The League of Assassins are a sect of highly trained warriors that act as bodyguards/mercenaries for the Brotherhood of the Demon criminal empire. They have sworn eternal loyalty to the man who calls himself Ra's al Ghul, the Head of the Demon.
History
Origins
The League of Assassins was founded by Ra's al Ghul (exactly when is unknown) to be the "Fang that protects the Head."[1] Members of the League demonstrated a willingness to die at a word from Ra's. They have included some of the most dangerous assassins in the world including Lady Shiva, David Cain, and master archer Merlyn. For much of its current history, any member to fail in an assassination was in turn targeted by the League (and indeed, one of its best-known members, the master-archer Merlyn was eventually forced to flee from the League, fearing for his life, having failed to assassinate Batman). In more recent years this policy has apparently relaxed somewhat.
Doctor Ebeneezer Darrk
Ebeneezer Darrk, aka Doctor Darrk, was the first known individual assigned to head the League of Assassins by Ra's al Ghul. Darrk himself was seconded by the Sensei, a martial arts master from Hong Kong. Although many of the League's leaders over the years have been accomplished martial artists, Daark himself did not depend on physical prowess, and as an assassin, he instead relied upon careful planning and manipulation, ambushes and death traps, as well as a variety of cleverly concealed weapons and poisons. Although the League apparently had an inner circle of elite fighters as well as a large number of warriors trained in the martial arts, the League during Daark's tenure as leader reflected his personal methodology. Following a "falling out" with Ra's (the exact details of which were never made clear) Darrk kidnapped Ra's daughter, Talia. Batman became involved in this matter while attempting to bring the League to justice for a number of recent killings. Although he had connected the League to several assassinations over the years, all previous attempts to investigate had met dead-ends. Batman rescued Talia (the first time the two would meet, laying the foundation for all their future interaction) and Darrk died while trying to kill them.
The Sensei
Under the direction of the organization's second known leader, the villainous Sensei, the League became more brutal and rebelled against Ra's' rule. Although The Sensei's methods closely resembled Darrk's, and the majority of the League's operatives showed little to no real skill in personal combat, The Sensei did show slightly more reliance on skilled martial artists. This version of the League is best known for two assassinations. As part of an initiation process, the operative known as the Hook was assigned to murder Boston Brand (who became Deadman after his death). Additionally, Professor Ojo successfully brainwashed Ben Turner (best friend and partner of Richard Dragon), creating an alternate personality dubbed The Bronze Tiger, and turning the master martial artist into a League operative. As The Bronze Tiger, Turner defeated Batman in personal combat while another League operative murdered Kathy Kane (the secret identity of Batwoman in pre-Crisis continuity, and a close personal friend of Batman's post-crisis). Eventually, Turner's training at the hands of the O-Sensei proved too strong for the League to fully break, and when he refused to kill Batman he was forced to flee the League. Not long afterward, the insane Sensei - no longer motivated by anything but a desire to raise assassination to an art - attempted to cause an artificial earthquake in order to kill a number of diplomats gathered for peace talks. Batman traced Ben Turner to a hospital, foiling a League attempt to assassinate the man. Turner could not fully remember the actions of his alternate personality (although years later, as a member of the Suicide Squad, he would reveal that the League had used him to kill a number of people) but he was able to aid Batman in uncovering The Sensei's latest plot. Although Batman was unable to prevent the earthquake, ultimately it was only The Sensei himself that died in the disaster, and control of the League returned to Ra's.
Role in the creation of Lady Shiva
It was more recently revealed that, prior to the betrayals of Doctor Daark and the Sensei, Ra's had grown tired of the fickle loyalties of his warriors. Ra's assigned David Cain to create a perfect bodyguard ("The One Who Is All"). After early attempts to raise such a person resulted in hopelessly psychotic children, Cain decided that he needed a genetically suited child and began searching for a possible mother. To this end he assassinated Carolyn Woosan/Wu-San, one of two astonishingly talented martial artist sisters he had seen fighting in an exhibition. Carolyn's sister, Sandra, swore revenge and tracked Cain down, only to be subdued by the combined might of the League. Both intoxicated and frightened by the levels of skill she was attaining now that she was no longer holding back for her sister's sake, Sandra agreed to be the mother of Cain's child. In return, the League spared Sandra's life and assisted her in further training. By the time Sandra gave birth she had surpassed the entire League in skill. She left immediately following the birth of her daughter, Cassandra Cain, rechristening herself Lady Shiva.
Other stories would suggest that at some points afterward, Shiva worked as a member of the League, and eyewitness testimony from former League member Onyx indicates that she kept in contact with the League, although she apparently did not see her daughter. Although most of her appearances over the years show her working independently, she apparently had some degree of League membership and was called upon by Ra's to "rescue" Talia during the Hush storyline.
In keeping with Ra's and Cain's plans, the League attempted to train Cassandra Cain from birth to be the ultimate assassin, unknowingly giving her the skills she would use as the hero Batgirl.
