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| “ | WE ARE LEGION. | „ |
| ~ Ra's al Ghul, leader of the League of Assassins. |
The League of Assassins (also known as the Society of Shadows, the Society of Assassins, and the League of Shadows) are major antagonists in the DC universe. They are an international cult-like organization of professional assassins and trained killers that followed their founder and leader, Ra's al Ghul. They are a terrorist group that fight Batman and other DC superheroes from time to time. They are the overarching antagonists (alongside The Court of Owls) of the Batman franchise.
The League of Assassins was created by the late Dennis O'Neil and the late Neal Adams.
History[]
The League of Assassins is a very ancient group of extremely skilled assassins, founded by Ra's al Ghul centuries ago to further his plans to destroy decadent civilizations and create an ordered world under his rule. Any member who fails in an assassination is in turn targeted by the League. For centuries, the League has sold its services, singly, through teams of agents, or as a whole, to the great and powerful of many nations. This allowed it to fund its own agenda and to gain clandestine political advantage. It is also the greatest teacher of the combat arts in history.
Responsible for the training of numerous warriors and villains, its students also include heroes such as Damian Wayne, Red Robin, Red Hood, and Batgirl/Black Bat. In recent decades, the Society has suffered from continual internecine conflict, as deputies appointed by Ra's al Ghul overstepped their bounds or sought to seize complete control. This resulted in a number of splinter groups of assassins becoming competition and hindrances to the League. Another major stumbling block has been the loss of their cloak of anonymity, as the efforts of an increasing number of superheroes have successfully brought the Society's hidden efforts out of the shadows
In modern days, Ra's choose Ebeneezer Darrk as leader, who was seconded by the Sensei. Under his rule, the League attired the intention of Interpol, who managed to find his next target, a rich magnate of Gotham, and informed Commissioner James Gordon. The latter informed Batman, who managed to stop the assassins, learning the existence of the League. Following this failure, Ra's took the leadership of the group again, trying to kill the Dark Knight.
After the Infinite Crisis, the League has been split in two. One faction being lead by Cassandra Cain and the second being lead by Talia al Ghul after the death of her sister. Ra's al Ghul has recently returned from the dead and has taken control of the League back from his daughter and is currently fighting with the Sensei for control of the League of Assassins.
The League was revealed as a family business after Ra's al Ghul died. His daughters Talia and Nyssa inherited control, but a schism saw one faction trying to resurrect their master: seeking to implant Ra's' spirit in Talia and Batman's son Damian. Another group pledged allegiance to the Sensei; the assassin-teacher who had coordinated the global murder enterprise for centuries. Revealed as Ra's' father, he ruthlessly cemented his control in a campaign the Dark Knight only barely thwarted.
The al Ghul Family[]
The al Ghul family is one of the most notorious and powerful families in the DC Comics universe, primarily associated with the villain Ra's al Ghul. Here is a summary of the most important members of the family:
Ra's al Ghul[]
- Ra's al Ghul (which means "Head of the Demon" in Arabic) is the leader of the League of Assassins, a secret organization dedicated to "saving" the world through often lethal and extremist methods. He is immortal thanks to the use of the Lazarus Pits, which have the ability to heal wounds and resurrect the dead. Ra's is one of Batman's most formidable adversaries, both in terms of intellect and combat skills.
Talia al Ghul[]
- Talia al Ghul is the daughter of Ra's al Ghul and, like her father, is a highly trained combatant and brilliant strategist. She has a complex relationship with Batman, sometimes being an ally and other times an adversary. Talia is also the mother of Damian Wayne, the result of her relationship with Bruce Wayne (Batman).
Athanasia al Ghul[]
- Athanasia al Ghul is the daughter of Bruce Wayne (Batman) and Talia al Ghul, and the older sister of Damian Wayne. She first appeared in the Injustice: Gods Among Us series, set in an alternate universe, and was later introduced in the main DC Comics universe. Athanasia is a highly trained combatant and has a complex relationship with her parents and brother.
