Line #33 ComicBook/JusticeLeagueDark


1	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/justice-league-dark2_8266.jpg]]
2	[[caption-width-right:350:Not the shiny-happy Justice League]]
3
4	''Justice League Dark'' is a comic featuring a group within the [[Franchise/JusticeLeagueOfAmerica Justice League]] that focuses on [[SuperNaturalTeam the magical and supernatural aspects]] of Franchise/{{the DCU}}.
5
6	The original run launched as an ongoing series in the ComicBook/{{New 52}}, with the initial cast featuring ComicBook/{{Zatanna}}, Deadman, ComicBook/MadameXanadu, ComicBook/JohnConstantine[[note]][[AlternateContinuity A younger, different Constantine]] from the one seen in ''ComicBook/{{Hellblazer}}''[[/note]], ComicBook/ShadeTheChangingMan and a new character called Mindwarp, who was introduced in ''[[Comicbook/{{Flashpoint}} Flashpoint: Secret Seven]]'' by Creator/PeterMillgan (with Secret Seven acting as a precusor to Justice League Dark). The team's roster fluctuated regularly over the course of the series, drawing on DCU characters with a connection to the supernatural.
7
8	It came to an end in 2015 after 44 issues and two annuals... but as the team's members would be the first to tell you, some things don't stay dead for good.
9
10	In 2018, a new series (''ComicBook/JusticeLeagueDark2018'') was announced as part of the "New Justice" DCU imprint spinning out of ''ComicBook/JusticeLeagueNoJustice'', with Franchise/WonderWoman heading a team including Zatanna, ComicBook/SwampThing, Detective Chimp, and [[Franchise/{{Batman}} Man-Bat]], their first storyline involving the group dealing with the aftermath of [[ComicBook/DarkNightsMetal the Dark Multiverse Invasion]] and them trying to stave off [[TheMagicGoesAway the Death of Magic]].
11
12	As part of the ''ComicBook/DCInfiniteFrontier'' relaunch, the 2018 series was cancelled and Justice League Dark was made a backup feature in the main ''[[ComicBook/JusticeLeagueInfiniteFrontier Justice League]]'' book.
13
14	An [[WesternAnimation/DCUniverseAnimatedOriginalMovies animated film]], ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeagueDark'', was released in 2017, with ''Series/{{Constantine}}'' actor Creator/MattRyan reprising his role as John Constantine. For this outing, Constantine's team-mates included Deadman, Zatanna, Swamp Thing, ComicBook/BlackOrchid and [[ComicBook/{{Etrigan}} Jason Blood]].
15
16	In addition to the animated film, there have been numerous attempts at adapting ''Justice League Dark'' to live-action, most notably by Creator/GuillermoDelToro. His version, titled ''Dark Universe'', was confirmed to exist as a screenplay in late 2014, and reportedly featured a lineup consisting of Constantine, Swamp Thing, Etrigan the Demon, Deadman, Spectre, and Zatanna. Del Toro's film wouldn't have connected to the Franchise/DCExtendedUniverse (nor the 2014 Creator/{{NBC}} series ''Series/{{Constantine}}'') though he expressed interest in modifying his script to accommodate them and even having ''Constantine'''s Creator/MattRyan reprise his title role. By June 2015, it was reported that del Toro had left the project, which would still be developed without him as director. In August 2016, Creator/DougLiman was then attached to direct, with del Toro producing, but in May 2017 it was reported that he stepped down to focus on [[Film/ChaosWalking2021 his adaptation]] of the novel ''Literature/TheKnifeOfNeverLettingGo''. In January 2020, it was reported that Creator/JJAbrams was developing ''Justice League Dark'' projects as part of his new production deal with [=WarnerMedia=], which would possibly involve films and television series focusing on various characters. In April 2020, it was announced that a [[https://deadline.com/2020/04/hbo-max-the-shining-offshoot-overlook-j-j-abrams-duster-justice-league-dark-series-bad-robot-latoya-morgan-1202910337/ series would be broadcast on HBO Max at some point in the future]] but was ultimately scrapped by February 2023.
17
18	----
19	!!Tropes featured in ''Justice League Dark'' include:
20
21	[[folder: The 2011 Series ]]
22	-->
23	* DarkIsNotEvil: Pretty much every member of the team would on first glance appear to be more at home causing terror wherever they went, but they only save that for the real bad guys. Hell, it's ''in the name.''
