Batman Defeats The Justice League! | JLA: Tower of Babel

Tower of Babel deals with Batman's perceived betrayal of the superhuman community by keeping and concealing hidden records concerning the strengths and weaknesses of his allies in the JLA, which include plans to neutralize his allies in a fight. His files are stolen by the criminal mastermind Ra's al Ghul, who uses them to defeat the League through a coordinated attack in order to prevent them from interfering with his latest scheme, the reduction of the global population. Never miss an episode by subscribing today! bit.ly/2WYvgkt #justiceleague
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[@comicpop]

Pick up JLA: Tower of Babel here: amzn.to/1N6A2X6

[@Spydirmonki]

I'm with Sal, the best part of JLA: Doom is that ending. Kevin Conroy delivers the unapologetic matter-of-fact speech to the League, then his response to Supes asking "Why no plan for yourself?". "I do have a plan. It's called The Justice League." So good.

[@brandontriplin5447]

No one else thinks that's funny because how arrogant bat man would have to be to think it would take the JL to stop him

[@panthor109thabest7]

@@brandontriplin5447 it would since they would still have morals. He would have no morals and their weaknessess

[@parkerboy795]

​@@panthor109thabest7In right scenario, it would take on them to beat him.

[@juanmoreno6591]

God damnit sal, Kyle's reason to vote for Batman to stay in the league is actually the better one, he's the only one who actually totally fine with Batman having the fail-safe plans, he's like "I'm just a dude who happened to got the most powerfull weapon in the universe, so yeah I'm glad someone has figured out a way to prevent it's missuse"

[@bruhernandez8607]

When you zoomed in on Ethan closing the comic, I couldn't stop laughing for 4 minutes.

[@BBmetalhead04]

Someone needs to make that into a gif.

[@rustydelacruz5367]

.rustydrla cruz

[@ScriptZac]

Superman H2O you say? Like some kind of... "Aqua" man...

[@dennisduffy21stcenturybeep25]

+ScriptZac I mean Shazam may as well be called electric Superman

[@ScriptZac]

Magic Superman is probably better. Electric Superman was an actual thing, lest we forget.

[@jacob_ian_decoursey_the_author]

As a kid I remember seeing that “Superman, I DID THIS TO YOU!” page with clear skinned superman, in a comics magazine (I think WIZARD?) and being so disturbed by it out of context.

[@tdtellem]

Infinite Crisis actually brought a retcon that says Batman figured out about his mind being wiped and it was the final straw that made him go forward with creating these contingency plans for the League.

[@tdtellem]

The story is in one of the collected editions of the Tower of Babel comic books I believe.

[@Juggy113]

Electric blue superman sound like the best mountain dew flavor ever.

[@steellegionaire]

I'm not gonna lie, Sal, when you said that language is under attack my immediate thoughts went straight to "Vocal Cord Parasites" and Skull Face's monologue about how English- and everyone who speaks it- deserves to die. I really need to cut down on my playtime with MGSV.

[@oatmat]

Justice League Doom isn't bad, like it's not great but its solid with some great moments. The way I look at it is that It's the first draft of Dwayne Mcduffie's last script, it needed more work but unfortunately he passed away before he got to finish it and I just have to add what a brilliant writer Dwayne Mcduffie was he created Static Shock, was a Producer and writer on Justice League and Unlimited and soo much more this guy was simply the best.

[@Spikex1]

I also like this story a lot, but it always irks me to see it misinterpreted so often, primarily by fans of Batman who use it as material to proclaim how much more awesome he is than the rest of the DCU, and how he can beat up anyone; Galactus, the Spectre, God, whatever. The animated movie adaptation leans in that direction. Putting aside the logistics of theoretical "Batman Vs. X" fights, the story is about Batman being a traitor who couldn't trust his teammates. The rest of the team even makes the point that they understand the need for having those plans, but couldn't Batman have at least let them know that the plans existed without getting into the details of them? Breaking the trust of the JLA had the ripple effect of distrust going through the Titans and Young Justice, and later issues of JLA after this story would have them falling apart even further directly because of Batman planting the idea that nobody on the team is above suspicion of ulterior motives, doing more harm to each of those teams than any supervillain has done. And it's only fixed by Superman getting Batman to see how badly he fucked up and convinces him to apologize. Tower of Babel is really only Part One in a series of stories by Mark Waid where the ongoing subplot is Batman learning how to trust, and hopefully earn back the trust of others.