Saif al Ghul[]
- Saif al Ghul is the son of Bruce Wayne and Talia al Ghul from the alternate reality known as "Earth-32" or "Earth al Ghul." Saif carries the legacy of both his parents, possessing a mix of his father's detective skills and his mother's combat training and strategic prowess. He operates within the darker and more ruthless environment of the Dark Multiverse.
Taj al Ghul[]
- Taj al Ghul is another son of Bruce Wayne and Talia al Ghul from the alternate reality of "Earth-32" or "Earth al Ghul." Taj, like his siblings, combines the best attributes of his parents and works alongside them in their dark and ruthless endeavors.
Janan al Ghul[]
- Janan al Ghul is the daughter of Bruce Wayne and Talia al Ghul from the alternate reality of "Earth-32" or "Earth al Ghul." Janan, along with her brothers Saif and Taj, is highly trained and continues the legacy of her family's dark and complex history.
Tallant Wayne[]
- Tallant Wayne (born Tallant al Ghul) is the son of Bruce Wayne (Batman) and Talia al Ghul in the "Brotherhood of the Bat" storyline, an Elseworlds tale. In this alternate future, he becomes a new Batman and leads a team of vigilantes against the forces of Ra's al Ghul. Tallant combines the detective skills and combat prowess of his father with the training and strategic acumen of his mother.
Damian Wayne[]
- Damian Wayne (born Damian al Ghul) is the son of Bruce Wayne (Batman) and Talia al Ghul. Raised initially by the League of Assassins, he has impressive combat skills from a young age. Damian eventually becomes the newest Robin, fighting alongside his father as part of the Batman family.
Nyssa al Ghul[]
- Nyssa al Ghul or Nyssa Raatko, is one of Ra's al Ghul's daughters and Talia's half-sister. She has a complicated relationship with her father and, in some stories, rebels against him. Nyssa is a skilled combatant and, in some versions of the story, also seeks control of the League of Assassins.
Dusan al Ghul[]
- Dusan al Ghul (White Ghost) is the albino son of Ra's al Ghul. He was rejected by his father due to his condition, as Ra's considered Dusan unworthy to be his heir. Despite this, Dusan remained loyal to his father and the League of Assassins, trying to earn his approval and prove his worth.
Mara al Ghul[]
- Mara al Ghul is the daughter of Dusan al Ghul and the cousin of Damian Wayne, making her a member of the Al Ghul family through her father. As a member of this powerful and complex lineage, Mara carries the legacy and skills of her family's dark heritage. Her story often involves navigating the intricacies of her family's expectations and her own personal ambitions, reflecting the ongoing themes of power and legacy that define the Al Ghul clan.
Arkady Duvall[]
- Arkady Duvall is another son of Ra's al Ghul, first appearing in Batman: The Animated Series and later introduced in the comics. Arkady is a nobleman who became involved in his father's operations and, like other members of the family, possesses formidable combat skills.
Ali al Ghul[]
- Ali al Ghul is the son of Ra's al Ghul from Earth 11. In this alternate universe, Ali is the father of Talia Kane, who takes on the mantle of Robin. Ali al Ghul continues the legacy of his father in his own way, adding yet another layer to the complex history of the Al Ghul family.
The Help[]
- The Help is a character from the Batman universe who is depicted as one of Ra's al Ghul's sons. Unlike some of his more prominent siblings, The Help does not always have a central role in the comics, but his inclusion adds to the complex family dynamics and the legacy of Ra's al Ghul's lineage.
The Heretic[]
- The Heretic is a clone of Damian Wayne, created by Talia al Ghul. He was artificially aged to adulthood and possesses the skills and physical prowess of Damian, but with a ruthless and obedient nature, designed to serve Talia's purposes without question. The Heretic played a significant role in the "Batman Incorporated" storyline, where he confronts Batman and the rest of the Bat-family.
