Credit: Warner Bros.
Most movies based on superheroes in modern times draw heavily from the source material. It is far rarer for the movies to influence the comics. However, one aspect of James Gunn‘s DC Universe seems to have been introduced into DC Comics canon, with the creation of a new Justice League squad.
Written by Mark Waid, with art by Clayton Henry, Justice League Unlimited #18 explores the aftermath of the DC K.O. Event. Most of the issue concerns the difficulties caused by the recent recruitment of multiple supervillains to the team. However, one subplot does involve Guy Gardner, the combative Green Lantern played by Nathan Fillion in the DCU.
(Image Source: DC / Clayton Henry)
Guy is tasked with delivering an artifact called the Power Bank to the planet Oa, the home base of the Green Lantern Corps. This was agreed upon after the Power Bank was briefly stolen from the Watchtower during the Cheetah and Cheshire Rob the Justice League miniseries. However, to Guy’s surprise and annoyance, he is not allowed to deliver the Power Bank alone.
Justice League Unlimited’s Justice Gang Explained
Guy is subsequently informed that a special squad has been formed to assist him with the Power Bank delivery. The squad consists of himself, Mr. Terrific, Hawkgirl, and Metamorpho. Fans of the 2025 DCU Superman movie will recognize this as the lineup of the Justice Gang at the movie’s end.
(Image Source: DC / Clayton Henry)
This is standard procedure for the Justice League ever since they rebranded as Justice League Unlimited. Virtually every superhero on Earth is part of the League and recruited to special squads for missions as needed. Perhaps the most notable example was in the Justice League Red miniseries, where Red Tornado assembled a special team to operate covertly.
(Image Source: DC / Clayton Henry)
However, it remains to be seen how well the comic book version of the Justice Gang functions together. The last we see of the squad is their leaving the Justice League Watchtower with Hawkgirl and Guy already arguing. This is true to both the comics and the DCU, however, making the new squad more than a shoutout.
Justice League Unlimited #18 is now available at comic shops everywhere.