24	* {{Deconstruction}}: The WillTheyOrWontThey, OppositesAttract, and WorkingWithTheEx dynamics between John and Zatanna are brutally slaughtered. John's attachment is a borderline obsession that no one really approves of. Zatanna is upset and angry whenever John shows up, and never starts to like or even respect him again no matter how many times he saves her life. In issue #30, [[spoiler: Zatanna kicks John out of the House of Mysteries and the JLD. John has matured enough to realize that she, and everyone else, would be better off without him]].
25	* FantasticDrug: Magic is sometimes used as an analog to drug abuse, in that most of the magic users are unstable. But the line is blurred with Xanadu, who is dependent on normal drugs in order to cope with her visions of the future.
26	* FireForgedFriends: The team appears to have softened into this. In the Horror City Arc, John doesn't even need Zatanna to get everyone else to find the stolen House of Mystery, though he does need Frankenstein to talk Swamp Thing around.
27	* IntimateHealing: Averted. While much has been made of tantra as sex magic, the only instance of it being used has John and Zatanna sit across from each other in bathrobes, with only their hands touching. Which is not far off from actual tantra meditation, except for how it heals injuries.
28	* TheLostLenore: Kathy George, whom Shade keeps trying to recreate.
29	* MustBeInvited: Exaggerated. When John invites people -- including Andrew Bennett from ''I, Vampire'' -- into the House of Mystery, he can call them back later whether they want to or not. They usually don't.
30	* NiceJobBreakingItHero: Enchantress's madness? [[spoiler: Madame Xanadu's fault]].
31	* PowerPerversionPotential: The relationship between Deadman and Dove (of ''Hawk and Dove'') was established when Deadman attempted to possess a human body in order to have physical intimacy with Dove. She was noticeably perturbed.
32	* PutOnABus: Shade and Mindwarp in Peter Milligan's final issue.
33	** Zatanna is conspicuously not called to the team in the Horror City arc.
34	* PsychoForHire: When Mindwarp is being recruited, it is established that even the other morally gray characters consider him a psychotic madman.
35	* RagtagBunchOfMisfits: Emphasized and acknowledged by Xanadu. She states that all the others are dangerous to themselves and others, but are the only people around to save the world from mystic threats.
36	* ShootTheDog: John sacrifices the innocent June Moone in order to stop Enchantress. Deadman calls him out on this.
37	* ShoutOut: Dove encounters John Constantine eating beans out of a can at her kitchen table. [[ComicBook/{{Watchmen}} Much like how another bird-themed hero encounters a trenchcoated antihero]].
38	* StarCrossedLovers: John fell in love with Zatanna when she was with Nick (and though they were all a [[OneTrueThreesome happy threesome]] for a while, they eventually shut Nick out). Then, John's actions led to Giovanni Zatara's death, and Zatanna left John, wanting nothing more to do with him. Shortly after Zatanna finally deals with ''that'' and becomes more civil, [[spoiler: Xanadu prophesies that John will kill Zatanna.]] [[BigNo John doesn't take it well.]]
39	* SupernaturalTeam: Every member of Justice League Dark is in some way supernatural, either being magic users, involved with the magical community or some other part of the [=DC=] Universe divorced from scientific explanation.
40	* TeethClenchedTeamwork: In the beginning, none of the group really likes or trusts any of the other members, except for Zatanna. Even John looked out for Zatanna.
41	[[/folder]]
42
43	[[folder: The 2018 Series ]]
44	-->See ''ComicBook/JusticeLeagueDark2018''
45	[[/folder]]
46
47	[[folder: The 2021 Series ]]
48	-->
49	* AdaptationalVillainy: Ram V's run sees a rare villainous depiction of the famed Arthurian Wizard, Merlin.
50	* GreatBigLibraryOfEverything: Merlin uses a spell to make Borges' Library of Babel real, so he can enter it and retrieve a copy of his spellbook. Anything written ends up there, and any alterations to a book in it creates a copy without it to be stored.
51	* YouAreInCommandNow: With Wonder Woman's disappearance following ''ComicBook/DarkNightsDeathMetal'', Zatanna gets promoted to the leader of the team.
52	[[/folder]]
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70

Context ComicBook / JusticeLeagueDark