Amanda Waller

Amanda Blake Waller (née White), also known as "the Wall", is a fictional character featured in some American comic books published by DC Comics. The character first appeared in Legends #1 in 1986 and was created by John Ostrander, Len Wein, and John Byrne. Amanda Waller serves intermittently as both an antagonist and an ally to the superheroes of the DC Universe. She is occasionally described as a supervillain.

Though lacking superpowers, Amanda Waller is often portrayed as a ruthless, high-ranking government official who uses guile, political connections, and intimidation to achieve her goals, often in the name of national security. Waller is commonly associated with the fictional government agencies Checkmate and A.R.G.U.S.

She is a former congressional aide and government agent in charge of the Suicide Squad, a semi-secret government-run group of former supervillains working in return for amnesty. She later serves as Secretary of Metahuman Affairs under President Lex Luthor before being arrested because of Luthor's public fall from grace. She is reassigned to the leadership of Checkmate as White Queen but is forced to resign because of her involvement in Operation Salvation Run.

Publication history
Amanda Waller's earliest appearances were shaped by writers John Ostrander and Kim Yale in 1987, during the first volume of Suicide Squad and shortly after being introduced in the Legends crossover storyline.

Early history
Amanda Waller was established as a widow who escaped Chicago's Cabrini–Green housing projects with her surviving family after her two eldest children and her husband were murdered. Waller excelled in political science and became a congressional aide. During that time, she discovered the existence of the first two incarnations of the Squad. Taking elements from both, she proposed the development of its third incarnation to the White House and was placed in charge upon its approval.

Federal service years
Amanda Waller formed the agency to serve as a small, quasi-independent branch of Task Force X. Valentina Vostok brought former NYPD Lieutenant Harry Stein into the agency as an operative. Amanda Waller later promoted Stein to the command position and demoted Vostok. Harry Stein would later reorganize the Agency and name it Checkmate.

Waller's tenure as the official of the third Suicide Squad was tumultuous and controversial. Despite many successes, she developed a habit of defying her superiors in Washington to achieve legitimate and personal goals on more than one occasion. The earliest conflict between her and her superiors revolved around the leadership of the Suicide Squad. Although she wanted the Bronze Tiger—a martial artist she helped recover after being brainwashed by the League of Assassins—lead the team, he was instead relegated to second-in-command, and Rick Flag Jr. was made the leader. Waller resentfully presumed the situation to be racially charged, related to her status as a black woman and Bronze Tiger's skin tone. However, the Tiger himself did not believe this was a factor, considering this resulted from mistrust due to the brainwashing imposed upon him by the League of Assassins.

Her relationship with the squad itself was one of mutual dislike. Most of the team's criminal members did not take to Waller's methods (most notably Captain Boomerang), and even the team's heroes were often at odds with Waller. Waller's inability to deal and compromise with her troops led to Nemesis's departure from the team and the death of a US senator, which indirectly caused the death of Rick Flag Jr. These types of conflicts, however, were not only limited to her superiors and her team but also extended to Batman, who opposed the forming of the Suicide Squad (although he would later help to reform it). Nonetheless, the team remained loyal to her, often choosing to side with her instead of the government.

It was revealed that Amanda Waller kept heroes such as Nightshade around for them to act as her conscience. Throughout her first run with the Suicide Squad, her actions became increasingly erratic as she fought to retain control of the squad. This was heightened by the public revelation of the Suicide Squad and Waller being officially "replaced", although her replacement was, in fact, an actor, and Waller remained the team's director.

Even that secret would eventually be revealed, and Amanda Waller would be imprisoned. During this time, the squad also became involved in an interagency conflict in a crossover between the Checkmate and Suicide Squad titles called the Janus Directive.

One of the field missions is against her will, as many members of the squad, Waller included, are forcibly kidnapped and taken to Apokolips. This is because team member Duchess remembered her past as Lashina of the Female Furies instead of pretending to be amnesiac and wished to return home with suitable sacrifices. The squad suffers fatalities battling Apokolips' forces, with Waller personally confronting Granny Goodness. However, the confrontation ended with the deaths of Dr. Light and one of Waller's nieces, and Count Vertigo was near-fatally wounded.

She eventually found herself serving prison time for her pursuit of an organized crime cartel based in New Orleans called the LOA and killing its leadership, using squad operatives Ravan, Poison Ivy and Deadshot in the process.

The Suicide Squad's rebirth
Waller is eventually pardoned and released a year later to reorganize the Suicide Squad as a freelance mercenary group at the behest of Sarge Steel to deal with a crisis in Vlatava, Count Vertigo's home country. Afterward, the Suicide Squad performed a variety of missions, often treading dangerous political terrain when dealing with Soviet and Israeli interests. Most notably, the Squad helped destroy the plans of a shadow organization to throw Qurac, Israel, and the US into political disarray.

