The oldest superhero team in the DC Universe was the Justice Society of America. This group of heroes was forged in wartime and acted as America’s defense against the forces of evil. Decades later, the JSA reformed and joined the ranks of iconic hero groups like the Justice League. Legacy is important to the JSA, and the DCEU takes this seriously.
Iconic JSA members like Doctor Fate and Hawkman arrive at the DCEU in Black Adam, but some characters are left behind. It makes sense, due to Black Adam being an action-packed blockbuster, not every JSA member can be involved, even if some of the very best and iconic JSA characters were not in Black Adam.
Warning: The following article contains spoilers for Black Adam!
8 Power Girl
There are more than a few reasons that the DCEU has not seen the arrival of Power Girl. One of the more obvious reasons is the fact that she comes from Earth-Two, a completely different reality to the mainline universe than other characters. Through complex comic magic, Power Girl arrived on the primary Earth and has been one of the leading members of the JSA. A battle between her and Dwayne Johnson's Black Adam would be epic.
Power Girl is greatly important, for she is the cousin to Superman and the counterpart to Supergirl. She’s bold and confident, and has the same powers as her cousin, due to her being a Kryptonian. She has great ties with the JSA, and hopefully, she will fly into the DCEU.
7 Mister Terrific
Often seen as the third smartest man in the world, Mister Terrific has the brains and brawn to back up such a humble claim. He is a great inventor and one that lacks any superpowers other than his incredibly gifted intellect. He is usually seen with his T-Spheres, which have a great number of functions.
Mister Terrific has quite the history in the DC Universe and quite many tragedies. However, despite the odds, he remains strong and has even saved the universe from multiverse threats that have arisen, as well as being a frequent collaborator with the Justice League.
6 Green Lantern
Before the likes of Hal Jordan and Jon Stewart, there was Alan Scott, the original Green Lantern. Alan Scott was not part of the Green Lantern Corps, but he was the one that started it all in the original age of heroes for DC Comics. He’s an essential member of the JSA, and one due to a cinematic arrival.
Alan Scott’s lack of appearance may be due to his role in the Green Lantern Corps HBO Max show, which has yet to begin filming. The character is a founding member of the Justice Society and was instrumental to their legacy.
5 The Flash
Much like Alan Scott was the original Green Lantern, Jay Garrick was the original Flash. He was the first to demonstrate the speed of light and harbors a legacy amongst the super-speedsters as the first of them. He’s a compassionate and kind scientist, with a fashionable metal hat with wings. Jay Garrick is both an inspiration and a mentor to generations of heroes.
Jay Garrick was heavily involved in World War 2, so his lack of debut in Black Adam may be down to the fact that the character is not alive anymore. Or, it is because audiences would be confused with two Flash characters when Barry Allen’s solo movie hasn’t even been released yet.
4 Wildcat
As a prized boxer, Ted Grant had quite the skills in the ring. However, once he was framed for the death of a rival, he became Wildcat to fight the allegations and has been a disguised hero ever since. Ted Grant has trained the likes of Black Canary into becoming great fighters and has since been a member of the JSA.
Considering Wildcat is the brawler of the group, a simple man without powers, he is often seen as the JSA’s Batman, but without the prep time or wealth. It makes sense that he is not in Black Adam, as there are no powers to keep him alive against a battle with Black Adam.
3 Stargirl
With the Cosmic Converter Belt and the Cosmic Staff, Courtney Whitmore became Stargirl, one of the youngest and most energetic members of the JSA. She carries the legacies of Star-Spangled Kid and Starman, honoring them with her appearance in the superhero world as Stargirl.
Stargirl is good friends with Cyclone, a character that was in Black Adam. Perhaps her lack of inclusion was to the popular Stargirl show in its third season, as well as not taking away the light from Cyclone as the JSA’s newest recruit.
2 Hawkgirl
Hawkman and Hawkgirl are usually a package deal in the comics. Their history, though convoluted, is shared through their love. Hawkgirl was a member of the JSA, just as her husband was, but only one of them made their debut in Black Adam.
It has been said multiple times that Hawkgirl was cut from the drafts of Black Adam, and even the Hawkman actor Aldis Hodge commented that her lack of inclusion was intentional, perhaps teasing a Hawkman and Hawkgirl-centric project for the DCEU.
1 Spectre
After Jim Corrigan was murdered, he found himself in Limbo. From here, he managed to bond with the Spectre Force and joined in the efforts of its mission: confront all evils, wherever they may be. In returning to the land of the living, Corrigan assumed the identity of the Spectre and exacted vengeance on those that murdered him.
Thanks to the Spectre, Nazi invasions of Britain during World War 2 were sabotaged, and Doctor Fate commended his acts and brought him in as a founding member of the JSA. Spectre may not be in Black Adam due to his vengeance wreaking elsewhere, in another body, and because Corrigan’s Spectre disappeared after the discovery and rage over concentration camps.