10 Times The Justice League Went Way Too Far

Speaking of animated Justice Leagues taking it too far, the DCAU's version of an out-of-control League is one of the most memorable arcs to come out of the beloved franchise.

The League still strives to maintain law and order on its Earth, but its warped sense of justice sees it undermines pre-existing institutions in the process.

A grieving League (suffering the loss of the Flash at the hands of President Lex Luthor) storms the White House and this leads to Lex's death at the hands of Superman. This more brutal team rebrands itself as the Justice Lords and takes over the world, limiting free speech and self-governance. They discover the main League's reality and seek to take over it the same way they did with their own.

This story is impactful for a number of reasons as it highlights how fallible these heroes really are and how that makes them a threat to the planet. It also sets the stage for the Cadmus storyline that sees the main League in a few instances veering very close to the authoritarian sensibilities embodied by the Justice Lords.