Earlier this year DC Comics announced Absolute Power, the summer event series from writer Mark Waid and artist Dan Mora. The series will see a trio of threats – Amanda Waller, the Batman android Failsafe, and the Brainiac Queen – come together to strip the world’s metahumans of their powers. With a Free Comic Book Day teaser for the event due out next month, DC has now unveiled more details around what’s to come when the event formally kicks off in July, officially returning DC to a Wednesday new release schedule.
First, more details from DC on the FCBD one-shot, as well as the Ground Zero one-shot that will bring storylines from Batman, the Superman titles, and Suicide Squad: Dream Team together to lead into the event:
(click images to enlarge)
Absolute Power 2024 FCBD Special Edition (Available Saturday, May 4)
Fans can get an early jump on the excitement and intrigue of Absolute Power on Free Comic Book Day, Saturday, May 4, with the Absolute Power 2024 FCBD Special Edition, available at participating comic book shops nationwide (while supplies last).
This 32-page one-shot features an original 12-page story by writer and series architect Mark Waid (with art by Mikel Janín), a recap of the events that led up to Absolute Power, plus a sneak preview of Absolute Power #1.
Absolute Power: Ground Zero #1 (On Sale Tuesday, June 25)
As the DC Universe braces for the Absolute Power onslaught, the key to capturing all metahuman powers on planet Earth will finally be unlocked in this oversize one-shot prelude. Bridging the events of Batman, Superman, Action Comics, and Suicide Squad: Dream Team, Absolute Power: Ground Zero #1 brings Amanda Waller’s total dominance to the doorsteps of DC’s Super Heroes, using the combined might of Failsafe, the Brainiac Queen, and the Suicide Squad.
Featuring a main cover by Absolute Power series artist Dan Mora, Absolute Power: Ground Zero #1 brings together an all-star roster of creative talent to show how this plan comes together, including Mark Waid, Nicole Maines, Joshua Williamson, and Chip Zdarsky, along with artists Gleb Melnikov, V Ken Marion, and Skylar Patridge.
Then, come July, the Absolute Power event will properly kick off, with the first issue of the four-issue miniseries arriving on Wednesday, July 3rd. The event will be accompanied by numerous tie-ins, including a companion miniseries, Absolute Power: Task Force VII, with villain-centric stories from different creative teams, as well as Absolute Power: Origins, a three-issue miniseries by writer John Ridley and artist Alitha Martinez that promises to give readers the “definitive origin” of main event antagonist Amanda Waller.
Absolute Power #1 (of 4) (On Sale Wednesday, July 3)
The combined powers of Failsafe and the Brainiac Queen have finally given Amanda Waller the ability to capture the powers of every metahuman, whether Super Hero or Super-Villain, on Earth. As chaos erupts in the streets and a massive disinformation campaign sways public opinion, the Suicide Squad commander methodically targets DC’s most powerful Super Heroes and their allies. But despite all that’s facing Superman, Wonder Woman, and other DC metahumans, a resistance is forming, with Batman leading the charge.
Absolute Power: Task Force VII
Absolute Power: Task Force VII is a biweekly companion series that explores the events of Absolute Power from the Super-Villains’ perspective, as the Trinity of Evil co-opts the combined powers of Amazo and the technology of Failsafe in their quest to eliminate all metahumans.
On sale July 10, Absolute Power: Task Force VII #1 is written by Leah Williams with art by Caitlin Yarsky and introduces the Last Son. Waller’s living weapon has eliminated the threat of Superman and all his allies in Metropolis, and nowit’s setting its sights on the DC Universe’s other metahuman clan: Shazam, Mary Marvel, and the rest of the Shazamily.
A hostile takeover is in store for the citizens of Atlantis on July 24, as Absolute Power: Task Force VII #2 introduces the Amazo robot known as Depth Charge. Depth Charge has stolen not only Aquaman’s powers, but his throne, and the Atlantean populace must either toe the line or risk having their powers taken as well. It falls to Mera and the rest of the Aqua-Family to launch a revolution without being discovered in this exciting issue by writer John Layman and artist Max Raynor.
Absolute Power: Task Force VII #3 ends the month with a bang on July 31, as the Amazo robot Jadestone absorbs the powers of the Justice Society of America. But after being compromised by Green Lantern Alan Scott’s willpower, Jadestone is faced with the possibility of making its own decisions. Will it continue to execute Waller’s orders or exercise free will, as the remaining JSA members attempt a rescue to free their teammates and escape to the Tower of Fate? Find out in this story from Green Lantern writer Jeremy Adams and artist Marco Santucci.
Absolute Power: Origins #1 (of 3) (On Sale July 24)
The definitive history of one of the deadliest power players in the DC Universe is revealed in this three-issue series by Academy Award-winning writer John Ridley (The Other History of the DC Universe, I Am Batman) and artist Alitha Martinez.
Amanda Waller has been the driving force behind Absolute Power and has long had a serious axe to grind against metahumans. Find out what has led her to this place in a tale of how Waller suffered a catastrophic loss, and how she forged her powerlessness into a path to vengeance, fueled by two words that changed her life, and the lives of everyone in the DC Universe: NEVER AGAIN.
Along with all the specific Absolute Power titles, the event will be crossing over into a number of core DCU titles, namely for Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman.
On sale July 2, the landmark 150th issue of Batman features not only legendary DC artist and Milestone Media cofounder Denys Cowan joining writer Chip Zdarsky and series artist Jorge Jiménez on the main story, but Zdarsky and artist Mike Hawthorne reuniting (“The Bat-Man of Gotham”) for an Absolute Power tie-in story featuring Batman and Catwoman planning the most dangerous heist of their lives. The target: Amanda Waller!
On July 17, in the pages of Wonder Woman #11, Diana’s quest for the truth is placed on hold as she comes face-to-face with Waller’s latest toy, an Amazo robot ready to take all her powers for good! Wonder Woman can use all the help she can get to survive; find out if the Justice League Dark is up to the task in this Absolute Power tie-in by Tom King, Tony S. Daniel, and Belén Ortega.
Also on sale July 17, Superman #16 not only ties into Absolute Power, but welcomes fan-favorite artist Jamal Campbell back to the series penned by Joshua Williamson. Due to Waller’s Amazo assault by the Last Son, Superman is injured and powerless, having retreated to the Fortress of Solitude. As his home becomes a refuge for survivors, the Man of Steel must go on a dangerous mission into the realm of magic with DC’s backward-speaking spell-slinger, Zatanna.
That’s a lot of books, but it does offer a lot more detail about what’s coming in the event. Waid and Mora previously told an Amazo-centric story in the pages of Batman/Superman: World’s Finest, and it looks like this event may pick up on some threads from that story in addition to what it’s picking up from the other present-day DCU Titles.
Absolute Power #1 (of 4) is due out in stores and digitally on Wednesday, July 3rd.
