The Justice League are essentially gods. With the exclusion of Batman, each member of the core seven possesses abilities that could potentially be used to destroy the universe (Which has been proven in other iterations). When the New 52's Justice League first formed, the US government felt there was reason to be concerned. This was furthered when Superman and Wonder Woman, the world's most powerful beings, began dating. In response, the head of ARGUS, Amanda Waller, formed a league of her own.
The team first appeared in 2013's Justice League of America #1 (by Geoff Johns, David Finch, Sonia Oback, Jeremy Cox, and Rob Leigh). Waller formed the Justice League of America with the help of Steve Trevor and each member was chosen strategically as a response to the seven members of the Justice League. The team consisted of Martian Manhunter, Catwoman, Katana, Green Lantern Simon Baz, Vibe, Stargirl, and Hawkman. Green Arrow was also later recruited after being rejected from the original Justice League.
Their first mission began as a wounded Oliver Queen was brought back to ARGUS headquarters after failing to infiltrate a new group of villains calling themselves the Secret Society. Waller claimed that this was the perfect first test for the JLA, tasking Trevor and the team with taking down the group. To find the villains, the team devised a plan, as Catwoman was to be "arrested", in the hopes that the villains would contact her. This proves to be a success, as she is taken to their secret base and the JLA is able to track her. When they arrive, however, they are met with an ambush, and learn little as the Society escapes.
The JLA was also one of three teams that play a role in the Trinity War event, alongside the Justice League and Justice League Dark. The story started in Kahndaq, with a confrontation between the teams, that ended with Superman brutally killing Dr. Light with his heat vision. Eventually, the three teams faced off again, learning that Superman has had a piece of kryptonite implanted in his brain causing him to lose control of his powers. As the battle raged on, a portal opened and the Crime Syndicate emerge.
The Justice Leagues are presumed dead throughout the duration of the follow-up event, Forever Evil, however, in actuality they are trapped in the Firestorm Matrix, waiting to be freed. With the heroes gone, the Society and Crime Syndicate run rampant, trying to take over the world. After the heroes have been freed, and the villains are stopped, Trevor revealed that the JLA took the heat for all the events that transpired and that the team has disbanded. Green Arrow tried to re-recruit each member of the team on his own but has no success. As the story concluded, Martian Manhunter and Stargirl leave to start their new journey, leading a team of their own.
The events that transpired throughout the Justice League of America pose an interesting question, one that has been explored in many comics, as well as in other mediums: should the world trust the Justice League? These powerful individuals have the ability to kill with ease, and as far as the government knows, there is nothing stopping them from doing so. The Justice League of America was Amanda Waller's way of keeping the world safe without using villains as she would on the Suicide Squad. Now, with the Justice League recently dying in Dark Crisis, they would have made an effective backup. Despite never meeting its intended purpose, the Justice League of America was a unique premise, one that could warrant further exploration in future storylines.
