Amanda Waller

Amanda Waller
Biographical Information
Full Name	Amanda Blake Waller
Occupation	Agent of the Department of Justice, Director of A.R.G.U.S.
Base of Operations	Unknown
Affiliations	A.R.G.U.S. Task Force X United States Government
Physical Description
Hair	Black
Eyes	Brown
Height	5'1
Weight	200 lbs
Game Information
Appeared in	Batman: Arkham Origins (post-credits scene) Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate Batman: Assault on Arkham Batman: Arkham Underworld Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League
Voice Actor	CCH Pounder Debra Wilson (Kill the Justice League)
First Appearance	Legends #1, (November 1986)

"You rot in here, or you work for me."

—Amanda Waller to Deathstroke at Blackgate Prison

Amanda Waller is the director of A.R.G.U.S. and has been in charge of the Suicide Squad/Task Force X Program for many years. Waller recruited criminals with any talents that were useful for the tasks that she needed accomplished. Waller viewed them in a negative light, deemed them replaceable, and even called them: "scum bags" and "convicts". In return, most members that Waller recruited, held a burning hatred of her. That was kept in check thanks to the nano explosives that she implanted in their necks, which would be detonated if they disobeyed her orders, escaped, or got captured.

Waller is a no-nonsense woman who always tried to accomplish her goals. Batman knew of Waller, and had more than once butted heads with her because the results of her work usually left behind more messes than she expected.

Always looking for potential members, Waller would take whoever she could depend on in the situation. Such an example was that Waller wanted Bane, but she had to settle for Deadshot and Bronze Tiger instead, due to Batman’s unknowing interference.

Incident Reports

After Arkham Origins Incident

After Deathstroke's imprisonment at Blackgate Prison, Waller approached him with a proposal for a job instead of remaining in prison for life, that was called the Suicide Squad.

Arkham Origins Blackgate Incident

Waller anonymously hired Catwoman to break Bane out of Blackgate, presumably for her Suicide Squad Mission. Waller started by setting Catwoman up by getting her to steal some data from the DEO, which resulted in her capture by Batman and her imprisonment at Blackgate. It was heavily hinted that the breakout was staged by Waller. Waller monitored the actions of Batman, Catwoman, and all those who were involved in the breakout that night, including Deadshot and Bronze Tiger, who were later taken by Captain Rick Flag under her order. The main mission, however, failed due to Catwoman's defeat at the hands of Batman, and Bane was returned to custody at Blackgate. Waller, however, saw Deadshot and Bronze Tiger as potential recruits for her mission. However, a bat-tracker was seen on Waller's chopper, which implied that Batman had caught onto her activities and monitored her.

Between Arkham Origins and Assault on Arkham Incidents

Some time before the events of Assault on Arkham, Waller recruited Captain Boomerang and Harley Quinn for the Suicide Squad.

At one point, Waller managed to force the Riddler into her employment. However, she was left angered that the inquisitive quizzler of queries had devised a way to disable his nano bomb using a strong electric shock. That left Riddler a great liability as he could do the same for any other member of the Suicide Squad.

Assault on Arkham Incident

During the events of the movie Assault on Arkham, Waller put together the Suicide Squad on a special mission: infiltrate Arkham Asylum and take down the Riddler, who had stolen top secret information on potential Suicide Squad members from her computer. An earlier attempt to take Riddler down directly via black ops soldiers from A.R.G.U.S. failed due to Batman interfering with their assassination attempt on him since he needed him alive so he could find the location of the Joker's dirty bomb, and thus forced her to call in the Suicide Squad again. When briefing them on their mission to retrieve classified information Riddler stole that was stored in Arkham Asylum, she also informed them of the tracker explosive devices in their neck, which she will detonate if they do anything that might even remotely inconvenience her or the mission, and later proceeded to use KGBeast as an example after the latter tried to call her bluff.

During the mission, Killer Frost learned that there was no information and that the real reason was that Riddler knew how to disarm the nano bombs in their necks. After she realized that the Suicide Squad knew how to disarm the bombs, Waller attempted to detonate them, and only managed to kill King Shark and Black Spider, the former because the electroshock therapy could not penetrate his thick skin enough to actually defuse the bomb, and the latter of whom at the time was in Batman's Batsuit due to Batman stealing his outfit so he could be closer to the Suicide Squad.

