2000: Tower of Babel

[mithen]

While Jeph Loeb was writing Emperor Joker over in the Super-titles, Mark Waid had just taken over writing JLA from Grant Morrison.  One of his earliest stories is one that highlights both the differences between Superman and Batman and the fact that they're a duo apart from the rest of the League.

Comments

[snake_easing]

Ha, yes. I like how, during the reveal, Superman admits to his nerves and Batman doesn't. It's good to have them delineated like that.

I like Kyle's inability to process the second reveal. Does Arthur have a secret identity? I know Diana does (sometimes) and she doesn't wear a mask either...

[mithen]

I think it was fascinating to show Clark so different from Superman and Bruce so similar to Batman, too. In some ways Bruce is paying an oblique compliment to his teammates, not bothering to do the playboy routine and clearly just being Batman in a business suit. While Clark is also clearly being authentic as well, and it's so different from Superman...

At least at this point in the canon, neither Arthur nor Diana had a secret identity. It would be fun to see Arthur with a civilian secret identity, trying to temper his imperiousness a bit. :)

[mithen]

Isn't that the cutest little throwaway line? I loved it so much...

[naanima]

This is awesome. Thank you for the summaries and the scans.

I have a question in regards to Clark and Bruce' big reveal - what issue and what series was this in? I have Tower of Babel (JLA) #43 - #46, which ends with the League voting Batman out but never managed to figure out what issue they did the reveal.

Thanks!

[mithen]

Ah yeah, the big reveal would be in the TPB right after that, "Divided We Fall," which I guess would fall around 47-49 or so, since their conversation takes place over a couple of issues, I think. It's worth finding if you can!