One of Batman’s most underrated enemies is back for a rematch in the middle of DC’s Absolute Power.

After infiltrating the deepest corners of Amanda Waller’s operation, the titular hero of Batman #151 finds himself stepping into a small piece of what seems like paradise that has been carved out of the harsh terrain of the planet Czarnia. As the full scope of Waller’s plans come into focus, the chance to come to terms with them is stripped away from the Dark Knight by the sudden appearance of his old foe the Gunsmith. Worse still, the United States government has already given the Gunsmith the green light to take Batman down with lethal force.

Written by CHIP ZDARSKY Art by MIKE HAWTHORNE Inks by ADRIANO DI BENEDETTO Colors by ROMULO FAJARDO JR. Letters by CLAYTON COWLES Main cover art by SALVADOR LARROCA & MATT HERMS Variant covers by GUILLEM MARCH, JILL THOMPSON, JAMES HARREN, and STEVAN SUBIC

Introduced in the pages of 2020’s Batman #86 by James Tynion IV and Tony S. Daniel, the villainous Gunsmith was born Douglas Worth. After a long career as a military contractor, Douglas was estranged from all of his former employers for his overtly violent, frequently reckless methods. This made him a prime choice for the villainous Deathstroke, who needed a second hand carrying out a mission in Gotham City.

During one of his encounters with Batman, the Gunsmith very nearly ended the Dark Knight’s life while dragging him through the streets of Gotham on his motorcycle. Although the Gunsmith was ultimately imprisoned for his crimes, he was given a shot at freedom when he was inducted into the ranks of Waller’s shadowy forces. Along with Peacemaker and Peacewrecker, the Gunsmith helped Waller recover the Helmet of Hate which was later bequeathed to Raven’s dark, demonic persona.

Absolute Power marks the culmination of Amanda Waller’s long-running plot to dismantle the operations of the likes of the Justice League and the Titans. To do so, she has amassed an army of Amazo androids capable of stealing away the powers of the world’s heroes and villains, seemingly permanently. Waller has also allied herself with the Brainiac Queen, who she gave false memories of growing up in her own care as an adoptive daughter in much the same vein as Superman’s origin story.

Batman #151 is on sale now from DC Comics.

Source: DC Comics