[@AbdulazizAljanahi]

In Justice League Doom, a bomb was attached to the flash that would go off as soon as he moved slower than a certain speed, so he could not stop running. And superman was shot with a bullet laced with kryptonite that's just enough to penetrate his skin and keep fucking him up from the inside, but without killing him. Which I find is kinda cooler than perpetual seizure flash and red kryptonite

[@changvasejarik62]

Maybe but the doom version of Superman’s failsafe could have been foiled if Clark thought to use his X-ray vision on metallo. I’m more fine with Tower of Babel’s version.

[@JohnnyMalkav]

I kinda like the perpetual seizure bit, but agree that the reconned red K is pretty lame...

[@calebroberson5561]

Batman hung up the transmission with Oracle not because of guilt, but he realized that she no longer trusted him either

[@kyrosvlar]

10:50 to 11:00 I love this moment.

[@bradwatkins7564]

Yeah Batman in the 90's under Morrison was really when Batman being a mega asshole went into overdrive. The fact here is that Bats being indignant about this is complete bullshit. This was not about keeping people safe but Batman's need to control everything. If Batman was really this concerned about the League being coopted or their minds controlled, then why not invest that time and energy into creating defenses for such attacks for him and his teammates?

[@jonathanleiman7346]

Best Ethan zoom-in reaction yet

[@laramiewall]

First. A sincere thank you. I used to work at a comic shop, and now I'm an ICU nurse. The last three weeks have been very challenging, and a friend of mine keyed me in that I needed to listen to Back Issues, as it reminded him of he and I talking at the shop. This has been the comic relief on my commute I REALLY needed at a time I REALLY needed it. So, thanks. Second, to scramble both written and verbal language, you'd only have to upset Wernicke's area, it comprehends language through both. Not that I expect anyone to know that, but maybe you can get a question on pub quiz one night. Anyway, thanks. Laramie Wall

[@benbaragona]

+Laramie Wall glad to hear you're digging the content!

[@fbritannia]

I used to love this channel called Pretty Much It which talked about movies, but the channel is now kinda dead. Yet I discover this new amazing show which I'm enjoying a lot, I'm so happy to have a new favorite channel. I love your stuff guys. Great Vids!!!!!

[@comicpop]

+F Britannia Thank you!

[@interregnum_]

Call me a softie, but I think Talia instigating this on her own as a way to isolate Batman from the League's influences (and thus push him closer to her ideal version of him (and, of course, closer to her)) would have been the way to go. Ra's is good and all, but Talia's motives are always so much more personal.

[@senshaw6640]

yeah she dose love him in a strange way

[@TDWTB]

I feel that justice league: doom is slept on. Aside from getting the majority of the old cast back to do the voices some of the plans are a lot better. Superman‘s is way better simply because it plays to his humanity. Hal Jordan‘s contingency plan is also superior because just going blind is really not as debilitating as one might think. Even flash had a better plan rather than just seizing. The final act is the only bad part. Also this could just be me but I don’t think Batman ever really wanted to shatter plastic man. I think that was just an improvised moment by the Mook.

[@marnetteryes2613]

"You guys don't understand, you were taken out. I was frozen today! ...and then shattered"

[@Atem_in_the_streets]

I liked Justice League Doom...

[@illanalevi6091]

+The Stegman That's what I was thinking, they had a similar plot but it sounds like they did it better.

[@Atem_in_the_streets]

illana levi it was done better.

[@lewaproductions]

Booster Gold's actual name isn't Booster Gold, it's Michael Jon Carter.

[@krisj827]

This is when I started thinking that Batman is basically a supervillian who just chooses to do good. I get why he had contingency plans for all the JL members just in case they go bad but maybe let them know about it.

[@TheGgghhht]

Loved watching Ethan "NOPE" the fuck out of this book.

[@theterrorofdeath8907]

Please do the event comic dc one million

[@ptsteelers]

+daniel dulberg Seconded

[@mikevitti772]

+daniel dulberg Third.

[@TheWazzoGames]

fourthed

[@theterrorofdeath8907]

Thanks for the support

[@Thomas-zu1wq]

Fifthed

[@danejohnson9906]

I loved the part where Ben was talking about when they put Plastic man back together and the muwmwuhmuh😂 break him again

[@godzillasaurbuttersworth3176]

Wait Could people understand sign language, since it's not a written or spoken language? …I feel like we could have solved this problem easily.

[@godzillasaurbuttersworth3176]

See! These guys know what I'm talking about!

[@oranginator]

You guys are like a badass machine, I love you guys!

[@pop000690]

I think my main problem with both this comic and the animated movie is the league act surprised that Batman of all people had contingency plans on the league. You're correct it actually would've been better if it was another league member that had the plans and you could have a moment where Batman gets pissed over the fact someone else was doing something he would do.

