Warning: Spoilers for Green Arrow #17 aheadGreen Arrow’srole in DC’sAbsolute Powercrossover was controversial yet critical, with lasting repercussions on his relationships with theJustice League. But Green Arrow isn’t the only hero to make such gambits, and whenBatmantries to call him out on his behavior,Green Arrow throws Batman’s own actions back in his face with an absolutely brutal roast of a nicknamethat emphasizes just how much further Green Arrow would have to go to stoop to Batman’s level.
Green Arrow#17, by Chris Condon, Joshua Williamson, Montos, Amancay Nahuelpan, Adriano Lucas, and Romulo Fajardo Jr., deals with the fallout ofAbsolute Power, and Green Arrow’s role as asleeper double agent against Amanda Waller. While most of the Justice League is willing to forgive him for initially selling them out to Waller,Batman is much more reticent to trust again and calls Green Arrow outfor not discussing his plan beforehand.
“Yeah, well. Next time, Mr. Failsafe,” Green Arrow retorts, hurling Batman’s own secret countermeasures - the Failsafe robot and its disastrous reign of terror - right back in his face.
What Green Arrow’s Insult Means For Batman’s Reputation Post-Absolute Power
“Mr. Failsafe” Perfectly Describes Batman’s Over-the-Top Contingencies
Failsafe first appeared inBatman #125, revealed to bea robot Batman created as a countermeasure to himselfshould he ever violate his no-kill rule. Influenced by Batman’s sadistic “Zur-En-Arrh” personality, Failsafe swiftly grew out of control, taking over all of Gotham before Batman was able to take it down. Even then, Failsafe and Zur-En-Arrh would eventually merge into a single entity, becoming Amanda Waller’s second-in-command and feeding her vital information on DC’s superhero community in the prelude toAbsolute Power.
2 Words Just Destroyed Green Arrow’s Bond with His Family For Good
Green Arrow finally reunites with his family but after showing off his true colors, he hears the two words that prove his team’s bond is shattered.
Failsafe is an incredibly powerful construct, programmed with built-in countermeasures for virtually every scenario - including the Justice League.Batman#128 shows Failsafe’s full power as he completely neutralizes a Justice League strike team consisting of Superman, Green Arrow, Martian Manhunter, Black Canary, and Hawkwoman, using their weaknesses to shut each hero down before placing Gotham under martial law. Being able to stop Failsafe once was a miracle; its return under Amanda Waller’s command rendered the events ofAbsolute Powerlargely unstoppable.
Failsafe’s first appearance inBatman#125 is by Tom King, Chip Zdarsky, Jorge Jimenez, Belen Ortega, and Josh Adams, while its assault on the Justice League inBatman#128 is by Chip Zdarsky, Jorge Jimenez, and Leonardo Bastos Romero.
Our Take on The New ‘Green Arrow vs Batman’ Traitor Rivalry
Green Arrow’s Betrayal Doesn’t Hold A Candle Failsafe’s Reign of Terror
There are strong parallels between Green Arrow and Failsafe, with each of them joining alongside Amanda Waller duringAbsolute Power. However, Green Arrow betrays the Justice League to sabotage Waller at a critical moment; by contrast, Failsafe is Batman’s every paranoid contingency gone rogue. While Green Arrow was willing to sacrifice every personal relationship he had in order to defeat Waller, Failsafe remains Batman’s greatest weapon against himself and the Justice League - a weapon that found common purpose with Waller’s aims.
The comparison between Green Arrow’s betrayal and Batman’s Failsafe robot is a fascinating reflection on the differences between Batman and Green Arrow. Both heroes are billionaires with no superpowers other than their gadgetry and skill, but Green Arrow has earned a reputation as an anti-authority rebel, while Batman is infamous for his dangerous contingency plans and need for constant control. “Mr. Failsafe” is a brutal roast that remindsBatmanthat whileGreen Arrowtemporarily worked against theJustice Leaguefor a greater cause, his actions are nothing compared to Batman secretly building a machine that nearly destroyed the Leaguetwice.
