As part of DC Comics‘ New 52 initiative that saw the birth of a modernised DC Universe, the Justice League Dark are a team made up of key magic users who gather to combat mystical and supernatural threats. Even though the line-up make it clear they don’t want to be a team, fate will keep bringing them together until they accept it. Zatanna, John Constantine, Swamp Thing, Frankenstein, Deadman and others appear as members of the course of this first incarnation of one of the darker teams in the modern DC Universe.
SCROLL DOWN to the bottom for the KEY COLLECTED EDITIONS for this event!
Must Reads: Story arcs marked with a ✔are must-read stories from this time period, along with any key related stories and often-forgotten tales that are worth a read.
Anthology Issues: When an issue contains multiple stories, the relevant story is denoted with square brackets. For example, [2/5] refers to the second story of the five stories in that issue, so you don’t need to read the other four.
Want to keep it simple? A version of this reading order without story descriptions, page-by-page breakdowns or less non-essential guest appearances – just the primary stories:
- ✔ Justice League Dark (2011) #1-5
- I, Vampire #4
- ✔ Justice League Dark (2011) #6-7
- ✔ I, Vampire #7
- ✔ Justice League Dark (2011) #8
- ✔ I, Vampire #8
- Animal Man (2011) #9-10
- Sword of Sorcery (2012) #0 [1/2]
- ✔ Justice League Dark (2011) #9-12
- ✔ Justice League Dark (2011) #0
- ✔ Justice League Dark (2011) #13
- ✔ Justice League Dark Annual (2012) #1
- ✔ Justice League Dark (2011) #14
- Sword of Sorcery (2012) #4 [1/2]
- ✔ Justice League Dark (2011) #15-18
- StormWatch (2011) #13
- I, Vampire #16-19
- Sword of Sorcery #6
- ✔ Justice League Dark (2011) #19-21
- Frankenstein: Agent of SHADE #10-15
- Animal Man #15
- Frankenstein: Agent of SHADE #16
- Justice League (2011) #16-17
- Phantom Stranger (2012) #4, 6, 8
- Trinity of Sin: Phantom Strange #9
- The Flash #28-29
- Justice League Dark (2011) #23.1: The Creeper
- Justice League Dark (2011) #23.2: Eclipso
- Justice League (2011) #18
- All-Star Western (2011) #24-26
- ✔ Constantine (2013) #1-4
- ✔ Justice League (2011) #22
- ✔ Justice League of America (2011) #6
- ✔ Justice League Dark (2011) #22
- ✔ Constantine (2013) #5-8
- ✔ Trinity of Sin: The Phantom Stranger #11
- ✔ Justice League of America (2011) #7
- Trinity of Sin: Pandora #3
- ✔ Justice League Dark (2011) #23
- ✔ Justice League (2011) #23
- ✔ Justice League Dark (2011) #24-25
- Trinity of Sin: Pandora #6
- Trinity of Sin: The Phantom Stranger #14
- ✔ Constantine (2013) #9
- ✔ Trinity of Sin: Pandora #6
- ✔ Justice League Dark (2011) #26
- ✔ Trinity of Sin: The Phantom Stranger #15
- ✔ Constantine (2013) #10
- ✔ Trinity of Sin: Pandora (2013) #7
- ✔ Justice League Dark (2011) #27
- ✔ Trinity of Sin: The Phantom Stranger #16
- ✔ Constantine (2013) #11
- ✔ Trinity of Sin: Pandora (2013) #8
- ✔ Justice League Dark (2011) #28
- ✔ Constantine (2013) #12
- ✔ Trinity of Sin: Pandora (2013) #9
- ✔ Justice League Dark (2011) #29-34
- Justice League Dark Annual (2012) #2
- Constantine (2013) #13-18
- Earth 2: World’s End #3, 8-10
- Constantine (2013) #19-23
- Justice League Dark #35-40
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Chronology: Every appearance of Justice League Dark from this period is included in chronological order, mapping out their timeline rather than just the order the issues were released.
