Warning! Spoilers ahead for Absolute Power #4! Justice League the participants not only regained their strength, some received completely new abilities. Absolute power has become a hellscape for the metahumans of the DC Universe thanks to Amanda Waller stealing the powers of almost every superhero with the help of her insidious team of all-amazos, Task Force VII.
Not only were the heroes’ powers taken away, but many of them were arrested and imprisoned in Waller’s maximum security prison on the island nation of Gamorra. Meanwhile, Task Force VII siphoned off every special ability they could get their hands on. But Waller’s reign of terror is over, and that creates an intriguing new dynamic for the DC All In era.
Justice League powers return with some power replacements
Who got a brand new power?
IN Absolute Power #4 Mark Waid, Dan Mora, Alejandro Sanchez and Ariana Maher, the heroes turned the tide and rescued their comrades from prison. Armed with weapons obtained by Green Lantern, the army uses the Mother Box and engages directly in Amanda Waller’s main base. While Nightwing and Jon Kent go to destroy Waller, the remaining heroes stay behind to fight the agents of her task force. It’s a valiant effort, but soon Task Force VII arrives to apprehend the Justice League.
Don’t forget to read Absolute Power: Task Force VII #1-7 to learn more about Waller’s robotic team!
Luckily, Amazo has a flaw that Batman has already discovered. They all have an hourglass created by the Time Commander, which allows them to instantly heal from any damage. The Dark Knight orders the Time Commander to build a suppression device that will hopefully destroy all the Amazo in one fell swoop. Unfortunately, Batman gets caught up in the battle and loses the device. But Green Arrow, believed to be a traitor, finds the Time Commander’s gizmo and shoots one of the members of Task Force VII with it. causing a chain reaction that destroys the evil, Justice League android.
…some heroes have completely different abilities, for example, Fire and Ice…
The amazo explodes, and the heroes’ strength actually returns. However, something is wrong as some heroes have completely different abilities, such as Fire and Ice who now have the others’ abilities, while Beast Girl has gained the ability to transform into animals. A few days later, Green Arrow speaks with the Justice League, who discuss the consequences of Waller’s campaign. Batman raises the issue of an exchange of powers between the heroes. Plastic Man walks through a wall and Black Canary demonstrates her new thermal imaging abilities..
How the Justice League Lost Their Power
Amanda Waller forever changed DC’s greatest heroes
Waller has always sought control, but after she traveled to Earth-3, home of the twisted versions of the Justice League known as the Crime Syndicate, she saw what superhumans were truly capable of and began working on a plan to subdue them. Waller returned to Earth. Prime DC Universe and began working in the shadows, observing heroes and obtaining resources that could help her bring her vision to life. However, it was only after she captured the Brainiac Queen and Failsafe (and the Amazos stash that came with them) that this happened. she finally had everything she needed to defeat the Justice League.
Powerful heroes like Superman, Wonder Woman, and even Ghost were no match for Task Force VII.
Following the Amazos update, Waller ordered the Brainiac Queen to flood the Internet and media with AI-generated footage of superheroes attacking the world as part of a gambit to bring them to the public’s attention. It worked, and Waller immediately sent out her new squad to depower the heroes en masse. Powerful heroes like Superman, Wonder Woman, and even Ghost were no match for Task Force VII. As hundreds of heroes were arrested, many fled underground and tried form a resistance from what’s left of the Justice League.
Although many of the DC Universe’s greatest heroes were stripped of their powers, they refused to go down without a fight. Superman faced his fears of magic to find a hidden path that the heroes could use. Batman went on the heist of his life to steal the Mother Box that Waller had obtained. And Wonder Woman led the effort to find Waller’s prison and free the heroes who were imprisoned. It was hard, but even without my strength, The Justice League took the opportunity to stop Waller’s takeover.
The Justice League’s new status quo will have a major impact on Washington.
How much will this change in power affect the DC Universe?
It’s nice that the heroes’ powers have returned, but this does not mean that the problem has yet been solved. As Batman mentioned, the consequences of Waller’s actions had two main effects. Some heroes have changed powers (for example, Fire and Ice), but the powers of other heroes are not even taken into account. While it’s cool that Beast Girl can finally transform into animals (which helps her fill the void left by Beast Boy so long ago), Justice League can’t just let this new dynamic stand.
Imagine if a crazy person like Dr. Psycho developed super strength…
It would be one thing if the heroes accidentally switched powers (Black Canary seems like she would have liked to have heat vision). But this isn’t just a case of the Justice League changing powers. Some powers did not return to their rightful owners at all. We know that Lois Lane is about to become the new Superwoman in the DC Universe, and while Lois is a prime candidate for heroism, she won’t be everyone who suddenly gains power. Actually, Justice League power shift could be a crisis.
While the DC Universe is filled with people who would make great heroes, there are plenty of villains who would cause serious damage if they suddenly gained powers. Just imagine if a madman like Doctor Psycho developed super strength or if Black Manta became a speedster. And one can only imagine what disgusting things the Joker could do if he suddenly got superpowers. While the affected heroes will certainly see some rough changes with their new or still missing abilities, IIt is imperative that the Justice League immediately track down these powers and their new owners..
Justice League’s New Powers Are an Amazing Opportunity for DC All In
Who knows whose powers will remain?
DC Comics promised big changes in Absolute Power, and the ending certainly delivered. While fans have yet to see how this energy exchange will work, it will almost certainly have major consequences. The real question is how much of this new dynamic will stick? Who will take advantage of their new powers and perhaps even give them up? Now is a new era where the powers of the Justice League have been reversed, and this will no doubt have a huge impact as DC All In gets underway.
Absolute Power #4 available now from DC Comics.