The Elite is a team of super-powered anti-heroes that first appeared in the story "What's So Funny About Truth, Justice & the American Way?" published in Action Comics #775 (March 2001). The story was written by Joe Kelly, pencilled by Doug Mahnke and Lee Bermejo, and inked by Tom Nguyen. The tale contrasted the non-killing heroism of Superman with the grim-and-gritty violence of The Elite.