History ComicBook / JusticeLeagueIncarnate

* TheManBehindTheMan: [[spoiler:The Great Darkness turns out to be this to every DC Crisis event. ComicBook/{{Darkseid}}, [[ComicBook/CrisisOnInfiniteEarths the Anti-Monitor]], [[ComicBook/ZeroHour Extant]], [[ComicBook/InfiniteCrisis Superboy-Prime]], [[ComicBook/FiftyTwo Mister Mind]], [[ComicBook/FinalCrisis Mandrakk (who was an avatar)]], [[ComicBook/TheMultiversity the Empty Hand (who is the hand the Darkness used to take the Presence's)]], [[ComicBook/DoomsdayClock Doctor Manhattan]], [[ComicBook/DarkNightsMetal Barbatos]], and [[ComicBook/DarkNightsDeathMetal the Batman Who Laughs]] were nothing but its unwitting puppets in its plan to destroy everything the Presence created. [[ComicBook/KingdomCome Magog]] was also a pawn.]]

** The non-Creator/WildStorm heroes of Earth 41 are based off the early '90s era of Creator/ImageComics. The Nimrod Squad is based off of ComicBook/YoungbloodImageComics, Spore and his nemesis Armageddon is based off of ComicBook/{{Spawn}} and his nemesis Violator, Dino-Cop is based off of the ComicBook/SavageDragon, and while the Cyborg Squad is based off of the '90s era of Teen Titans, they are also based off of Cyberforce.

** The non-Creator/WildStorm heroes of Earth 41 are based off the early '90s era of Creator/ImageComics. The Nimrod Squad is based off of ComicBook/{{Youngblood}}, Spore and his nemesis Armageddon is based off of ComicBook/{{Spawn}} and his nemesis Violator, Dino-Cop is based off of the ComicBook/SavageDragon, and while the Cyborg Squad is based off of the '90s era of Teen Titans, they are also based off of Cyberforce.

* TheReveal: Issue 4 reveals that all Crisis-level events since the Crisis on Infinite Earths (and even alternate universe events like ''ComicBook/KingdomCome'') were acts pushed by the Great Darkness to destroy the DC Omniverse and bring it back into the nothingness that it once was. Many of the villains in these events were either its avatar or just puppets (suggesting {{Fallen Hero}}s like Extant, Superboy-Prime, Magog, and Dr. Manhattan were BrainwashedAndCrazy). ''ComicBook/FinalCrisis'' ''wasn't'' one of these events, but a plan by Darkseid to lure the Great Darkness and control it, one the heroes ruined.

** The password to Etrigan's lair? 'Ogitrev', which is Creator/{{Vertigo}} backwards.

* WhamShot: The final page of Issue #5 reveals the Dark Army: [[spoiler:Darkseid, Nekron, Neron, Eclipso, the Upside-Down Man, Ares, and Doomsday.]]

* ArcWelding: Issue #4 reveals that numerous Crisis-level events were all struggles between the Light and the Great Darkness. Swamp Thing allowing the two sides to shake hands was a truce between the two, one shattered when Alexander Luthor and Superboy-Prime revived the Multiverse. The New 52 was the Great Darkness' attempt to weaken the heroes of Earth 0 by coercing Dr. Manhattan to steal time form the world.

* AlwaysSomeoneBetter: [[spoiler:In issue #4, despite Darkseid being rebuilt his godhead and is now his most powerful self, is completely overpowered by the Great Darkness, who squishes him like a bug.]]

* BetterAsFriends: Issue #3 sees Calvin and Maya become a couple on Earth 33. However, they decide they're better as friends and break up off-panel after a few months together.

* BroughtDownToNormal: At the end of issue #2, [[spoiler:Superman and Doctor Multiverse]] end up on an unknown Earth and depowered. Issue #3 reveals it's Earth 33, which has a "fictive membrane" preventing the use of superpowers.

