Warning! Spoilers ahead for Absolute Power #4!The Absolute Power has been hell for the DC Universe's metahumans thanks to Amanda Waller stealing nearly every superhero's powers with her insidious all-Amazo crew, Task Force VII.

Not only did heroes have their powers taken away, many were arrested and imprisoned in Waller's supermax prison on the island nation of Gamorra. Meanwhile, Task Force VII was siphoning off every special ability they could get their hands on. But Waller's reign of terror is over, and it's setting up an intriguing new dynamic for the DC All In era.

The Justice League's Powers Return, With Some Swapping Powers

Who Has Gained a Brand-New Power?

In Absolute Power #4 by Mark Waid, Dan Mora, Alejandro Sánchez, and Ariana Maher, the heroes have turned the tide and broken their comrades out of lockup. After being armed with weaponry procured by Green Lantern, the army uses a Mother Box and takes the fight directly to Amanda Waller's main base. While Nightwing and Jon Kent head off to take down Waller, the rest of the heroes stay back to fight her Task Force Agents. It's a valiant effort, but it isn't long before Task Force VII arrives to apprehend the Justice League.

Don't forget to read Absolute Power: Task Force VII #1-7 to learn more about Waller's robotic team!

Thankfully, the Amazos have a flaw that Batman has already discovered. They all have an hourglass created by Time Commander within them that allows them to heal from any damage instantly. The Dark Knight has Time Commander build an override device that, hopefully, will destroy all the Amazos in one fell swoop. Unfortunately, Batman gets caught up in the battle and loses the device. But Green Arrow, thought to be a traitor, finds Time Commander's gizmo and shoots it at one of Task Force VII's , causing a chain reaction that destroys the evil, android Justice League.

...some heroes have completely different powers altogether, such as Fire and Ice...

The Amazos explode, and the powers do indeed return to the heroes. However, something's off as some heroes have completely different powers altogether, such as Fire and Ice, who now have the other's ability, while Beast Girl has gained the ability to shape-shift into animals. In the days after, Green Arrow speaks with the Justice League, who discuss the fallout of Waller's campaign. Batman brings up the power swap among heroes as Plastic Man is shown phasing through a wall while Black Canary demonstrates new heat vision abilities.

How the Justice League Lost Their Powers

Amanda Waller Has Permanently Changed DC's Greatest Heroes

Waller has always desired control, but after venturing to Earth-3, home of the twisted Justice League variants known as the Crime Syndicate, she saw what superhumans were truly capable of and began working on a plan to reign them in. Waller returned to the Prime DC Universe and began working in the shadows, observing heroes and gaining assets that could help her see her vision through. However, it wasn't until she seized the Brainiac Queen and Failsafe (as well as the cache of Amazos that came with it) that she finally had everything she needed to defeat the Justice League.

Heroes as powerful as Superman, Wonder Woman, and even the Spectre were no match for Task Force VII.

After making upgrades to the Amazos, Waller had the Brainiac Queen flood the internet and media with AI-manipulated footage of superheroes attacking the world as part of a gambit to draw them out into the public. It worked and Waller immediately sent her new squad out to de-power the heroes en masse. Heroes as powerful as Superman, Wonder Woman, and even the Spectre were no match for Task Force VII. As hundreds of heroes were arrested, many fled underground and tried to form a resistance out of what was left of the Justice League.

Though many of the DC Universe's biggest heroes were without their powers, they refused to go down without a fight. Superman faced his fears about magic to find a hidden pathway for the heroes to exploit. Batman went on the heist of his life to steal a Mother Box that Waller had procured. And Wonder Woman led the effort to find Waller's prison and free the heroes that had been imprisoned. It was hard, but even without their powers, the Justice League rose to the occasion to stop Waller's power grab.

Batman #150-152 (2024), Wonder Woman #11-13 (2024), and Superman #16-18 (2024) are crucial tie-ins to the Absolute Power event.

The Justice League's New Status Quo Will Have a Big Impact in DC All In

How Badly is This Power Swap Going to Impact the DC Universe?

It's a relief that the powers have returned back to the heroes, but that doesn't mean this issue is over just yet. As Batman mentioned, the fallout from Waller's actions have had two main effects. Some heroes have swapped powers (such as Fire and Ice), but other heroes' powers aren't even ed for. While it's cool that Beast Girl can finally shape-shift into animals (helping her fill the void Beast Boy left so long ago), the Justice League can't just let this new dynamic stand.

Just imagine if a man like Dr. Psycho developed super-strength...

It's one thing if heroes have accidentally traded powers (Black Canary seems like she'd take well to having heat vision). But this isn't just a case of the Justice League switching powers. Some powers haven't returned to their proper owners at all. It's known that Lois Lane is about to become the DC Universe's newest Superwoman, and while Lois is a prime candidate for heroism, not everyone who suddenly gets a power will be. In fact, the Justice League's power switcheroo could be a crisis in the making.

Yes, Lois Lane begins her career as Superwoman starting in Joshua Williamson and Dan Mora's Superman #19, available October 23rd, 2024.

While the DC Universe is filled with people who'd make fine heroes, there are plenty of villains who'd do some serious damage if they suddenly got powers. Just imagine if a man like Dr. Psycho developed super-strength or if Black Manta became a speedster. And one can only imagine the heinous things the Joker could get up to if he suddenly gets a superpower. While the affected heroes are certainly in for a rough adjustment with their new or still-missing power, it's imperative that the Justice League track these powers and their new owners immediately.

The Justice League's New Powers Are an Amazing Setup to DC All In

Who Knows Who's Powers Will Stick?

DC Comics promised big changes with Absolute Power and the ending sure delivered it. While fans have yet to really see how this power exchange will work, it's almost certainly going to have some big ramifications. The real question is how much of this new dynamic is going to stay? Who's going to take to their new powers, potentially even refuse to give them up? It's a new era now that the Justice League's powers have swapped, and it's no doubt going to have a huge impact as DC All In gets going.

Absolute Power #4 is available now from DC Comics.