The Coolest Alternate Justice League Was Killed After Just One Issue

DC introduced one of the coolest alternative Justice League teams ever—and then forgot about them after one issue. In 1999’s Legends of the DC Universe: Crisis on Infinite Earths, writer Marv Wolfman artist Paul Ryan introduced the Justice League of Earth-D: the Justice Alliance, consisting of a diverse mix of races and cultures, united to fight evil. In many ways, this team was ahead of its time.

The special uses 1985’s Crisis on Infinite Earths as its starting point, giving readers an untold tale from that event, written by its original writer. One of the goals of the series was to streamline the DC Universe for new readers, which it did by eliminating the multiverse. Another of the book’s goals was to introduce diversity into the DC Universe, to better reflect the real world. The series did this, introducing a Latina Wildcat and a Japanese Doctor Light. Writer Marv Wolfman wished for even more diversity, but this did not happen, so when given the opportunity to revisit the story, he created an alternate Earth that best articulated his vision of a post-Crisis DC Universe. Ironically, this world was destroyed in that very event.

Earth-D (for “diversity”) is a world much like Earth-1, or Earth-2 but the heroes are of diverse backgrounds: the Flash is Japanese-American, Green Lantern is from Brazil, Green Arrow is Indigenous and Wonder Woman is non-white as well. The Superman and Supergirl of this planet are black—and a married couple; Batman is married as well, and Robin is one of his children. The Aquaman and Martian Manhunter of this world are less human-looking as well, but they are accepted all the same.

These heroes have come together in a team called the Justice Alliance. The Flash of Earth-1 is sent to Earth-D, the next Earth in the path of the Anti-Monitor. He is joined by other heroes from Earth-1, including Superman, as well as heroes from Earth-2. The heroes make a valiant stand, but the Anti-Monitor’s assault is too much for them to handle; numerous Earth-D heroes, including Green Lantern and both Superman and Supergirl die. The Justice Alliance and the other heroes are able to construct a device that evacuates many of Earth-D’s inhabitants; as the Earth-1 Superman and others are transported away, they watch the surviving members of the Justice Alliance make their last stand against the Anti-Monitor’s forces.

Earth-D presented a version of the DC Universe that is simultaneously retro and modern. The characters reflected not only the diversity of the real world—a modern concept but also the innocence and sheer fun of Silver Age comics. The villains were high-concept and did not kill. The people of Earth-D accepted the Justice Alliance for who they were, and their great deeds. The loss of Earth-D, and the Justice Alliance, was a blow to the DC Universe, and showed how tragic the Crisis on Infinite Earths was.

The Justice Alliance has not been seen since, even in DC’s reconstituted multiverse. However, with many obscure, long-absent characters returning thanks to Infinite Frontier and the omniverse, it is possible this awesome version of the Justice League will one day return.

About The Author

Shaun Corley
(1387 Articles Published)

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Shaun Corley is a pop culture enthusiast living in the Pacific Northwest. After stints in both customer service and academia, he’s turned his attention to writing about comic books–his lifelong passion. He is a graduate of Radford University, with a degree in English. When not reading comics, he enjoys spending time with his fiance and their dog.

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