WARNING: Contains Potential Spoilers for Justice League Unlimited #3 (2025)!DC’s newJustice Leaguemay have just debuted, but they are already on the losing side of their battle against their latest adversary—Inferno. As if that weren’t enough, internal fractures are ripping the team apart—they’re down five members already, and overall cohesion is rapidly deteriorating. The clock is ticking on the Justice League Unlimited, and with each new issue, their future looks more uncertain than ever.
…the Justice League may soon be completely decimated by the time they face Inferno head-on.
Mark Waid and Dan Mora’sJustice League Unlimited#3 pits the team against their new Darkseid-level foe, Inferno—an extraterrestrial super-terrorist organization—who launches a devastating attack on the Amazon, engulfing the entire rainforest in magic-based fire. This crisis prompts an all-hands-on-deck response from the Justice League.
However, amid the chaos, it becomes evident that even with a roster boasting every hero on Earth, the League is unraveling at the seams. Members are dropping left and right, withBatman, Martian Manhunter, Swamp Thing, Aquaman, and Dr. Occult being the latest to boast ‘missing in action’ or ‘indefinitely indisposed’ status.
Martian Manhunter Goes AWOL (& The Justice League Is Already Feeling His Absence)
Comic Panel Comes FromJustice League Unlimited#3 (2025) – Art by Dan Mora
Justice League Unlimited#2 droppedmajor bombshells about Martian Manhunter, revealing that the overpowered hero had been concealing the loss of key abilities from the rest of the team. J’onn no longer possesses his ocular powers—everything related to his eyes and vision—nor his telepathic abilities. Additionally, he lost control of himself in this issue, nearly beating a Parademon to death before Wonder Woman and Superman intervened. When confronted by his teammates, J’onn fled instead of addressing their concerns. Fast forward toJustice League Unlimited#3 andit’s confirmed that J’onn has gone completely AWOL.
Issue #3 confirms that J’onn’s departure in issue #2 wasn’t a temporary retreat but a deliberate abandonment of his duties to the League. Hence, this deals a significant blow to the team, given that even without his full powers, Martian Manhunter remains one of their most powerful and vital members. His absence is felt during Inferno’s attack, where the team faces a magical fire—a threat J’onn’s expertise could have helped counter, as Red Tornado points out. Hence,Martian Manhunter’s absence not only weakens the League’s capabilities but also deepens the cracks in team cohesion.
The Justice League Is Down More Heroes Than You Realize: Batman, Aquaman, Swamp Thing, & Dr. Occult
Comic Panels Come FromJustice League Unlimited#3 (2025) – Art by Dan Mora
Martian Manhunter going AWOL has now forced Batman—the World’s Greatest Detective—to dedicate his time and efforts to tracking J’onn down. As a result,the League is effectively down another core member, with the Dark Knight focused on the search instead of League missions.This leaves the team short two vital members, and that’s not even counting Arthur Curry, who will soon be out of the picture due to theevents ofAquaman#1(2025), which are confirmed to have taken place afterJustice League Unlimited#3, despite being released first.
While losing three of the Big 7 is a significant blow, the League’s crumbling cohesion and dwindling ranks don’t stop there.Justice League Unlimited#3 ends with what appears to be the death of Swamp Thing.Although not a formal member of the new League, Swamp Thing was a powerful and critical ally, particularly with recent attacks on Earth’s plant life. To make matters worse, Dr. Occult jumps into a portal after Inferno without backup, leaving his fate uncertain. With these losses, the League is now down four members—five if you count Aquaman’s imminent absence.
The Justice League’s Problems Go Far Beyond MIA Members (See: Air Wave & the Titans)
Comic Panels Come FromJustice League Unlimited#1 (2024) – Art by Dan Mora
The Justice League’s struggles extend beyond members being indisposed, going MIA, or even being killed.Air Wave—one of the new additions to the roster—has been hinted at as a Trojan Horse, secretly working to bring Earth’s heroes down. This was first teased at the end of issue #1, thoughAir Wave’s motivations and exact plansremain a mystery. The key point is that the Justice League is not only battling external enemies but also dealing with a potential enemy within—one that could further accelerate the breakdown of this iconic team.
Adding to the tension is the strained relationship between the Justice League and the Titans, who are technically part of the League but continue to operate independently. While this conflict hasn’t yet been explored in Waid and Mora’sJustice League Unlimited, it is a growing issue in John Layman and Pete Woods’Titansrun.The Titans, particularly their leader Donna Troy, feel that the League is overstepping, leading to disagreements and rising friction between the two groups. This internal discord is yet another factor contributing to the Justice League’s slow unraveling.
The Justice League Is Darker Than Ever And DC Wants You to Know the Titans Don’t Approve
The Titans have just leveled an accusation against the Justice League, suggesting that the newly revived League might be venturing down a dark path.
“We’re Losing”:Mister Terrific Admits the Justice League Is Already Crumbling
After Dr. Occult goes after Inferno alone, Mister Terrific, who is monitoring and coordinating the team from the Watchtower, exclaims,“Now we’re a Leaguer down when we’re losing!”While Mister Terrific’s count is off—he should be accounting for far more than just one missing member—his statement is telling. The Justice League, with their new all-inclusive roster, updated operating methods, and advanced base, should be at their most powerful. Yet, they are finding themselves on the losing side of the battle against their enemies. If this trend continues, theJustice Leaguemay soon be completely decimated by the time they face Inferno head-on.
