Warning: contains spoilers for Absolute Power #4!

I cannot believe Identity Crisis, DC’s controversial 2004 blockbuster, is making a sneaky comeback into the modern DC Universe. 20 years ago, comic fans were held spellbound by Identity Crisis as they tried to guess the killer’s identity. Identity Crisis was not without controversy on many levels, primarily among them the ethics of mind-wiping villains. Now, in Absolute Power #4, the shadow of Identity Crisis rears its head once again.

Absolute Power #4 is written by Mark Waid and drawn by Dan Mora. Amanda Waller, whose campaign to destroy Earth’s heroes has been thwarted, awakens to find herself in a cell in Belle Reve. Dreamer, who had once been in Waller’s pocket, confronts Waller. Waller scoffs at her situation, telling Dreamer she can bribe her way out with all the intelligence she has gathered about heroes. Dreamer then challenges Waller to recall where the Batcave is–and she cannot. Dreamer tells Waller all the information she accumulated has been moved to another part of her mind, where she cannot recall it.

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Ther Controversial Identity Crisis Event, Explained

Identity Crisis Turned Up a Number of Skeletons in the Justice League's Closet

In essence, Amanda Waller, who in Absolute Power ascended to the role of the DC Universe’s primary villain, was mind-wiped–just like the villains in Identity Crisis. Written by Brad Meltzer and drawn by Rags Morales, Identity Crisis ran for seven issues in 2004. The book begins with the murder of Sue Dibny, the wife of the Elongated Man. All the evidence points to the villain, Doctor Light, as the murderer, but eventually it is revealed that Jean Loring, the former lover of Ray Palmer the Atom, was the perpetrator, but not before she also killed Jack Drake, father of Tim Drake.

Jean Loring would later become the host for Eclipso during the buildup to Final Crisis.

In addition to the brutal murders of their families, long held secrets came to light about the Justice League. Early in Identity Crisis, it was revealed that, many years prior, Doctor Light gained access to the League’s satellite headquarters. Once there, he not only assaulted Sue Dibny, who was also on the satellite, but gained access to the League’s files, including their secret identities. Light threatened to expose them all, but in retaliation, certain League , including Hawkman, believed mind-wiping him was the only way to preserve their secret identities. A reluctant Zatanna went along, and magically mind-wiped Light.

Identity Crisis Was a Ticking Time Bomb in the DC Universe

Identity Crisis Did Not Paint the Justice League in the Best Light

On its surface, Identity Crisis was a murder mystery set in the DC Universe, but it also asked serious questions about morality and ethics. Doctor Light had indeed learned the secrets of the Justice League, and there was every reason to believe he would make good on his promise to reveal them to the world. And then there was the issue of Light attacking Sue in such a vicious fashion. Light needed to be punished somehow, and they needed a way to keep him from talking. There only seemed to be one course of action available: wipe his memories.

The mind-wipe of Doctor Light started the Justice League down a slippery slope, one that will have grave effects in the present day. During Identity Crisis, it came out that not only did the League remove Light’s memories of the incident, but altered his personality as well, making him ineffectual as a villain. And Doctor Light was not the only villain mind-wiped by the League either. Finally, Batman was mind-wiped when he discovers his teammates magically lobotomizing Light. Batman was furious that his friends would consider doing this, and tried to stop it.

The Effects of Identity Crisis Are Still Being Felt, 20 Years Later

Amanda Waller Was a Menance--But Did She Deserve to Be Mind-Wiped?

Like other DC events with “Crisis” in the name, Identity Crisis had long-term ramifications. Some of the villains, including Doctor Light, learned what the Justice League had done to them, and came looking for revenge. It also spurred the creation of a new Secret Society, as a way of obtaining vengeance against the heroes. During Identity Crisis, Batman became aware of what had taken place, and eventually ed his own mind-wipe. This, coupled with the secrets that came to light after Sue Dibny’s murder, fractured the Justice League, taking them off the table for a while.

In Identity Crisis' aftermath, Batman becomes even more paranoid, leading him to start the OMAC Project, which was later hijacked by Alex Luthor during the buildup to Infinite Crisis.

Now, once again, DC’s heroes find themselves in a similar position, having just mind-wiped Amanda Waller. Many of the same issues surrounding the mind-wipes of Doctor Light surrounded Waller. Waller has information on every hero and villain on Earth, and like Light, she planned to weaponize that knowledge. Waller also has a way of steam-rolling people, and could have made good on her threats. No prison in the universe could hold Waller back, so the only way forward was to ensure she forgot what she knew. Dreamer used her powers to do just this.

For the heroes of the DC Universe, seeing Amanda Waller humbled in such a fashion had to be cathartic, but also had echoes of Identity Crisis. Waller’s mind-wipe was kept secret from Superman and the rest of the League, with Dreamer even saying, sarcastically, that removing Waller’s memories was “unethical.” Yet Dreamer works outside the law, and does not share Superman’s hang-ups. Dreamer also revealed that the memories of the heroes’ secrets are not gone–they are just “locked away.” Furthermore, Waller’s personality is still intact, unlike Doctor Light’s. It might seem that lessons have been learned since Identity Crisis.

What Happens When Amanda Waller Gets Her Memories Back?

Amanda Waller May Also Have a Bomb In Her Head

Yet the Justice League should be afraid of what has happened to Amanda Waller. While Dreamer’s removal of Waller’s memories appears more ethical than how the League handled Doctor Light, the fact remains she still tampered with someone’s mind, against their consent. Dreamer also teased that there may be a bomb in Waller. Waller interprets this to mean Dreamer planted an actual, physical bomb in her head, much like she did with the Suicide Squad. Dreamer leaves it vague, however, possibly implying the bomb is psychic in nature. What this might look like is left open to the imagination.

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Finally, Absolute Power #4 leaves the same question open that Identity Crisis did in 2004: what happens when the villains get their memories back? The solicitations for DC’s All-In initiative make no mention of Amanda Waller, implying she is going away for a while. Yet her return is inevitable, as is the restoration of her memories. When Waller finally re what Dreamer did to her, as well as the hero's secrets that had been locked away in her mind, there will be hell to pay. For this reason, I cannot believe Identity Crisis made such a stealth comeback.

Absoulte Power #4 is on sale now from DC Comics!