Even the most studious DC fans who have examined the DCU front to back might be surprised to learn that, without one U.S. president, theJustice Leaguewould never have come to be. So, which American leader do fans have to thank, and what exactly did he do to spark the birth of DC’s greatest superhero team?
Mark Waid, Jerry Ordway, Todd Nauck, John Kalisz, Matt Herms, and Todd Klein’sNew History of the DC Universefinally kicks off with its debut issue. This ambitious mini-series undertakes a nearly impossible task: fixing DC’s convoluted timeline and presenting readers with a cohesive, non-contradictory history for mainstream continuity.
The first issue spans from the birth of the DC Universe to the rise of the Justice Society, and it’s here thatDC officially credits President Theodore Roosevelt with the formation of the Justice Society of America, and, by extension, the Justice League.
DC Officially Gives President Theodore Roosevelt Credit for the Formation of the JSA
Cover C Ryan Sook Variant forNew History of the DC Universe#1 (2025)
InNew History of the DC Universe, Mark Waid sets the record straight on how the Justice Society of America came to be through the narration of none other than Flash Barry Allen. As DC’s resident timeline expert and multiverse mapper,Barry is well-versed in the history of the DC Universe and explains how the JSA came together.
He states,“In 1940, at the suggestion of President Roosevelt, several new heroes, along with Sandman, joined together to createthe Justice Society of America.”With this one seemingly offhand comment,it is now official DC canon that T.R. was the catalyst that gave birth to DC’s first superhero team.
The Justice Society of America Paved the Way for the Justice League
Main Cover by Chris Samnee & Giovanna Niro forNew History of the DC Universe#2 (2025)
Some fans may want to point out that theJustice Society of America and the Justice Leagueare not the same thing, and they are absolutely correct in that assessment. However, with the JSA being DC’s first team of heroes, they are often credited, rightfully so, withpaving the way for all of DC’s other hero teams that followed, including the Justice League.
Hence, narratively speaking,without Roosevelt’s suggestion the JSA would not have existed, and thus, the Justice League likely would not have either. Therefore, T.R. can also claim credit for being the ultimate catalyst that set off the chain reaction leading to the creation of the Justice League.
Teddy Roosevelt is often considered one of the greatest U.S. presidents in history, and it is exceptionally cool that DC is paying tribute to the national hero by officially making him an instrumental part of its canon, crediting him with initiating the formation of theJustice Society of Americaand theJustice League.
New History of the DC Universe #1is available now from DC Comics!
