DC’s Trinity of Evil: Why Amanda Waller, Brainiac, and Failsafe Are DC’s New Power Axis
In the ever-evolving tapestry of the DC Universe, heroes and villains alike find themselves
reshaped by cataclysmic events, editorial reboots, and bold new storytelling directions. But in
recent months, a new sinister alignment has emerged, one that redefines what power looks
like in a world filled with gods and monsters.
Amanda Waller, Brainiac, and Failsafe have formed a triumvirate of cold calculation,
relentless logic, and terrifying ambition. Together, they form DC’s new axis of evil, and they
might just be the most dangerous power trio the multiverse has ever seen.
Amanda Waller: The Strategist
Amanda Waller has always been a controversial figure in DC lore. Neither hero nor villain,
she’s operated in the moral gray zone since her inception. But recent storylines have pushed
her further into villainous territory than ever before. Her role in Dawn of DC has seen her
making calculated moves not just against the Suicide Squad’s enemies, but against the very
concept of superpowered individuals.
Waller’s reach has grown global. She’s weaponized metahuman research, manipulated entire
governments, and, most chillingly, begun targeting heroes like Superman and Batman as
existential threats. Her goal? A world where only humans are in charge. She’s moved from a
behind-the-scenes puppet master to an active power player, assembling anti-hero teams and
artificial beings to act on her behalf. She doesn’t want to control superheroes. She wants to
eliminate them.
Waller’s shift from morally ambiguous commander to outright antagonist places her at the
top of DC’s threat list. And she’s no longer acting alone.
Brainiac: The Alien Mind
Few villains in DC history have the raw intellect and narrative weight of Brainiac. The
Collector of Worlds has long been a threat to Superman and the wider galaxy, but in recent
arcs, he’s returned with a renewed sense of menace and a chilling agenda that aligns
disturbingly well with Waller’s.
Brainiac’s obsession with order, knowledge, and control make him a natural ally for Waller’s
crusade. With his unmatched technological prowess, Brainiac offers the muscle behind
Waller’s strategy: access to surveillance networks, artificial intelligence, and multiversal data
collection that makes Big Brother look like amateur hour.
Their recent collaboration in storylines like Superman: House of Brainiac reveals a terrifying
synergy. Waller brings the political clout and ruthlessness, while Brainiac supplies the cosmic
resources. Together, they represent the fusion of Earth’s worst authoritarian impulses with the
cold logic of extraterrestrial domination.
Failsafe: The Machine
Failsafe may be the newest member of this trinity, but he’s arguably the most frightening.
Created by Batman as a contingency to take him down should he ever cross the line, Failsafe
is a robotic force of nature. Designed to be faster, stronger, and more tactical than the Dark
Knight himself, what happens when a weapon meant to enforce justice becomes a tool of
oppression?
In Batman by Chip Zdarsky, Failsafe proved himself a nearly unstoppable adversary, capable
of outthinking and overpowering the entire Bat-family. His pure logical programming makes
him a perfect enforcer for Waller’s vision. A superweapon with no allegiance to morality, just
mission parameters.
Recent issues suggest Failsafe is no longer acting alone, and possibly not even under his
original programming. With hints of reprogramming or alignment with Waller’s forces,
Failsafe now represents the terrifying possibility of a justice system devoid of humanity. He
is Batman’s worst fear brought to life: a version of himself that never stops, never doubts, and
never shows mercy.
A New Cornerstone of Control
Together, Amanda Waller, Brainiac, and Failsafe represent a thematic shift in DC’s villain
hierarchy. They’re not interested in chaos, conquest, or destruction for its own sake. Their
mission is control. This makes them all the more dangerous, because their actions are fully
justified in their minds.
This trinity isn’t driven by ego or vengeance. They’re driven by ideology. Waller wants to
eliminate the unpredictability of superheroes. Brainiac seeks the perfection of collected
knowledge. Failsafe is the embodiment of absolute order. Alone, each is formidable. But
together, they form a system that threatens to rewrite the balance of power in the DC
Universe.
What This Means for DC’s Future
As DC continues to retool its universe in the wake of events like Dark Crisis and Lazarus
Planet, this alignment of villains signals a new storytelling era. One less concerned with
cosmic gods or magic-fueled mayhem, and more focused on surveillance, technology, and
authoritarianism. It’s a reflection of modern fears, of power without accountability, of
systems that cannot be reasoned with, of intelligence used as a weapon.
In this new age, the greatest threat to the Justice League isn’t a monster or a warlord, it’s a
government official, a robot, and a collector.
And they might already be winning.
