Yo, it’s the Justice League.
Index:
I) JLA by Grant Morrison to Tower of Babel
II) After Tower of Babel, Before Identity Crisis
III) From Identity Crisis to Infinite Crisis
IV) Relaunched Justice League of America (Pre New 52)
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VI) Bonus Round: Batman Reading Order
VII) Bonus Round: Wonder Woman Reading Order
VIII) Bonus Round: Superman Reading Order
Where to Start With DC Comics’ Justice League
While this guide will mostly focus on more modern Justice League comics (from 1997 to present day), if you want to get some good older origins going, Justice League: Year One is as good a place as any to start.
Grant Morrison and Howard Porter’s JLA
The majority of modern comic book readers will want to start with Grant Morrison’s run on JLA. Starting around 1997, Morrison took a post-Death of Superman, post-Knightfall, post-Parallax DC Universe, and returned the world’s finest heroes to the Justice League.
The core lineup of Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, Flash, Green Lantern, and Martian Manhunter has become the Justice League standard since this time, particularly solidified in DC’s Animated Justice League: Unlimited.
JLA: The Deluxe Edition Vol. 1
JLA: The Deluxe Edition Vol. 2
JLA: The Deluxe Edition Vol. 3
DC One Million
or JLA One Million
Justice League of America: The Nail
JLA: The Deluxe Edition Vol. 4
Note that the above four JLA collections will take you through JLA #1 to #41. This actually completes Morrison’s run (following World War III). In order to collect Tower of Babel
, one of the defining Batman stories of the early 2000’s, you could conceivably turn to JLA Vol. 4
. Tower of Babel itself, while frequently referenced and turned into a DC Animated movie, has been strangely out of print.
This time period will also take you through the Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely JLA: Earth 2
graphic novel.
You’ll also note that I included DC One Million above. This takes place after JLA #23, and is another recommended Grant Morrison event from this era. The JLA: One Million collection is a more affordable approach to get the basics of the event.
Justice League After the Tower of Babel
JLA Vol. 5
– Issues #47 to #60
JLA Vol. 6
– Issues #61 to #76
JLA Vol. 7
– Issues #77 to #93
JLA: The Tenth Circle
– Issues #94 to #99
JLA: Pain of the Gods
– Issues #101 to #106
JLA: Syndicate Rules
– Issues #107 to #114
Identity Crisis and Infinite Crisis Takeover
If you’ve looked into essential DC Universe stories from the 2000’s, you’re likely at least a little familiar with Identity Crisis. The controversial mystery from Brad Meltzer has major ramifications on both the DCU and the Justice League. For all intents and purposes, it’s a Justice League story.
JLA: Crisis of Conscience
– Issues #115 to #119
JLA: World Without a Justice League
– Issues #120 to #125
A New Justice League of America (Pre New 52)
Following the events of Infinite Crisis and 52, DC relaunched Justice League of America with a new number one issue, and Identity Crisis money-maker Bred Meltzer.
Justice League of America, Vol 1: Tornado’s Path
Justice League of America, Vol 2
: Lightning Saga
Justice League of America: The Injustice League
Justice League of America Vol 4: Sanctuary
Justice League of America: The Second Coming
Justice League of America: Worlds Collide
Justice League of America: Team History
Justice League of America: The Dark Things
Justice League of America: Omega
Justice League of America: Rise of Eclipso
The New 52 Justice League Reading Order
In 2011 DC Comics rebooted their entire comic book line into the New 52. This means a relaunch and brand new origin for the Justice League, with Geoff Johns and Jim Lee on creative duties.
If you want to see every DC Comic from this era, you can check out the full Comic Book Herald New 52 reading order!
Justice League: The Villain’s Journey
Throne of Atlantis Reading Order
Justice League: Throne of Atlantis
Hey we made it 12 issues without a crossover! Throne of Atlantis crosses over with another Johns written title, Aquaman.
Issues:
Justice League #13
Justice League #14
Aquaman #14
Justice League #15
Aquaman #15
Justice League #16
Aquaman #16
Justice League #17
Aquaman #17
Justice League of America Vol. 1: World’s Most Dangerous
– Issues JLA #1 to #5
Following Throne of Atlantis, Justice League of America launches a fresh series in the New 52. Note that although the above collection includes six issues, the sixth issue of Justice League of America will work best as a Trinity War tie-in.
Justice League: The Grid
– Issues #18 to #23
Trinity War Reading Order
For the most part, Trinity War is the DC event that had been promised since the end of Flashpoint
. It’s also the first Justice League event that crosses over with Justice League Dark. I haven’t listed JLD to date, but if you want to catch up on the magical Justice League, now’s the perfect time, and you can do so as follows:
Issues:
Trinity of Sin: Pandora #1
Justice League #22
Justice League of America #6
Justice League Dark #22
Constantine #5
Trinity of Sin: Pandora #2
The Phantom Stranger #11
Justice League of America #7
Trinity of Sin: Pandora #3
Justice League Dark #23
Justice League #23
Forever Evil Reading Order (Justice League Style)
Justice League: Forever Heroes
Justice League of America, Vol. 2: Survivors of Evil
Issues:
Forever Evil #1
Justice League Dark #24
Justice League Dark #25
Forever Evil #2
Justice League #24
Justice League of America #8
Justice League of America #9
Justice League Dark #26
Justice League #25
Justice League of America #10
Forever Evil #4
Justice League #26
Justice League #27
Justice League of America #11
Justice League Dark #27
Justice League Dark #28
Justice League #28
Forever Evil #5
Justice League of America #12
Justice League Dark #29
Justice League of America #13
Forever Evil #6
Justice League #29
Forever Evil #7
Justice League #30
Justice League of America #14
Justice League: Injustice League
– This collection covers Justice League #30 to #39, which takes you through the Amazo Virus story arc as well.
