most esteemed characters. Yet, outright betrayal is a rare occurrence, and only a chosen few superheroes have decisively abandoned the Justice League due to specific reasons.

8. Aquaman

Chose His Home Over The League

Happened In: The Throne Of Atlantis
Published: 2012-2013

For many years, the character known as Aquaman, who frequently appeared in various forms of the Justice League within DC Comics, was often viewed with skepticism. However, this perception has changed significantly with the live-action portrayal of Aquaman by Jason Momoa and the more serious reinventions of the character in comic book versions. As a result, Aquaman’s reputation as a formidable hero has been restored.

In the epic tale of “Throne of Atlantis,” I found myself in a precarious position as Aquaman, compelled to feign allegiance with my treacherous brother, the Ocean Master, instead of standing by my Justice League comrades. To maintain this façade, I engaged in brutal, genuine battles against many of my teammates, leaving them defeated and powerless. Although this wasn’t a premeditated betrayal, it ultimately led to the League being imprisoned by Atlantis.

7. Maxwell Lord

Brutally Murdered A Hero & Attacked The League

Happened In: Countdown To Infinite Crisis
Published In: 2005

Maxwell Lord, who frequently finds himself in ethically questionable situations, has clashed or deceived the Justice League numerous times. However, the most startling and violent incident took place during the period of Infinite Crisis. It was discovered that Blue Beetle’s company’s funds were stolen by Lord, who admitted to monitoring the superhero community. His ultimate plan was to eliminate them altogether.

In the story, when Blue Beetle decides not to assist Maxwell, Maxwell retaliates by shooting Blue Beetle fatally in the head. Subsequently, the villain manipulates Superman’s mind, causing him to assault the League, a conflict that eventually results in Wonder Woman ending Lord’s life. This tragic event sets DC’s three primary heroes against one another for many years thereafter.

6. Green Arrow

Worked With Amanda Waller Against The League

Happened In: Absolute Power #1
Published In: 2024

In a recent turn of events, it was the cherished hero, Green Arrow, who betrayed the Justice League. Manipulated by Amanda Waller, Green Arrow played a significant role in her scheme to depower all meta-humans. As a result, Waller managed to temporarily take powers away from numerous heroes throughout the DC Universe.

In the aftermath of most superhumans going underground and led by Nightwing in a rebellion, Green Arrow persisted in confronting them. However, he later switched sides against Waller. It was then unveiled that he had secretly been spying on her all along, although Martian Manhunter inserted a time-sensitive suggestion into his mind, persuading him that Waller was correct. This unexpected turn of events kept Green Arrow’s character alive, but it cast a shadow over the League’s past.

5. Steve Trevor

Formed Another League To Fight The JL

Happened In: Justice League Of America
Published In: 2013

Although Steve Trevor hasn’t officially been part of the core Justice League group, he is a military officer, intermediary, and frequent love interest of Wonder Woman. However, in the New 52 DC Comics reboot, Steve assumed leadership at ARGUS, was rejected by Wonder Woman romantically, and established a new “Justice League of America” team dedicated to confronting the main Justice League.

Steve deliberately selected team members with the intention of outperforming the core League, featuring characters such as Hawkman, Katana, Martian Manhunter, and Green Arrow. Despite never directly clashing with the Justice League, these actions were considered a breach of trust by the team, and since then, Steve has not resumed his role as an official emissary for the main League.

4. Hal Jordan

Turned Into The Villainous Parallax

Happened In: Emerald Twilight
Published In: 1994

For quite some time, Hal Jordan served as the main Green Lantern in the Justice League. However, following the destruction of his hometown by the villain Mongul in the 90s, Hal went mad and transformed into a nemesis. After defeating Mongul, Hal aimed to rebuild his city, but this action conflicted with his oath as a Green Lantern. Subsequently, he found himself at odds with the Corps, ultimately causing widespread damage to their central hub on Oa and draining its primary power source.

As a movie enthusiast, I found myself captivated by the gripping narrative unfolding in “Zero Hour.” This pivotal moment in the DC Universe chronicles Jordan’s ambitious endeavor to rebuild the entire DC universe from scratch, causing a ripple effect that altered the very fabric of the DC continuity.

In this tale, the Justice League and other heroes were thrust into a battle royale to thwart Jordan’s plans. However, the consequences of his actions reverberated far beyond the resolution of the conflict, leading to the cancellation of several series while others were rebooted in the aftermath of Jordan’s mental collapse.

This seismic event left an indelible mark on the DC Universe, particularly Hal Jordan’s reputation, which was severely tarnished. In the wake of this upheaval, other Green Lanterns emerged as central figures, demonstrating resilience and determination in the face of adversity.

3. Snapper Carr

Believed In A Villain’s Ideas And Betrayed His Friends

Happened In: Justice League Of America
Published In: 1969

As a follower, I may not have been a fully-fledged member of the Justice League, but Snapper Carr was often seen tagging along or acting as a sidekick. In truth, my popularity waned in the ’60s, and I found myself swayed by the words of a man named John Dough, who claimed that the world would be improved if superheroes were no more.

In the story, Snapper assists Dough in apprehending Batman and going undercover, but this action puts the League in grave danger when Dough tricks them into attending a rally using microchips that cause temporary insanity among the heroes. Eventually, it was unveiled that Dough was actually the Joker. Despite this revelation, Snapper admitted he trusted the villain’s words and chose to depart from the team, thereby sealing a lasting betrayal by a long-time companion.

2. Batman

Was Always Prepared To Kill His Teammates

Happened In: JLA: Tower Of Babel
Published In: 2000

Portraying a legend in foresight and precaution, Batman‘s caution borders on excessive measures. This was particularly evident in Tower of Babel, when Ra’s Al Ghul exposed and took Batman’s blueprints for countermeasures against his Justice League allies if they should ever turn traitor. While Batman didn’t personally betray the league, he did supply the schematics.

Al Ghul disabled the entire League to prevent them from meddling with his scheme to decrease Earth’s population. His cunning plot was nearly foolproof, but the League found a way to unite once more to thwart him. Batman’s distrust towards all almost led to planetary destruction, yet his motives, for the most part, have been and continue to be driven by concern for everyone’s well-being.

1. The League Itself

Betrayed Their Ideals & Batman

Happened In: Identity Crisis
Published In: 2004

In a significant DC narrative, doubts about the Justice League’s integrity and individuality arose, ultimately resulting in their disbandment. The erasure of Doctor Light’s memories after he attacked Sue Dibny using Zatanna’s abilities triggered a web of secrets, deceptions, and internal conflicts within the team.

In addition, they erased Batman’s memory regarding these incidents, causing him to develop an observation satellite for the League that later brought about complications due to the mistrust among its members. This tale also sparked a significant divide between the DC trio of superheroes, lasting for years, as the League’s members stubbornly refused to trust one another and continued to conceal truths from each other.

2025-02-15 14:55