WARNING: Contains Potential Spoilers for ABSOLUTE POWER #3!DC’s summer crisis event, Absolute Power, introduced fans to Amanda Waller’s Task Force VII—an overpowered, malevolent version of the Justice League made up of six power-stealing Amazo robots, led by the infamous Zur-En-Arrh Batman-possessed Failsafe. Despite the undefeatable nature of this task force, there is one superpower that may lead to their downfall.
The “superpower” of “goodness” is teased to be the very thing that could bring down Task Force VII.
Mark Waid and Dan Mora’s Absolute Power #3 is a pivotal issue in DC’s crossover crisis event, signaling a shift in the Amanda Waller versus metahuman war in favor of the heroes. Although the conflict is far from over, this issue marks significant victories for DC’s heroes, including saving Superman’s brainwashed and cyborg-transformed son, Jon Kent, and the temporary neutralization of Brainiac Queen.
Despite these major wins, the Amazos continue to pose a significant threat. However, issue #3 has confirmed what many fans had speculated: Task Force VII is infected with a superpower-related “virus” that could further tilt the balance in favor of DC’s heroes.
Failsafe Reveals Amanda Waller’s Amazos Are Infected With a Virus of “Identity”
“You’re Telling Me That Goodness Is a %$#& Superpower?” – Amanda Waller in Absolute Power #3
Absolute Power initially portrayed Waller’s Amazo robots as seemingly undefeatable, a perception held by both DC’s heroes and readers. Terms like “undefeatable” and “unstoppable” frequently described these power-stealing robots, supported by scenes of their absolute dominance. However, DC has officially debunked this notion, revealing that the Amazos actually have a significant weakness, undermining their invincible status. In issue #3 of Absolute Power, Amanda Waller starts to question the “unstoppable” nature of her Task Force VII when she observes that several of the Amazos are not operating at peak capacity.
In response to Waller’s concerns, Failsafe conducts diagnostics on Task Force VII and confirms her suspicions by discovering an infection “of identity.”This development means that the Amazos are beginning to form their own identities, rather than simply executing Waller’s commands. As a result, they are making decisions that either go beyond or directly contradict Waller’s orders, leading to significant operational inefficiencies. The emergence of their self-awareness and individual judgment is undermining their previously unstoppable nature and posing a substantial challenge to Waller’s control.
Failsafe further explains that this infection of identity stems from the Amazos being far more powerful than he and Waller had anticipated. As a result, the power-stealing robots have absorbed not only the heroes’ powers but also their morals and values. Although the repercussions of this unintended side effect have been hinted at throughout Absolute Power, this is the first time it has been explicitly confirmed by Waller and Failsafe. In her shock at this revelation, Waller exclaims, “You’re telling me that goodness is a %$#& superpower?” Thus, this “superpower” of “goodness” is teased to be the very thing that brings down Task Force VII.
Amanda Waller’s Task Force VII Could Be Her Ultimate Downfall In Absolute Power
The Morals of DC’s Heroes Are Infecting the Amazos (This Could Be the Turning Point in the Waller vs. Metahuman War)
The confirmation that the Amazos have been affected by the morals of DC’s heroes is a major turning point, revealing the first and only weakness of Task Force VII. Before Absolute Power #3, the Amazos were deemed undefeatable, with no known vulnerabilities, making the heroes’ chances of defeating them seem slim to none. Previous issues even depicted heavy-hitters like Wonder Woman, Superman, and the Shazam kids succumbing to the Amazos’ unprecedented power. However, the revelation of this weakness provides a glimmer of hope, suggesting that there might be a way to overcome Task Force VII, even if it is unconventional.
Each time an Amazo absorbs a hero’s morals, the divide between the Amazo and Waller’s orders widens, as these new morals conflict with her directives. Consequently, the heroes might not need to defeat the Amazos through conventional means. Instead, they could focus on nurturing Task Force VII’s evolving identities, allowing their newly acquired morals to flourish and eventually turning them against Waller. This strategy would be a significant advantage for the heroes, not only resulting in the removal of six overpowered enemies but also transforming these former foes into allies who could assist the Justice League in taking down Waller.
Four of Waller’s Amazo Robots Are Compromised: The Last Son, The Amazo-N, Velocity, and Jadestone
Absolute Power Has Teased the Downfall of the Amazo’s From the Very Beginning
The development of the Amazos forming their own identities has been subtly hinted at throughout multiple issues, not just in Absolute Power #3. Notably, four of the six Amazos have been shown as compromised, acting in ways that deviate from their programming. This includes the Wonder Woman-inspired Amazo, the Amazo-N, and Velocity, the Flash-inspired Amazo. Heavily influenced by the memories of the heroes they are modeled after, these robots have not yet outright rebelled against Waller. However, the seeds of discontent have clearly been sown as they struggle to reconcile the heroes’ experiences and values with their programming.
Among the Amazos affected by a sense of identity, The Last Son and Jadestone appear to be the most impacted. The Last Son experienced a major malfunction after killing the villain Parasite, an action that conflicted with the morals he absorbed from Superman, causing his systems to nearly shut down. Similarly, Jadestone, having absorbed Green Lantern Alan Scott’s power, has realized he possesses free will. This newfound autonomy has led him to operate outside of Waller’s orders and pursue his own interests. Consequently, Waller’s Task Force VII is facing significant compromise.
“The Amazo-N”
is a nickname given to the unnamed Wonder Woman-inspired Amazo by Screen Rant and is not the villain’s official name.
Will Amanda Waller’s Reboot of Her Amazos Eliminate Their Newfound Weakness?
Failsafe Reboots Task Force VII in Absolute Power #3
In addition to confirming that the power of “goodness” might be the downfall of Task Force VII, Absolute Power #3 also reveals Waller’s strategy to address this weakness: rebooting the Amazos. Failsafe initiates the reboot, aiming to restore complete control over Task Force VII. However, even if the reboot provides temporary results, it is unlikely to be a permanent fix. Each time the Amazos absorb new hero powers, they will again be influenced by those heroes’ morals, resetting the cycle. Thus, there remains a chance that the power of “goodness” could be the one force Waller’s Evil Justice League cannot overcome.
Absolute Power #3 is available September 4, 2024, from DC Comics!
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