Nyssa Raatko
After the death of Ra's, his firstborn daughter Nyssa Raatko formed a new League. Lady Shiva was recruited to serve as Sensei to this incarnation of the League, with the intent that Batgirl (Cassandra Cain) would lead the warriors themselves.
Reflecting Shiva's emphasis for martial arts, the known members of Nyssa's League were all skilled in this area, and included the warriors Shrike, Kitty Kumbata, Wam-Wam, Joey N'Bobo, Tigris, Momotado, Krunk, White Willow, the twin warriors Los Gemelos, Ox, "The Mad Dog", Alpha, and Cristos. The new League was present when Mr. Freeze's wife Nora Fries was brought back to life as the monstrous Lazara, and several members died in the resulting chaos.
Due to the conflict between their loyalty to Shiva and Nyssa and their near-worship of Batgirl as "The One Who is All", the League split at that point, with Ox, White Willow, and Tigris pledging themselves to Cassandra. Several more members of the League (including all the defectors except Tigris) died when the insane "Mad Dog" went on a killing spree. "The Mad Dog", it was revealed, had been one of David Cain's early attempts to create Ra's' perfect warrior. The Mad Dog had been considered useless as a child since Cain's methods had driven him murderously insane, and Ra's had ordered the child be killed. Nyssa, however, knew that the servant ordered to carry out this execution had instead released him into the wild, explaining how it was possible to recruit him. The Mad Dog was successful in killing Batgirl (who gave her life to protect the burqa-clad assassin Tigris). She was quickly restored to life in a Lazarus Pit by Shiva, in order that the two could face each other in a final battle. Batgirl won leaving Shiva on a meat hook suspended over the Lazarus Pit.
Bane
While searching for the Swiss in Rome, Bane encounters Ra's al Ghul's daughter, Talia. She introduces Bane to her father, and eventually, Bane impresses Ra's so much that he chooses Bane as his heir (an "honor" he had previously imparted on Batman).
For a brief time, it seemed Bane would be Ra's Al Ghul's successor and lead the League of Assassins.
Ra's al Ghul and Bane then launch a plague attack on Gotham in the "Legacy" storyline. Bruce Wayne, again costumed as Batman, gets his rematch with Bane in Detective Comics #701 (September 1996) and finally defeats him in single combat. Since then, whenever Batman and Bane square off in battle, their fights usually end in a draw.
Several factions
Although most of its members had died or defected, the League survived the Infinite Crisis and was seen to play an important role in The Society's world-wide prisonbreak. Throughout the period of the aftermath, it remained under the control of Nyssa until she was apparently killed in a car explosion. Cassandra Cain has apparently taken over the League as its new leader, although she abandoned the league at some point prior to the Teen Titans storyline Titans East, where it is revealed that she was being drugged by Deathstroke.
Furthermore, it appears that Cassandra was battling for complete control of the League of Assassins with Ra's Al Ghul's youngest daughter Talia, as well as the Sensei. Talia who would naturally assume control of her father's empire by default following Nyssa's death has recently been seen in the Batman & Son storyline, leading ninja members of the League of Assassins, against Batman. At the same time, several members felt neither Talia nor Cassandra were up to the role, and, after failing to recruit Black Canary's adopted daughter Sin, gave the leadership to the Sensei, who recently reappeared in the Resurrection of Ra's Al Ghul storyline.
In the One Year Later event, Talia later forced Kirk Langstrom to give her the Man-Bat formula which she used to turn some of its members into Man-Bats.
In the series Green Arrow/Black Canary #11, a metahuman faction of the League of Assassins was introduced. They were involved in the abduction of an injured Connor Hawke. These groups members included Bear (a Mexican yeti-like man), Tolliver (a vampire), Ruck (a four-armed gunman), Spike (a female martial artist capable of creating energy blades), Mazone (a bearded Samurai), and their leader Targa (a telekinetic little person). However, although they thought they were being commanded by Ra's al Ghul, they were apparently duped by an imposter, Shado.
Deathstroke
It was later revealed that while Cassandra Cain was leading the League, she was really being drugged by Deathstroke the Terminator. In Batman and Robin #9 Deathstroke; Slade Wilson, reappeared, where it was revealed he has been doing freelance work for the League of Assassins. Working for Talia Al Ghul, Slade controlled the body and physical actions of the current Robin, Damian Wayne in order to kill Wilson's old foe, Dick Grayson, who had taken up the mantle of Batman. Deathstroke is able to control Damian's actions thanks to a neural-implant inserted into Damian's spine by his mother while it was being surgically replaced. Grayson defeats Deathstroke by taking advantage of the two-way connection between him and Damian by using a taser on Damian, the resulting electric shock overwhelming Deathstroke's enhanced senses. It was revealed Slade was doing freelance work for the League for quite some time, dating back to when he drugged Cassandra Cain.
