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JLA, Vol. 7: Tower of Babel (JLA #7)

by Mark Waid, Dan Curtis Johnson, Christopher J. Priest, John Ostrander, Howard Porter (Illustrator), Drew Geraci (Illustrator), Steve Scott (Illustrator), Mark Pajarillo (Illustrator) , more…

4.09 of 5 stars 4.09 · rating details · 2,182 ratings · 44 reviews

Armed with Batman's personal secret files, Ra's al Ghul begins to pick off members of the Justice League, one by painful one. Lured into traps that exploit their Achilles heels, the JLA members must outwit their ancient, well-informed enemy.

Paperback, 160 pages

Published August 1st 2001 by DC Comics

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Nov 24, 2012 Wes rated it 4 of 5 stars

Am I the only one who thinks that if you're hanging out with Batman at least a couple of times a month, you should expect that he's keeping "secret" files on you? This is a guy who's the greatest detective on Earth AND who manages to be a celebrity billionaire while maintaining a highly fantastical secret identity; the dude clearly knows how to gather information and keep a lid on it.

Anyway the Justice League gets all surprised and offended when they learn that the one member in their group who...more Am I the only one who thinks that if you're hanging out with Batman at least a couple of times a month, you should expect that he's keeping "secret" files on you? This is a guy who's the greatest detective on Earth AND who manages to be a celebrity billionaire while maintaining a highly fantastical secret identity; the dude clearly knows how to gather information and keep a lid on it.

Anyway the Justice League gets all surprised and offended when they learn that the one member in their group who is universally regarded as quasi-nutjob A**hole has been studying and recording their individual weaknesses in case they one day go rogue and he has to take them out. How do they find out about this? Ra's al Ghul steals those files and uses them (quite effectively)himself.
Batman=Busted.

That's the setup, the book (a collection of issues from a 2000 JLA story arc) looks at the execution of al Ghul's plan, Batman's efforts to stop it, and the the Justice League coming to terms with what many of them consider a profound betrayal. (There's also an unrelated story in the beginning of the collection about Atom shrinking a few members of the team down so they can fight off a microscopic civilization wreaking havoc in a kid's brain tumor…yeah). It's a very solid story and it picks apart one of the most interesting aspects of the Justice League: how Batman fits into the group. Not only is he the only guy hanging out on the Justice League Watchtower base who doesn't have powers, he's also disliked/resented/barely-tolerated by almost every other member of the group for being a stern, overbearing, humorless bastard (I love Batman…but yeah…he kind of is). This book addresses that head-on and for that, and the way it skillfully picks apart the heroes' weaknesses, I have to give it the praise it deserves.

But the art.

Oh God Damn! The art is atrocious. Like, laughably bad on more than one occasion. I'm not at the level of comic book fan where I can sling artists' names and work around with any kind of sophistication, but I know what resembles a 1990s Burger King Kids ad and what doesn't and this stuff could easily have been used to sling JR. Whoppers during BUSH I's administration. This is most obvious whenever a character has to register shock/surprise on their face in a closeup; it invariably looks like someone with a JLA fetish had a blowup doll custom designed…with glass eyes. Thank god the story is solid enough to make this bearable.

Anyway, a solid read. Definitely a JLA ensemble piece, but more Batman than anything else. If you can get past the art it's well worth your time.
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Aug 15, 2012 Travis Roberson rated it 2 of 5 stars

This Justice League story often makes it on "Best Batman Stories" lists. Usually when I read a Bat book I really just want to see the Dark Knight and maybe some of the Bat family, so I stayed away from this one for a while. Hot off my love for The Dark Knight Rises, I decided to finally give it a shot rather than revisiting old favorites.

The problem for me with Tower of Babel is it felt overly childish. This story would have worked beautiful within the Batman animated series of the 90s, or even...more

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Jun 25, 2012 William Thomas rated it 5 of 5 stars

Batman is the greatest superhero on DC's roster. The Aristotelian embodiment of perfection, he is the golden mean. Where mind and body meet, he is a perfect example of what made me fall in love with comic books. I may have wanted to find out I was a mutant when I hit puberty- silly, I know- but barring that, I wanted to be Batman. I thought I could be Batman. Because he wasn't bitten by a radioactive spider. He didn't come from Atlantis or Krypton. He isn't a telepath or an amazon. He made himse...more

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Sep 07, 2012 Alex rated it 3 of 5 stars

This is my first "Justice League" comic -- I was never really that interested in superhero ensembles. I picked this one up because I heard it was a good Batman story -- and so it is.