[@parkerboy795]

Yeah because he was their teammate and he used that to study their weaknesses. No matter the reason, that's betrayal, especially since he didn't tell them about the plans. And yes, he could have told them while leaving out the details.

[@abanks917]

I agree with Sal, the artwork in this book was way too cartoonish and because of that I didn't enjoy it as much as I expected to.

[@mateuscordeiropereira6198]

When they zoom in ethan when sal says that language is under atack. So funny!

[@Sicod79]

One thing I don't remember hearing in the analysis is how this was the first post Morrison JLA storyline, so you know Waid had to be swinging for the fences trying to keep up.

[@Bobbybillybillbob]

Would love the concept of Batman not being trusted would cause a rift between the heroes and the bat family with trust. Nightingale, Robins, Oracle etc feel the repracautionz

[@unodestosdiaz2998]

"Lets make Superman out of water" They didn't, but the made one out of sand in New 52...

[@derekmarcucci871]

best reaction shot ever lol.

[@benbaragona]

+Derek Marcucci agreed! I cackled with laughter when I saw the final product

[@kevinkruger1686]

I like your channel more than rob, joel, and beny it's way better. p.s. do rock of ages

[@bigfest6498]

@27:38 yo Sal...that was a fuckin hilarious recap of what had happened. You are a great storyteller and I bet one hell of a dungeon master lmao. You guys are fucking comedic gold. Keep 'em comin'. Peace and love.

[@sammysamiam5219]

Justice by Alex Ross please

[@TheWazzoGames]

Another great Video from ComicPOP. Not a surprise at this point.

[@batfreeze56]

Do "Marvel Ruins" as a Back Issues

[@jordanrobertson1248]

Bro how did you get Hyde and Erik Foreman on your show !!!???

[@supermegapizzaguy808]

That 70s show is awesome!

[@tdtellem]

I could never kill Superman because he's my friend. I could kill Wonder Woman though. "Bros before hoes"

[@tjjordan4207]

I have three ideas that may help this story be a little better. 1: Name the title “The Crisis Within” 2: Take out the disrupt human language story plot 3: Have Jason Todd be the one who was behind it

[@gettingartsywithalobster1949]

3b And he did it because he felt like he was allowed to die because Bruce's attention was to divided so instead of Batman knowing the Bat family would be driven closer, Jason would be the one who knew of the consequences

[@moeman813]

It's cool that this video now has more views than the episode on comicstorian

[@charlietownsend2826]

37:41 | Batman "intending" for it to happen is because he knew what the votes would be. The thing is: Batman ultimately did not get kicked out of league. Superman was the tie breaker and he said "yes", voting in favor so Batman was allowed to stay. But when they go get him he’s already gone. Except as Superman guessed, Batman already knew that he would break the tie in his favor and that he would ultimately get to stay. So why did he leave ? That’s what Superman is trying to figure out and what leads him to seek out Oracle. And the answer seems to be that he left on purpose to sow distrust between the Bat-family and the rest of the superhero community. That’s the part that he supposedly did intentionally.

[@shauntempley9757]

I like the animated answer more, though the reasoning in the comics is spot on. In the animated show, Batman disappears, because the Phantom dies, and he is summoned to train the new Phantom while fighting the Sing Brotherhood. He is told while waiting for the vote, and does not tell anyone what he is doing. He goes for five years, where he is totally absent from both the Justice League and Gotham. He does this, because there is a prophecy about the Bat heralding the final victory of the Phantom over the Sing Brotherhood, as much as he promised the previous Phantom he would do it.

[@Ansaman1]

Ironically enough, Booster Gold's real name is Michael Jon Carter. He has three of the most generic names as a name.

[@willweber8338]

That's the joke.

[@willweber8338]

I think Mark Waid made this in response too how batman was becoming more paranoid and untrusting through the 90s.

[@MsTitovski]

I found your channel like, a week ago, and I've already seen most of back issues. Seriously, great videos guys! In regards to the animation, I think the plans in there are better than in the comics. The green lantern one and the flash are awesome!

[@comicpop]

+Marcello Orefice Thanks man!

[@juanmoreno6591]

+Marcello Orefice I didn't like the Flash's plan, and Superman's sucked, also Wonder Woman is portrayed as stupid

[@cbvn3]

+Marcello Orefice I like the ending better as well, instead of waiting to see how they vote, batman just says if you cant see the need for a contingency plan for the league then its not a team I want to be on and leaves.

