Amanda Waller’s obsession with anyone who calls themselves a hero is documented. She’s willing to use people against their will (Task Force X) and make deals with devils (Trigon) to complete her goal. However, it was unclear what made her feel this way. Absolute Power: Origins No. 1 explained the incident that changed the course of DC Comics and led to the comic book event, Absolute Power.
Comic book source
- Comic book: Absolute Power Origins No. 1
- Writer: John Ridley
- Artist: Alitha Martinez
Amanda Waller’s rise to power begins with a tragedy. Waller’s daughter is on her way home from school when she's confronted by a local drug dealer named Candyman. When her daughter turns his drug offer down, she’s assaulted and killed. Waller’s husband Joe knew who was responsible and immediately went after him. He avenges their daughter but is killed in the process.
When the police tell Amanda Waller what happened, the officers inform her that her husband’s actions are against the law. That meant she and her family wouldn’t get his life insurance. Meanwhile, on TV, Jim Gordon is praising Batman’s vigilante heroics. He says a hero’s identity has the right to be kept anonymous but everyone knew he was talking about the Dark Knight. When Jim Gordon says, “Anybody has a problem with that…take it up with the constitution” Waller’s plan started to formulate.
In some ways, Waller’s need for vengeance is understandable. How many of us would want revenge after our loved ones are hurt? Should her husband have killed Candyman? Probably not. Even if Joe wasn’t killed, he would’ve ended up in jail for Candyman's murder.
No matter how you feel about Amanda Waller’s plan to take out superheroes, you can see how they indirectly started with Batman. The Dark Knight hasn't faced criminal charges for his crimes. During Red Hood and the Outlaws, he admitted that he regularly breaks the law. Among them are breaking and entering, assault, and vigilanteism. Commissioner Renee Montoya has been harsher on Batman's actions, but even she lets him work in Gotham City.
Maybe the healthier and more logical thing to do would’ve been to work towards making the city’s streets cleaner. However, Waller learns one of Candyman’s resources was a politician who took drug money from him. That wouldn’t leave Waller with hope that other people could change things. Instead, Waller worked her way up the ladder and changed things on the inside. Let's see how far her plan goes during Absolute Power.
Are Amanda Waller's actions justified? How far do you think she will take things during Absolute Power?
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