Batman's Greatest Battle Already Had Its Ending Spoiled By DC (Theory Explained)

Summary Batman may finally defeat Zur-En-Arrh, but trouble is far from over with Failsafe in Waller's hands.

DC Comics' Absolute Power solicitations make no mention of Zur-En-Arrh, but not Failsafe.

Zur-En-Arrh's personality might be erased, but Failsafe is still a serious threat in the DC Universe, especially in Amanda Waller's hands.

The epic battle between Batman and his twisted Zur-En-Arrh personality has already been spoiled. A look into the future through DC Comics' solicitations hints that Bruce Wayne's intense war with Zur-En-Arrh isn't going to end how fans think it will.

For months, Batman has been vexed by his ruthless counterpart, the Batman of Zur-En-Arrh. Now Zur-En-Arrh is on the precipice of getting everything he's ever wanted. But a few curious details hidden throughout the solicited information in DC Comics' July releases could be spoiling how Batman's big battle with Zur-En-Arrh is going to shake out.

Where is Zur-En-Arrh During Absolute Power?

Absolute Power: Ground Zero #1 (2024) Release Date: July 3rd, 2024 Writers: Mark Waid, Joshua Williamson, Nicole Maines, and Chip Zdarsky Artists: Gleb Melnikov, Skylar Patridge, and V Ken Marion Cover Artist: Dan Mora Variant Covers: Gleb Melnikov, Mikel Janin, John Timms, and Dan Mora 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!

Dark days are ahead in the DC Universe. This July, the publisher officially kicks off its big summer event Absolute Power. Solicitations for Absolute Power: Ground Zero #1 and Absolute Power #1 reveal that the Trinity of Evil, composed of Amanda Waller, Failsafe, and the Brainiac Queen have succeeded and the DC Universe has fallen. All across the world, metahumans’ powers have vanished and any heroes resisting are being hunted down by the all-Amazo squad Task Force VII, who have copied the Justice League’s power set.

Anytime the individual Trinity of Evil members is referenced, the solicitations say ‘Failsafe’, but not Zur-En-Arrh.

Leading the Justice League-inspired Task Force VII is Failsafe, the robotic contingency Batman developed that was hijacked by Bruce’s backup personality, the Batman of Zur-En-Arrh. The Failsafe robot is seen on several covers. It’s working alongside the Amazo robots fighting the Justice League and it’s there next to its partners in the Trinity of Evil, Brainiac Queen and Waller. But something is curious about the numerous solicitations relating to Absolute Power. The information makes mention of the Failsafe body, but not the Batman personality currently inhabiting it.

The solicitations are very carefully worded. Anytime the individual Trinity of Evil members is referenced, the solicitations say ‘Failsafe’, but not Zur-En-Arrh. Both Absolute Power: Ground Zero #1 and Absolute Power #1 say that Waller has used the combined might of Failsafe and the Brainiac Queen. But no Absolute Power titles, nor any tie-in books, reference Zur-En-Arrh. The android is seen on various covers, still dressed up in the same costume from the current Batman arc “Dark Prisons”, but strangely enough, despite the role he seemingly plays, Zur-En-Arrh isn’t mentioned anywhere.

Zur-En-Arrh Has Been Crucial to Setting Up Absolute Power

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Zur-En-Arrh is the streamlined backup personality developed by Bruce for one purpose: to handle stressful situations too intense for Bruce. Zur-En-Arrh is a Dark Knight without the moralities or constraints of Bruce’s personality and will do whatever is necessary to achieve justice. While Zur-En-Arrh was only created to help Bruce deal with dire emergencies, the Joker, obsessed with Zur-En-Arrh, decided to make him the dominant personality in Batman’s mind. Over the course of years, Joker began creating emergency situations to coax Zur-En-Arrh out and ultimately take control.

Batman's battle against Zur-En-Arrh and Failsafe begins in Batman #125 (2022)!

After convincing the Penguin to fake his death and frame Batman, Failsafe, designed to stop Batman by any means necessary, was activated. This was the final step necessary to truly awaken Zur-En-Arrh, who began plotting a way to take over Batman’s body as Bruce dealt with increasingly stressful situations. Zur-En-Arrh nearly succeeded in taking over Batman’s body, but instead, Zur-En-Arrh transferred his consciousness over to Failsafe’s body. Zur-En-Arrh gave Bruce one chance to stand down, but Bruce refused, forcing the ‘new Batman’ to imprison Bruce in Blackgate Penitentiary.

With Bruce out of the way, there was no one to stop Zur-En-Arrh from taking Gotham by storm. He began arresting criminals en masse and threw them in his private prison. The Bat-Family monitored this situation, fearing what had happened to Bruce. Damian, on the other hand, became convinced that Zur-En-Arrh was really Bruce and began working with the false Dark Knight. It wasn’t too long into their partnership that Robin discovered Zur-En-Arrh had acquired several Amazos as part of his plans for complete order.

Does Zur-En-Arrh Survive His Last Encounter with Batman?

It should be noted that while Zur-En-Arrh and Failsafe were created as independent entities, they’ve since amalgamated into one being. Currently, the being known as ‘Zur-En-Arrh’ is Bruce’s alter ego with the robotic body of Failsafe. While Failsafe had a personality at one point (albeit very limited), the automaton’s memory was fragmented to make room for Zur-En-Arrh's mind. As it is right now, the only ‘Failsafe’ around are the drones currently keeping an eye on the prisoners in Blackgate Penitentiary. Aside from that, Failsafe isn’t exactly around anymore.

However, Bruce might finally purge Zur-En-Arrh’s personality from the Failsafe robot, finally ridding the world of Batman's darkest copycat.

If that’s the case, why do the solicitations go out of the way to constantly reference Failsafe and not Zur-En-Arrh? He’s obviously there, still dressed up in his new Batman costume, standing with the Task Force VII and the Trinity of Evil. But nowhere in DC’s July solicitations does it ever mention the name Zur-En-Arrh. It should be noted that Absolute Power does take place after the end of the “Dark Prisons” arc, which appears to be setting up an intense battle between Batman and Zur-En-Arrh.

Assuming that these solicitations are indications of what’s about to happen in “Dark Prisons”, one could conclude that Batman and Zur-En-Arrh’s fight ends in Bruce’s favor. Of course, fans know that Bruce won’t stop the automaton completely, as Amanda Waller is clearly still going to use Failsafe’s power as part of her efforts to stop DC’s metahumans. However, Bruce might finally purge Zur-En-Arrh’s personality from the Failsafe robot, finally ridding the world of Batman's darkest copycat. It should be noted that Mikel Janin’s variant for Absolute Power: Ground Zero #1 shows Waller standing with Failsafe, with no sign of Zur-En-Arrh’s personality left.

Batman Will Beat Zur-En-Arrh, But His Troubles Are Just Starting

While it would certainly be a victory for Zur-En-Arrh’s personality to be wiped away, Failsafe is still a sinister piece of equipment that once took out the Justice League. Not to mention Waller is just as dangerous and is capable of bringing out the automaton’s worst in her campaign to destroy DC’s metahumans. Sure, Bruce may finally be closing the Zur-En-Arrh chapter of his life, but he’s about to see what kind of damage Waller can do when she comes into possession of Batman’s ultimate contingency, Failsafe.

Absolute Power: Ground Zero #1 is available on July 3rd from DC Comics.