Since the team’s debut in 1960, the Justice League has faced every kind of threat imaginable, from alien invasions to infighting. In just about every adventure, the League has been able to come out on top and unscathed, defeating the evil they faced with their combined powers and exceptional teamwork. But there have been moments when the League was left devastated by the enemies they faced.

Sometimes, these enemies literally cut the League deep, greatly injuring or even killing a member. Other times, the wounds were psychological, leaving the team unsure of what to do next or how to handle the emotional damage they had taken on. These adventures not only left the League feeling discombobulated, it made the readers feel for the heroes in ways most superhero stories never do. These are the darkest periods for the League, leaving everyone with one question: how do we move forward after all we have been through.

Of course, the League always finds a way. Heroes return from the dead. Old grudges fade. But in those moments, across the pages of those grim tales, it can seem like nothing will ever be the same again, that the League’s members will never be able to move beyond the darkness that has entered their lives.

The League’s First Great Tragedy Happened In 1969

For the first nine years of the team’s existence, the Justice League of America had it pretty good. Their adventures, including the annual team-up with the Justice Society of America from Earth-Two, were filled with excitement, but most problems were solved by the end of an issue, and no one was ever in serious danger. The team even had a powerless teen sidekick, Snapper Carr, to help keep things breezy.

But that all changed when writer Dennis O’Neil took over the title. O’Neil hated Snapper Carr and wanted him out of the book. Deciding against his first idea — killing Snapper off — O’Neil took a different path that turned one of the worst sidekicks in the history of comics into a pariah for decades. In Justice League of America #77, Snapper betrayed the League, turning against them and — unwittingly — teaming up with Joker. Not only did Snapper help turn the world against the League, he also revealed their secret headquarters to the Clown Prince of Crime. For the first time in their history, the League found itself questioning one of their own members and was forced to kick Snapper off the team.

Compared to many of the stories that would follow, Snapper Carr’s betrayal is relatively innocent, but for the League and the readers, it was the first time the heroes were put into a losing position with no clear way to win the day without hurting one of their own.

Breakdowns Ended The League’s Good Time

The first iteration of the team following Crisis on Infinite Earths, Kieth Giffen and J. M. DeMatteis’ Justice League, which became Justice League International before splitting into two titles — Justice League America and Justice League Europe — is known for its more lighthearted approach to superhero action. Birthing the classic “BWA-HAHAHAHAHA!” and introducing readers to the greatest bromance in comics — Blue Beetle and Booster Gold — the series was as funny as it was exciting.

But when the time came for Giffen and DeMatteis (along with a plethora of other writers and artists) to move on to other titles, the duo decided to end the series on a dark note. It all starts when the League’s benefactor, Maxwell Lord, is shot, and ends with the League being forced to disband by the United Nations.

“Breakdowns,” the 16-part story that ran through both titles, pushed the team to their limits and left each member emotionally drained. For fans, it was a sad conclusion to such a fun series, but one that fit the story Giffen and DeMatteis had begun years earlier when they asked readers to give their team of misfits a chance. To this day, the JLI days are spoken of with fondness and respect as one of the greatest comic book runs of all time, even if the finale will leave you feeling weepy.

Doomsday Killed Superman And Destroyed The Justice League

“The Death of Superman” was an instant classic, and for good reason. The team working on the four Superman books put together an amazing story that presented the world with something no one thought possible: the Man of Steel facing off against a foe that was too powerful for even him to beat. Superman’s demise at the end of the sixth-issue story and the image of a crying Lois Lane holding his beaten and bloodied body has stuck in the minds of readers ever since. But what is often forgotten is how Doomsday didn’t just destroy Superman, he destroyed the Justice League.

Before Superman was able to show up and take Doomsday on, the Justice League tried to stop the monster, and the battle didn’t go well at all. Booster Gold’s suit, made out of tech from the 25th century, was torn apart, leaving him powerless. And poor Blue Beetle (Ted Kord), who never had powers to begin with, was so badly beaten by Doomsday he was left in a coma. When Beetle finally woke up months later, he faced a long recovery time including having to learn to walk again. Superman may have died that day, but he was far from the only hero to suffer at Doomsday’s hands.