[@MsTitovski]

Chainsaw Jack True, I forgot about that! And Superman giving him the kryptonite ring

[@Astralspirit716]

You guys are really the only channel that I consistently like.

[@nicholasbennett7699]

Sal please can you do Batman Endgame

[@jakemcintosh6385]

I really want to see Martian manhunter in his water suit trying to help aquaman before they fix him

[@juanmoreno6591]

+Jake McIntosh it's in there

[@dannydevito3152]

I check and boom it's there you guys are awesome, keep the awesome videos coming!!

[@chancegoss623]

You guys are gold, perfect to listen to while doing homework👍🏾.

[@RVAlien]

11:06 is my favorite part lmao. Another great video guys keep it up!

[@joechill7492]

when he closed the book..... LOL

[@slamrahovart9024]

I thought the animated film was a way better execution

[@r.babylon2885]

They touch on Tower of Babel in Batman: Endgame. Joker poisons the JLA with new toxin and sends them after Batman. He is forced to use his contingencies against them. One of these contingencies is a Hulk Buster.

[@Alphafy]

Sal will you ever do the under the red hood story

[@Htownblokhedz]

I'm from the future, he does it

[@fightingmedialounge519]

I would have it be jason todd. have a man coverd in shadow hack the bat computer. While throughout the story have the mystery character say things like " it's time the truth came out bruce"and when batman goes to the volcano he sees a giant robin symbol implying one of them is behind all of it.Finally in the red hood story have jason say he did this so the justice leauge wouldnt interfere in his plan.

[@tjjordan4207]

Actually, that would make sense. Jason Todd knows Batman and about any plans he may have. Plus, turning the Justice League against him would work in his revenge.

[@Venras1001]

Best part if they remade Tower of Babel post rebirth would be Bats reaction when Superman counters red kryptonite, it would go from "I made this brilliant countermeasure" to "wait what!" when he realises he wasn't the smartest person in the room.

[@CleaveTheDragon]

10:51 WHOA-HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO *WORDS THAT KILL*

[@kemtacular]

Hopefully no has commented this yet, but the hearing frequency plot was in Batman Beyond with Shriek.

[@Lol8922]

Tower of Babel? More like Tower of Babble!

[@ultimatepancakegeek2205]

you guys are awesome, subscribe

[@comicpop]

Thanks!

[@KmBandz]

I think it would be cool if the person who ended up taking Batman’s files was Jason Todd. This could’ve been like a part one to the under the red hood story. After Jason gets brought back by the lazerus pit he doesn’t go to hush instead he steals the files from Batman so that the justice league and maybe even the bat family lose trust in him. Then Jason comes to Gotham in under the red hood and would reveal that it was him who took the plans and wanted to ruin Batman’s reputation before going to Gotham and deal with him himself. Just a random thought I had, don’t really know if it’s a good idea but whatever.

[@FloorTankMain]

Could you guys please do Red Hood: The Lost Days? :))))))

[@senshaw6640]

no gives a fuck about redhood

[@caitlinbrewer4843]

It makes me wonder if Batman has plans to take down his own kids...

[@mitchellamar3286]

Caitlin Brewer probably

[@michaellabonte6390]

Caitlin Brewer idk.....ik he wouldn't have one on dick but probably Damian and Jason but I don't know about Tim I hope not

[@caitlinbrewer4843]

Michael LaBonte Dick is the person he trust above all others and his favorite kid so...

[@adamisajoker]

Booster Gold's name is Michael John Carter. Booster is his nickname.

[@TheGuy735]

MGSV Stole this story.

[@andrewwestfall65]

I think the reason why Green Lantern couldn't make things is for a similar reason as to why it is easier to lose balance and harder to walk in a straight line. You make constant adjustments to these things and if you can't see it's more difficult to do. If he were to practice at it and have some time to adjust then he would probably be able to do everything just fine.

[@fritschxf]

Next big dc crossover for 2018......Superman vs the waterboy!!! Epic-ness!!!

[@ApeSapiens]

I love the Ethan-closes-the-book-edit :D

[@Newarksfinest05]

3:55 Iron Man movie reference lol

[@iMikeTech811]

One of my all time favorite JL stories!

[@MrEamon8]

Booster Gold should have been the one who did it because he lost his seat on the Justice League

[@trevormerritt548]

Idk I think it would have angered a lot of the booster gold fans, and it wouldn't really make sense for his character.

[@Deadpoolio47]

I think the way batman took down the league was better in the animated movie.

