History:
BABEL
Real Name: Thame Panagitis
Identity/Class: Alternate reality (New Universe) human (Greek) paranormal
Occupation: Field leader of the Medusa Web; former history professor
Legal Status: Citizen of Greece with no criminal record
Group Membership: Medusa Web (Backfire, Dustoff, Electrique, Gatto di Sangue, Imprint, Potiphar, Relampago, Alexi Ruyanev, Skybreaker, Thunderhead, Toocheetsch, Troublemaker), Board of Trustees of National Archeological Museum of Greece, Acropolis Museum, Byzantine Museum, National Geographic Association Committee for Research and Exploration
Affiliations: Anders, Backfire, Andrew Chaser, C.I.A., Dustoff, Electrique, Gatto di Sangue, Imprint, Justice, Potiphar, Psi-Force (Sedara Bakut, Thomas Boyd, Dehman Doosha, Lindsey Falmon, Tyrone Jessup, Kathy Ling, Wayne Tucker), Relampago, Alexi Ruyanev, Skipper, Skybreaker, Thunderhead, Toocheetsch, Troublemaker, Terrance Updike
Enemies: Rodstvow, the Siberian Project
(former) Psi-Force
Known Relatives: Cassandra Panagitis (wife), Phaedra Panagitis (daughter), Antigone Panagitis (daughter)
Aliases: None
Base of Operations: Mobile, including Senlis, France
Place of Birth: Kerkira, Greece, June 17, 1946
Extent of Education: BA Language studies, MA History, PhD History (military battles)- University of Athens; MBA Columbia University, New York
Religion: Greek Orthodox
First Appearance: (mentioned) Psi-Force I#17 (March, 1988)
(full) Psi-Force I#18 (April, 1988)
Powers/Abilities: Babel is able to interpret and speak in any language. When he speaks, his words are heard in the native language of the listener, no matter how many listeners are present. It is suspected that this is done through a specific telepathic ability which translate audio vibrations into electronic impulses of an understandable nature. This telepathic projection is an unconscious act on Babel's part and thus it is a constant projection. Because of this parability, his being able to understand any spoken word (he does speak in over 15 languages fluently without the aid of his parability) is an inverse telepathic reaction. The audio vibrations picked up by Bable are in turn changed into electronic impulses which are freely interpreted by his brain. Babel is an excellent military strategist and a student of proper historical warfare. He is an excellent leader.
Babel is overly critical of and concerned with his own participation in the Medusa Web's goal, which is the uniting of the world's armed forces against one common opponent- the Medusa Web itself. This is a contradictory role, since he was instrumental in the formation and organization of the group in 1969.
Height: 5'9"
Weight: 180 lbs.
Eyes: Brown
Hair: Black with grey streaks
History:
(Psi-Force I#26 (fb) - BTS) - In 1969, the Medusa Web was founded as an international mercenary force by Thame andformer KGB operative Alexi Ruyanev. The two men's ambition was to save the world from destruction by creating a mercenary army so fearsome, the world's super powers would have to unite against them. The Medusa Web carried out various mercenary operations over the decades but following the White Event (July 22, 1986), paranormals began to emerge and Thame was among those, his parability manifesting on July 24, 1986. With his new parability permitting him to communicate in any language, Thame took the alias 'Babel' and the Medusa Web began recruiting more and more paranormals into their ranks.
(Psi-Force I#17 - BTS) - On October 23, 1987, Babel sent Medusa Web operatives Troublemaker and Imprint to begin monitoring the teenaged paranormals of Psi-Force so he could assess if they should be recruited into the Medusa Web. For a month, Troublemaker drew Psi-Force into fights so that Imprint could record them using his parability to convert what he saw into digital recordings. When Psi-Force finally caught and interrogated Troublemaker he truthfully told them he'd been sent to get footage of them using their parabilities but indicated a concealed video camera as being the means by which they were recorded. Psi-Force destroyed the video tape, not realizing Troublemaker had been accompanied by Imprint.
(Psi-Force I#18) - After Psi-Force's home, Sanctury, was destroyed by the Russian paranormal Rodstvow, the C.I.A. hired the Medusa Web to capture Psi-Force or kill them if necessary. On December 12, 1987, Backfire, Imprint and Thunderhead reported to Babel they'd found Wayne Tucker in Seattle. Babel told them to proceed by deploying Electrique. On December 18, 1987, Electrique's attack failed as she was possibly killed by Tyrone Jessup. Backfire reported their failure to Babel but noted Tucker, Jessup and fellow paranormal Lindsey Falmon were headed to Canada. Babel told them maintain their pursuit while he, Troublemaker, Gatto di Sangue, Potiphar, Relampago, Skybreaker and Toocheetsch would pursue Thomas Boyd, Anastasia Inyushin and Kathy Ling.