** Sturmer, Orion's loyal war dog, reappears alongside its master at the end of issue #1 after being dead for over two decades.
** Issue #2 features the first Post-Flashpoint appearance of Asmodel the FallenAngel, and of [[TheFairFolk The Sheeda]].
** In issue #3, the ComicBook/WildCATs and [=WetWorks=] are dragged out of ComicBookLimbo by revealing they're on Earth 41, which is a SuspiciouslySimilarSubstitute for the '90s-era Creator/ImageComics universe. While everyone else is a CaptainErsatz, thanks to DC owning Creator/WildStorm, those characters can appear as themselves.
* CListFodder: The [[ComicBook/TheAvengers Retaliators]] of Earth 8 are all slaughtered by Tartarus in the first issue, and mostly off-panel at that. However, they're so minor that readers would more than likely refer to them as the characters they're Captain Ersatzs of than their actual names, if they knew those names at all.
* CallBack: When the team is scattered in issue #3, Calvin recalls that comic books can be used to communicate through universes, a plot point and the framing device for ''ComicBook/TheMultiversity'', which is where Justice Incarnate debuted.

* EvilerThanThou: Darkseid, who already was considered the most fearsome villain in the DCU, has gotten a massive power boost. He should be the threat to end all threats, right? [[spoiler: Turns out he was merely a pawn of the Great Darkness, who proceeds to subjugate ''him'', as well as numerous other heavy-hitting villains. Even before this, he had been defeated by the Empty Hand.]]

* {{Expy}}: Issue #3 features heroes from Earth 41, who not only house other Creator/WildStorm characters, but expies of popular Creator/ImageComics characters.

* TheManBehindTheMan: [[spoiler: The Great Darkness turns out to be this to every DC Crisis event. ComicBook/{{Darkseid}}, [[ComicBook/CrisisOnInfiniteEarths the Anti-Monitor]], [[ComicBook/ZeroHour Extant]], [[ComicBook/InfiniteCrisis Superboy-Prime]], [[ComicBook/FiftyTwo Mister Mind]], [[ComicBook/FinalCrisis Mandrakk (who was an avatar)]], [[ComicBook/TheMultiversity the Empty Hand (who is the hand the Darkness used to take the Presence’s)]], [[ComicBook/DoomsdayClock Doctor Manhattan]], [[ComicBook/DarkNightsMetal Barbatos]], [[ComicBook/DarkNightsDeathMetal the Batman Who Laughs]] were nothing but its unwitting puppets in its plan to destroy everything the Presence created. [[ComicBook/KingdomCome Magog]] was also a pawn.]]

* TheReveal: Issue #4 reveals that all Crisis-level events since the Crisis on Infinite Earths (and even alternate universe events like ''ComicBook/KingdomCome'') were acts pushed by the Great Darkness to destroy the DC Omniverse and bring it back into the nothingness that it once was. Many of the villains in these events were either its avatar or just puppets (suggesting {{Fallen Hero}}s like Extant, Superboy-Prime, Magog, and Dr. Manhattan were BrainwashedAndCrazy). ''ComicBook/FinalCrisis'' ''wasn't'' one of these events, but a plan by Darkseid to lure the Great Darkness and control it, one the heroes ruined.
* SequelHook: While Justice Incarnate are able to [[spoiler: seal off Multiverse-1 from Multiverse-2]], the Great Darkness is clearly not worried, and now more powerful than ever. Justice Incarnate realise that they need to contact Earth 0's Justice League to stop it and its army.

-->'''[[spoiler: Doctor Multiverse]]:''' We have to let Darkseid win.

* TheWorfEffect: [[spoiler: Darkseid, Doomsday, Ares, Nekron, the Upside-Down Man, and Neron are easily defeated and enslaved by the Great Darkness.]]