During her renewed tenure with this team, Amanda became closer to her operatives, even accompanying them on their field missions. This allowed Waller and her team to bond more effectively, although she retained her dominant and threatening personality.

Waller quit after a later field mission, in which she took down the immortal dictator of a minor South American island nation. As it turned out, he was mortal, but had immense psychic power. By tricking him, Waller merely provided a form of assisted suicide.

Soon after, Amanda Waller organized the Shadow Fighters to confront the villain Eclipso. Again, she encountered Sarge Steel. Her first attempt at a team formed with the assistance of Bruce Gordon and his wife, Mona could have gone better. Most of the group was brutally murdered, infiltrating Eclipso's stronghold. Her second attempt with a much larger team had much more success.

During the "Bloodlines" event, the President sent Guy Gardner to fetch Waller from her island 'retirement'. She leads a multi-hero affair that destroys the alien parasites. She rejoined federal service, initially as the Southeastern regional director for the Department of Extranormal Operations. She was then promoted to Secretary of Metahuman Affairs as a member of Lex Luthor's presidential administration.

International service
Lex Luthor's brief tenure in the office leads to Amanda Waller being jailed for a short time before being released by Luthor's successor, Jonathan Vincent Horne, who orders her to take command of the secret agent organization Checkmate. The organization had been shaken up due to The OMAC Project debacle and the related murderous leadership of Maxwell Lord, with whom Waller has had previous history. Waller takes the rank of Black King until the United States and United Nations decide what to do with that organization. In the latter issue of 52, Waller is shown commissioning the imprisoned Atom Smasher to organize a new Suicide Squad to attack Black Adam and his allies. This ends with the death of Squad member Persuader and the expected public relations turn against the Black Marvel family.

In the revamped Checkmate series set in the One Year Later continuity, Waller is shown to have been assigned by the UN to serve as Checkmate's White Queen, a member of its senior policy-making executive. Due to her previous activities, her appointment is contingent on having no direct control over operations. Regardless, she continues to pursue her agenda, secretly using the Suicide Squad to perform missions in favour of American interests and blackmailing Fire. It is also implied that she may have betrayed a mission team in an attempt to protect her secrets and facilitated an attack on Checkmate headquarters for her gain.

She is then in charge of Operation Salvation Run, an initiative involving the mass deportation of supervillains to an alien world. When the rest of Checkmate discovered this, she was forced into resigning as White Queen in exchange for their delay in revealing what the US government was doing. She continues to run the Suicide Squad and has been implanted with nanotechnology to allow her to control Chemo during missions directly.

During the Superman/Batman storyline "K", it is revealed that Waller has hoarded Kryptonite and used it to power an anti-Superman group called the Last Line and a Doomsday-like creature codenamed "All-American Boy", who has Kryptonite shards growing out of his body. All-American Boy (real name: Josh Walker) was deceived into an experiment using Kryptonite to bond cell scrapings taken from Doomsday to a human host, battles Superman, and devastates Smallville. With the help of Brannon, the Last Line's leader, Batman locates Josh's parents, who convince him to stop. Waller is forced to pay towards repairing Smallville in return for her dealings in the AAB project to remain secret. 'Last Line' itself rebels against Waller because of her deceptions.

In the eight-issue series of Suicide Squad: Raise the Flag, she is again seen leading the Suicide Squad at some point when the General returns to Earth after his exile and is promptly drafted into the Squad with unique explosive implants grafted into his arm and brain to make him compliant with Waller's demands. Here, she uses technology devised by Cliff Carmichael to gain a measure of control over Chemo, allowing her to use the toxic behemoth for the Squad's benefit. Rick Flag is revealed to have survived the events at Jotunheim and was returned to Waller, who admitted to him Rick Flag Jr. was never anything but an alias, and that he was a brainwashed soldier remade into Flag to serve Eiling's ends.

She leads, as Chemo, an attack on a Dubai supercorp intending to release a deadly virus. However, Carmichael, with Eiling and part of her team, betrays her as part of Eiling's plan to benefit from the release of the virus, and she is nearly killed when Eiling orders a compliant Flag to use her pen, a transmitter, to detonate her explosive implant. Instead, Flag, tricking him, detonates Eiling's own, releasing her and rejoining the Squad, refusing the chance of everyday life.

She later attempted to forcibly return several members of the Secret Six (Bane and Deadshot) to the Suicide Squad. When her plan backfired due to the events of Blackest Night and the defiance of the Six, she was shot by Deadshot and privately revealed to King Faraday to be their new secret leader, Mockingbird. When Faraday questioned the need to be informed of the situation and even the need to bring the Six under the banner of the Squad when she already controlled them, Amanda merely shrugged it off. Faraday then questions Amanda, "does your right hand even know what your left hand is doing" Waller responds with, "Only on a need-to-know basis", heavily implying that even Faraday himself is also on a "need-to-know basis."