Justice League Darkseid War Reading Order
Justice League: Darkseid War Part 1
Justice League: Darkseid War – Power of the Gods
Justice League: Darkseid War Part 2
Issues:
Justice League #40
Free Comic Book Day DC Comics: Divergence #1
Justice League #41
Justice League #42
Justice League #43
Justice League #44
Justice League: Gods and Men Batman #1
Justice League #45
Justice League: Gods and Men The Flash #1
Justice League: Gods and Men Superman #1
Justice League #46
Justice League: Gods and Men Green Lantern #1
Justice League: Gods and Men Shazam! #1
Justice League: Gods and Men Lex Luthor #1
Justice League #47
Justice League #48
Justice League #49
Justice League #50
DC Rebirth Justice League
You can find the context for Justice League in DC Rebirth as part of Comic Book Herald’s complete DC Rebirth reading order.
Justice League Vol. 1: The Extinction Machine
Collects: Justice League: Rebirth #1, Justice League #1 to #5
Justice League Vol. 2 (Rebirth)
Collects: Justice League #7 to #12
Justice League vs. Suicide Squad Reading Order
Justice League Vol. 3: Timeless
Collects: Justice League #14-19
Justice League Vol. 4: Endless
Collects: Justice League #20-25
Collects: Justice League #26-31
Justice League Vol. 6: The People vs. The Justice League
Collects: Justice League #34-38
Justice League Vol. 7: Justice Lost
Collects: Justice League #39-43
New Justice Begins!
Collects: Justice League: No Justice #1-4 And Stories From Dc Nation #0
Following the events of Dark Nights: Metal, the Justice League lineup of comics rebranded with new core rosters under the “New Justice” umbrella. The “No Justice” mini kicked things off, and leads to three core titles: Justice League, Justice League Dark, and Justice League Odyssey.
Justice League Vol. 1: The Totality
Collects: Justice League #1-7
The Scott Snyder written era of Justice League begins, with artists including Jim Cheung and Jorge Jimenez.
Justice League Vol. 2: Graveyard of Gods
Collects: Justice League #8-12
Justice League Odyssey Vol. 1: The Ghost Sector
Collects: Justice League Odyssey #1-5
Justice League Dark Vol. 1: The Last Age of Magic
Collects: Justice League Dark #1-3 And 5-7
Justice League/Aquaman: Drowned Earth
Collects: Justice League/Aquaman: Drowned Earth #1, Justice League #10-12, Aquaman #40-41, Titans #28 And Aquaman/Justice League: Drowned Earth #1
You can find a checklist and reading order for this crossover with Comic Book Herald’s Drowned Earth guide.
Wonder Woman & the Justice League Dark: The Witching Hour
Collects: Wonder Woman/Justice League Dark: The Witching Hour#1-2, Wonder Woman #56-57 And Justice League Dark #4
You can find a checklist and reading order for this crossover with Comic Book Herald’s Witching Hour guide.
Justice League Vol. 3: Hawkworld
Collects: Justice League #13-16, Justice League Annual #1, Justice League #17 To #18
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You do not even have the decency to credit the site where you took the image from after googling it? I mean, you even kept the original dimension (1500X1010 px).
How shameless are you? I mean, it’s not like the site owner has any copyright on it or something but you are so shameless that you couldn’t even buy a digital copy of the book and just crop it yourself?
I posted this comment before, but you deleted. Why are you afraid to even link back? It’s not like you are being asked for money!
I was wondering what the best Justice League are, where Superman is the featured character (in the sense that Batman is the featured character for Tower of Babel)?
*Justice League comics (obviously!)
I don’t see Forever Evil #3 in the reading order… where does this fit in? PS love this guide.
Fantastic Guide! I’ve been looking for something like this and it’s perfect. Only question.. Wouldn’t the Darkseid War ‘Power of the Gods” go in between Vol.1 and 2? Anyway thanks for this!
Yes, absolutely! I must have only updated on the full New 52 guide. Now updated.
Thanks, and glad you’re enjoying!
I do not have the individual issues. I am reading the tpb reprints of Justice league, JLA, forever evil, trinity war and Justice league dark of the “new 52”, what order should I read those in?
One of the best, most helpful, and simply awesome guides in the Multiverse!
Hey, Comicbook Herald Team! Just wanted to say you guys rock. I’ve been following all of your guides for years and keep up the great work! From Marvel, to DC, to the 90s to the 00s, you’ve got it all covered, and covered well. Looking forward to the Rebirth stuff 🙂
Sohaib
What about the Justice League International books fit in? I believe that they started not too far into the New 52 phase?
Hi this is a fantastic order, however, I was wondering where and how convergence will fit into this Justice league reading over since i believe it is a Justice League “level” event. Also, I was also wondering if you have or will ever make a full New 52 reading order over all the New 52 Graphic novels or at least the main books/stories/characters?
Thank you keep up the good work!
Thank you so much! Would there be anyway for you to create a complete timeline of the entirety of DC’s publication like you have done with Marvel? I know it’s quite a big request but I’d just like to know if that’ll ever happen on here.
The best I can give you right now is this larger set of guides. There’s a fair amount to read there, although I probably won’t be able to get as involved as I am with Marvel until DC decides to make their comics more accessible 🙂
I’d Love it if you could make at least a New 52 order. Love the work you do by the way! You must spend hours going through comics and deciding what goes where.