Welcome back to the revolution! Last issue, Amanda Waller sent out her army of Amazo androids to hunt down the world's heroes. Sadly, the villains are able to capture their quarries uncontested for the most part. Now, we join the Doom Patrol and the Aquaman family as they band together to defend Atlantis. Let's take a closer look!

An Amazo's Day Out

There is something wrong with the Amazos. In spite of successfully neutralizing the Justice League, each android seem to be developing glitches in their personalities. In addition to naming themselves corny code names like "Depth Charge" or "Last Son," the robots gain megalomaniacal egos and self-righteous attitudes. According to Black Adam in Task Force VII #1, Waller's soldiers aren't just taking abilities, but are absorbing conflicting emotions into their programing. Worst of all, Waller gives off the strong impression that none of this is on purpose. As a result, it has become increasingly clear that Waller has made another asinine blunder setting off this entire event.

Arguably, the writers in this event are taking enormous liberties with what they consider to be "a power." For one, Absolute Power #1 makes it clear that Waller is changing metahumans at the DNA level. However, that presents a slippery slope. In this issue, the Doom Patrol and Atlanteans don't just lose some of their abilities, but in selective cases the androids outright "cure" them. Specifically, why does Beast Girl lose their instinctual abilities, but remain butt ugly? In contrast, Depth Charge suppresses Aquaman's natural born telepathy and ability to breathe under water. Similarly, Negative Man loses their radiation, but Robot Man is virtually the same. Nobody is asking DC to "explain the force," so to speak, but there are plenty valid concerns with their reasoning.

Washed Up

While testing a new submersible, the Doom Patrol surface to accidentally witness Amazo fighting Aquaman. Expectedly, Depth Charge leaves the heroes nursing headaches without their powers. Luckily, the team remains mostly intact and set out to Atlantis with Tempest in tow. By the way, Raynor poorly sequences Tempest into the story and randomly shows up as if he was on the beach the entire time. Regardless, the unlikely team-up between the Aquaman family and the Doom Patrol is fairly neat. Yet, the gargantuan Depth Charge solos them and the entire armies of Atlantis with their own abilities. Still, because Depth Charge absorbs Beast Girl's deeply flawed powers, the android gains a weakness that may help turn the tide in the future.

So far, Task Force VII's main idea is to depict the heroes saving who and what they can. Incidentally, most of the issue surrounds everyone hedging their bets on saving Aquaman over Atlantis or the other heroes. After giving a stalwart speech about living to fight another day, Aquaman stubbornly struggles with the idea that everyone is fighting to save him instead. Visually, his heroic stance looks ridiculous while powerless in a box. Meanwhile, Sarge Steel tries to make a fool out of Steve Trevor. Despite his objections in Absolute Power #1, Steel recruits Trevor to the Bureau in a transparent attempt to set him up with an almost immediate subversion. The whole backup story is a waste of time for both the characters and readers. As for Aquaman, his capture and subsequent escape are only setting up his later appearance in Absolute Power #2.

Recommended If...

• You were a reader of The Unstoppable Doom Patrol at the start of Dawn Of DC.
• The weird Amazo personas don't bother you.
• You'd love anything with Aquaman's family.

Overall

Overall, this issue is an entirely optional addition to the story. Readers won't miss anything significant if they choose to skip this issue. To its credit, the artwork looks decent sometimes, but the sequencing leaves too much to the imagination. Characters like Tempest pop in without pre-establishing their whereabouts. Moreover, readers don't get a sense of scale when Depth Charge abruptly appears with Rita's ability. Layman and Raynor just assume readers will be able to follow what's happening from panel to panel. Most of all, the entire fleet of Task Force VII androids feel like an illogical misstep for someone as calculated as Amanda Waller. They may be extremely powerful beyond comprehension, but they are extremely vulnerable. In conclusion, this may be an interesting event, but it has quickly become undeniably silly.

Score: 5/10