DC Universe's flagship team has undergone many incarnations of their roster since first appearing in 1960. Since the Justice League is the premier DC team, one if not all members of the Trinity of Superman, Wonder, and Batman are leading or at least anchoring the team. On rare occasions, the team is nothing more than an odd collection of supporting and/or second-tier characters.

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In the mid-2000s, the DCU was a strange place following the series of events that left the Trinity unable to be on the team. Following Final Crisis and Blackest Night, Dick Grayson assumed the Batman mantle and found himself leading the Justice League for the second time in his career.

10 Taking Over As Leader of the League Was Not His First Time Leading The Team

Nightwing JL - JLA

Dick Grayson led the Justice League of America in the 2006 series, but this was not the first time he was in charge of the team. During the Obsidian Age event of 2002, the original Justice League were transported to Atlantis, triggering Batman's deep command Omega Gabriel Alpha— which recruited new members to the team.

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In that instance, he led the team as Nightwing, whereas during the 2006 series he had already taken over the mantle of Batman following Bruce's "death" during Final Crisis. Dick's previous time leading the League four years earlier is never referenced when he takes over the second time.

9 James Robinson Continued The Story From Cry For Justice In The First Few Issues Of His Run

Nightwing JL - Cry for Justice

James Robinson took over writing the Justice League Of America title following a three-issue fill-in story by Len Wein. At the time, Robinson was finishing Justice League: Cry For Justice, and Dwayne McDuffie had been fired following the creative differences he was experiencing with editorial.

Green Arrow is one of the heroes that Green Lantern and Dick approach, realizing the mental state Oliver was in following the destruction of Star City, the death of Liam Harper, and the maiming of Roy. Oliver accepts the offer, but under false pretenses, using his access to enter The Watchtower to gain information on The Electrocutioner, who aided Prometheus in the destruction of Star City.

8 Dick's Tenure As Leader Followed The Events Of Final Crisis & Blackest Night

Nightwing JL - DC events

The Justice League was in shambles following the events of Final Crisis and Blackest Night as the Trinity, and other staple members of the League were involved in other stories of their own. Along with Bruce being dead, Superman was off-planet on the newly created Krypton led by Supergirl's mother. Wonder Woman initially approaches Donna Troy, who is suffering from her traumatic experience during Blackest Night and encourages her to join and rebuild the League before finding herself dealing with The Olympian over in her title.

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Donna seeks out her former Titan's teammates, including Dick Grayson, who was looking for The Broker. Dick is well aware that Donna was recruiting their friends and joins, though it is not till later that it is revealed that he is the team leader.

7 The Roster Under Dick's Grayson's Leadership Started Of Large With A Mix Of Former Teen Titans & Some Fill-In Heroes

Nightwing JL - Team

When they first began, Grayson's Justice League consisted of 12 heroes: Batman, Donna Troy, Green Lantern (Hal Jordan), Green Arrow, the Atom (Ray Palmer), Mon-El, Cyborg, Doctor Light (Kimiyo Hoshi), Starfire, Congorilla, Starman (Mikaal Tomas), and the Guardian.

Doctor Light was the only returning member from the team as Vixen was recovering from a broken leg, and Plastic Man's powers were permanently scrambled, causing him to be unable to hold his form and slowly disintegrating. The Guardian joined along with Mon-El and Congorilla, and Starman, who appeared in Cry For Justice, also joined the team early on in the run. Green Lantern, Green Arrow, Black Canary, and The Atom were also holdovers from Robinson's Cry For Justice story.

6 The Roster Would Quickly Shrink As Various Members Left, Leaving Dick With A Young & Inexperienced Team

Nightwing JL - Team shrink

Soon, after coming together as the new incarnation of the Justice League, half the team would depart the ranks. The catalyst was Green Arrow killing Prometheus, making him a fugitive, causing Dinah to return to the Birds Of Prey and Hal Jordan left Earth to search for the other Lantern Corps that disappeared after Blackest Night. Starfire would leave due to her past romantic relationship with Dick and join the R.E.B.E.L.S., while Guardian also quit after Mon-El was forced to return to the Phantom Zone.

