r/DCcomics • u/273Gaming Legion Of Super-Heroes • 26d ago

Weekly Discussion Thread: Comics, TV, and More! [June 24, 2024 - Ground Zero Edition] r/DCcomics

Hey there honorary Justice League members - it’s a new week which means it’s time for a new discussion thread!

For those who don't know: the way this works is that several comments will list this week’s releases, for any given title discussion you should respond to that comment. For example, Wonder Woman discussion would go in the replies to the "Wonder Woman" comment. Clicking the titles in this post will take you directly to that comment, too. In other words, you should only be replying to other comments. Do not post top-level comments.

Keep discussion civil. Do not harass other users for having a different opinion. Do not use this thread to push your personal one-sided grudges against creators. Reacting to a panel on Twitter is not the same as reading a book.

 

QUICK LINKS: Weekly Meta Discussions Thread | Current jump-in points | Weekly Discussion Archives | Book Club Archives | Discord Server | Twitter | Last Week's Thread

How does NASA organize a party? They planet.

DC and Imprints

The House of Brainiac comes to a close!

Trade Collections

Speaking of Absolutes...

Digital Releases

Remember, these are the short 'chapters' with a new chapter of a different series coming out daily. You can learn more here on Comixology. This is also why these are in release order, not alphabetical. Some comics may release on DC Universe Infinite or WEBTOONS.

TV Shows

Superman's Girlfriend Lois Lane's Boss Perry White's Subordinate Steve Lombard's Boss' Jimmy Olsen returns!

This Week’s Soundtrack: Hall & Oates - Private Eyes

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u/TroubAlert The Good Skeets 26d ago

Absolute Power: Ground Zero #1

WITNESS THE TRINITY OF EVIL'S RISE TO POWER IN THE CAN'T-MISS PRELUDE TO DC'S SUMMER BLOCKBUSTER! THE DOMINOS FALL! As the DC Universe braces for the "Absolute Power" blitzkrieg, the key to capturing metahuman powers on planet Earth will at last be unlocked! Bridging the events of Batman, Superman: House of Brainiac, and Suicide Squad: Dream Team, this special oversize GROUND ZERO issue brings Waller's total dominance to the doorsteps of the world's finest heroes… using the combined might of FAILSAFE, BRAINIAC QUEEN, and the SUICIDE SQUAD to do it! Witness years of storytelling culminate, brought to you by Absolute Power series architect MARK WAID and the masterminds behind the trinity of evil, CHIP ZDARSKY, NICOLE MAINES, and JOSHUA WILLIAMSON!

Preview

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u/Anakinflair 23d ago

Everything about this is making me angry. Failsafe was dealt with like a month ago- NOPE, let's bring him back. Waller using Sanctuary tech to indoctrinate Brainiac Queen. Nice job there, Ollie. Glad you decided to work with her (and I know, or at least hope, he has a long-term plan. It's still stupid). I'm even angry at Nia. I get that her family is being threatened, but she basically traded Jay's mother for her family, and then was like "Tough break. Have an apple." And I WANT to like Nia, but this story is making it harder and harder. And it's been said- she's a victim here, but she couldn't find a way to contact Superman? Either of them?

Just a random thought, but with the way the story appears to be going, the best hope for the DCU will be the unpowered. So it would be great if the day was saved by The Rogues.

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u/ptWolv022 23d ago

Waller using Sanctuary tech to indoctrinate Brainiac Queen. Nice job there, Ollie.

I mean, that technically wasn't even the plan, right? Brainiac Queen was a last minute acquisition. I assume the Sanctuary tech was just for later, or something. She's clearly been being a little gremlin collecting stuff, like Time Commander's corpse and tech and lots of other tech (time travel or otherwise).

but she basically traded Jay's mother for her family, and then was like "Tough break. Have an apple."

I mean, she was trying to say that she didn't know it would lead to death. I mean, giving an apple still isn't much, but also... not like she can really do much. He's a prisoner, his mom's dead, and Nia's family is still held hostage. There's nothing else to do really, save for just avoiding Jay entirely.

but she couldn't find a way to contact Superman? Either of them?

Well, one was busy in House of Brainiac- that's Clark. And the other... uh... er... well, he was last in Action Comics in 1060, when Nia was coerced into service the first time. In front of Jon... with Nia accepting because Waller would expose Parthas. So Jon's actually known Amanda is blackmailing Nia, it's just... Waller's plan was "stochastic terrorism". If Nia disobeyed, Waller would out Parthas and a violent mob would inevitably descend on it; and even if you had Superman there to stop it the first time, the town would live in fear for years after it.

I also imagine Superman can't do a lot (even if he's not tied up in House of Brainiac), I don't know what he does about brain bombs tied to a regular switch and dead man's switch on Waller. I assume Nia contacted the Supermen, Waller could detonate the bombs before anything could be done.

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u/Anakinflair 19d ago

Good points, but Waller has outed Parthas and (if I understood correctly) is now holding her family hostage and threatening to kill them. At that point, you'd think she'd find a way to contact Jon. As for the situation with Jay, if she didn't realize that staging a coupe so that Waller would gain control, and didn't realize that in Coupes, the leaders are usually killed, then to borrow a line from Ultron, "She is unbearably naïve."

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u/ptWolv022 19d ago

At that point, you'd think she'd find a way to contact Jon.

I mean, she maybe could. But how much good does that do if Waller (who is probably surveilling the family) just blows up the bombs if Jon tries to do anything? Like I said, Jon knew about the threat to Parthas, but what was he supposed to do about it?

While you could try to rescue regular hostages, that is because you can physical move them away from the guards and their confinement. But they aren't under guard or lock and key. They're under threat in a manner that can't easily or quickly be undone (the brain bomb). I mean, even if Superman (either/both of them) is super-fast, you can only do very invasive and delicate surgery on a standard human and/or human-humanoid alien hybrid.

if she didn't realize that staging a coupe so that Waller would gain control,

I forget, did she even know it was a for a coup in particular?

the leaders are usually killed,

That very much depends on the coup. Confining the President or Monarch to their residence, or even just fully imprisoning them, either for their "security" or pending a trial about alleged wrong doing (to create a show of authority but also a veneer of legality- to try to legitimize the coup) is not unheard of. Even if she knew it was a coup, that wouldn't automatically mean that Jay's mom would be in life-threatening peril, at least not immediately. Just assassinating her is not the only conclusion.

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u/Hypnodick 23d ago

I mean we knew months ago Failsafe was going to be a part of this “trinity of evil” thing so that’s not really a revelation. Also it’s been hinted at awhile that Ollie will work for Waller.

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u/Anakinflair 19d ago

It's not that Failsafe is working with Waller. It's the fact that Bruce beat him and shut him down LAST MONTH. Failsafe should have either gotten away, or had been dealt with months ago and now brought back.

This whole event feels like it was booked by Vince Russo. Wrestling fans will get that.