Batman Betrayed The League

The most paranoid member of the Justice League, Batman is known for being prepared to handle anything that gets thrown his way. But in Mark Waid, Howard Porter, and Steve Scott’s “Tower of Babel,” the Dark Knight took things too far when his contingency plans to take out his teammates should they ever turn evil fell into Ra’s al Ghul’s hands. Every member of the League, even Batman himself was incapacitated leaving Ra’s free to enact his plans for world domination.

Luckily, however, they were able to overcome Batman’s fates for them and stop Ra’s before he could complete his scheme but this left them shaken. Knowing that someone they trusted didn’t trust them forced them into voting on Batman’s future with them revealing secret feelings each member had about him. Before Superman could make his deciding vote to kick Batman off their team Gotham’s hero chose instead to quit. The ramifications of Batman’s actions would reverberate for years as some Leaguers continue viewing him with skepticism even today.

Identity Crisis Revealed The League’s Biggest Sin

Brad Meltzer and Rags Morales’ controversial Identity Crisis started with Sue Dibny’s murder—the wife of longtime Justice League member Elongated Man—but deeper tragedy lay in revealing their darkest choice: having Zatanna use her magic to wipe foes’ minds making them easier for future encounters. Proving that Batman may have had a point creating blueprints against every DC hero in “Tower of Babel,” they also wiped Batman’s mind when he found out what they had done.

The willingness of these heroes to mess with others’ minds went against everything they supposedly stood for. While battling everything from alien invasions to whatever wild plan Lex Luthor concocted each week they were never meant to decide their enemies’ fates leaving that duty up to justice systems instead. Taking it upon themselves showed that no matter how righteous DC’s heroes are they can still fall prey to humanity’s greatest failing: fear.

The Death of Martian Manhunter

Grant Morrison and J.G. Jones kicked off Final Crisis by killing Martian Manhunter—the heart of Justice League—showing founding member set ablaze by supervillains including Lex Luthor and Gorilla Grodd. While superhero deaths rarely stick—Superman suggests J’onn J’onzz will return from grave during eulogy—the moment still represented tragic darkness for them.

Martian Manhunter hasn’t been part of every iteration but has been consistent hero on roster losing him at event’s start made clear serious threat awaited them ahead. There isn’t a member who doesn’t love J’ohnn having laid his body at rest on Mars wasn’t easy for any nor readers alike.

DC’s Darkest Future Showed A League Torn Apart

DC Comics has long hinted at dark period known as The Great Disaster coming after age heroes but moment remains unseen thus far closest readers have come witnessing event may be Mark Waid and Alex Ross’ Kingdom Come, story set near future where DC Universe teeters on apocalypse precipice Spectre enlists lowly minister Norman McCay deciding fate world.

In story Superman walks away responsibilities after Joker kills dozens Daily Planet employees including Lois Lane leading other heroes losing moral compass resulting Kansas destruction. When Superman emerges from self-imposed retirement trying turn things around Batman forms own team taking control while Lex Luthor works ensuring heroes never return beloved status figures leading horrific battle countless heroes villains dying war while Superman turns tide thanks Captain Marvel’s sacrifice scars remain.

Blue Beetle’s Murder Leads To A Crisis

A former member Justice League International Blue Beetle never taken seriously by other heroes when stumbled upon conspiracy attempts getting help brushed off leading death at hands once friend (and boss) Maxwell Lord.

This death—and Maxwell Lord’s involvement—shattered superhero community revealing deep mistrust between everyone making matters worse Lord’s plans kill or capture all heroes taken from Batman’s blueprints once again making them question Caped Crusader’s true intentions just as distrust grows Alexander Luthor launches attempt recreate universe into own image stopping Luthor Earth-Three partner Superboy-Prime not before many peers fall failure leads Superman Wonder Woman Batman stepping away year leaving hero community finding new way forward.