Justice League is interesting and unique because it's biggest star, the Caped Crusader, forms such a contrast with the other characters. Here you have a group of Earth defenders--an assortment of Greek goddesses and omnipotent aliens -- and then, Batman, a lonely, melancholic, vigilante with no super powers aside fro...more This is my first "Justice League" comic -- I was never really that interested in superhero ensembles. I picked this one up because I heard it was a good Batman story -- and so it is.

Justice League is interesting and unique because it's biggest star, the Caped Crusader, forms such a contrast with the other characters. Here you have a group of Earth defenders--an assortment of Greek goddesses and omnipotent aliens -- and then, Batman, a lonely, melancholic, vigilante with no super powers aside from a keen intellect and some fancy machines. Batman isn't just different as a character, he comes from a universe which is so thematically different from the others, it often takes heavy suspension of disbelief just to buy the concept of this group existing. (OK, technically, the Avenger's Iron Man doesn't have any superpowers, either, but c'mon--the Iron Man suit is pretty much magic.)

The best writers find ways to exploit this tension, and "Tower of Babel" is a good example of this.

The story begins as Ra's Al Ghul, that pesky eco-terrorist, and his daughter Talia begin yet another plot to massacre millions of people are return the planet to the animals. Ghul knows the Justice League could stop him, but he's got plans for them, too.

Turns out, Batman has been secretly amassing information about his teammates for years, learning their weaknesses, and concocting plans to subdue them should they ever turn bad. Those plans fall into Al Ghul's hands, and he begins his plan to sow mass chaos and destruction.

Al Ghul's plan is actually interesting--but the main attraction here is to see how Batman has secretly outsmarted all of his super-powered friends. The various devices he's constructed are interesting, and the novel explores the long-term planning and careful observation that went into Bats planning.

The subtext--mostly unexplored--here is that due to his tramautic childhood, Bruce Wayne is incapable of ever fulling trusting anyone, even his close friend Clark Kent. His gloomy view on life and obsessive nature requires him to prepare for the worst.

All of this is fascinating, but the book is a little bit too cartoony and "comic book-y" for me. Maybe that type of writing will grow on me. I prefer the more grounded comics centered on Batman, than the stories where superheroes and supervillains seem to be everywhere.

But still, this is a must-read for anyone who wants to understand just how paranoid and ingenius Batman is.(less)

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Apr 30, 2012 Melissa rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: comic-inspired

So the other day i ended up watching the movie/cartoon version of this particular comic. My sister kept saying how this part was different and this character wasn't in it. That made me curious to read it. So last night i went into her(my sister's) comic library and pulled it out to read. The comic is nothing like the movie. It has the same theme and general plot, but different execution. The comic really speeds though things. Zip... Some much at a pace i didn't really like. Plus you really didn...more

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May 04, 2011 Mike rated it 2 of 5 stars

Starting with a story that smacks of environmental allegory (but takes a surprising turn), then gets into the League-changing campaign of Ghul.

I read this once before, and thought it was really crazy to see what happens when Batman's worst attacks were used in this way. And the impact is still the same - but the pedestrian exposition that follows - the equivalent of the supervillain explaining to the hero how he defeated the smartest enemies - is more than just superfluous. It's outright painful...more

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Nov 20, 2012 Martin rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: used-to-own

I really liked the writing in this book (at least, the main story - the back-up tales, as usual, are forgettable). I wasn't too keen on the art, though, and that is what really held this book back, IMO. With a better artistic team, this book could've easily gotten 5 stars.

I also think this storyline could've benefitted from 1 or 2 extra issues (and a better artist, but we've been over this already). As it is, some parts in this book are too brief.

This was years ahead of Brother Eye and Infinite...more

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Jan 17, 2012 Sesana rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: comics, superhumans, re-read

I remember reading this trade back when it was first published, and enjoying it. Years later, I've become a slightly more critical reader and I've been reading some much better stuff. The end result is that I didn't like it quite as much as I had back then.

The plot is not the problem here. The basic idea (Batman keeps secret files about each member of the JLA, including his strategies for defeating them) is fantastic, totally in character, and probably lead, in small part, to the events of the s...more

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Jul 31, 2012 Wesley rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: comics

This book collects JLA #42-46 and material from JLA Secret Files 3 and JLA 80-page Giant 1. The main story was by Mark Waid who has worked as a writer on most of the major characters from both DC and Marvel. The book also features a host of pencillers and inkers but the principle story was drawn by Howard Porter and Drew Geraci, in the main.

