The first superhero team from the Silver Age of comics, DC's Justice League has seen many iterations since its first appearance in 1960. As the original comic book continued and spin-off titles proliferated, talented writers, artists and editors adapted the team to appeal to changing audience tastes.

This collection of new essays examines more than five decades of Justice League comics and related titles. Each essay considers a storyline or era of the franchise in its historical and social contexts. Exploring both the popular culture and relevant events of the day, the contributors discuss how the Vietnam War was addressed in Justice League comics, how the Cold War transformed the roles of superheroes in the DC universe and how the post-9/11 political climate affected a crossover character.