Johns described Graves as inverting the "hero's journey" narrative device, illustrating how a villain would go through a twisted version of it and become a major threat for the Justice League.

During the very first adventure of the Justice League, David, his wife Jennifer, and his two children, Jason and Emma, were attacked by Darkseid's forces.

Accepting what he believed to be his fate, and covering his children's eyes for their inevitable death, Graves and his family are saved by the superheroes that would eventually become the Justice League.

[4][5] Later, he writes in his journal the best way to destroy the Justice League would be through their public liaison Steve Trevor, whom he mails a copy of his book.

[6] Graves interrogates Key, Weapons Master, Scarecrow, Cheetah, Captain Cold and The Scavenger to discover the league heroes weakness.