Members[]
- Ra's al Ghul, founder and Leader
- Ubu, second-in-command
- Talia al Ghul, heir to the organization
- Ali al Ghul (Earth 11)
- Nyssa al Ghul
- Arkady Duvall (DCAU)
- Dusan al Ghul
- The Help (Formerly)
- Athanasia al Ghul (Injustice)
- The Heretic
- Tallant Wayne (Batman: Brotherhood of the Bat; Formerly)
- Saif al Ghul (Earth al Ghul)
- Taj al Ghul (Earth al Ghul)
- Janan al Ghul (Earth al Ghul)
- Damian Wayne (Formerly)
- Bane
- Sensei
- Kyle Abbott
- Professor Ojo
- Ebeneezer Darrk
- Damien Darhk (Arrowverse)
- The Hook
- David Cain
- The Mad Dog
- Alpha
- Onyx
- Merlyn the Archer
- Silver Monkey
- Cypher
- Cheshire (Catwoman: Hunted)
- Nosferata (Catwoman: Hunted)
- Solomon Grundy (Catwoman: Hunted)
- Deathstroke (briefly)
Other Media[]
The Dark Knight Trilogy[]
- Main article: League of Shadows (Nolanverse)
In Christopher Nolan's trilogy, the League of Assassins is called the League of Shadows. Led by Ra's al Ghul, they are the main antagonistic faction of Batman Begins and The Dark Knight Rises.
Arkhamverse[]
In the videogame Batman: Arkham City, the League of Assassins is one of the main antagonistic factions, once again led by Ra's al Ghul. In Batman: Arkham Knight, Ra's al Ghul comes back to life in a weakened state. While the loyalists work to save his life, the group is thrown into turmoil by a rebellion from within, with these insurgents being lead by Nyssa Raatko.
Arrowverse[]
- Main article: League of Assassins (Arrowverse)
In the Arrowverse, the League of Assassins appear as the main antagonistic faction of Arrow's third season.
Catwoman: Hunted[]
In the 2022 animated movie Catwoman: Hunted, the League of Shadows are the overarching antagonists. Here, they are led by Talia al Ghul.
Relationships[]
Allies[]
Enemies[]
- Batman
- Catwoman
- Richard Dragon
- Green Arrow
- GCPD
- Nightwing
- Batgirl
- Robin
- Birds of Prey
- Justice League
- Suicide Squad
Gallery[]
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Amazo | Anti-Monitor | The Batman Who Laughs | Bizarro | Catman | Catwoman | Clayface | Clock King | Cluemaster | Deathstroke | Doctor Dome | Doctor Psycho | Dollmaker | Hugo Strange | Icicle | Killer Croc | Kite Man | League of Assassins | Lex Luthor | Lobo | Mad Hatter | Man-Bat | Parasite | Per Degaton | Poison Ivy | Prankster | Queen Bee | Ra's al Ghul | Riddler | Simon Stagg | Solomon Grundy | Sportsmaster | Talia al Ghul | Toyman | Two-Face | ||
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Alexander Luthor | Amanda Waller | Amazo | Atomic Skull | Black Adam | Black Manta | Black Lantern Corps | Bronze Tiger | Calculator | Carol Ferris | Catman | Cheetah | Cheshire | Count Vertigo | Deadshot | Deathstroke | Doctor Light | Doctor Polaris | Doctor Psycho | Doomsday | Felix Faust | Firefly | Gentleman Ghost | Giganta | Gorilla Grodd | Harley Quinn | Hector Hammond | Ibac | Junior | Killer Croc | Killer Frost | Killer Moth | King Shark | Lady Vic | League of Assassins | Lex Luthor | Mad Hatter | Mammoth | Mister Terrible | Monsieur Mallah | Mr. Freeze | Multiplex | Parasite | Penguin | Prometheus | Royal Flush Gang | Scarecrow | Secret Society | Shadow-Thief | Shrapnel | Sinestro | Solomon Grundy | Star Sapphire | Suicide Squad | Talia al Ghul | Toyman | Vandal Savage | Warp | Weather Wizard | ||