The main story has Batman investigating the disappearance of his parents after their graves were desecrated by Ra's al Ghul who implements Batman's contingen...more This book collects JLA #42-46 and material from JLA Secret Files 3 and JLA 80-page Giant 1. The main story was by Mark Waid who has worked as a writer on most of the major characters from both DC and Marvel. The book also features a host of pencillers and inkers but the principle story was drawn by Howard Porter and Drew Geraci, in the main.

The main story has Batman investigating the disappearance of his parents after their graves were desecrated by Ra's al Ghul who implements Batman's contingency plan to incapacitate the other members of the Justice League. With the Justice League incapacitated or distracted Ra's is free to pursue his agenda to escalate tensions in the Middle East.

The other stories in this book feature a gang trying to frame Superman for a murder in Gotham, Aquaman inadvertently revealing too much about his feelings for Wonder Woman on a rescue mission and the Atom discovering a bacterial civilisation manifesting as a tumour in a boy's brain - a civilisation doomed to self-destruction that has a deep resonance for Superman.

The main story is an examination of the paranoia of Batman and the schemes he is prepared to consider, against his friends and colleagues, to ensure that each member of the JLA can be held accountable for their actions and brought to justice if necessary. When his schemes are turned into actions against the members of the Justice League, they must consider how far they can trust a man that does not have faith in them and whether they can continue to work with him knowing that he is constantly judging them. The only slight niggle I have with an otherwise great book is that there are a lot of artists used and even the main story has an interlude with guest artists as does the final chapter of the story - is it too much to hope that a creative team can see out a four or five page story without chopping and changing. A good story that would seem to have ripples that affect not only Batman's relationship with the JLA but also those of his close companions within their respective teams.
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Dec 05, 2008 Peter rated it 2 of 5 stars Recommends it for: hardcore DC fans ONLY

If half-stars were allowed, this would definitely be a 1.5.

This is yet another installment of one of those endless 1990s DC story arcs. Batman made a boo-boo with secret data. Whatever will the rest of the JLA do? Apparently act like dumb-ass teenagers. "I don't trust you anymore!" "But he was there for you when you needed him!" Whine, whine, whine.

Okay, it's not absolutely terrible; it's competently written, I guess, and the art is tolerable. But it's boring.

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Sep 19, 2012 Rob rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: dc, graphic-novels, mississauga-public-library-books, read-in-2012, science-fiction

I really enjoyed the continuity of this collection. Particularly well done was the paranoia surrounding Batman. I am not really much of a Batman fan so it was nice to see a comic book that doesn’t glorify him while trying to expose Superman’s dark side. For once Supes got to be the hero his true fans know him to be! I LOVED the back story between Diana and Aqua man and for the first time really felt a distinct personality from the man under the sea. Their flirtation was very cute.

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Apr 27, 2012 Nick Spears rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: batman, swon-2012

This just further proves that Batman is the strongest member of the JLA, hands down. If you think otherwise, you're crazy. He's the only human, yet he's the most prepared for any conflict. And even in the midst of a gigantic mistake made in this one, he still manages to fight to save the day and bring everyone together (with little to no JLA assistance). I LOVE IT.

This was also my first JLA read, would like to check out some more..

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May 01, 2009 Sophie rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: owned, comics, dc

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Feb 27, 2012 Mark rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Anybody who loves Batman or the JLA or is excited for the movie coming out in 2012

Shelves: comic

The random JLA issues tacked onto the beginning and ending were interesting. This wasn’t a graphic novel like I was expecting it to be (like Batman: Year One is), it’s a collection of issues that span the whole Tower of Babel storyline. It’s an interesting storyline that made me wonder if I’d be more like Batman or the rest of the JLA and if I would have voted to expel Batman from the Justice League (probably not).

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Nov 08, 2011 Ryan Mishap rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: graphic-novel

When I heard about a story line where Batman takes out the JLA I had to find it though I'm not a follower of the series. Thoroughly enjoyable. I was surprised, pleasantly, by an additional story where invasive microbes are eating away at a child's bone--when the heroes shrink to go inside the boy, they find intelligent beings building a civilization: their mining is destroying their host, but they have no idea their world is inside another living creature. Good science fiction (if you don't thin...more

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Feb 20, 2013 Jason rated it 5 of 5 stars

Turns out that Batman, bastion of trust, had contingency plans to destroy every member of the Justice League in the event of their "corruption". Whoops! Ras al-Ghul and his daughter steal these plans and set out to destroy every member of the Justice League. Classic modern DC shit which answers the question: why does Batman hate Plastic Man so much?

