The world of Stargirl is home to one of the greatest superhero teams, known as the "Justice Society Of America." This group of remarkable people have achieved some truly heroic deeds, as they help to keep the universe safe from various nefarious beings. Their bravery has benefitted the lives of many individuals, who may otherwise have fallen foul of this world's greatest villains.
Alongside their many noble achievements, the JSA have also committed some truly terrible acts. This superhero team have shown a dark side to their vigilantism on a few occasions, where they have been forced to make some morally dubious decisions. The JSA is not as innocent as they appear, and can sometimes prove to be as bad as the villains they choose to fight.
Attacking Matt Harris
Throughout Stargirl, Rick Tyler - who goes by the name Hourman - is shown to be an especially hot-tempered individual. The troubled teen is seen finding solace regarding his issues with his new friend Solomon Grundy, who was responsible for the deaths of his parents many years before. It's not long before his fury is unleashed once again when Rick viciously beats up his uncle Matt Harris.
Whilst Rick acts under the influence of Eclipso, who manipulates him into believing he is attacking Solomon for killing a young girl, it still shows a surprising lack of constraint from a JSA member. Rick's inability to control his anger leaves his uncle seriously injured in hospital, which could have been avoided had he taken less violent means. As a citizen innocent of criminal wrongdoing, Matt deserved better.
Excluding Mike Dugan
Son of Starman's sidekick Stripesy, Mike Dugan was criminally underused in Stargirl season 1. In both seasons, he is unfairly overlooked by Courtney and her fellow JSA members. Mike is left feeling excluded from the group, and despite him airing his frustrations on many an occasion, the group largely fails to act on his concerns.
Mike's exclusion from the JSA makes little sense, as he is partly responsible for the defeats of both Iceman and Eclipso, and also succeeds in locating Thunderbolt's new master. Even upon securing superpowers himself, the JSA order Mike to stay behind, which results in the child feeling frustrated. Whilst Pat allowing Mike to pilot his robot suggests the boy could be included in more JSA activities going forward, just how much they involve Mike in the future still remains to be seen.
Letting Tigress And Sportsmaster Stay Out Of Jail
Tigress and Sportsmaster - real names Paula Brooks and Larry Crock - are a prominent threat throughout season 1, with their criminal actions seeing the pair thrown in jail. In season 2, however, JSA member Pat Dugan makes a rather questionable decision, as he lets the pair temporarily remain out of prison after they escape, to watch their daughter's American Football tryouts.
Whilst Pat does return them to prison following the tryouts, his move still potentially places his loved ones in danger. Tigress has attempted to murder Barbara on a past occasion, and the pair's first move upon their prison escape is to hold Mike hostage. By allowing these crooks temporary freedom, Pat potentially offers them the means to attack his family, making this an especially dastardly arrangement.
Murdering Brainwave
Considered the character most likely to survive a horror movie, Yolanda Montez has had a rough time as a member of the JSA. Assuming the alias "Wildcat," this athletic teen has undertaken various morally dubious tasks under the JSA's name, but her most controversial is murdering Brainwave in the first season's finale.
Yolanda's heinous behavior throws into question the superhero ensemble's principles. Although Brainwave's plans are abhorrent, Yolanda's killing is unprovoked. The teen makes the decision to slash the villain's throat, demonstrating a clear lack of constraint. Brainwave may be a truly despicable individual, but by murdering the devious mastermind, Yolanda commits one of the JSA's worst acts.
Disrespecting Pat
Pat has been a key member of the JSA throughout its history, as he assists the team with their superhero antics. Despite his lack of superpowers, the mechanic is often willing to help in any way he can. His loyalty is rarely rewarded, however, as he is treated with a severe lack of respect by his fellow teammates.
Pat not only acts as a chaperone for the original JSA, driving the team to wherever they are needed, but in later years he also provides valuable crime-fighting assistance with his robot STRIPE. In spite of this, however, he is frequently ignored by his supposed friends, who fail to take his views on the group's more shady actions into account. Pat is cruelly overlooked by the JSA, as they abuse the mechanic's good nature.
Setting Eclipso Free
In season 2, the JSA face their biggest threat yet. The group is tasked with stopping Eclipso, who is causing Blue Valley's residents to experience nightmarish visions. However, instead of improving the situation, the JSA ends up making matters worse, as Courtney's attempt to destroy the black diamond results in Eclipso being set free from the gem.
Stargirl's move is somewhat ill-conceived, as it causes a considerable amount of devastation for Blue Valley. The JSA member's mistake causes her schoolmates to vanish into the Shadowland, and the town to fall under a lunar eclipse. With Eclipso given full reign to terrorize this quiet American neighborhood, Stargirl's actions are one of the JSA's worst.
Attacking An Innocent Schoolmate
As Stargirl, Courtney Whitmore is one of the JSA's greatest heroes. This hasn't stopped her from making some truly questionable decisions, however. A particularly ill-judged moment from the optimistic young teen comes in "Summer School Chapter Four," when she impulsively attacks one of Stargirl's bravest characters, Artemis Crock.
Courtney's assault occurs before Artemis joins the Injustice Society of America, and is totally unprovoked. Artemis's greatest crime here is attempting to return a hockey stick to her friend, which Stargirl mistakes for the school sports star trying to beat her with the stick. This appalling behavior is made worse by the fact that Artemis is clearly struggling with her parents' arrests, with Courtney's unjustified abuse only adding to the teenager's struggles.
Killing Bruce Gordon
The JSA's early encounter with Eclipso is also one of their most controversial. Years before Courtney and her friends formed their own Justice Society of America, the original JSA are forced to make an especially abhorrent choice. The team vote to end the life of Bruce Gordon after he becomes the human host of Eclipso.
The JSA's callous murder displays a morally corrupt viewpoint from the superhero ensemble. Instead of pursuing an alternate means of defeating Eclypso, the supposed heroes act dismissive of Pat's plea to find another solution. The result is the demise of an innocent man, and the breaking of the JSA's "No Killing" code, creating one of the JSA's most despicable deeds.
Breaking Into The Whitmores' House
The Green Lantern has provided some of the 2010s' best comic issues, and his daughter Jennie is just as impressive. This new Green Lantern proves a worthy ally for Stargirl and her friends, but her introduction to the star-spangled teen provides a somewhat questionable moment. "Summer School Chapter One" sees Jennie break into the Whitmores' household to locate the Green Lantern's power battery.
Not only does her criminal behavior cause a high degree of damage to the Whitmores' property, but she also prompts Courtney to place her own health on the line by fighting Jennie, who is considerably overpowered. Jennie places Courtney and her family under much stress with her destructive ways, which could have been avoided had she used more peaceful means to obtain the battery.
Forcing Matt To Drop Charges
As the uncle to the latest Hourman, Matt Harris acts as Rick Tyler's legal guardian. He is also the subject of a particularly cruel act from a member of the JSA. After landing in hospital following Rick's brutal attack, Matt is confronted by Pat, who lowers the blinds in the private hospital ward and proceeds to threaten him.
Whilst Matt had not been the best of parental figures to Rick, his harsh attitude towards his nephew does not justify Pat's actions. Pat torments this man who has been left with these horrific injuries, as he cruelly intimidates Matt into dropping charges. As a result, Rick faces little punishment for his horrific assault, making this one of the JSA's most dreadful decisions.