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Dick, Donna, Congarilla, and Starman were the only members who stayed until Jade returned during the Brightest Day event. Cyborg would stay on as a part-time member but was more focused on his work with S.T.A.R. Labs and a featured in a short co-feature which only lasted a few issues.

5 Doctor Impossible Returned With A Dark Version Of The Fourth World New Gods

Nightwing JL - Dr Impossible

The newly formed League faced Doctor Impossible, a dark version of Mister Miracle, who debuted during Brad Meltzer's opening run of the series, working on a machine that would help him access the DC Multiverse. To aid him, he enlisted and transformed four others into dark versions of the New Gods.

His helpers were Chair (Metron), Tender Mercy (Big Barda), Neon Black (Light Ray), and Hunter (Orion). Though not an actual team, the villains were formable foes for the new League, successfully stealing needed devices from The Watchtower and Blackhawk Island.

4 Nightwing's Justice League Crossed Over With The Justice Society Of America During The Brightest Day & Picked Up Some New Members

Nightwing JL - Brightest Day JSA Starheart

Thanks to the events of Brightest Day, Jade— the daughter of the Golden Age Green Lantern, Alan Scott— returned to life just as the Starheart has staked its claim on Alan Scott and his kids. The reborn Jade is found by the League as the Justice Society shows up and Power Girl attacks, as Congorilla calls Supergirl for help with her doppelganger.

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As the story wrapped up, Dick asks Jesse Quick, whose connection to the Speed Force had returned, to join the team, citing the need for a speedster and Wally was off doing his own thing. Supergirl would also stay with the team, adding some needed might to the team's roster.

3 The League Faced Threats On A Multiversal Level

Nightwing JL - multiverse and omega man

Once the crossover with Brightest Day finished, the team was back to dealing with Doctor Impossible, who had stolen the body of Alexander Luthor from the Watchtower to help access the Multiverse. The League was visited by the Green Lantern of the Tangent Earth and attacked by the Crime Syndicate of Earth-3.

Doctor Impossible double-crossing the members of his team, sacrificing them thinking that he was summoning Darkseid, instead forming the entity calling himself the Omega Man. The Justice League is forced to join forces with the Crime Syndicate and the returned Dark Supergirl personality to end the threat to the DCU.

2 As The Title's Run Came To An End, There Were Vignettes Of League Adventures That Happened In A Five-Week Period

Nightwing JL - off panel adventures

The final full story arc of the title had the Justice League facing Eclipso, once again in possession of Bruce Gordon. This encounter was the toughest test that Nightwing's Justice League faced, as the Blue Lantern Saint Walker joined the team during this time. In issue #59, the final part of the story, the final splash page takes place five weeks later, with Dick telling the team he was disbanding the team.

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In the final issue, it is revealed that the team faced a variety of threats such as aiding Jemm, Son of Saturn in the Saturn-Thanagar War, liberating Gem World, and battling the combined forces of the Tornado Family, Metal Men, and G.I. Robots, leaving many to wonder if these where storylines Robertson had planned to tell.

1 Dick Disbanded His Version Of The Justice League Due To Everyone Being Stretched Too Thin, But Editorially It Was Due To Flashpoint & The New 52

Nightwing JL - disbanded

James Robinson's run ended in Issue #60, with Dick disbanding the League due to the mounting commitments that he and the others were facing. Bruce Wayne's return, the formation of Batman Incorporated, and the uncertainty if he was going to continue as Batman took much of his attention.

Donna was looking to return to her civilian identity, Supergirl was still recovering, Congorilla needed to fulfill his promise to Freedom Beast, Jade headed to the moon to help her father rebuild the Emerald City, Jessie Quick became pregnant, and Starman needed to heal from his time on Gem World. The disbanding of the Nightwing-led JLA was primarily due to the upcoming Flashpoint event and line-wide relaunch with the New 52.

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