Summary

• Batman of Zur-En-Arrh has a powerful Failsafe body and ambitions to rid crime from the entire multiverse.
• Zur-En-Arrh has procured a stash of Amazo 3.0 robots.
• Amazo 3.0 robots are key in Zur-En-Arrh's plan to establish a crime-free world by potentially stealing metahumans' powers.

Warning! Spoilers ahead for Batman #146!One of the Justice League's greatest enemies has fallen into the hands of the most terrifying The Batman of Zur-En-Arrh has jailed Bruce Wayne and is currently bringing Gotham under his heel thanks to Zur-En-Arrh's powerful Failsafe body.

But as powerful as Zur-En-Arrh is now, he's only one Batman, and he's got ambitions to rid not only the entire planet of crime but the entire multiverse. To do so, Zur-En-Arrh is bringing back a classic villain that could spell huge trouble for the DC Universe's heroes down the line, especially as the Absolute Power draws closer.

How Batman's Ultimate Self Was Unleashed onto the World

Batman’s latest trial got started when the Penguin faked his death, a moment that triggered Failsafe, an android designed to take down Batman if he ever took a life. The robotic contingency was too much for Batman, causing Bruce’s alter ego the Batman of Zur-En-Arrh to take over. Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough and Batman was hunted down across the globe before Failsafe shot Batman with a gun that sent him to another dimension. As Bruce began trying to find a way home, Zur-En-Arrh began working in the background of Batman's mind.

The latest Batman run and Bruce's adventure with Zur-En-Arrh begins in Batman Vol. 1: Failsafe (2022)!

Batman ventured all across the multiverse, but deep in the recesses of Bruce’s mind, Zur-En-Arrh was formulating a plan to wipe out the idea of crime. Zur-En-Arrh began manipulating Bruce and caused him to isolate himself from the Bat-Family. With Batman psychologically worn down, Zur-En-Arrh took his chance at taking over Bruce’s body during a confrontation with the Joker. However, Zur-En-Arrh knew it wasn’t a stable environment and opted for the next best thing: Zur-En-Arrh transferred his consciousness out of Batman's mind and into Failsafe’s indestructible body.

Now more powerful than ever, Zur-En-Arrh was ready to take over as Batman and informed Bruce that his time was over. Bruce tried to take Zur-En-Arrh down, only for Zur-En-Arrh to defeat and imprison Batman in Blackgate Penitentiary. As Bruce tried fighting his way out of the underground prison, Zur-En-Arrh took to Gotham, violently brutalizing criminals and apprehending Batman’s biggest villains starting with the Riddler. The Bat-Family could only watch on in horror as Zur-En-Arrh’s crusade to end crime in Gotham began in earnest.

Batman's Evil Side Has Procured the Justice League's Old Enemy Amazo (But Why?)

In Batman #146 by Chip Zdarsky, Jorge Jiménez, Michele Bandini, Tomeu Morey, Alex Sinclair, and Clayton Cowles, Batman is still in Blackgate being brought up to speed on Zur-En-Arrh’s plans by Dr. Daniel Captio. Meanwhile, Zur-En-Arrh is continuing his brutal hunt for the of Batman’s rogues’ gallery. But Zur-En-Arrh isn’t alone as Robin, convinced that Zur-En-Arrh is his father, fights with the new Batman and the two manage to apprehend Killer Croc. However, the two are interrupted by Spoiler, who tries to talk sense into Damian.

The Batman of Zur-En-Arrh reveals that he’s actually obtained several copies of Amazo 3.0.

Unfortunately, Stephanie’s words fall on deaf ears as Robin continues to hunt down more criminals with his father. As Nightwing and Oracle discuss the Zur-En-Arrh situation with Bruce’s friends in the Justice League, more criminals begin filling up the prison. The Joker’s girlfriend Punchline is processed in Blackgate just as Bruce starts to make an escape. Meanwhile, Zur-En-Arrh and Robin find Harley Quinn’s hideout and apprehend her. Zur-En-Arrh chokes Harley, causing her to plead, saying she’s changed. Cracks begin forming in Robin’s mind as he sees the brutal way Zur-En-Arrh handles Harley.

Damian reflects on the work he and Zur-En-Arrh did while watching the news, noting that Gotham’s citizens are divided on the new Batman’s work. Damian dismisses the report just as he finds an Amazo robot in Zur-En-Arrh’s bunker. The Batman of Zur-En-Arrh reveals that he’s actually obtained several copies of Amazo 3.0. Zur-En-Arrh its that even he has limits and that for his plan to work, the new Batman is going to need an army.

Zur-En-Arrh's Amazos Will Help Him Conquer the World in Absolute Power

DC fans know just how powerful Amazos are. The most powerful weapon created by Professor Ivo, Amazo was made with tech that can copy the abilities of metahumans and other powerful beings. In the past, one Amazo has been enough to be a Justice League-level threat that could only be defeated through multiple League working together. An upgraded version of Amazo, known as NewMazo, was seen in Batman / Superman: World’s Finest. Unlike the previous Justice League villain, Amazo 2.0 could also absorb intelligence.

Zur-En-Arrh is about to strike a deal with Amanda Waller

However, it’s not clear what Amazo 3.0 is capable of, though it’s safe to say that it and the other copies Zur-En-Arrh has procured can duplicate powers much like the original Amazo. But one thing to keep in mind is that Zur-En-Arrh is about to strike a deal with Amanda Waller, laying the groundwork for DC Comics’ event, Absolute Power. Fans have already heard that Waller is going to change the DC Universe by stealing the powers of every metahuman on Earth, but so far, there have been no clues as to how she’ll do that.

Perhaps this new Amazo model can do more than just copy powers and actually steal the powers of metahumans. It wouldn’t be that much of a stretch since Amazo’s tech is halfway there anyway. Not to mention, the Brainiac Queen will be working with Zur-En-Arrh and Amanda Waller, and an advanced intellect like her could make improvements to Amazo’s tech that could allow the robot army to drain the powers of the entire world. Maybe it's reaching, but it would help the Batman of Zur-En-Arrh achieve what he’s trying to do.

Amazo is the Key to Zur-En-Arrh Getting His Perfect World

Much like Amanda Waller, the Batman of Zur-En-Arrh wants to establish order, albeit at the cost of metahumans. Amazo 3.0’s tech could be the missing piece that will help Zur-En-Arrh build the crime-free world he desires by robbing Earth’s metahumans of their abilities. Of course, the Justice League’s heroes aren’t just going to take the theft of their powers lying down, but with Batman’s new Amazo army, it’s hard to see how they’ll eke out a victory.

Batman #146 is available now from DC Comics.