* ArcWelding: Issue #4 reveals that numerous Crisis-level events were all struggles between the Light and the Great Darkness. Swamp Thing allowing the two sides to shake hands were a truce between the two, one shattered when Alexander Luthor and Superboy-Prime revived the Multiverse. The New 52 was the Great Darkness' attempt to weaken the heroes of Earth-0 by coercing Dr. Manhattan to steal time form the world.

Needing a new Flash, Justice League Incarnate enlists the aid of another Flash from Earth 0, Avery Ho. They are also joined by new superhero Doctor Multiverse, whose powers connect her to the omniverse.

* AlwaysSomeoneBetter: [[spoiler: In issue #4, despite Darkseid being rebuilt his godhead and is now his most powerful self, is completely overpowered by the Great Darkness, who squishes him like a bug.]]

* ArtShift: The Zoo Crew have reverted to their classic costumes and cartoony appearance, including coming up to the average human character's chest, presumably as a result of their world being destroyed and recreated in ''Death Metal''. Captain Carrot, however, who was not on Earth-26 for any of this, remains a relatively "realistic", six-foot-tall bunny wearing a pastiche of Creator/JimLee's New 52 Justice League costumes.

** The Empty Hand, however, is a secondary antagonist that is working against both Darkseid and Justice Incarnate. [[spoiler:It's actually a part of the Great Darkness who is the TrueFinalBoss]].
* BroughtDownToNormal: At the end of issue #2, [[spoiler: Superman and Doctor Multiverse]] end up on an unknown Earth and depowered. Issue #3 reveals it's Earth 33, which has a "fictive membrane" preventing the use of superpowers.

** In issue #3, the ComicBook/WildCATs and [=WetWorks=] are dragged out of ComicBookLimbo by revealing they're on Earth 41, which is a SuspiciouslySimilarSubstitute for the 90's-era Creator/ImageComics universe. While everyone else is a CaptainErsatz, thanks to DC owning Creator/WildStorm, those characters can appear as themselves.

** The non-Creator/WildStorm heroes of Earth 41 are based off the early 90’s era of Creator/ImageComics. The Nimrod Squad is based off of ComicBook/{{Youngblood}}, Spore and his nemesis Armageddon is based off of ComicBook/{{Spawn}} and his nemesis Violator, Dino-Cop is based off of the ComicBook/SavageDragon and while the Cyborg Squad is based off of the 90’s era of Teen Titans, they are also based off of Cyberforce.
* DemonicPossession: The Great Darkness can take control over individuals if they're in its proximity. [[spoiler:It does it to Flashpoint Batman first and then to the rest of the JLI that ended up stranded on Earth-7.]]
* DistaffCounterpart: The second issue sees the arrival of the Batwoman Who Laughs, who is fittingly [[spoiler: the Batwoman of Earth 11, an entire universe based on this trope]].

* DownerEnding: [[spoiler:The Justice League Incarnate fail in rescuing Barry Allen and watch as Darkseid is absorbed into the Great Darkness, Thunderer dies destroying Earth-7 in attempting to destroy the Oblivion Machine and Orion is forced to rule Apokalips with Darkseid MIA. It also sets up the events of ''ComicBook/JusticeLeagueInfiniteFrontier'' #75.]]
* DramaticIrony: The strangeness of Ulrich Saxman, an editor for a comic company on Earth 33, is only apparent to the reader at first. Calvin and Maya plan to write a comic book to help their friends, since what happens in comics on Earth 33 affects the wider multiverse (or vice versa). However, the editor for the actual ''Justice League Incarnate'' series is Mike Cotton. Plus, Saxman has a creepy look on his face when he meets the two. It turns out, [[spoiler: he's a disguised Darkseid.]]

** [[spoiler: Pariah, introduced in ''ComicBook/{{CrisisOnInfiniteEarths}}'' as TheAtoner]] has willingly aligned with [[spoiler: The Great Darkness]] and is confirmed to be an antagonist in the Dark Crisis event.