Spoilers: The issue/story overviews may include spoilers, so be warned!
| Must Reads | Title, Synopsis and First Appearances | Crossover / Event |
| ✔ | Justice League Dark #1-5 (2011-2012) The Enchantress is separated from her host, June Moon, but begins to lose control of her magical power; when the Justice League prove unable to stop the Enchantress, Madame Xanadu summons Zatanna, Deadman, John Constantine, Shade and Mindwarp to restore her and save reality; the ‘Justice League Dark’ decide not to stay together. 1st appearance: John Constantine, Enchantress, Mindwarp/Jay Young, June Moon, Shade the Changing Man/Rac Shade, Zatanna/Zatanna Zatara, Justice League Dark, Hocus & Pokus Occult Curioso | |
| I, Vampire #4 (2012) John Constantine encounters the vampire Steve Rafelson; Andrew Bennett advises John Constantine to prepare his friends for the coming of the Queen of Blood. | ||
| ✔ | Justice League Dark #6-7 (2012) I, Vampire #7 (2012) Justice League Dark #8 (2012) I, Vampire #8 (2012) Madame Xanadu convinces the Justice League Dark (minus Mindwarp) to reform to combat Cain, the father of all vampires; the JLD rescue the deceased vampire Andrew Bennett from the afterlife; Shade’s breakdown forces him to leave the team. | RISE OF THE VAMPIRES |
| Animal Man #9-10 (2012) Responding to a premonition of the Rot taking over the Earth, Madame Xanadu, Zatanna & John Constantine warn Animal Man’s wife and kids, steering them towards Swamp Thing. | ||
| Sword of Sorcery #0 [1/2] (2012) John Constantine cameo; Constantine finds the portal crystal discarded by Amy Winston and keeps it. 1st appearance: Lady Graciel, Lady Ingvie, Lady Mordeil, Amy Winston | WAR FOR THE BOOKS OF MAGIC ZERO MONTH | |
| ✔ | Justice League Dark #9-12 (2014) Andrew Bennet briefly joins the JLD when Steve Trevor of ARGUS asks them to rescue Doctor Mist from Felix Faust; ARGUS agent Black Orchid joins the team to race Faust to the Books of Magic. 1st appearance: Black Orchid/Alba Garcia, Doctor Mist/Nommo Balewa, Tim Hunter, Nick Necro, Dr John Peril, Giovanni Zatara, House of Mystery, House of Secrets | WAR FOR THE BOOKS OF MAGIC |
| ✔ | Justice League Dark #0 (2012) Zatanna & Constantine’s past is revealed, along with their connection to Nick Necro. 1st appearance: Cult of the Cold Flame | WAR FOR THE BOOKS OF MAGIC ZERO MONTH |
| ✔ | Justice League Dark #13 (2012) Justice League Dark Annual #1 (2012) Justice League Dark #14 (2013) Sword of Sorcery #4 [1/2] (2013) Justice League Dark #15-18 (2013) Amethyst and Frankenstein join the JLD to oppose Felix Faust & Nick Necro; John Constantine returns Amethyst to Nilaa; Tim Hunter briefly joins the JLD when the team are taken to a world of magic. | WAR FOR THE BOOKS OF MAGIC |
| StormWatch #13 (2012) Madame Xanadu & John Constantine cameo; Xanadu & Constantine sense Etrigan‘s return to the Earthly plane. | ||
| I, Vampire #16-19 (2013) John Constantine agrees to help Mary Seward bring Andrew Bennett back to the side of good; Andrew Bennett takes control of the House of Mystery; Constantine & Bennett join forces to stop the rise of Cain & Lilith, Mother of Monsters. 1st appearance: Lilith | ||
| Sword of Sorcery #6 (2013) To prevent Eclipso from coming to Earth, John Constantine betrays Amethyst and traps him on Nilaa. |
| Must Reads | Title, Synopsis and First Appearances | Crossover / Event |
| ✔ | Justice League Dark #19-21 (2013) John Constantine’s history with the Cult of the Cold Flame catches up with him when Doctor Destiny rallies them against him and the Justice League Dark; Doctor Destiny’s connection to the team is revealed; Swamp Thing and the Flash assist the JLD against Destiny 1st appearance: Doctor Destiny/John Dee | |
