11 Justice League Fates Worse Than Death

8. Knowing Your Friend Has Planned Your Death - Tower Of Babel

Justice League Superman Batman Wonder Woman
DC Comics

Oh, Bruce...

One of the main characteristics of Batman is that the World's Greatest Detective is forever prepared for any and all threats that may rear their head. And in the Tower of Babel story, it's unfortunately the Justice League who are on the receiving end of Bruce's ever-prepared nature.

In Mark Waid, Howard Porter and Steve Scott's four-part 2000 tale, it's revealed that Batman has secretly put together records on the strengths and weaknesses of his fellow Leaguers - complete with intricate details on how to defeat each member of the JL.

This only comes to light to the Justice League, mind, when Ra's al Ghul steals this information and sets about taking out the League one by one. Superman is exposed to Red Kryptonite, Wonder Woman is trapped in a never-ending virtual fight, Wally West is brutalised by light speed-induced seizures, Martian Manhunter is engulfed in flames, Plastic Man is frozen, Kyle Rayner is rendered blind, Aquaman is made aquaphobic, and even Batman himself is targeted as the League of Assassins steal the corpses of his deceased parents.

One could argue that Bruce was right to have such contingency plans in place should any of the League go rogue, but for his fellow heroes his secret records come across as totally underhand and lacking in any trust.

Senior Writer
Senior Writer

Once described as the Swiss Army Knife of WhatCulture, Andrew can usually be found writing, editing, or presenting on a wide range of topics. As a lifelong wrestling fan, horror obsessive, and comic book nerd, he's been covering those topics professionally as far back as 2010. In addition to his current WhatCulture role of Senior Content Producer, Andrew previously spent nearly a decade as Online Editor and Lead Writer for the world's longest-running genre publication, Starburst Magazine, and his work has also been featured on BBC, TechRadar, Tom's Guide, WhatToWatch, Sportkskeeda, and various other outlets, in addition to being a Rotten Tomatoes-approved film critic. Between his main dayjob, his role as the lead panel host of Wales Comic Con, and his gig as a pre-match host for Wrexham AFC games, Andrew has also carried out a hugely varied amount of interviews, from the likes of Robert Englund, Kane Hodder, Adrienne Barbeau, Rob Zombie, Katharine Isabelle, Leigh Whannell, Bruce Campbell, and Tony Todd, to Kevin Smith, Ron Perlman, Elijah Wood, Giancarlo Esposito, Simon Pegg, Charlie Cox, the Russo Brothers, and Brian Blessed, to Kevin Conroy, Paul Dini, Tara Strong, Will Friedle, Burt Ward, Andrea Romano, Frank Miller, and Rob Liefeld, to Bret Hart, Sting, Mick Foley, Ricky Starks, Jamie Hayer, Britt Baker, Eric Bischoff, and William Regal, to Mickey Thomas, Joey Jones, Phil Parkinson, Brian Flynn, Denis Smith, Gary Bennett, Karl Connolly, and Bryan Robson - and that's just the tip of an ever-expanding iceberg.