[@juanmoreno6591]

+FrenchFri47 really? I personally think the movie plans are lamer, except the Green Lantern one, that was cool, but the one for superman sucks, and for flash it was so convoluted they needed to put Mirror Master in there to explain to him how it work instead of just let him try something and die

[@Deadpoolio47]

+Juan Moreno I've honestly forgotten super mans one but I liked the element of Flash having to keep running to stay alive.

[@juanmoreno6591]

FrenchFri47 Superman's was a kryptonite bullet, just like that, and yes I like that idea for Flash, but it was obvious they couldn't think of a clever way to do it so they took the plot for Speed, and again the fact that it had to be explained to him sucked, the reason I like tower of babel so much is because the plans not only hinged in their phisical weaknesses, but also on their emotional and psicological profile as well

[@Just_Some_Guy_with_a_Mustache]

*Sal's pitch where a hero who hates/distrusts Batman was the one who stole the plans:* "I don't trust Batman! You guys don't get it! Like, he's a lunatic, and he's gonna hurt us all! Plus, he knocked my dick in the dirt with one punch!"

[@GuyWithAnAmazingHat]

Another great episode, but... where's Tiffany's response to the Doctor Strange trailer?

[@Just_Some_Guy_with_a_Mustache]

I'm telling ya, she collapsed in on herself from the sheer force of her excitement.

[@williamgazca963]

+Just Some Guy with a Mustache u sir would get my vote if comic pop ever had a "bring on a fan as a guest segment" but if u don't really have a mustache, I will not know what to believe in anymore.

[@Just_Some_Guy_with_a_Mustache]

William Gazca You give me too much credit, kind sir.

[@Ylatch]

The weird language thing reminds me of a movie called Pontypool. There's a weird verbally communicated plague that triggers when people use a certain type of word, and it makes the "infected" babble constantly and eventually go mad.

[@williamgazca963]

I thought that movie was the shit!

[@zachhaynes6924]

Wow, something I have read before that doesn’t happen very often. What is next Enemy of the State, War of Kings or maybe Booster Gold: Blue and Gold. I want to get a streak going.

[@noahjohnson5603]

10:51-11:00 is probably the best part of this whole video.

[@dt6119]

26:00-26:20 I couldn't stop laughing

[@0zTheAlchemist]

@ComicPop Are you guys ever going to do Under the Redhood?

[@Gundam_JAY]

What I'd it was prometheus?

[@desi_no_aka]

Sal predicted rebirth superman bringing up the Tower of Babel to the league

[@Legozachk]

There is an animated movie based on this book called Justice League: Doom; that story is done far better and has Vandal Savage as the main villain. Please look into it!

[@comicpop]

+Legozachk Thanks! We talk about it in the episode, actually.

[@JohnGhost]

Pink Kryptonite makes Superman go gay

[@Grievousish]

I had an interesting idea. What if the sonic emitter thing also scrambled the language of thought on top of speaking and hearing and seeing? If people couldn't form a thought in their own heads then that could easily lead to chaos.

[@JoshMunroe]

If there's ever another DC/Marvel crossover, I just want it to be Batman just going to every character he can and trying to figure out their weaknesses. Bonus points if he dresses up as Matches Malone. "So you say that you're not a fan of enclosed spaces, Ms. Munroe? Got it... oh, what's this? Just a notebook I have for... notes. About what? About... my... dreams? It's a dream journal."

[@Bobbybillybillbob]

I love the animated film based on this comic, however I'm always a ducked for Aquaman and Plastic Man. Would have loved ol Plas' in that film!

[@cacanchik]

I feel like a complete dork but I have to say it: Booster Gold's name is Michael. Great episode as always

[@ryanmiller6103]

Justice league doom good though

[@123rtXd]

An ass kicking... a PL-ASS-TIC kicking. No? No? I'll go home.

[@dru-is-here2599]

I have been waiting for this one! An awesome story to do for your 111th episode. I love this book and I love this channel.

[@DomovoiJr]

Wild to watch this now and hear him at the end talking about Rebirth coming up. Didn’t realize it’s already been so long since that started.

[@mttylerdurden9]

the whole babel thing sounds exactly what shriek did in bat man beyond, titled of course"Babel"

[@KensieMGS]

hey I requested this a couple of times thanks comic pop this was really funny. Does anyone thing the authority is an example of the Justice league if the 90s go ahold of them?

[@luisgomez8635]

Tower of Babel is awesome, but tbh, I think the animated version was better.

[@blew2864]

This is great because you can just listen to it or watch it and it's still amazing.

[@kinneary]

Thank you for the amazing videos. You four are incredibly fun to watch breaking down comics!