(Psi-Force I#19 (fb) - BTS) - On December 24, 1987, the Medusa Web fought Boyd, Inyushin and Ling but the three teenagers evaded capture. They clashed again soon after in San Clemente. Babel was annoyed that his duties with the Medusa Web had prevented him from spending Christmas with his family.
(Psi-Force I#19) - On January 2, 1988, the Medusa Web followed Boyd, Inyushin and Ling to San Diego, where the teens attempted to hide in Horton Plaza. Babel took a post in the plaza's security office so he could monitor the three teenagers using the building's security cameras. Babel witnessed Relampago's death but ultimately all three teenagers were captured. Once Psi-Force was beaten, Babel's C.I.A. employer, "Skipper," informed him the terms of their agreement had changed and none of the three would be available for recruitment into the Medusa Web. Skipper brusquely paid off Babel and ended the Medusa Web's C.I.A. assignment.
(Psi-Force I#20 (fb) - BTS) - In an act of spite, the C.I.A. deported all of the non-American members of the Medusa Web who were still in the USA. Consequently, Babel decided the Medusa Web would resume their original plan- recruit Psi-Force into their ranks.
(Psi-Force I#31 (fb) - BTS) - After a mission in Iran where he was supposed to retrieve nerve gas and restore it to the Iraqi Army, Potiphar reported back to Babel but didn't reveal he'd destroyed the nerve gas and slain the Medusa Web's clients.
(Psi-Force I#26) - On March 24, 1988, reporter Andrew Chaser held a meeting with Babel at the Medusa Web's offices in Los Angeles. Chaser was a friend of the members of Psi-Force and was researching a book about them and indicated he was aware the Medusa Web had been pursing them during the past year. Babel explained the Medusa Web's history and that while some of their field operatives were paranormals, many were not. He also explained the Medusa Web was interested in seeing if Psi-Force could defeat the insanely powerful Russian paranormal Rodstvow.
(Psi-Force I#25) - On April 5, 1988, Babel monitored the Psi-Hawk's battle with Rodstvow in Washington D.C. and witnessed the Psi-Hawk's destruction. Speaking in Russian over a headset to Alexi Ruyanev, Babel commented it was "what we had hoped for" but he was sorry to see it happen.
(Psi-Force I#27 - BTS) - Wayne Tucker began sending out telepathic messages, attempting to speak with Babel and tell him Psi-Force were being held in the Siberian Project in the Yalta Peninsula.
(Psi-Force I#28 - BTS) - Babel had a telepathic conversation with Wayne Tucker. When Babel mentioned he intended to involve John Tensen, alias Justice, Wayne disputed it, noting Tensen considered himself "paranormal judge, jury and executioner, all in one!"
(Justice II#28) - Babel telephoned Terrance Updike at the National Security Council to request the loan of Tensen for the Medusa Web's mission to rescue Psi-Force from the Siberian Project. Updike refused, but Babel came to the NSC in person with Imprint and Troublemaker to make his case. Justice was determined to assist the Medusa Web because it would grant him an opportunity to confront Rodstvow, who was responsible for putting his daughter into a coma.
(Psi-Force I#29) - On October 5, 1988, Babel led the Medusa Web on their mission to rescue Psi-Force from the Siberian Project. He remained aboard the team's heavy transport helicopter and monitored Imprint's visual feed while Justice and other mercenaries operatives rescued Psi-Force.
(Justice II#29) - While trying to leave Russian airspace, Babel's helicopter was shot down and the tranport carrying Psi-Force, Justice and the other Medusa Web agents landed in the snow to assist Babel. A land force of Russian soldiers emerged and attacked them, soon joined by the paranormal Red Star team and finally Rodstvow himself.
(Psi-Force I#30) - Rodstvow attempted to kill Justice, Psi-Force, the Medusa Web and even his fellow members of Red Star. While Babel divided up their forces, Tucker used his telepathy to plan a joint attack of all the paranormals against Rodstvow and finally eradicated him. Once Rodstvow's threat had ended, Justice turned against Psi-Force, seeking to judge them for their earlier ill-conceived fight with Rodstvow in Washington D.C.
(Justice II#30) - While Justice engaged in a mental struggle against Psi-Force where he confronted them for their past actions, Babel helped stand guard over their bodies (refusing Potiphar's request to kill Justice) and arranged transportation back to the USA.
