DC Comics' NO JUSTICE Heralds Big Changes for the JUSTICE LEAGUE

The Justice League line-up of books have been pretty stable for the past several years over at DC Comics, with the core title focusing on the “Big 7” heroes, occasionally trading out Green Lanterns here and there. But now the team is going to be getting their biggest roster shake up in a very long time, and it’s coming courtesy of Scott Snyder, the man whose Batman run with artist Greg Capullo is one of the most legendary in the Dark Knight’s entire career.

Now we’ve learned that the fallout from the currently running Dark Nights Metal mini-series from Synder and Capullo will see the formation of a new League. Metal, which saw Batman and the other DC heroes take on the residents of the Dark Multiverse, will end on March 14 with issue #6. This will be followed by a new four-issue weekly miniseries that kicks off on May 9 called Justice League: No Justice, which will be co-written by Scott Snyder, James Tynion IV, and Joshua Williamson with art by Francis Manapul.

When this weekly event is over, it will change the status-quo of the Justice League books, resulting in a new family on League titles, starting in June. The current Rebirth-era League books will end this spring, with Justice League #43 wrapping up the current iteration of the series, and Steve Orlando’s Justice League of America ending with issue #29. The new flagship Justice League book will be written by Scott Snyder, with Tynion and Joshua Williamson handling the other books in the line.

In a statement from Scott Snyder, the esteemed writer said “we thought we knew the entire map of the DC cosmos. We thought we had explored all there was to explore. But now we know that all this time the Multiverse was nothing but a fishbowl, and now we’ve been dumped into the ocean, unleashing terrifying new threats, and wondrous new possibilities. Metal opened up channels of storytelling that Francis, James, Joshua and I are excited to explore in a big way. When we’re finished, fans will never look at the Justice League in the same way again.”

In this four-issue miniseries, the super-villain Brainiac arrives on Earth with a dire warning for the Justice League: there’s a threat coming to destroy Earth, one that the heroes are ill-equipped to handle. Brainiac thinks he holds the key to victory, but it means combining members of the League with some of the most dangerous villains in the DC Universe and sending them into battle against this extinction-level menace. The stakes are at their absolute highest; if one of these teams fail. It’s game over.

For the mini-series at least, the League will be split into four teams, each with very interesting rosters. “Team Mystery” will feature Superman, the Martian Manhunter (making his long awaited return to the League), Starfire, Sinestro, and Starro. Yes, that Starro, the giant starfish that fought the Justice League of America in their very first appearance in 1960.

“Team Entropy” seems to be led by Batman, and will feature Deathstroke, Lobo, Lex Luthor, and Beast Boy. All aside from Beast Boy are former villains. That should prove fun for Batman.

“Team Wonder” is led by — you guessed it — Wonder Woman. This magic based crew has Raven, Dr. Fate, Zatanna, and Etrigan the Demon in its line-up.

And finally, “Team Wisdom” features the Flash, Cyborg, Harley Quinn, the Atom, and Robin (Damian Wayne). Not sure how Harley fits in with wisdom, but there it is.

So what’s our takeaway from these teams? For starters, for the first time in a long time, no Aquaman on the team, and no Green Lanterns to speak of. Five members of the Titans/Teen Titans are part of the team, including all the members who are associated with the Teen Titans Go! animated series. Does this mean Titans or Teen Titans are getting cancelled? Too soon to say. It would also seem Black Canary, the Ray, Killer Frost, and Vixen didn’t make the cut either for this new League. According to Manapul’s preliminary art, it looks like each team will be color-coded as well.

“I’m laying out the biggest action of my life,” said Manapul in a statement. “The Justice League realizes that they need to expand their reach to become something bigger than they have ever been before. If you thought my work for Justice League: Darkseid War was huge, I’m taking the League to the edge of the cosmos with NO JUSTICE. Anyone who has asked for Harley Quinn, Martian Manhunter, Starfire, Zatanna, the Atom, Raven, or Doctor Fate to be in their personal Justice League will stand up and cheer.”

The Rebirth era has heralded some of the best DC stories in years, as their writers now seem to understand just what makes the DCU so endearing, in a way most writers didn’t understand during the New 52 era. Scott Snyder has been the most consistent voice at DC through both the New 52 and Rebirth eras, so his given the keys to the company’s biggest franchise seems like a no-brainer. Dark Nights Metal has been the kind of mind bendy, multiversal fun that DC has excelled at for decades. Here’s hoping that the artist paired with Snyder on the Justice League flagship title is none other than Greg Capullo. Because as the saying goes, “if it ain’t broke…”

For more concept art for No Justice, as well as images from issue #1, check out our gallery down below.

What do you think of the big changes in store for DC’s premiere team? Let us know your thoughts down below in the comments.

Images: DC Comics