The Justice League was hot in the late 1980s. Thanks to the mix of humor and action created by Keith Giffen and J.M. DeMatteis, the not-as-superpowered League brought a lightness to the comic book world. So much so that DC Comics felt a spin-off was in order.

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So, in 1989, Giffen & DeMatteis joined artist Bart Sears on Justice League Europe. While still tongue-in-cheek, JLE was more action-packed due to its original lineup, olne that ranked from mildly powerful heroes to ones that rivaled the abilities of Superman.

10 Crimson Fox Was The JLE's Version Of Wolverine

The French hero, The Crimson Fox, was actually a set of twins.

Technically, Crimson Fox wasn't a founding member of the JLE. Yet, her first appearance was early enough in the series, Justice League Europe #6, that she's considered one of the originals. Furthermore, she made direct contributions to the team early on.

The feral-like appearance of the D'Aramis twins— Vivian and Constance— is what labels Crimson Fox as the JLE's version of Wolverine. The deadly steel talons that were part of their costume also contribute to the similarity. Add enhanced speed and agility, and the Fox is an important member of the League.

9 Rocket Red's Role In The Justice League Became More Prominent

Rocket Red added an infusion of family to the JLE

The second Rocked Red— the first was discovered to be a Manhunter in the Millennium crossover series— was humorous, outgoing, and the right fit for Justice League Europe. He, along with Animal Man, were the only two team members to have families. Eventually, the man behind the iron mask, Dmitri Pushkin, brought his family over from Russia to spend time with him in the League's Paris embassy.

Dimitri didn't have any inherent superpowers. His abilities came from his suits. The first was created by the Russian government, while the second was designed while on assignment with the League on Apokolips. Nevertheless, Red's determination made him a true hero.

8 Animal Man Was There, But Shouldn't Have Been

Changes in his own book caused issues with Buddy in the JLE.

Buddy Baker didn't belong in the Justice League. Not because he wasn't worthy— he had the superhuman ability to absorb the powers of other animals, and that made him a strong member. He didn't belong because of what writer Grant Morrison did to the character in his own book.

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Basically, Morrison messed with Buddy, his family, and the concept of comics in Animal Man. A year into Justice League Europe, Buddy was dealing with the death of his family and some metaphysical shifts in his own series. It was one of those situations where the creators of both books didn't seem to speak with each other when it came to creative paths.

7 Flash Was Powerful But Also Arrogant

The JLE's Flash was more immature than in his own book.

The Flash of Justice League Europe wasn't really the one in his own title. Yes, Wally was a little crude sometimes. True, he needed the money after losing a fortune. However, he wasn't as crass as he was in the team book.

Still, the Flash is a formidable member of the JLE. Though he hadn't tapped into the Speed Force yet, Wally was still fast enough to contribute to almost every adventure of the group. Plus, he was able to mend some ties with Ralph Dibny and at the same time fought heavies like the Extremists.

6 Elongated Man Was More Than Comic Relief In The JLE

The JLE was the right team for Elongated Man

When he was a member of the Justice League's first incarnation, Elongated Man provided a light touch to many of the team's adventures. His likability is one reason he became a link across different versions of the League.

He was there when the JLA moved from its satellite to Detroit. Then, he was around when Max Lord's team expanded to Europe. On top of that, Ralph is one of few people who know how to speak French. Thus, he became an important part of the JLE.

5 Sue Dibny Finally Became More Than E-Man's Wife

JLE gave Sue Dibny an important role

Elongated Man's wife, Sue Dibny, was always a player during the original Justice League run. Although it was in the periphery, she was a rarity at DC: A married partner to a superhero. That's why it made sense that Sue took a greater role within the Justice League Europe.

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At first, she was the team's tech guru. Then, she took on the role of performing perpetual monitor duty. After the JLE recovered from the actions of the "Breakdowns" storyline, Sue took on the role of the bureau chief for the League's European chapter.

4 Metamorpho Got His Memory Back While In The JLE

Metamorpho got his memory back while in the JLE.

Metamorpho is among the most powerful members of the JLE. His ability to not only change shape but chemical components makes him nearly invincible. However, the circumstances surrounding his joining of the JLE hurt his standing in the team a bit.

Basically, he was dead. The metagene bomb that was released during DC's Invasion! event caused him to be resurrected. Unfortunately, he did so with only partial memory. Luckily, his time with the League helped him recall his past. Though he didn't really want to know.

3 Power Girl Became Less Powerful As The Series Went On

Though depowered, Power Girl got an origin upgrade.

When she started with the JLE, Power Girl was nearly equivalent in abilities as Superman. However, she didn't quite know where they came from. The events of Crisis on Infinite Earths eliminated her origins as the cousin to the Golden Age Superman.

Her time with the JLE helped resolve those issues. Sadly, after a battle with the Gray Man, Power Girl was injured. After emergency surgery performed by the Man of Steel, the hero returned to the JLE with a reduction of powers.

2 Catherine Colbert Had Great Power Despite Not Being A Hero

Bureau Chief Catherine Colbert had immense power.

The JLE's first bureau chief, Catherine Colbert, had both great power and responsibility. As the woman who handled day-to-day operations at the Paris Embassy, Colbert had to keep members of the League under control. When things when awry, which happened a lot in the JLE's first days, she needed to save face.

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Colbert's greatest power came during the team's initial mission against the Queen Bee. She was the person who kept encouraging Captain Atom to push through the issues, even when his team members didn't trust his leadership. Thanks to her, that mission was a success and Atom was given a boost of confidence.

1 Captain Atom Was A True Leader

Captain Atom was the right leader for the JLE.

There's an irony about Captain Atom. Of all the JLE members he has power that, when released at its full potential, causes serious damage. Connected with his natural leadership capabilities, Atom is someone to be reckoned with. It's why he was selected as the JLE's leader.

Yet, he was a fraidy cat when it came to leadership. He was a man who led a cadre of superheroes in victory against invading aliens. Nevertheless, he couldn't chair the first meeting of the JLE, let alone get them past the early points of their initial mission, without a large dose of awkwardness.

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