* LouisCypher: Ulrich Saxman is [[spoiler: Darkseid, whose birth name was Uxas.]]
* TheMatchmaker: Thomas really wants to get President Superman a girlfriend. Previously, he tried to get Calvin to ask his assistant out. Then, when it’s clear Doctor Multiverse has a thing for Calvin, Thomas gets him to loosen up a bit when they’re in the Tavern of Mystery.

** The password to Etrigan’s lair? ‘Ogitrev’, which is Creator/{{Vertigo}} backwards.

* NiceJobBreakingItHero: When it looks like the crack might be attained by the Batwoman Who Laughs, Doctor Multiverse sends her to the House of Heroes and once again sends the crack somewhere else. However, the House was being attacked by Kalibak and Grail with an army of Parademons, and the heroes had only just gotten their plan to salvage their base together. The Batwoman Who Laughs' arrival completely throws a wrench in things and results in [[spoiler: Dino-Cop setting the base to self-destruct.]] While it makes sense why Doctor Multiverse did it, her action thoroughly messes up the plans of both teams of Justice Incarnate.

* TheReveal: Issue #4 reveals that all Crisis-level events since the Crisis on Infinite Earths (and even alternate universe events like ''ComicBook/KingdomCome'') were acts pushed by the Great Darkness to destroy the DC Omniverse and bring it back into the nothingness that it once was. Many of the villains in these events were either its avatar or just puppets (suggesting {{Fallen Hero}}s like Extant, Superboy-Prime, Magog and Dr. Manhattan were BrainwashedAndCrazy). ''ComicBook/FinalCrisis'' ''wasn't'' one of these events, but a plan by Darkseid to lure the Great Darkness and control it, one the heroes ruined.
* SequelHook: While Justice Incarnate are able to [[spoiler: seal off Multiverse-1 from Multiverse-2]], the Great Darkness is clearly not worried, and now more powerful than ever. Justice Incarnate realise that they need to contact Earth 0’s Justice League to stop it and its army.
* ShootTheDog: Doctor Multiverse twice suggests sealing away the crack in the multiverse to prevent others from exploiting it, knowing this would seal Barry Allen inside. Justice Incarnate is divided on the idea, but eventually, [[spoiler: Maya goes through with it anyway.]]

* WhamLine: Issue #3 has one after [[spoiler: Doctor Multiverse absorbs the crack in the multiverse into herself.]]
-->'''[[spoiler: Doctor Multiverse]]''': We have to let Darkseid win.
* WhamShot: The final page of Issue #5 reveals the Dark Army: [[spoiler:Darkseid, Nekron, Neron, Eclipso, the Upside-Down Man, Ares and Doomsday]].

* BetterAsFriends: Issue #3 sees Calvin and Maya become a couple on Earth 33. However, they decide they're better as friends and break up off-panel after a few months together.
* ArcWelding: Issue #4 reveals that numerous Crisis-level events were all struggles between the Light and the Great Darkness. Swamp Thing allowing the two sides to shake hands were a truce between the two, one shattered when Alexander Luthor and Superboy-Prime revived the Multiverse. The New 52 was the Great Darkness' attempt to weaken the heroes of Earth-0 by coercing Dr. Manhattan to steal time form the world.

** [[Spoiler:Pariah, introduced in ''ComicBook/{{CrisisOnInfiniteEarths}}'' as TheAtoner]] has willingly aligned with [[Spoiler:The Great Darkness]] and is confirmed to be an antagonist in the Dark Crisis event.

** [[Spoiler: Pariah, introduced in ''ComicBook/{{CrisisOnInfiniteEarths}}'' as TheAtoner]] has willingly aligned with [[Spoiler: The Great Darkness]] and is confirmed to be an antagonist in the Dark Crisis event.

* FaceHeelTurn: The Retaliators were actually on friendly terms with Justice League Incarnate. However, they were aware of Machinehead's desire to keep their Earth safe from the multiverse and his plan to join Injustice Incarnate -- in fact, it was a vote they all made.