DC's New, Evil Superman Officially Debuts by Killing an Iconic Franchise Villain
Get ready for some serious drama in the DC Universe, because things are about to get wild with the debut of Amanda Waller's Superman-inspired AMAZO, The Last Son. This new evil Superman isn't messing around, and he proves it by killing a big name Justice League villain in Absolute Power: Task Force VII #1. This death not only signals a potential for more casualties in the fight against metas but also hints at how Waller's plan might fall apart, offering a glimmer of hope for the DC Universe.
The Last Son: Amanda Waller's Superman-Inspired AMAZO Makes His Debut By Killing Parasite
This death is significant for a couple of reasons. It's the first time in Absolute Power that one of Waller's Task Force VII Amazos has killed someone on-page, and it also serves as The Last Son's official debut. We're talking about a big, bad first impression.
In Absolute Power: Task Force VII #1, Amanda Waller orders The Last Son to track down and drain Billy Batson and Mary Marvel, the Shazam kids, of their remaining powers before capturing them. The Last Son isn't going solo though, he's got some company: Parasite, the iconic Justice League villain known for his energy-draining abilities, who acts as a "bloodhound" leading The Last Son straight to Billy and Mary.
But here's the twist. After locating the kids, The Last Son turns on Parasite and kills him, marking the first kill executed by Waller's Task Force VII. What gives?
Well, it's important to know that Parasite wasn't exactly thrilled to be Waller's or The Last Son's buddy. Waller forced him into the role by taking away his appetite-suppressing device. This device kept his insatiable hunger for power absorption in check. With control of the device, Waller effectively controlled Parasite. Once Parasite finds Billy and Mary, he begs The Last Son to give him his appetite-suppressing armband back. The Last Son's response? A cold, "Yes. I see you're in pain, and now I shall reward you by ending it," before unleashing a deadly burst of energy that kills the villain.
This is a major and shocking development. It's surprising that Waller, who was basically in control of Parasite, would allow The Last Son to kill him. He could have been used to track down other metas. This raises some serious questions about whether The Last Son is acting independently of Waller's orders, putting everyone at risk.
Plus, this is the first on-page death in Absolute Power caused by one of Waller's Task Force VII Amazos, and it serves as The Last Son's official debut, making a powerful first impression. He's here to play for keeps.
Parasite's Death Signals the Collapse of Amanda Waller's Absolute Power Plan
Parasite's demise reveals a big flaw in Waller's plan, one that could be used against her. After The Last Son takes out Parasite, he starts to glitch, speaking gibberish and experiencing physical twitches. It turns out that this malfunction is connected to the powers he's stolen. Black Adam explains, "When you thieve powers, you also glean other attributes.” In other words, The Last Son inherits the consciousness of the heroes he's draining. So, when The Last Son gets violent, it goes against the moral codes of the heroes whose powers he's absorbed, causing him to malfunction.
Given The Last Son's mission to depower metahumans, this flaw is going to get bigger and more exploitable. It seems like the most effective way to take down these Amazos is to overload them with the absorption of different heroes' powers. By transferring the heroes' morals and aversion to killing onto The Last Son, they would malfunction to the point of becoming non-functional or significantly weakened, leaving them open to other forms of defeat. This programming vulnerability is crucial for the Justice League and other heroes in their fight against these evil Amazos in Absolute Power.
Dc Comics' big summer event Absolute Power has arrived, and it kicks off with a chapter that fans won't want to miss. Absolute Power: Task Force VII #1 is available now from DC Comics!