The New 52
In The New 52 (a 2011 reboot of the DC Comics universe), Amanda Waller is shown to be in direct command of the Suicide Squad, choosing its members and having the final say over when and if their implanted explosives are detonated. It is revealed she requested command of a unit she could send to their deaths without regret after an operation she was involved in resulted in the deaths of all other squad members, including several she had personally recruited. She was also involved with Team 7 in some capacity while serving in the United States Army as a Captain, which led to her temporarily leaving the spy business. Also, this version of Amanda Waller is re-imagined as a young, thin woman in contrast with her original design.

Amanda Waller later formed the Justice League of America, which is separate from the main Justice League, where she is shown as the Director of A.R.G.U.S. She recruited James Gordon Jr., who was alive despite his apparent death at the hands of his sister Barbara while saving their mother. However, it is shown that James Jr. only agrees to join as he is in love with Waller.

During the "Forever Evil" storyline, Amanda Waller is shown at Belle Reve trying to get Black Manta to join the Suicide Squad at the time when Deathstorm and Power Ring infiltrate the prison. Waller later contacts Deadshot to get the Suicide Squad back together. Later clues point to an imposter Waller causing trouble behind the scenes.

DC Rebirth
Amanda Waller returns to her original design with the DC Rebirth initiative. When Barack Obama confronts her about Task Force X, she convinces him the Suicide Squad needs to exist to deal with threats neither the President nor the Justice League can be aware of while conceding to nominate a non-criminal field leader to carry out her directives during missions and keep the convicts in line. She visits Rick Flag in Guantanamo Bay, where he had been imprisoned for disobeying direct instructions to save his teammates, and tries to convince him to work alongside supervillains for the greater good; she succeeds, releases him, and makes him the field leader of Task Force X.

In issue #11 of Suicide Squad (2016), as a part of DC Rebirth, Amanda Waller is shot and killed. Her death is confirmed in issue #12. However, issue #15 revealed that she faked her death with the help of Deadshot, who fired a bullet at her heart, and Enchantress, who magically moved the bullet to the most reparable part of the human heart. Because of this, she can use Deadshot against the villain Rustam and the international shadow organization known only as the People.

Dawn of DC
After the events of "Dark Crisis", where the Justice League is brought back from their deaths, Amanda Waller approaches the Council of Light with a proposal to incarcerate the Earth's metahumans for the danger they posed to humanity. In The Dawn of DC Primer #1, Waller tasks Peacemaker and Peacewrecker, her new right hands, with acquiring the Helmet of Hate from Lazarus Island while she meets with a group of villains and tasks them with killing superheroes. After the events of "Knight Terrors", Amanda Waller steals the Nightmare Stone, which a mysterious figure combines with the Helmet of Hate to become Doctor Hate. Waller then tells Hate to target the Titans now that the Justice League are feared by the world. After the events of "Titans: Beast World", Waller portrayed Titans as risk-takers lacking in accountability in a Bureau of Sovereignty press conference at the Justice League's one-time headquarters the Hall of Justice, rechristened the "Hall of Order," to condemn the Titans and other superheroes. She will act as a primary antagonist in the "Absolute Power" event, seeking to drain the powers of Earth's metahumans.

Flashpoint
Amanda Waller appears in Flashpoint as an advisor to the President of the United States.

DC Comics Bombshells
Amanda Waller appears in DC Comics Bombshells as the commander of the eponymous "Bombshells" project and Superintendent of the United States Military Academy during World War II.

DC Comics Secret Hero Society
Amanda Waller appears in DC Comics Secret Hero Society as the guidance counselor, truancy officer, and head of detention of the Justice Preparatory Academy.

Television

 * Amanda Waller appears in Justice League Unlimited, voiced by CCH Pounder. This version is the leader of Project Cadmus and co-creator of the Ultimen, Galatea, Doomsday, and Batman II who initially sees the Justice League as a threat before changing her views after being betrayed by her benefactor Lex Luthor.
 * Amanda Waller appears in the ninth season of Smallville, portrayed by Pam Grier. This version is the "White Queen" of Checkmate and overseer of the Suicide Squad.
 * Amanda Waller appears in Young Justice, voiced by Sheryl Lee Ralph. This version initially serves as the warden of Belle Reve before being replaced by Hugo Strange and overseer of Task Force X.
 * Amanda Waller appears in Arrow, portrayed by Cynthia Addai-Robinson. This version is the director of A.R.G.U.S. and overseer of the Suicide Squad who is eventually killed by Shadowspire operatives and succeeded by Lyla Michaels.
 * Amanda Waller appears in Harley Quinn, voiced by Tisha Campbell. This version is the overseer of the Suicide Squad.
 * Amanda Waller appears in My Adventures with Superman, voiced by Debra Wilson. This version is a founding member and co-leader of Task Force X alongside General Sam Lane, to take down alien threats before they could conqure the Earth. However over the years, her methods came into conflict with Lane's own methods, leading to her betrayal and becoming the current leader of Task Force X.
 * Amanda Waller appears in Suicide Squad Isekai, voiced by Kujira. This version is the director of A.R.G.U.S.