Back in Business
Following the Resurrection of Ra's Al Ghul, the League has been reformed under Ra's Al Ghul. In the Red Robin title, Tim Drake infiltrated the League of Assassins and tried to bring it down from the inside. After a deal with Ra's Al Ghul to save Lucius Fox's daughter, Tam, Tim was assigned his own task force under the condition they would not kill. After an encounter with the Council of Spiders, Tim's entire task force was eliminated, save for Prudence, the one member who Tim was able to save. Indebted to Red Robin, Pru remained in the League as a mole for the Bat-Family, regularly conferring with Tim and acting as an informant.
In other media
The League of Assassins often appears in Batman and other DC Comics-based media. In many cases, it is referred to with alternatives with the most common being "League of Shadows", which was first used in the The Dark Knight trilogy.
Live-Action
The Dark Knight trilogy
The League, here renamed "The League of Shadows", appear in the Christopher Nolan films Batman Begins and The Dark Knight Rises. They are reimagined as an ancient order responsible for bringing down societies they deem corrupt, dating back to roughly the Roman period.
Snyder-Era DC Films
The "League of Assassins" logo from Justice League (actually this symbol from Halo 2)
An symbol sported on one of Deathstroke's swords was meant to be a League of Assassins insignia, indicating the assassin had been a member of the order. However, many sources have revealed this is actually a rune from the Halo video game series, which was first used on an unofficial Batman website.[2]
Arrowverse
The League serve as one of the major antagonists in the first four seasons of Arrow. The order matches the League of Shadow's portrayal in The Dark Knight trilogy, though with a lot of the mysticism retained. Ra's al Ghul (played by Matt Nable) also appears in the third season, serving as its main antagonist. Characters like Malcolm Merlyn and Sara Lance/The Canary are also established as members of the League. The League are disbanded by Nyssa al Ghul during the events of the fourth season, though they remain a huge prescience throughout the series. An earlier version of the League also appear in the Legends of Tomorrow episode "Left Behind".
Gotham
The League of Shadows appear as a major adversary faction in the fourth season of Gotham. The series depicts it as being directly responsible for the murders of Thomas and Martha Wayne, having manipulated various characters and factions such as Hugo Strange and the Court of Owls. Initially under Ra's al Ghul, they serve as one of the main antagonists of the series.
Animation
DC Animated Universe
- In Batman: The Animated Series, Ra's al Ghul led the Society of Shadows. It first appeared under the control of Vertigo, who filled a role similar to that of Ebeneezer Darrk. The Society appears as al Ghul's henchmen in "Off Balance", "The Demon's Quest: Part I" and "Part II", "Avatar", and "Showdown". The League also appear in the Superman: The Animated Series episode "The Demon Reborn".
- Interestingly, in the comic book Batman: The Gotham Adventures (based on Batman: The Animated Series), it was revealed that the League of Assassins existed as a separate entity from the Society of Shadows (although both groups served Ra's al Ghul). Much like their counterpart in the mainstream DC Universe, this version of the League of Assassins was responsible for the murder of Boston Brand, creating the ghostly hero Deadman. The Sensei, however, was loyal to Ra's in this continuity, and faced with either living out the last of his years in prison or defying Ra's wishes, he chose a third option: suicide.
- In the future of Batman Beyond, Terry McGinnis (the future Batman) confronts Curaré, the deadliest member of the Society of Assassins, now a guild of Ninja assassins for hire in the future. Terry and an elderly Bruce Wayne later battle against the League of Shadows when Ra's Al Ghul (who had taken over Talia's body) attempted to take Bruce's body. It's also known as the Society of Shadows.
Young Justice
- The League of Shadows also exists in the animated series Young Justice animated series as The League of Shadows.
Beware the Batman
The League of Assassins appear in Beware the Batman.
Video Games
- In Batman: Dark Tomorrow, the League of Assassins make a brief appearance defending the castle of Ra's al Ghul in the final levels of the game.
- In Batman Begins, the League of Shadows train Batman in the early levels of the game and confront him in the final two.
- In LEGO DC Super-Villains, the League of Shadows appear in the level "Nanda Parbat". Ra's al Ghul, Deathstroke and other notable members serve as playable characters, with regular members operating as goons for villain command.
- In Gotham Knights, the League of Shadows serve as one of the enemy factions of the game. The group are led by Talia after the demise of Ra's in a fight with Batman.
Batman: Arkham
The League make frequent appearances in the Batman: Arkham series, under the leadership of Ra's al Ghul. In Batman: Arkham City, the League of Assassins feature prominently in the game and are behind the events elevating Hugo Strange to the leadership of Arkham City. The only members ever shown in the game are Talia's personal guards. It is heavily implied in Batman: Arkham Origins that Shiva and her personal guards are members of the League of Assassins, sent to test Batman for Ra's al Ghul. The League also feature in the Season of Infamy DLC pack for Batman: Arkham Knight, where it splitters into two factions, one in service of a dying Ra's and the other being led by Nyssa Raatko.