Superman
Batman
Wonder Woman
Other
I think officially, almost everyone has been the leader of the League (or *a* League) at one point or another. Arthur, Dinah, pretty much everyone except Hal.
And I don't think it actually makes much difference; these guys, especially the Big 7, tend to just....work together, without much thought about who has authority in the group.
Regarding the Superman question. There's no doubt that he's the League's compass and figurehead. And at the end of the day, the League usually goes where Clark wants. He's the Alpha, the guy everyone trusts to do the right thing and see everybody home. But he's also the guy in the thick of it. He's the guy tanking the cosmic gods and pushing planets out of orbit. He doesn't have the time to give orders in the field. That usually comes down to Bruce or Diana, though everyone gets their moment to shine and the area of expertise where the rest defer to them.
"We all know the truth: more connects us than separates us. But in times of crisis the wise build bridges, while the foolish build barriers. We must find a way to look after one another, as if we were one single tribe."
~ Black Panther.
This is probably the most accurate assessment that I've seen. Looking across all its history, the League has just never had a generally accepted center of authoritative gravity the way that The Avengers do in Captain America. There were some attempts to retrofit that role onto a few characters (most notably, Martian Manhunter), but they always felt a bit hollow. If you go back to the pre-Johns depictions, the same is true of the JSA; Hawkman was the official chairman for most of its existence, but not necessarily its dominating presence.
I'd like to see John Stewart have a stint as leader, also Black Lightning. Make some cool arcs out of it.
I think Superman is the strongest so he is the leader, but sometimes Batman, Wonder women, Martian and others take over but the original leader of Justice League is SUPERMAN
Superman's the boss but Wonder Woman is the CO.
“To the future or to the past. To a time when thought is free, when men are different from one another and do not live alone - to a time when truth exists and what is done cannot be undone: from the age of uniformity, from the age of solitude, from the age of Big Brother, from the age of doublethink - greetings!" - Winston Smith
Exactly, what it means the leader? The one who inspires? The one who command? The one who make the plans?
The league seems like an anarchy dream: an organization which works in optimal conditons without the need of a specific leadership. The seven core members are mostly equivalent alpha personalities, even if they are represent in different aspects. Each one is equally a potential leader, but in distinctive roles not overlaped. They cooperate and incase of need the give command to one of them.
But a leader is not just the one who command, that is the boss. Neither is the one who make the plans, that is the strategist. The leader is the one who inspire you to do your best and not just to do your tasks. You can be a good boss but that doesn't make it a good leader. (Sorry. Leadership conference still in my head)
I would say than Superman is the leader de facto of the league, a leader however very willing to give command to the expert on the field according to the situation the league could face. Wonder Woman is the most close to the leadership and I could dare to say she is a better fighter and diplomat. Batman is a good boss and strategist but hardly someone who uses fear as weapon and think ways to defeat you could inspire trust. Aquaman is at the same level of command as Wonder Woman. But both Aquaman and Batman are not the most social people.
In the case of Green Lantern (Jordan) and Flash (Allen), even if they have demonstrated leadership qualities in their books, they also belong to institutions (police and military) where following the chain of command is a requirement. In the context of the league, they are more inclined to follow than lead.
Martian Manhunter, being the solitaire member is a paradox for me. He is more like the Gandalf of the league: the wiseman who everyone ears and likes, and the one who gives the best advice, but you still know than Aragorn is the King.
"Never assign to malice what is adequately explained by stupidity or ignorance."
"Great stories will always return to their original forms"
"Nobody is more dangerous than he who imagines himself pure in heart; for his purity, by definition, is unassailable." James Baldwin
An anarchists dream... funded by a billionaire capitalist.
“To the future or to the past. To a time when thought is free, when men are different from one another and do not live alone - to a time when truth exists and what is done cannot be undone: from the age of uniformity, from the age of solitude, from the age of Big Brother, from the age of doublethink - greetings!" - Winston Smith
I feel like Superman is that guy when he shows up he stops everything just by his presence he attracts attention just by being in an area. I get that sense as the reader. He might not be the leader but he’s definitely the face of the League of DC as well given off Doomsday Clock too.
Someone said this already but the League table is round and they discuss any decisions needing making as a team usually of the founders. So there’s no default leader when it comes to doing anything that might have league influence.
In regards to in a battlefield or crisis situation typically could be Batman or anyone who takes command of the situation.
I'd say Clark as the overall leader due to his status as an icon and role model. Field leader would likely be Bruce most of the time, though Arthur and Diana are probably as capable. Bruce is definitely the tactics person.
Supes, I mean, Yes Batman is the one made stragegies and plans but the leader not just a team brain, He should also be an icon, Bruce is good at make brainwork but Superman is a figure that everyone will willingly follow.
"Dangerous Zombie! Transform!! Click And Load! Buggle UP! Danger! Danger! Death The Crisis! Dangerous Zombie!" Kamen Rider Gemn
(In first he's mysterious and evil and now he's psycho and crazy and insane and evil AND "The Meme Lord"LOL.)
Superman is most certainly not the leader, he is just the face and icon of the Justice League. And as much as i have sometimes a problem with it, Batman is the one who comes closest to the title leader of the Justice League during the years.