| Frankenstein: Agent of SHADE #10-12 (2012) Frankenstein returns to his day job, leading SHADE‘s Creature Commandos against Crowley, the Scare-Eb Agents, a Leviathan & Agent Mycroft as he searches for the secret behind Satan’s Ring. | ||
| Frankenstein: Agent of SHADE #13-15 (2012-2013) Animal Man #15 (2013) Under Anton Arcane‘s control, the Rot takes over the Earth; John Constantine and Frankenstein are among those who stand against him, though Animal Man and Swamp Thing ultimately manages to undo their sacrifices. | ROTWORLD | |
| Frankenstein: Agent of SHADE #16 (2013) Agent Frankenstein risks his life against the Plague Agents. | ||
| Justice League #16-17 (2013) Zatanna is among those selected to expand the ranks of the Justice League, just in time for Ocean Master to lead the Atlanteans in an attack on the surface world. 1st appearance: Element Woman/Emily Sung | THRONE OF ATLANTIS | |
| ✔ | Phantom Stranger #4, 6, 8 (2013) Trinity of Sin: Phantom Stranger #9 (2013) John Constantine pulls the Phantom Stranger into the House of Mystery against his will in an attempt to recruit him to the JLD; when the Stranger is betrayed by a friend, the JLD summon the Nightmare Nurse to help him. 1st appearance: Nightmare Nurse/Asa, Sin Eater/Philip Stark | |
| Flash #28-29 (2014) The Flash and Deadman team up to investigate a series of murders in Central City. | ||
| Justice League Dark #23.1: The Creeper (2013) No Justice League Dark appearance; Katana finally discovers the connection between the Creeper and Jack Ryder; this has no impact on the JLD. | VILLAINS MONTH SOULTAKER | |
| Justice League Dark #23.2 Eclipso (2013) No Justice League Dark appearance; the origin of Eclipso is revealed; this has no impact on the JLD. | VILLAINS MONTH | |
| Justice League #18 (2013) Zatanna returns to the Justice League’s Watchtower to find out if she’s among those who’ve been accepted as a full-time member. 1st appearance: Atom/Atomica/Rhonda Pineda, Copperhead, Platinum | ||
| All-Star Western #24-26 (2013-2014) Gunfighter Jonah Hex ends up in the present day and finds himself side-by-side with John Constantine and the Swamp Thing fighting demons at the Burning Man festival. | ||
| ✔ | Constantine #1-4 (2013) John Constantine races the Cult of the Cold Flame to the three pieces of Croydon’s Compass; this time, Constantine clashes with the Cult’s leaders, Mister E and Sargon the Sorceress; Constantine crosses the Spectre. 1st appearance: Mister E, Papa Midnite/Linton Midnite, Sargon the Sorcerer/John Sargent, Sargon the Sorceress/Jaimini Sargent, Tannarak | |
| ✔ | Justice League #22 (2013) Justice League of America #6 (2013) Justice League Dark #22 (2013) Constantine #5 (2013) While the Justice League Dark seek out whoever’s responsible for an attack on Madame Xanadu, the Justice League of America face off against the Justice League over Pandora’s Box; while it looks like either ARGUS or Pandora herself are responsible, a more sinister organisation manipulates the situation behind the scenes; while the teams are divided, John Constantine clashes with Shazam and is taken out of the fight by Mister E. | TRINITY WAR |
| ✔ | Constantine #6-7 (2013) Constantine #8 (pp.1-18) (2013) The decisions Constantine recently made in his feud with Sargon the Sorceress come back to bite him; Constantine is transported to the Temple of the Cold Flame for a deadly showdown with Mister E. | TRINITY WAR |
| Must Reads | Title, Synopsis and First Appearances | Crossover / Event |
| ✔ | Trinity of Sin: The Phantom Stranger #11 (2013) Justice League of America #7 (pp.1-20) (2013) Trinity of Sin: Pandora #3 (2013) Justice League of America #7 (pp.21-24) (2013) Justice League Dark #23 (pp.1-8) (2013) Deadman assists the Phantom Stranger & Batman in a journey to the afterlife; the threes Leagues fight to keep Pandora’s Box out of the wrong hands and clear Superman‘s name, but it’s evil threatens to subvert them all. 1st appearance: Kimiyo Hoshi | TRINITY WAR |