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Sep 02, 2010 Justyn Rampa rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: batman, graphic-novels

I can't even really muster up much of a review for this one. This comic is supposed to call into question the reader's trust for Batman, but because I believe in Batman I never flinched once while reading this. Also, Batman is so solitary that it is just plain weird to see him surrounded by all kinds of superheroes. This is the second "milestone" JLA comic I've read in the past couple months and I am still not impressed.

It's official, I am not a Justice League of America fan.

Off the list!

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May 02, 2012 Michelle Cristiani rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: graphic-novels-jla

Justice League Doom, from early 2012, was a great movie. But I already digress. It was based on this book, which I had a hard time finding. As often happens, the book is different than the movie but in this movie, the heroes are stopped by very clever, elaborate methods, which was a lot more fun. But the idea is excellent: yes, of course Batman would have contingency plans to take out every other superhero, and yes, of course they'd be pissed when they found out. And no, Batman still doesn't thi...more

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Jun 26, 2012 Rae rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: comics

4 stars for the first story, Waid's amazing "Tower of Babel," and the story that came right afterwards. The last issue, between Aquaman and Wonder Woman, was pretty much just creepy, gross, and unneeded. With every great comic comes a bad one, I suppose, and this trade did well in collecting the great.

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Sep 13, 2010 Angela Alcorn marked it as to-read

Shelves: batman-best-25-graphic-novels, graphic-novels-comics-bd, second-hand-bookshop-wishlist, fiction, 2000-2009, 21st-century, bruce-wants-to-read

Features on this list: The 25 Greatest Batman Graphic Novels & in Goodreads as Batman Best 25 Graphic Novels.

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Feb 12, 2012 Zunaid rated it 3 of 5 stars

Mark Waid's idea is a great one, but the execution was a very very poor one. Makes one wonder how great a story would it have been in the hands a Garth Ennis, Mark Millar, or Jason Aaron. Could have been so much more!!

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Aug 05, 2009 Michael rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: comics

Could the characters be less believable in this volume? Would Batman ever want to see what the Green Lantern was drawing? Probably not. It starts off with a promising premise and then just...completely fizzles out.

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Aug 19, 2011 Andrew Alvarez rated it 3 of 5 stars

I remember this being more interesting the first time I read it in single issue form. It feels a bit dated somehow now but it's still a good read. This story would make a great movie.

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Oct 06, 2011 Daniel Butcher rated it 4 of 5 stars

Great concept overall.

But the addition of the "Half a Mind to Save a World" stand alone story at the beginning throws off the whole pacing of this book.

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Apr 05, 2009 Michael rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: graphic-novels

Mark Waid tells the Batman/mistrust narrative that needed to be told. Here, his nature causes a rift in the JLA. Frankly, I'm very happy with this.

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Mar 28, 2012 Virginia rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: graphic-novel, read-2012

I found the first story very intriguing (with the world/civilization in a brain tumor and the parallels it had with Superman's origin story). The Tower of Babel section was excellent - and I really enjoyed Batman's files being used against the JLA. But the best part of this collection was a story featuring Aquaman and Wonder Woman. Hilarious!

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Jun 12, 2013 Ben De Bono rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: graphic-novels

2 Stars. Watch my full review here: http://thescifichristian.com/2013/06/...

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Aug 10, 2011 Juan Jose added it

This story is awesome, and i think that this is the beginning of the "paranoid Batman".

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Sep 08, 2011 Angela rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: graphic-novels, dc

One of the best JLA stories ever, when someone used Batman's contingency plans to take down the league. Its full of character and clever ways of stopping the individual members. A really good read.

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Jun 07, 2008 Dexter rated it 4 of 5 stars

Nice. Batman pulled a Prof X, or Prof X pulled a Batman. Batman's contingency plans to deal with rogue JLA members gets leaked out, causing great distress to JLA members who get their asses beat.

The JLA worries that they can't trust Batman, causing a rift in their relationship, a rift that an Uncle Jessie talk at the end of the episode can't fix.

I like how DC added ripple effects to these events. Robin and Nightwing get the evil eye from their team mates because they think Robin and Nightwing...more

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About Mark Waid

Mark Waid (born March 21, 1962 in Hueytown, Alabama) is an American comic book writer. He is best known for his eight-year run as writer of the DC Comics' title The Flash, as well as his scripting of the limited series Kingdom Come and Superman: Birthright, and his work on Marvel Comics' Captain America.

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JLA, Vol. 7: Tower of Babel (JLA #7)

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