Zack Snyder’s Justice League: 7 Comics It Borrows From

Zack Snyder’s Justice League has finally hit HBO Max to the applause of many. Years of dedication from both fans and the director himself resulted in a four-hour epic that is easily one of the best movies of the DC Extended Universe so far. It is also vastly different with many additions and changes that make it more than just an extended cut: it’s a whole new movie.

Like most comic book movies, Zack Snyder’s Justice League does not try to be an adaptation of a single comic story. Instead, Zack Snyder borrows many elements from the comics and implements them into a new story.

7 New 52’s Justice League #1

It’s very easy to see the similarities between these two stories. After parademons attack, Batman meets and teams up with several metahumans to stop the incoming invasion of Darkseid. The team consisted of Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, Cyborg, The Flash, and Green Lantern.

Though Green Lantern did not make the cut for Zack Snyder’s Justice League, two Lanterns do make quick appearances. The rest is still pretty obvious with some alterations to include Steppenwolf while saving Darkseid for future stories.

6 Tales Of The New Teen Titans #1

When most people think of Cyborg, their mind immediately goes to the fun-loving character of the animated Teen Titans series. Many forget that Cyborg wasn’t always like this; in his origin story, Victor Stone begged for his father to end his life and he struggled with the loss of his body and life.

Ray Fisher’s Cyborg very much takes from Marv Wolfman’s original Tales Of The New Teen Titans, showing a tragic hero who hates what he’s become. Over the course of Zack Snyder’s Justice League, Cyborg evolves and begins to accept who he is and become more and more of a superhero. Even Marv Wolfman himself praised Ray Fisher and his portrayal.

5 JLA: Rock Of Ages

Starting with his premonitions in Batman V Superman: Dawn Of Justice, Batman sees visions of a dark future known as the Knightmare. In the future, Darkseid and his Apokoliptan forces have won with Superman as Darkseid’s puppet. In Zack Snyder’s Justice League, it’s learned that it’s because Darkseid found the Anti-Life Equation.

In Rock Of Ages, it’s a similar story about a dystopian post-apocalypse in which Darkseid wins via the Anti-Life Equation. In this dark future, there is a small resistance that requires The Flash’s help to save the day. While there are certain changes, the influence of Rock Of Ages is still very much present.

4 Injustice: Gods Among Us

The Knightmare future shows that Superman becomes Darkseid’s weapon. This is a result of Lois Lane dying thus allowing Superman to easily succumb to the Anti-Life Equation, Darkseid controls the Man of Steel. Meanwhile, a ragtag group of heroes and villains led by Batman act as the resistance against Darkseid’s rule.

This is very similar to the Injustice series where Superman is an evil dictator that has taken over Earth. In the Knightmare future, a legion of Nazi-like soldiers serve the evil Superman. They also wear uniforms that are nearly identical to the soldiers shown in Injustice; even the way how Superman ends up killing Batman in Dawn Of Justice is the same way Superman kills Joker in Injustice: Gods Among Us.

3 The Dark Knight Returns

Dawn Of Justice made it very clear that Ben Affleck’s Batman was heavily inspired by Frank Miller’s The Dark KnightReturns. Even the fight between Batman and Superman was straight out of the comics with Batman’s armored mechanized suit and fighting methods.

Zack’s love for Frank Miller’s graphic novel continued with Zack Snyder’s Justice League. In the epilogue, Commissioner Gordon calls Batman with the Bat-Signal and that’s when it cuts to Ben’s Batman on a vehicle. Not just any vehicle but the massive Bat-Tank from The Dark Knight Returns.

2 Reign Of The Supermen

Even with the 2017 version, everyone knew that Superman was going to return. Dawn Of Justice provided the DC Extended Universe’s take on the famous storyline: The Death Of Superman. So, it is only fitting that Zack Snyder’s Justice League would take inspiration from Reign Of The Supermen.

Henry Cavill’s Superman makes a show-stealing return, completing his three-chapter arc. Originally, Henry filmed his scenes in the classic red and blue suit. However, it would seem that Zack Snyder decided to honor the resurrection of the comics by giving him the iconic black and white suit via digital alteration of the colors.

1 Crisis On Infinite Earths

In a surprise twist, Barry Allen turns out to be more than comedic relief. In the climax, Barry Allen ends up becoming the most vital member of the Justice League. When the League fails to stop the Mother Boxes from uniting, Barry has to break his one rule and use the Speed Force to turn back time.

The events and circumstances are much different but Barry’s turning back of time is very similar to what was shown in Crisis On Infinite Earths. Barry is going so fast that he reverses the flow of time but in the comics it killed him. This is something that would set up what would come in Flashpoint much like how the movie sets up what will likely be coming in The Flash’s spinoff movie.

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