I suppose this post is supposed to be about DC's new crossover event Absolute Power.
It has a strong pedigree with writer Mark Waid and artist Dan Mora. There are forces at work against Earth's super heroes, to strip them of their powers as well as damage their reputations as the protectors of Earth.
The message: heroes cause more harm than help.
And the antagonists leading the charge against Earth's super heroes?
Amanda Waller.
Which begs the question: What the hell happened to Amanda Waller?
Amanda Waller was first introduced in 1986 during the Legends crossover event, ironically enough centering around a propaganda war against super heroes.
Waller was a large black woman who did not take shit from anyone. She could be cold and ruthless, using guile and intimidation to get things done.
Those things were conducting black ops missions using super villains as part of a project called Task Force X, AKA the Suicide Squad. Super villains could reduce their prison sentences if they complete and survive these mission.
To ensure their cooperation, explosive charges were implanted in their heads.
While leading a group of super villains to conduct missions of frequently questionable ethical or moral standards, Waller held herself to a strict code of doing what was right, even if as she was often tasked to skirt the edges of what was right and what was wrong.
Perhaps nothing better demonstrated the tenacity of Amanda Waller's resolve than her face off with Batman.
Writer John Ostrander made Amanda Waller strong and fearless and able to make the brutally tough calls but never losing sight that she was at heart on the side of doing what's right.
So how come Amanda Waller is the villain in the new DC crossover event?
While I read the entire 66 issue run of the first Suicide Squad, I have not kept up with subsequent revivals of the series. So I am admittedly not up to speed on everything that has gone wrong to bring Waller to where she is today.
But mostly, it just bothers me that this remarkably unique and complex character has been reduced to role of villain.
Extended media hasn't helped. Her portrayal by Viola Davis in the Suicide Squad movies and Peacemaker is a person who is completely heartless, utterly devoid of empathy, creating more problems than she solves.
I hope that maybe by the time Absolute Power ends, there might be some sort of redemption of the Amanda Waller I first encountered back in 1986.
She might work with super villains but I cannot accept that Amanda Waller has become one.
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