At the end of the film, Batman confronted Waller at her office where he warned her to stop her games and that there wouldn't be a next time. Waller mocked Batman and told him that she was the U.S. Government and that no one could stop them. She then reminded him that the Joker's body was not recovered from the helicopter crash that was caused by Deadshot. Batman left in the middle of the conversation, after which she called him a "punk" after.

"Motherfu..."

—Waller sees a target laser aiming at her

When she turned around, Waller noticed a laser sight on her chest and then it moved to between her eyes. Waller realized that it was Deadshot who was taking revenge on her and briefly cursed under her breath in shock. Deadshot was in the distance with his daughter, with him peering through his Sniper Rifle scope. Finally, Deadshot said: "Bang" aloud, before he smiled, which implied that he was going to shoot Waller. However, as later confirmed by Deadshot, Batman intervened and prevented him from assassinating Waller.

Between Arkham City and Arkham Knight Incidents

In the Arkham Unhinged Comics, it was implied that Waller had somehow been involved in Deadshot's transfer to Arkham City. In the Arkham Knight prequel comics, it was revealed that Waller got Deadshot to work for her once again. That time, Waller became curious over the Penguin's recent operations and the gathering of members from the old Suicide Squad. Deadshot was sent to work undercover and investigate. Upon seeing Deadshot's progress she became upset, telling him over her earpiece that the situation was sensitive and provoking Batman in his territory was a catastrophic mistake.

Metropolis Invasion

"Congratulations Task Force X, you're the first assets to make it into Metropolis alive." - Amanda to Task Force X

Sometime after Arkham Knight, Amanda Waller recruits Harley Quinn, Deadshot, Captain Boomerang and King Shark to stop the Metropolis Invasion.

Codex

From the Files of Lex Luthor

Amanda Waller is the director of A.R.G.U.S. and one of the most brilliant strategists that has ever stood at its helm.

Whatever one thinks of Director Waller's unusual, often coldly brutal methods, her results are undeniable. Not unlike a scientist, she possesses an uncanny ability to draw probabilities from a sea of possibility, and to adapt her methods to nearly any new condition. It is little wonder she's among the world's last hopes for salvation.

Of course, having the courage of her convictions does not make her an easy ally. To wield power as she does require the mind of a predator, and an unshakable will. From the moment this woman laced up her army boots to the day she took over A.R.G.U.S., she has dispensed with small empathies in service of the greater good. Amanda Waller acts with courage and without compromise, and it is enough to strike fear into the heart of any man.

I can't say I'm immune.

Quotes

Arkham Origins

• "You rot in here, or you work for me." (Deathstroke)

Arkham Origins Blackgate

• "I make the decisions on this op, and I say we keep going. There's something to be gained here." (Rick Flag)
• "He was this close to beating Batman hand-to-hand...Impressive." (Bronze Tiger)
• "Hmm. We could use a marksman and an expert in firearms..." (Deadshot)
• "Personality's not a qualification for the job I want him for." (To Rick Flag about Deadshot)
• "Catwoman?" (Rick Flag)
• "Time enough for that, Captain Flag. Catwoman did do us a great service." (Rick Flag)
• "You see degenerates, Captain... I see soldiers." (To Rick Flag about Bronze Tiger and Deadshot)