| ✔ | Constantine #8 (pp.19-20) (2014) John Constantine is shown visions of the fight over Pandora’s Box and rejoins the fight in order to aid Zatanna. | TRINITY WAR |
| ✔ | Justice League Dark #23 (pp.9-24) (2013) Justice League #23 (2013) The real identity of the Outsider and the true purpose of Pandora’s Box comes to light when the war between the three Leagues erupts and the ‘Justice League’ of another universe emerges… the Crime Syndicate from Earth 3. 1st appearances: Crime Syndicate of Earth 3 (Deathstorm, Johnny Quick, Owlman, Power Ring, Sea King, Superwoman, Ultraman), unnamed masked man | TRINITY WAR |
| ✔ | Justice League Dark #24-25 (2013-2014) Nightmare Nurse cures John Constantine of the evil virus from Pandora’s Box; the two of them ally with Swamp Thing as they begin their search for the missing Justice League Dark; Blight – the embodiment of despair – takes Chris Esperanza as a host. 1st appearance: Blight, Cassandra Craft | FOREVER EVIL BLIGHT |
| Trinity of Sin: Pandora #5 (2013) Trinity of Sin: The Phantom Stranger #14 (2014) John Constantine, Nightmare Nurse & Swamp Thing cameo; Pandora, the Phantom Stranger & the Question are chained before Constantine, Nightmare Nurse & Swamp Thing. | FOREVER EVIL | |
| ✔ | Constantine #9 (2014) Trinity of Sin: Pandora #6 (2014) Justice League Dark #26 (2014) Trinity of Sin: The Phantom Stranger #15 (2014) Constantine #10 (2014) Trinity of Sin: Pandora #7 (2014) Justice League Dark #27 (2014) Trinity of Sin: The Phantom Stranger #16 (2014) Constantine #11 (2014) Trinity of Sin: Pandora #8 (2014) Justice League Dark #28 (2014) Constantine #12 (2014) Trinity of Sin: Pandora #9 (2014) Justice League Dark #29 (2014) Nightmare Nurse, Pandora, Phantom Stranger & Swamp Thing join John Constantine in the Justice League Dark as their search for the original team is interrupted by Blight’s as he joins forces with the Seven Deadly Sins in New York; Deadman rejoins the group while locked in the corpse of the Crime Syndicate’s Sea King; the Justice League Dark overcome Blight and locate their teammates in Nanda Parbat; Nick Necro and Felix Faust attempt to weaponise the Justice League Dark and other magic users for the Crime Syndicate; Zatanna and John Constantine clash, leading to his departure from the team | FOREVER EVIL BLIGHT |
| Justice League Dark #30-34 (2014) The few members of the Justice League Dark that remain face their own internal struggles with Nightmare Nurse accused of possessing the body of an innocent and Deadman being used by the creature Pantheon; John Constantine assists the group. | ||
| Justice League Dark Annual #2 (2014) John Constantine makes a bid to return to the Justice League Dark, but he sacrifices his position to set things right when the House of Mystery and the House of Secrets combine to form the House of Wonders and threatens to control all minds on Earth. | LOST IN FOREVER | |
| Constantine #13-16 (2014) While officially no longer a member of the Justice League Dark, John Constantine’s leadership of the Cult of the Cold Flame is called into question when he appears to be taking the organisation down from within. | ||
| Constantine #17-18 (2014-2015) Earth 2: World’s End #3 (2014) Earth 2: World’s End #8-10 (2015) Constantine #19-23 (2015) John Constantine’s final battle with the Cult of the Cold Flame sends his through time, then to Earth 2; Constantine’s desperate search for a way home leads to him breaking villains out of Gotham Base before encountering his own Earth 2 counterpart when Darkseid invades the planet and threatens its very existence; Constantine makes it back to Prime Earth. 1st appearance: Brainwave/Henry King Jr, Jonni Thunder New identity: Huntress/Helena Wayne as Famine | WORLD’S END | |
