The Justice League Is Facing Its Biggest Betrayal Ever - I Think I Know Who It Is

Summary The Justice League faces betrayal by a mysterious figure with Cyborg-like traits in Absolute Power #2.

Amanda Waller's alliance with the Brainiac Queen leads to a surprise assault on the Fortress of Solitude.

Cyborg's could very well be the traitor suggested in Absolute Power #2's solicitation.

The Justice League is about to be betrayed by one of their own and the possible identity of this traitor could have huge effects on the DC Universe. The event Absolute Power is drawing near and Amanda Waller is about to launch a powerful attack on the world's metahuman population.

A glimpse at the upcoming event reveals some surprising details about Absolute Power. Between new alliances and unexpected developments, fans are in for an action-packed month. But a curious solicitation hints that one hero is suddenly turning against their pals and it could be trouble for the Justice League and the entire DC Universe.

A Cyborg-Like Figure is Attacking the Justice League in Absolute Power #2

Absolute Power #2 (2024) Release Date: August 7th, 2024 Writer: Mark Waid Artist: Dan Mora Cover Artist: Dan Mora Variant Covers: Stephen Bliss, Lucio Parrillo, Tyler Kirkham, Nathan Szerdy, and Simon Di Meo SIEGE OF THE FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE! In the aftermath of Amanda Waller’s total victory, the metahumans of the DC universe have been depowered, scattered to the wind, and are reeling from critical defeat across the planet. But the resistance lives on. Any heroes not rounded up by the TRINITY OF EVIL have rendezvoused at Superman’s Fortress of Solitude…but even this sanctuary of peace and hope is not safe from Waller’s blitzkrieg. The precog known as Dreamer has pointed Waller’s weapons to the frozen tundra where our heroes lick their wounds…and the shocker general leading Waller’s charge to raze the fortress to the ground will leave you breathless. It’s underdog versus complete global domination in this epic second installment of the ABSOLUTE POWER saga!

Last month, fans got their first peek at Absolute Power, DC Comics' epic summer event that sees Amanda Waller teaming up with Failsafe and the Brainiac Queen to form a 'Trinity of Evil'. Together, the cadre of villains steals the powers of every single metahuman in the DC Universe. To make matters worse,, Failsafe unleashes an army of Amazos known as Task Force VII, each one modeled after a particular member of the Justice League, to round up and imprison the world’s heroes.

Clark is being attacked by a shadowy figure that appears to be infused with Brainiac technology.

Things are only going to get worse as the second wave of Absolute Power begins. DC Comics’ August batch of solicitations reveals that those who haven’t been captured by Task Force VII and the Trinity of Evil are hiding out at Superman’s Fortress of Solitude in Absolute Power #2. Unfortunately, Waller has the precognitive hero Dreamer on her side and launches an all-out assault on the Man of Steel’s home-away-from-home. If it weren’t bad enough, Waller is also sending a ‘shocker general’ to lead this attack.

Absolute Power artist Dan Mora provides the standard cover for the second issue, which provides a glimpse at the battle raging in the Fortress of Solitude. In the background, Batman, Wonder Woman, Nightwing, Raven, and Starfire all fight off Brainiac tentacles. But in the foreground, a powerless Superman seems to have lost his fight. Clark is being attacked by a shadowy figure that appears to be infused with Brainiac technology. Though hard to tell, the figure throttling the Man of Steel seems to favor Cyborg.

Amanda Waller's Recent Issues with the Titans and Cyborg

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At the end of Dark Crisis on Infinite Earths, Amanda Waller was commissioned by the Council of Light to begin the process of eliminating metahumans from the DC Universe. As is her nature, she worked slowly and methodically, watching from the shadows and waiting for the best opportunity to strike. In that time, Waller took special notice of how the Titans had risen to become the premier superhero team after the Justice League disbanded. As the Titans fought to make the world a better place, Waller plotted against them.

Waller focused her efforts on collecting powerful relics like the Nightmare Stone and the Helmet of Hate and making a side deal with Raven’s demon half that had gained a physical form. Shortly after recruiting the evil Raven to be her newest asset Doctor Hate, Waller got the chance to gain power and discredit the Titans in front of the world. In the “Beast World” crossover, Waller used Doctor Hate to mind-wipe Beast Boy and turn him into an out-of-control monster.

Waller has even made a side bargain with Raven's demonic father Trigon, as seen in Titans #9 (2024)!

Waller was able to use the ensuing chaos to convince the United States President to activate the Bureau of Sovereignty and make Waller its head. With unquestionable power, Waller revealed a plan to bomb every animal-human hybrid created by Beast Boy. The Titans stopped Waller, using Cyborg to hack the United States’ military drones. Unfortunately, Waller used this as evidence that the Titans couldn’t be trusted and began a smear campaign against the team while she continued with her plans to bring Earth’s metahumans down.

Why Cyborg Has to Be the Justice League's Traitor

To be fair, the traitor hinted at in this solicitation isn’t named. Not to mention there are a few other heroes who have been going down a dark path in recent months. Raven, for example, was secretly replaced by her evil half and imprisoned in a gem, something the Titans still haven’t discovered. There’s also Green Arrow, who recently made a deal to work with Waller and can be seen in solicited covers dressed up in a new Task Force X-themed costume.

It’s not a stretch to imagine that Brainiac Queen could find some way of hacking or corrupting Cyborg’s tech...

However, both of these developments are known to the reader and wouldn’t exactly be as shocking as the solicitation implies if it were Raven or Green Arrow. But it would be a hell of a surprise to see Cyborg attacking his friends in the Justice League and Titans. Though the figure is obscured on the cover of Absolute Power #2, it appears to be an amalgamation of machinery and humanity much like Cyborg (the figure even has Vic's trademark red left eye).

Waller was pissed when Cyborg prevented her military attack in Titans: Beast World #5 and she’d absolutely be vindictive enough to get revenge. Plus, Waller’s going to be working with the Brainiac Queen, who presumably has highly advanced tech like her male counterpart. It’s not a stretch to imagine that Brainiac Queen could find some way of hacking or corrupting Cyborg’s tech and forcefully turning him into an asset for the Trinity of Evil. Waller’s a cruel enough person to enjoy the irony of one of the Titans’ own attacking both them and the Justice League.

Can Cyborg Come Back From Going Rogue?

Cyborg wouldn’t be the first Titan turned into a monster by Amanda Waller (just look at Beast Boy). But if Vic’s tech is seriously corrupted it’ll be harder for him to return to normal than Garfield. Even if Victor does return, being turned into one of the Trinity of Evil’s assets and attacking his friends is something that’s going to weigh heavily on him. It all depends on how deep Cyborg’s potential corruption goes and how badly he winds up attacking his friends. Hopefully, the Justice League can aid their old comrade, even as he turns to the dark side.

Absolute Power #2 is available on August 7th.