Tower of Babel (Video Essay)

It's that time of Year again. Halloween. So time for a Batman comic essay. This year we are looking at the Tower of Babel. A story that is often misremembered as a triumph for Batman. Far from it.
Music:
Intro and Conclusion: Gregorian Chant • ✝️ Christian Music (No...
Culling Humanity: Ave Maria • [No Copyright Music] C...
God or Godkiller: The Batman Theme • The Batman | Michael G...
A Man and his Mistakes: Dark Choir • Dark Choir Music | (Do...

[@SalazarKnight]

DC just wanted a reason to take Batman off the JLA title at the time, so they came up with a very contrived story that doubles down on the ideas first established by Miller's version of Batman and takes them to the extreme. The plan worked, but the popularity of the story also tainted almost every characterization of Batman since. Tower of Babel was indeed a mistake, only it wasn't Batman's.

[@whyitdoesntworkforme9206]

Hmm, I get your frustration. I share it but this remains my favourite JL story line. I don't think it can entirely be blamed for other writers taking the batman can take down anyone thing too far.

[@renardofranklin608]

My first exposure to this concept was the JL doom adaptation but I never got around to reading Tower of Babel even though I'd plan to but you gave me a deeper understanding and appreciation for this storyline. And detailing how batman's actions negatively affected his relationships with his friends but also his family I still love the JL doom film but I understand your frustration and wish they did delve into what you were highlighting about batman morality in the video.

[@whyitdoesntworkforme9206]

JL Doom is pretty okay. My only problem is the lack of moral ambiguity otherwise pretty fun

[@jameswitt108]

Your channel is criminally underrated, my word what a great video and analysis of one of the most controversial JLA stories and a deep dive into Batman's mental state. This was a story which perfectly depicted him as a lonely, paranoid but brilliant man whose questionable actions drives a wedge between the leagurs. I'll definitely be sharing this video with my mates, keep it up.👍

[@whyitdoesntworkforme9206]

Those are very encouraging words. Thank-you very much 🥰

[@ArmorInfinity4529]

Probably one of my favorite Justice League Story arcs ever.

[@whyitdoesntworkforme9206]

Mine too

[@AustynSN]

Personally, I always thought Bruce was wise to make the plans, but foolish to put them on his computer. Those plans should have been memorized in every detail, but never recorded.

[@blaze46waffle]

They aren't simply for him, they're for anyone standing against said target.

[@greenrangeralex]

Ah yes the begining of batgod

[@whyitdoesntworkforme9206]

Quite unintentionally unfortunately.

[@MildMisanthropeMaybeMassive]

We used to call these overpowered versions of Batman in like Grant Morrison’s or the DCAU _Überbats._

[@Temple277]

Your channel is underrated and criminaly overlooked, this is actually one of these (again unfortunately) crimianly overlooked channels who deserve millions of subs. Diving deep into the video though I love how u described Batman in this story, so many fans nowadays call him either a god or how u called him in the video, a god killer. I prefer my batman to be more human rather than a god but that was a great description of Batman's character in this story, and not only that, but it's great how u called him "the punisher of tower of bable" because this is who he is in this story. Again thanks for another banger lvl of a video and cant wait for more dc related videos! ✌️

[@whyitdoesntworkforme9206]

Thank you very much. That's so encouraging. I too get the appeal of batman as this unstoppable force by virtue of intellect alone but it is his fragile humanity that make him so compelling

[@Temple277]

@@whyitdoesntworkforme9206 True, That's why i love arcs like knightfall so much because it shows batman's humanity rather than him being a god like he was in JLA Darkseid War haha, but hey maybe that's just me.

[@zemox2534]

Good analysis. A lot of people (especially modern writers in comics) ignore the details of the story and miss the point. This story explored Bruce's biggest flaw: his refusal to open up emotionally to people. But in the eyes of most writers, they just save Batman as a gary stu who can always win with the right amount of prep time. This story and DKR, in my eyes anyway, ultimately and unintentionally ruined Batman as a character.

[@whyitdoesntworkforme9206]

Batman is at his best when he is just barely making it. This god in human skin can be fun as long as it is made clear that it is just another one of Bruce's masks. But fans (and sadly too many writers) take it way too literally.

[@josephboechat6020]

Another amazing video

[@whyitdoesntworkforme9206]

thank-you 🥰

[@Givemeanamebruh]

Huh. This is pretty good. Your voice is great

[@whyitdoesntworkforme9206]

Thank you. I'm always surprised when people like my voice 😄

[@wildrabbit2237]

Another banger!

[@whyitdoesntworkforme9206]

Cheers 😍

[@critical_thinker0668]

The problem with the issue Diana had with Bruce's plan, is that if he told the League he had plans and just didn't explain what they were, they'd just kill him first if they ever turned evil. The idea of Bruce betraying his friends being wrong kind of loses basis IMO if your friend could crack the Earth in half if he wanted to and the only thing stopping him from doing it was that he just felt like not doing it. I'm not sure how this is that much of a controversial issue honestly. The worst thing Batman did here is not doing a better job at hiding those plans to keep them out of the hands of supervillains.

