Before the Justice League, there was the Justice Society of America (JSA). Developed during the Golden Age of comics in 1940, the Justice Society was the very first superhero team. With their combined might, they protected the world from supervillains and the Axis Powers during World War II. Over the decades, the Justice Society has undergone many different iterations, with younger heroes stepping in to continue the legacy of the Golden Age team. Many of the heroes that have joined the JSA are some of the most powerful characters in all of DC Comics, who can channel primordial forces that shape the universe.
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One of the longest-running superhero teams in comic book history, the Justice Society boasts a plethora of powerful members among its ranks, who could contend with the entire Justice League.
10) Obsidian
Todd Rice, aka Obsidian, is the son of JSA founding member Alan Scott, aka Green Lantern. From his father’s exposure to shadow energy by the villain Ian Karkull, Todd inherited a connection to the Shadowlands. This mystical realm of darkness and nightmares gives Todd mastery over shadows. Todd can teleport, shroud areas in darkness, grow in size, create weapons out of shadows, and cause people to experience their worst nightmares. Todd’s ability to draw his powers from the Shadowlands makes him an incredibly versatile member of the Justice Society. Unfortunately, he is weak to light-based attacks, and his connection to the Shadowlands can exacerbate his pre-existing mental health issues.
9) Flash
The very first Flash, Jay Garrick, was the leader and founding member of the original Justice Society. After a lab accident gave him a connection to the Speed Force, Jay was able to move thousands of times faster than the speed of sound. With his super-speed, he can generate tornadoes, phase through walls, and sometimes even time-travel. The Speed Force also slowed his ageing process, allowing him to continue acting as both a hero and a mentor in the present day. Despite Jay’s incredible speed, he is nowhere near as fast as other speedsters, such as Barry Allen or Wally West.
8) Hippolyta
Before Diana donned the star-spangled costume, her mother, Queen Hippolyta, was the very first Wonder Woman. As part of a massive retcon, DC made Hippolyta the Wonder Woman of the Golden Age of comics. With this retcon, she travelled to man’s world and fought the Nazis during World War II. She became a member of the Justice Society before eventually leaving to return to Themyscira after the war. Although not as powerful as Diana, Hippolyta is still one of the strongest and most experienced warriors of Themyscira. She bested the demigod Hercules in combat and has slain countless demons. Although her time with the JSA was brief, Hippolyta was one of the greatest fighters ever to join their ranks.
7) Green Lantern
The Green Lantern of the Golden Age, Alan Scott, is a founding member of the Justice Society. While he’s not a member of the Green Lantern Corps, he still possesses the Starheart, a powerful source of magical energy that takes the form of a green ring. The Starheart allows him to conjure anything he can imagine. Not only can he create energy constructs, but Alan can also phase through walls, teleport, read minds, and travel through time. Unfortunately, the Starheart can’t affect objects made from wood. Still, with the Starheart, Alan has been one of the most prominent members of the JSA for several decades.
6) Power Girl
Kara Zor-L, aka Powergirl, is the Earth-2 counterpart of Superman’s cousin, Supergirl. After the destruction of her Earth during the Crisis on Infinite Earths event, Kara moved to the main DC Universe and joined the Justice Society. As a Kryptonian, Kara possesses super-strength, super-speed, flight, heat-vision, and freeze breath. She is stronger than Supergirl and has matched the likes of Wonder Woman and Captain Atom in combat. She has also stopped a starship the size of a small city from crashing into Manhattan. Although she’s not quite as strong as Superman, she remains a powerful and valuable teammate to both the Superman Family and the JSA.
5) Shazam
Billy Batson, aka Shazam, was just a regular middle school kid until he came across the powerful Wizard Shazam. This wizard bestowed upon Billy the abilities of several legendary figures: Solomon, Hercules, Atlas, Zeus, Achilles, and Mercury. Now, when Billy shouts “Shazam,” a magical bolt of lightning will turn him into an adult superhero. With his godly powers, Billy’s strength and speed are comparable to Superman’s. Billy has even been capable of destroying planets. Billy has been an on-again, off-again member of the JSA, but his godly powers easily make him one of the JSA’s heaviest hitters.
4) Black Adam
The ruler of the nation of Khandaq, Black Adam has played both hero and villain. Originally a slave from Ancient Egypt, Black Adam became the champion of the wizard Shazam, until he misused his powers and was imprisoned, only to be released in the modern day. Black Adam joined the JSA as part of his reformation from villainy. Black Adam has all of Shazam’s abilities but is instead powered by the Egyptian Gods. Black Adam also has far more experience and is willing to use his powers to their full brutal potential. His powers, experience, and cutthroat attitude make Black Adam one of the strongest and most violent people to have ever joined the JSA.
3) Thunderbolt
Yz, aka Thunderbolt, is a magical genie from the 5th Dimension who exists inside a pen. When his users say “Cei-U,” Thunderbolt will emerge from the pen to grant any number of wishes. Thunderbolt belonged to the adventurer Johnny Thunder before he was passed on to the teenager Jakeem Thunder. Thunderbolt possesses near infinite power and can warp reality at will. He can grow big enough to hold the Moon in his hand and has beaten similarly powerful evil genies. The only limits to Thunderbolt’s virtually infinite abilities are that he can’t kill and that he’s bound by the literal wording of his user’s commands when granting wishes. Still, as Jakeem becomes more experienced in wielding Thunderbolt’s power, the genie can demonstrate more of his almost limitless potential.
2) Doctor Fate
The Sorcerer Supreme, Kent Nelson, aka Doctor Fate, is one of the most powerful wielders of magic in the DC Universe. With his mastery of magic, Kent can fly, fire energy beams, manipulate time and space, create illusions, possess people, and more. The source of Kent’s near infinite power comes from the Helmet of Fate, which houses the soul of Nabu, a primordial Lord of Order. When Kent dons the helmet, his spirit merges with Nabu, and they become a near-unstoppable agent of order. At full power, Kent can toss around planets, defeat seemingly omnipotent gods, and even hold back the destruction of the universe. With his incredible power, Kent Nelson is one of the primary defenders of the DC Universe from mystical and godly threats.
1) Spectre
There are few beings more powerful in the entire DC Multiverse than the Spectre, who is the physical embodiment of God’s wrath. To interact with the physical plane, the Spectre bonded to the deceased detective Jim Corrigan. The Spectre is practically omnipotent, with access to limitless magic that allows him to bend time and space to his will. With this power, he often punishes sinners with unimaginable pain and torture. The Spectre has battled on equal footing with the Anti-Monitor, who threatened to destroy the infinite Multiverse. Some of his most impressive feats include freezing Hell over, removing all magic from the DC Universe, and preventing two universes from colliding. An all-powerful angel, the Spectre is vengeance incarnate.
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