Video Game Month: A Brief History of the Justice League in Gaming

By Troy-Jeffrey Allen

Comic books and video games. Both mediums are the harmless, interactive distraction of choice for the adolescent and the adolescent at heart. Still, the only thing more satisfying than seeing your favorite heroes (or, in Injustice’s case, villains!) on the big screen is playing as them. At their best, “vidya” based on “funny books” can be a match made in high frame rate heaven, allowing fans to harness the power of their favorite characters. At their worst, they can be…well, Superman 64. Here are some examples of what happens when comics and controllers collide!

Superheroes have a storied history in the world of gaming, and that story appropriately starts with “big blue” himself…Superman! As we know, 1979’s Superman for the Atari 2600 starred the seminal character in a single player “game program” that, at the time, was widely considered to be a graphical triumph.

It would be 7 years before another DC hero would get a game-based treatment with 1986’s Batman. A 3D isometric experience for home computer, Batman is largely remembered for containing “reincarnation stones.” A groundbreaking concept at the time that allowed players to continue from a save point as opposed to starting the game all over again!

Uncharacteristically lagging behind Batman (in terms of number of titles) is The Flash, who blazed through his own Gameboy, Sega Masters System, and Gameboy Advance entries. Aquaman: Battle of Atlantis (2003) and Green Lantern: Rise of the Manhunters (2011) would also provide solo efforts (and mixed to negative reviews) for their respective JL members. But the circle at The Hall of Justice wasn’t complete until SNES’s Justice League: Task Force (1995) added Green Arrow and Wonder Woman to the mix.

It would take a few years before the Justice League teamed up again for Injustice For All on the Game Boy Advance, but it wasn’t until the wildly popular DC Universe Online and the subsequent Injustice: Gods Among Us that players got to experience the true, unfettered might of the Justice League in glorious PvP battle.

While Superman defined the superhero archetype, it’s Batman that has had the strongest influence in gaming out of all the Justice League members. With over 30 titles under his utility belt, The Dark Knight has had a career in games that has seen him headline everything from racing games to Lego titles. It was Rocksteady Studios’ critically-acclaimed Arkham series however that proved to be popular enough to spawn several sequels, creating an alternate mythos from the comics that somehow managed to excite new fans and old.

Video Game Month fun fact: 2008's Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe allowed players to unlock Darkseid, the scourge of Apokolips!

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Troy-Jeffrey Allen handles social media and community outreach for PREVIEWSworld.com and the DCD family of sites. His comics work includes BAMN, Fight of the Century, and the Harvey Award-nominated District Comics.