[@whyitdoesntworkforme9206]

Whether or not one believes Batman did the right thing by having those plans you can't then find out about it and so easily work with the man who plotted behind your back to do those things. Some stone cold pragmatists might be able to but even if you were a justice league member who ultimately believed in Batman's logic it isn't so easy to just put your trust and life in the man's hands after that which is what these team members do on a daily basis. That is what I was trying to highlight in the video. The whole interesting narrative of the Tower of Babel that people miss in favour of 'did batman do the right thing by making the plans' is the consequences. Right or wrong this was a decision that had consequences. It's not a simple yeah, these guys can break planets so duh, batman's right and everyone needs to get over it. It isn't really a good idea for a team dynamic (in any situation let alone life/death world ending situations the JLA get into), to have someone in it you can't trust. Plus there is the knock on effect of the Titans, YJ and the wider superhero community looking at Nightwing, Robin and Oracle sideways. That's what tower of babel is actually about 'Communication'. Tower of Babel biblically, and in the comic stifles communication. The theme is so often missed by 'yeah of course batman should have plans to take the JLA down'.

[@bZman]

I love Tower of Babel. Batman would absolutely have a plan to incapacitate everyone he knows just in case. None of the plans were made to kill, just incapacitate and he hoped they would never would need to be used. Batman has to always have a plan, always think ahead, because he is just a man. With no plan he could not stop the JLA on his own if they got possessed by Starro or something

[@whyitdoesntworkforme9206]

I think that is the appeal of the idea being all the plans. However, I believe tower of babel preaches the exact opposite message than most people take from it. Yes, Bruce is prepared to take his friends down if needs be but it is exactly that mindset that not only puts the world in danger but allows Ra's Al Ghul to distract him. And it also gets the rest of his family in the sh*t with the superhero community.

[@bZman]

@@whyitdoesntworkforme9206 True, Batmans “i am all alone” mentality despite having his massive found family is to his detriment every time.

[@MoojinBoi]

justice league doom heavily improved on this story imo, not only for making the resolution far better but also improving upon the actual threats, supermans ESPECIALLY

[@whyitdoesntworkforme9206]

I thought JL Doom was only okay. I thought pairing the heroes up with their villains to carry out the plan was good but I just couldn't get over them throwing away the interesting moral ambiguity of Batman's actions.

[@MrFillus]

What do you suppose Batman’s contingency is for Zatana &Constantine? That would be a pretty decent story, I think! Cuz they’re obviously gonna be difficult to keep subdued. I guess you could just keep Z from speaking, but she’s also not too bad of a hand to hand combatant.. not on his level, but still.. John’s the wild card. I bet he has the helmet of fate or Ragman’s cloaks or some crazy weapon that would at least let him match John’s magic. Nice pull from the Arrow episode with Rha’s intro. I wasn’t crazy about how they portrayed him, but that opening speech/fight was pretty awesome

[@whyitdoesntworkforme9206]

I think Batman would be able to take away Zatanna's voice or trap her in an illusion like he did to wonder woman. Only question is could Zatanna have magical measure against it. Batman tends to stay away from magic. So I think he would be less prepared for it than he would for 'normal' superpowers. I think he's struggle the most with John. John tends to be a better planner whereas Batman tends to be a better strategist. What I mean by that is that John is the world's greatest bullshiter. He works best when there is a fire under him. He can think of a plan on the spot. He basically beat cancer by betting on the rulers of hell buying his bullshit. So I think Batman could create all the plans in the world but John could outthink them if he was put under enough pressure. Maybe the key is to never let John know he is being worked against.

[@MrFillus]

@@whyitdoesntworkforme9206 Hey hey, great minds think alike! Lol I immediately went to the illusion/hallucination option as well. And I totally agree that John is the WAAAAAY more serious threat in a fight to the death. Mostly cuz he would just come back anyway, & Batman would get annoyed😂no but really, Zatana is undeniably powerful in her own right, when it comes to magic. I obviously haven’t read every adventure of hers(although thinking on it now, a Zatana movie would be badass) but her magic seems to always be more… i don’t know how to say it, she can definitely use it offensively, mostly I imagine her doing more like illusions herself or magically being shown the proper way to proceed, seeing the future, protective spells. Then of course she can use her greatest trick: channeling a giant, weird, blue Native American/ Alien/sorceress lady like she did in season 2of Young Justice😆I bet that was peak Z action for you too, right? I think John would prove most difficult because he’s willing to go far past what Bruce would be willing to do to win a fight. If the bullshitting didn’t take, he’s not afraid to fight dirty. Like kicking him in the Batnuts & bringing his parents back to life all gross & decayed & parading them around the Batcave! Oh shit, Alfred too!