(Justice II#26/2) - On October 13, 1988, Babel arranged for Toocheetsch's family to escape the USSR, which had been Toocheetsch's motivation for joining the Medusa Web. In exchange, Babel had Toocheetsch spend weeks refining control over his parability until he could perfectly imitate the appearance and knowledge of Mikhail Gorbachev. Babel intended for Toocheetsch to replace Gorbachev, giving the Medusa Web control over the USSR.
(Psi-Force I#31) - On January 27, 1989, Babel brought Psi-Force to his estate in Senlis, France and held a private conference with Wayne Tucker to discuss formally welcoming Psi-Force into the Medusa Web. When Babel served wine to Wayne, Wayne reminded him his father was an alcoholic and spilled it on the floor, annoying Babel as the carpet was an antique. Tucker refused the offer to join but suggested Babel ask the others. Meeting with Thomas Boyd, Lindsey Falmon, Kathy Ling and Dehman Doosha for dinner, Babel asked them to join the Medusa Web. When Boyd suggested the Medusa Web's actions could cause World War III, Babel opined that World War III was already upon them and the Medusa Web would be the world's best hope after the conflict. Some time later, Psi-Force met with Babel and agreed to join the Medusa Web but they would retain most of their independence, run operations their own way and if the Medusa Web wasn't straight with them, they'd bring the organization down. Babel agreed to their terms; Ling immediately asked for fake i.d. and a vacation in Los Angeles, which Babel provided. In return, Babel insisted the other four submit to Medusa Web training.
After training in military strategy, weapons use, surveillance techniques, infiltration, electronics identification, computer programming and parability simulation, Babel brought Tucker, Boyd, Falmon and Dehman Doosha to Goteborg, Sweden on April 14, 1989 for their final exam - to survive unarmed hand-to-hand combat against Potiphar. Babel directed them to evade being hit by Potiphar's paint gun and capture a flag without using their parabilities. The moment the exercise began, Potiphar immediately hit Tucker with a paint ball, as Babel had ordered him to; Babel and Tucker had a laugh over it. Falmon ultimately brought back the flag, surprising Babel. After the exercise, Babel told Tucker their first mission would send them to Afghanistan.
(Psi-Force I#32) - On May 13, 1989, Babel sent Psi-Force into Afghanistan to cut off a Russian supply line and recruit the paranormal Sedara Bakut, a member of the Mujahedin. Psi-Force succeeded in both tasks.
Comments: Created by Fabian Nicieza, Ron Lim and Romeo Tanghal.
Babel received a Marvel Handbook-style profile in Psi-Force I#26.
He also appeared as a figure in Thomas Boyd's mind in Psi-Force I#22.
Profile by Prime Eternal.
CLARIFICATIONS:
Babel should not be confused with:
images: (without ads)
Psi-Force I#26, Babel profile (main)
Psi-Force I#26, page 5, panel 3 (face)
Appearances:
Psi-Force I#17-19 (March-May, 1988) - Fabian Nicieza (writer), Ron Lim (pencils), Romeo Tanghal (inks), Howard Mackie (editor)
Psi-Force I#25 (November, 1988) - Fabian Nicieza (writer), Graham Nolan (pencils), Mike Witherby (inks), Howard Mackie (editor)
Psi-Force I#26 (December, 1988) - Fabian Nicieza (writer), Graham Nolan (pencils), Chris Ivy (inks), Howard Mackie (editor)
Justice II#26/2 (December, 1988) - Fabian Nicieza (writer), Rodney Ramos (pencils), Mike Gustovich (inks), Val Gustovich (inks), David Wohl (editor)
Justice II#28 (February, 1989) - Peter David (writer), Mike Gustovich (artist), Howard Mackie (editor)
Psi-Force I#29-32 (March-June, 1989) - Fabian Nicieza (writer), Rodney Ramos (pencils), Chris Ivy (inks), Howard Mackie (editor)
Justice II#29-30 (March-April, 1989) - Peter David (writer), Lee Weeks (artist), Howard Mackie (editor)
First posted: 10/24/2026
Last updated:
10/26/2026
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
Non-Marvel Copyright info
All other characters mentioned or pictured are ™ and © 1941-2099 Marvel
Characters, Inc. All Rights Reserved. If you like this stuff, you
should check out the real thing!
Please visit The Marvel Official Site at: http://www.marvel.com
Special Thanks to http://www.g-mart.com/ for hosting the Appendix, Master List, etc.!