Film

 * Amanda Waller appears in Superman/Batman: Public Enemies, voiced again by CCH Pounder. This version is depicted as more sympathetic than other incarnations.
 * Amanda Waller appears in Green Lantern, portrayed by Angela Bassett. This version is a scientist for the Department of Extranormal Operations (DEO) whose family was killed by a shooter when she was younger.
 * The Batman: Arkham incarnation of Amanda Waller appears in Batman: Assault on Arkham, voiced by CCH Pounder.
 * An alternate universe variant of Amanda Waller appears in Justice League: Gods and Monsters, voiced by Penny Johnson Jerald. This version is the President of the United States and is more sympathetic than other incarnations.
 * Amanda Waller appears in DC Super Hero Girls: Super Hero High, voiced by Yvette Nicole Brown. This version is the director of the school.
 * Amanda Waller appears in DC Super Hero Girls: Hero of the Year, voiced again by Yvette Nicole Brown.
 * Amanda Waller appears in DC Super Hero Girls: Intergalactic Games, voiced again by Yvette Nicole Brown.
 * Amanda Waller appears in Lego DC Super Hero Girls: Brain Drain, voiced again by Yvette Nicole Brown.
 * Amanda Waller appears in the DC Animated Movie Universe (DCAMU) films Suicide Squad: Hell to Pay and Batman: Hush, voiced by Vanessa Williams. This version is the leader of Task Force X before dying from cancer and being succeeded by Harley Quinn.
 * Amanda Waller appears in Lego DC Super Hero Girls: Super-Villain High, voiced again by Yvette Nicole Brown.
 * Amanda Waller appears in DC Super Hero Girls: Legends of Atlantis, voiced again by Yvette Nicole Brown.

DC Extended Universe


Amanda Waller appears in media set in the DC Extended Universe (DCEU), portrayed by Viola Davis.
 * Waller first appears in Suicide Squad (2016). This version is a senior civil servant, director of A.R.G.U.S., and occasional ally-of-convenience to Batman who developed the concept of Task Force X following Superman's death.
 * Waller appears in The Suicide Squad (2021).
 * Waller makes uncredited cameo appearances in Peacemaker. Additionally, her daughter Leota Adebayo (portrayed by Danielle Brooks) appears as well.
 * Waller appears in Black Adam (2022) as an associate of the Justice Society.

Video games

 * Amanda Waller appears in DC Universe Online, voiced by Debra Cole.
 * Amanda Waller appears as a character summon in Scribblenauts Unmasked: A DC Comics Adventure.
 * Amanda Waller appears as a downloadable playable character in Lego Batman 3: Beyond Gotham, voiced by Cynthia Addai-Robinson. She is available via "The Squad" DLC.
 * Amanda Waller appears in Batman: The Enemy Within, voiced by Debra Wilson. This version is the director of the Agency who seeks the LOTUS virus.
 * Amanda Waller appears as a non-player character (NPC) in Lego DC Super-Villains, voiced by Yvette Nicole Brown.

Batman: Arkham
Amanda Waller appears in the Batman: Arkham franchise:
 * Waller makes a cameo appearance in the post-credits scene of Batman: Arkham Origins, voiced again by CCH Pounder.
 * Waller appears in Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate, voiced again by CCH Pounder.
 * Waller appears in Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, voiced again by Debra Wilson, who additionally provides facial capture.

Web series

 * The Gods and Monsters incarnation of Amanda Waller appears in the Justice League: Gods and Monsters Chronicles episode "Bomb", voiced again by Penny Johnson Jerald.
 * Amanda Waller appears in DC Super Hero Girls, voiced by Yvette Nicole Brown. This version is the principal of Super Hero High.
 * Amanda Waller appears in Lego DC Super Hero Girls, voiced again by Yvette Nicole Brown.

Miscellaneous

 * The Green Lantern film incarnation of Amanda Waller serves as inspiration for an official blog written by John Ostrander as part of the Zooniverse project.
 * The Justice League Unlimited incarnation of Amanda Waller appears in Batman Beyond.
 * The Arrow incarnation of Amanda Waller appears in Arrow: Season 2.5.
 * The Arrow incarnation of Amanda Waller appears in The Flash: Season Zero.
 * Amanda Waller appears in Injustice 2.