Justice League

The Justice League of America was first introduced in The Brave and the Bold #28, published by DC Comics. This superhero team was a reimagining of the Justice Society of America for the Silver Age of Comic Books, consisting initially of Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, The Flash, Aquaman, and Martian Manhunter. Their formation was inspired by the success of superhero team comics like the Justice Society of America. The Justice League became one of the comic industry's most iconic teams.

Superman vs. The Amazing Spider-Man is a comic book jointly published by DC Comics and Marvel Comics in 1976. It was the first time that characters owned by rival comic book companies met in an official story. The plot sees Superman and Spider-Man confronting the villainous pairing of Doctor Doom and Lex Luthor. The Justice League's involvement, through Superman, was part of larger inter-company collaborations and further cemented Superman's position within the Justice League mythos.

The Super Friends animated television show aired from 1973 to 1986, inspired by the Justice League and developed by Hanna-Barbera. It featured Superman, Batman, Robin, Wonder Woman, and Aquaman as the core group, often teaming up with guest heroes to fight iconic villains. It introduced audiences to superhero team dynamics, increasing the Justice League’s popularity among younger viewers and contributing to DC's broader recognition.

In May 1987, the Justice League received a significant revival with the launch of a new series titled 'Justice League,' later known as 'Justice League International'. Under the creative team of Keith Giffen, J.M. DeMatteis, and artist Kevin Maguire, the series injected humor and international intrigue into the superhero genre, renewing interest and leading to critical and commercial success during the late 1980s and early 1990s.

The Justice League animated series premiered on November 17, 2001, on Cartoon Network. Created by Bruce Timm and produced by Warner Bros. Animation, it was part of the DC Animated Universe and featured a team composed of Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, The Flash, Green Lantern, Martian Manhunter, and Hawkgirl. The series was acclaimed for its mature storytelling, character development, and faithfulness to the DC Comics mythos, playing a significant role in expanding the League's influence in popular culture.

Justice League: The New Frontier is an animated superhero film released directly to video on July 23, 2008. Produced by Warner Bros. Animation, it’s based on Darwyn Cooke's comic book 'DC: The New Frontier'. The movie is set in the 1950s against the Cold War backdrop and tells the story of how Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, and others come together to form the Justice League. It was celebrated for its stylistic animation and faithful adaptation of its source material.

On August 31, 2011, as part of its line-wide relaunch known as 'The New 52', DC Comics debuted a new Justice League series by writer Geoff Johns and artist Jim Lee. This series was part of an ambitious initiative to reset the continuity of the DC Universe. The first six issues depicted the team's origin, with new designs and a modern narrative approach that aimed to attract newer audiences and refresh the Justice League brand.

Released on March 19, 2016, 'Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice' directed by Zack Snyder featured the first cinematic introduction of several Justice League members, setting the stage for the Justice League film. The movie included appearances and cameos by Wonder Woman, Aquaman, The Flash, and Cyborg. The film aimed to expand the DC Extended Universe and lay groundwork for future collaborations among the iconic heroes, despite receiving mixed critical responses.

On November 17, 2017, the live-action film 'Justice League' was released, directed by Zack Snyder and Joss Whedon. It featured an ensemble cast including Ben Affleck, Henry Cavill, Gal Gadot, Ezra Miller, Jason Momoa, and Ray Fisher as the iconic superheroes. The film was part of the DC Extended Universe and depicted the League's formation to combat the alien threat of Steppenwolf. Despite mixed reviews, the film had a wide impact on the portrayal of Justice League characters on the big screen.

Zack Snyder's Justice League, often referred to as the 'Snyder Cut', was released on March 18, 2021, on HBO Max. This version of the 2017 'Justice League' film presented director Zack Snyder's original vision for the movie before he left the project. It was a four-hour long cut featuring additional scenes, a different score, and a darker tone compared to the theatrical release. The Snyder Cut was developed due to fan demand and was significant in showing the impact of fan advocacy in media.