The Justice League have had some amazing adventures over the years. They've faced threats unlike any others, and these stories have thrilled readers. Comic stories are quite interesting in that they often hinge on surprises, but creators use them in several ways. For example, there are the big reveals that surprise readers and characters alike. Then there are ones the readers know, but the characters don't.
The latter kind have often given the stories suspense, as readers wonder when the information they know is going to affect the story. Many times, often during large-scale Crisis events, these surprises shock the League to its core, making the story that much better.
10 Wally West's Murder Of The People At Sanctuary Shocked Everyone Who Knew Him
Heroes In Crisis
DC has made many controversial story choices, but few can match the twist of Heroes in Crisis, by writer Tom King and artists Mitch Gerads and Clay Mann. The story chronicled the hunt for the murderer of the superhero psychiatric community Sanctuary, with Booster Gold and Harley Quinn working to clear their name. Readers, however, were way ahead of everyone else.
The story used several flashback issues to show the past of the facility, especially Wally West's struggles. These struggles caused him to lose control of his powers and explode with Speed Force energy, killing everyone. He then met the future version of himself and killed him, hiding the body with the rest of them so no one would know he did it.
9 Maxwell Lord's True Nature Was Revealed To Readers Before The League
Countdown To Infinite Crisis
Countdown to Infinite Crisis, by writers Judd Winick, Greg Rucka, and Geoff Johns, artists Ed Benes, Rags Morales, Ivan Reis, Jesús Saiz, and Phil Jimenez, inker Michael Bair, colorist Moose Baumann, and letterer Nick J. Napolitano, was the kick-off for the multiple plot threads that would lead into the biggest DC story of the 2000s. The book revealed many things, but the biggest came at the end. Blue Beetle learned the truth about Maxwell Lord and paid for it.
Lord's secret life as the villainous Black King of Checkmate was a huge shock for readers. It was a huge moment, one that would have huge repercussions for the League. Lord's treachery allowed the team's hidden enemies to get much further than they would have otherwise.
8 Harbinger's Possession By A Shadow Demon Surprised The Heroes
Crisis On Infinite Earths
Crisis on Infinite Earths, by writer Marv Wolfman and artist/co-plotter George Pérez, threw many surprises at reader and hero alike, but an early one changed the tenor of the story from the start. Harbinger, while on a mission with heroes assembled by the Monitor, was possessed by a Shadow Demon. This secretly made her into a mole for the Anti-Monitor.
Readers watched as she tried her best to fight the possession, but she failed. She killed the Monitor, the only person who ever cared about her, as Alexander Luthor watched shocked. This moment changed the battle against Anti-Monitor, although the Monitor had made plans in case he died.
7 Readers Knew About Maxwell Lord Sending Superman After Batman
Superman/Wonder Woman: Sacrifice
Superman/Wonder Woman: Sacrifice revolved around a mind controlled Superman continually trying to kill Batman. Finally, Wonder Woman had to battle the Man of Steel to stop him, with the whole thing ending when she killed Maxwell Lord. Diana joined the ranks of DC heroes ruined by a single mistake, and the League was surprised by how far Lord would go to win. Readers were not.
The OMAC Project #3, by writer Greg Rucka, artists Jesús Saiz and Cliff Richards, inker Bob Wiacek, colorist Hi-Fi Design, and letterer Jared K. Fletcher, revealed that Lord was going to send Superman after Batman. While the League didn't learn until it was too late, readers knew the whole time.
6 The Justice League's Worst Secrets Were Revealed
JLA: Crisis Of Conscience
The most shocking Justice League stories are built around their twists, like JLA: Crisis of Conscience, by writers Geoff Johns and Allan Heisenberg and artist Chris Batista. This story played off the Justice League mindwipe reveals from Identity Crisis, as the Secret Society of Supervillains learned the truth about their mindwipes and attacked the League. Batman would also learn the truth about his own mindwipe.
These revelations broke the already reeling Justice League. Readers had known about them since Identity Crisis, though, and every page felt like the sword was finally going to drop. The story's shocks were no less keen because readers knew about them.
5 Readers Knew The Secrets Of The Worlogog Before The League
JLA: Rock Of Ages
The Justice League's best stories have taken readers to some wild places. JLA: Rock of Ages, by writer Grant Morrison and artist Howard Porter, outlined Lex Luthor's new Injustice Gang - Joker, Circe, Mirror Master, Doctor Light, and Ocean Master - attacking the League with the help of the Worlogog. Part of the League was sent to learn about it, and these revelations changed the story completely.
They learned it was a weapon of the Fourth World, but more importantly that destroying it would doom the world. This group had to race against time, ensuring that Superman didn't destroy the Worlogog. They succeeded just in the nick of time, surprising their teammates.
4 Readers Watched The Death Of The Justice Society
Zero Hour: Crisis In Time
Not every DC event brought huge change despite trying. Zero Hour: Crisis in Time, by writer/artist Dan Jurgens and artist/inker Jerry Ordway, didn't have the impact it seemed like it would, but there was a big surprising moment in the story. Extant, the main villain, was attacked by the Justice Society and what followed was a one-sided battle that decimated the team.
The Atom, The Sandman, Dr. Mid-Nite, and Hourman were all killed, and the rest of the members were de-aged. The other heroes would come upon this chilling tableau, watching as their heroic forebears were at their lowest. It showed them just how dangerous Extant was.
3 The Secret Of Tomorrow Woman Taught The League A Valuable Lesson About Heroism And Friendship
JLA
JLA #5, by writer Grant Morrison, artist Howard Porter, inker John Dell, colorist Pat Garrahy, and letterer Ken Lopez, gave readers the tragedy of Tomorrow Woman. Created by T.O. Morrow and Professor Ivo, she was put on the team to destroy it. Readers knew this from the beginning of the issue, watching as she grew closer to the League, as Morrow and Ivo prepared her deadly payload.
However, Tomorrow Woman was able to break her programming. She loved her newfound friends and refused to destroy them. Instead, she saved them from a rampaging alien artifact called IF, detonating her destructive payload and dying as a member of the League.
2 Infinite Crisis #1 Ended With A Massive Reveal
Infinite Crisis
Infinite Crisis changed DC for years to come. Infinite Crisis #1, by writer Geoff Johns, artist Phil Jimenez, inker Andy Lanning, colorists Jeromy Cox and Guy Major, and letterer Nick J Napolitano, had secret narrators talking about the state of DC Universe. They argued over whether the heroes were doing enough, and finally decided to intervene.
The end of the issue of revealed Earth-2 Superman and Lois Lane, Earth-3's Alexander Luthor, and Superboy-Prime were able to break through to the main universe. The heroes wouldn't learn about this until it was revealed to Power Girl and Batman.
1 The Justice League Didn't Know About Darkseid's Attack Until It Was Too Late
Final Crisis
Final Crisis ranks among the best DC books of the 2000s. Written by Grant Morrison with art by J.G. Jones, Carlos Pacheco, and Doug Mahnke, the story revolved around Darkseid and his servants talking over the bodies of mortals. Then, they used the Anti-Life Equation to attack the Earth, enslaving half of humanity, leaving the heroes to stop their destructive plans.
Readers knew from the start, watching as Dan Turpin investigated the Dark Side Club and learned its terrible secrets. The heroes were constantly outmaneuvered and beaten at every turn. By the time Darkseid's attacks were known, the heroes were already almost beat.