Warning: Spoilers for Titans #17Darkseid-level threat in DC lore, and her role is bigger than ever despite her recent fall from grace. After the events of Absolute Power by Mark Waid and Dan Mora, Waller is out of commission, and the newfound absence of Waller and Darkseid alike has permanently rewritten the power structure of the DC Universe.

In Titans #17 by John Layman, Pete Woods, and Wes Abbott, the Titans battle a powered-up Clock King who now operates alone without Waller ordering him around in the Suicide Squad. Under Donna Troy's leadership, the team defeats Clock King, and Nightwing informs Donna of what the villain's arrival means for the future: "There's a power vacuum left by Waller and Darkseid, and if Clock King is any indication, enemies will be lining up to fill it."

According to Nightwing, Amanda Waller's absence in the DC Universe is leading to the debut of new villains who are more powerful than even the Justice League can handle. Waller's impact on DC's villain hierarchy is similar to Darkseid's following his death, which proves that she's on the same threat level as the New God.

Amanda Waller Is Officially a Darkseid-Level Villain in DC Lore

Amanda Waller's Power Over the DC Universe Elevates Her to Darkseid Status

Since her creation in 1986 by John Ostrander, Len Wein, and John Byrne, Amanda Waller has come a long way in her quest for power. Like Darkseid, she operates in a calculating manner and orders others to carry out her bidding. She doesn't have a tangible world to rule over as Darkseid does with Apokolips, though she commands others through her formation of the Suicide Squad. By planting a bomb in the brains of those she contracts to her cause, Waller can dictate their actions as she pleases, and so she and Darkseid share the capacity to control their subjected fighters.

Waller may not possess superpowers or any of Darkseid's otherworldly attributes, but she's procured power through other clever means. In the Absolute Power miniseries, Waller unleashes her Trinity of Evil upon DC's heroes and robs them of their superpowers with an Amazo army. With the Justice League powerless to stop her and civilians on her side thanks to A.I. propaganda, she stakes her claim over the Earth. Waller procuring a swift victory over the superheroes is a feat that rivals Darkseid's past victories over them, putting them on the same tier of might.

Amanda Waller's Rise to Power in the DC Universe Rivals Darkseid's

However, Like Darkseid's, Waller's Reign Doesn't Last Forever

Chester Runk's death and sows distrust in the Titans for their part in the beast plague outbreak. Waller's manipulation paves the way for her Absolute Power domination, employing Darkseid-level trickery to attain power.

Amanda Waller's backstory that leads to her meteoric rise is explored in Absolute Power: Origins by John Ridley and Alitha Martinez, available now from DC Comics.

However, as meticulously as Amanda Waller built her way to the top of DC's food chain, all it takes is one misstep for everything to come crashing down around her. Her allegiance with Green Arrow leads to her downfall, as he feigns loyalty to her cause before betraying her and Waller now has a bomb in her brain, mirroring the punishment she's given Suicide Squad for decades and cementing her defeat.

Darkseid's Death Coincides With Amanda Waller's Own Defeat

DC's Two Most Formidable Villains Have Both Faced Their End

Shortly after Amanda Waller's defeat by the Justice League, Darkseid faces his own shocking end in his own battle against DC's greatest heroes. In DC All In Special # by Joshua Williamson, Scott Snyder, Daniel Sampere, Wes Craig, and Mora, Darkseid decides that he must forsake his physical form in order to attain a power beyond his current abilities. Thus, he allows the League's heroes to destroy his body, resulting in his lore-changing death. Darkseid may be dead within DC's main universe, but he lives on in the new Absolute Universe, which he's created in his image.

Curious about Darkseid's Absolute Universe? Check out Absolute Batman #1 by Scott Snyder and Nick Dragotta, Absolute Wonder Woman #1 by Kelly Thompson and Hayden Sherman, and Absolute Superman #1 by Jason Aaron and Rafa Sandoval!

In a major upheaval to the universe's power structure, both Waller and Darkseid are no longer key players in DC's core continuity. Waller is no longer around to contend with the Justice League or operate in the shadows via her family tree of New Gods into disarray. Without these formidable villains keeping those beneath them in line, there's an opening for new threats to come forth and challenge their roles in DC lore. This process has already begun for Waller, and it's only a matter of time before Darkseid is replaced as well.

With Waller and Darkseid Gone, New DC Villains Will Rise to Take Their Place

Clock King Is First in Line to Replace DC's Most Notorious Foes

Now that Amanda Waller is imprisoned, her position of power is up for grabs. In Layman and Woods' Titans #16, Clock King makes his debut as a metahuman in hopes of replacing her. His new powers are the direct result of Waller's actions, after the Justice League's attempt to retrieve their powers from her Amazos resulted in the replacing her as the Suicide Squad's leader.

Clock King is only the first of many villains who, as explained by Nightwing, will seek to fill the void Waller has left behind in the DC Universe.

Clock King is only the first of many villains who, as explained by Nightwing, will seek to fill the void Waller has left behind in the DC Universe. Likewise, the same is unfolding in the cosmos now that the Scavenger is already attempting to replace Darkseid, and more gods are set to rise in his absence. The fall of Amanda Waller has the same impact on DC lore as the fall of Darkseid, and it won't be long before a villain more powerful than both of them emerges.

Titans #17 is available now from DC Comics.