| Justice League Dark #35-40 (2014-2015) The Justice League Dark start are scattered through time and dimensions and have their final showdown with Felix Faust; John Constantine returns to help the team overcome Pralaya before Andrew Bennett, Black Orchid, Deadman, Frankenstein, Madame Xanadu, Nightmare Nurse, Swamp Thing & Zatanna go their separate ways. | LOST IN FOREVER |
Even though this incarnation of Justice League Dark ends here, a new team will pick up the mantle:
- JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK: The Last Age of Magic (2018-2022)
| Universe | Title , Issue Number & Synopsis | Events / Crossover |
| Futures End | Free Comic Book Day – The New 52: Futures End #0 (2014) New 52: Futures End #2 (2014) Futures End: Justice League Dark #1 (2014) New 52: Futures End #36-37 (2015) In a possible future five years from now, Zatana leads the Justice League Dark but is corrupted by Brother Eye; the JLD are stranded when the House of Mystery is lost is a nameless nothingness. | FUTURES END |
Notable collected editions featuring the Justice League Dark…
| Collected Edition Title | Includes… |
| Justice League Dark: The New 52 Omnibus | Constantine #5, 9-12 Free Comic Book Day – The New 52 #1 I, Vampire #7-8 Justice League #22-23 Justice League Dark #0, 1-40 Justice League Dark Annual #1-2 Justice League Dark – Futures End #1 Justice League of America #6-7 Trinity of Sin: Pandora #1-3, 6-9 Trinity of Sin: The Phantom Stranger #11, 14-17 |
| Justice League Dark vol.1: In the Dark | Justice League Dark #1-6 |
| I, Vampire vol.2: Rise of the Vampires | I, Vampire #7-12 Justice League Dark #7-8 |
| Justice League Dark vol.2: The Books of Magic | Justice League Dark #0, 7-13 Justice League Dark Annual #1 |
| Sword of Sorcery: Amethyst | Sword of Sorcery #0, 1-8 |
| I, Vampire vol.3: Wave of Mutilation | I, Vampire #0, 13-19 |
| Justice League Dark vol.3: The Death of Magic | Justice League Dark #14-21 |
| Frankenstein: Agent of SHADE vol.2 | Frankenstein: Agent of SHADE #0, 8-16 Men of War #8 |
| All-Star Western vol.5: Man Out of Time | All-Star Western #22-28 |
| Constantine vol. 1: The Spark and the Flame | Constantine #1-6 |
| Collected Edition Title | Includes… |
| Justice League: The New 52 Omnibus vol.1 | Aquaman #14-16 Constantine #5 Free Comic Book Day – The New 52 #1 Justice League #0, 1-23 Justice League Dark #22-23 Justice League Dark (2011) #23 Justice League of America #1-7 Trinity of Sin: Pandora #1-3 Trinity of Sin: The Phantom Stranger #11 |
| Justice League: Trinity of Sin | Constantine #5 Free Comic Book Day – The New 52 #1 Justice League #22-23 Justice League Dark #22-23 Justice League of America #6-7 Trinity of Sin: Pandora #1-3 Trinity of Sin: Phantom Stranger #11 |
| Justice League Dark vol.4: Rebirth of Evil | Justice League Dark #22-29 |
| Constantine vol.2: Blight | Constantine #7-12 |
| Trinity of Sin: Phantom Stranger – The Crack in Creation | Trinity of Sin: Phantom Stranger #12-22 Trinity of Sin: Phantom Stranger – Futures End #1 |
| Forever Evil: Blight | Constantine #9-12 Justice League Dark #24-29 Trinity of Sin: Pandora #6-9 Trinity of Sin: The Phantom Stranger #14-17 |
| Justice League Dark vol.5: Paradise Lost | Justice League Dark #30-34 |
| Constantine vol.3: The Voice in the Fire | Constantine #13-17 Constantine – Futures End #1 |
| Earth 2: World’s End vol.1 | Earth 2: World’s End #1-11 |
| Constantine vol.4: The Apocalypse Road | Constantine #18-23 |
| Justice League Dark vol.6: Lost in Forever | Justice League Dark #35-40 Justice League Dark Annual #2 |
Reading Order ©OmniverseComicsGuide 2023
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