Injustice Gang - 2nd Formation

2nd Formation

The subsequent incarnation of the team appeared in the "Rock of Ages" storyline of JLA (#10-15). This team was formed to mirror the Justice League of that era, with each member being a recurring enemy of a corresponding member of the League. Lex Luthor stated that he formed the Injustice Gang in response to the creation of the new League because, while he perceived previous Leagues to be mere annoyances at best, he saw Superman's leadership as being Superman 'throwing down the gauntlet'. Its members included:

• Lex Luthor
• Joker
• Circe
• Doctor Light
• Mirror Master (Evan McCulloch)
• Ocean Master
• Jemm

However, the team had problems from the beginning; Jemm was only on the team because Luthor was manipulating his mind with the 'Philosopher's Stone'—later revealed to be the Worloggog—, and Mirror Master later defected from the group when Batman offered to pay the mercenary double what Luthor was offering him. Attempting to manipulate Green Arrow (Connor Hawke) and new hero Aztek into betraying the League—Hawke was seemingly seduced by Circe into believing that the League looked down on him and Luthor revealed that he had provided the financial support necessary to create Aztek's armour—, Luthor had intended to force the League to disband and subsequently form a new League under his control. However, thanks to Plastic Man infiltrating the group disguised as the Joker, coupled with Luthor's inability to understand the true motivations of heroism (meaning that he underestimated what he would have to do to win Green Arrow's allegiance), the League were able to turn the tables on Luthor's plot, subsequently taking the Stone from Luthor after taking out the other members of the Gang. Unfortunately, no charges could be pressed due to the Gang having caused no real harm, forcing the League to allow them all to go free.

Luthor reformed the team in the "World War III" storyline (JLA #36-41) with new members. This team did not attempt to mirror the League, but instead consisted of villains who had posed major solo threats to the JLA in the past. It included:

• Queen Bee
• The General
• Prometheus

However, it was swiftly revealed that the new Injustice Gang was being manipulated by the ancient superweapon Mageddon to keep the League occupied, with Lex Luthor serving as Mageddon's unwilling 'emissary'. After Martian Manhunter and Green Lantern were able to break through Mageddon's hold on Luthor, Steel, Plastic Man, Barda and Wonder Woman took out the Queen Bee, Superman, Orion, Martian Manhunter and Sturmer were able to trap the General in the limbo that Prometheus had discovered, while Batman defeated Prometheus after reprogramming his helmet—normally capable of giving him the combat skills of thirty of the world's greatest martial artists—to give him the physical characteristics of Stephen Hawking.