Assault on Arkham

• "You're trying my patience." (Riddler)
• "What do you want, Nigma?" (Riddler)
• "Your name." (Riddler)
• "No. I have Google like the rest of the world." (Riddler)
• "Simple, I needed to keep you babbling long enough to pinpoint your position." (Riddler)
• "Take him out. Make it hurt." (To ARGUS Soldiers about Riddler)
• "What is it!? Report!" (ARGUS Soldiers)
• "I'm invoking priority level ultraviolet. Assemble Task Force X. We have another suicide mission."
• "Stop!" (KGB Beast)
• "Sit down."
• "I'm Amanda Waller. I'm here to indoctrinate you convicts into our special forces."
• "Task Force X is an off the books government strike team...made up from convicts with no hope for release... serving as expendable agents for impossible missions."
• "Succeed and I'll shave time off your sentences."
• "You'll be dead. Any other stupid questions?" (Black Spider)
• "Yes. And a powerful nanotech explosive. Run away, get yourself captured, disobey an order... hell, give me a right answer too slowly, and I'll blow your head clean off." (Killer Frost)
• "Try me." (KGB Beast)
• "Anyone else?"
• "I didn't think so."
• "You're going to break into Arkham Asylum."
• "A week ago, while in my employ, a lowlife calling himself the Riddler... managed to gain access to my computer system."
• "He downloaded a file containing the identities and histories... of every current, past and potential member of the suicide squad."
• "That's right. He's threatening to release them all on the Internet. You're going to get it back. Riddler's got one copy and it's on a thumb drive in his cane... which is currently locked away in the Arkham property room."
• "Harley Quinn has an encyclopedic knowledge... of Arkham's layout and its logistics. "
• "You'll be snuck into Gotham. You'll rendezvous with a power broker who will set you up for the break-in."
• "This is as off-the-grid as it gets, so let's keep the body count to a minimum. Deadshot, rubber bullets only."
• "He has his hands full on another case. In fact, we work it right, we might be able to take advantage of him."
• "What, Lawton?" (Deadshot)
• "Be a good convict, Lawton. Don't make me blow you up." (Deadshot)
• "I'm clear. Gas 'em!"
• "Remember this feeling, convicts. I hold your lives in my hands."
• "Louise? It's Amanda. I have a special assignment for you. Something I'd rather keep between the two of us." (Killer Frost)
• "You don't get to call me up and demand answers, Deadshot."
• "Joker stole a dirty bomb and hid it somewhere in Gotham. Apparently it's large enough that the radiation would kill half the population. Batman's torn the city apart trying to find it. At one point he thought Riddler might know."
• "I don't care, convict, do your job." (Deadshot)
• "Lawton! GPS has you in the main security hub. What's going on?" (Deadshot)
• "Don't get too cocky Lawton. You're at the point of no return. You best keep that in mind." (Deadshot)
• "Status report! I've got you on the exercise yard but you don't show up in the cameras." (Deadshot)
• "Don't yank me around convict. Get the cane. Get out!" (Deadshot)
• "What are you trying to pull, Deadshot? You're not checking in!"
• "So you're all together?"
• "Then why has the Special Crimes unit been called in to protect the medical center?"
• "I am getting reports that there's a break-in at Arkham. You're on red alert!"
• "What part of 'off the books' do you not understand!?"
• "Are you in the medical center?!"
• "Batman again?"
• "Spider? But he's-"
• "No excuses, Lawton! You get that!?" (Deadshot)
• "No more crap! No more time! No more shenanigans!"
• "Those scumbags are trying to screw me!" (The Suicide Squad)
• "Nobody screws the Wall!!"
• "Oh, it's just you." (Batman)
• "Let's just say I break a lot of eggs to make an omelet." (Batman)
• "I got careless. My men will get Nygma next time." (Batman)
• "No? We're the U.S. government. Who's going to blow the whistle on us? The convicts? Who'd believe 'em? You? Heh. You're going to start a blog and expose us? I don't think so. That's checkmate, Batman."
• "Enough! Don't they need you back in your squalid little city? They never did find the Joker's body, did they" (Batman)
• "Punk." (Batman)
• ''Motherf--'' (Deadshot)

Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League

• "All of you are the worst, of the worst, of the worst. but still, your good at what you do, even if what you do is far from good." - Amanda to Task Force X
• "Welcome to Task Force X." - Amanda to Task Force X
• "Congratulations Task Force X, you're the first assets to make it into Metropolis alive." - Amanda to Task Force X
• "Task Force X, your new mission is to kill the Justice League." - Amanda to Task Force X

Gallery

Kill the Justice League

The Suicide Squad

Amanda Waller in Batman: Assault on Arkham

Amanda Waller as she appeared in the Arkham Knight Prequel Comics.

Amanda Waller at the GCPD.

Trivia

• Waller's "work" for Deathstroke was the "Suicide Squad", which was a group of incarcerated villains who went on missions for the government in exchange for reduced prison sentences.
• As part of the promotions for the Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League game, a special phone number was set up that could be called by fans. Waller would thus answer the phone and give out different responses directed to different members of the team. One response was also addressed to potential recruits for Task Force X.
• In the Arkhamverse, Waller has known ties with A.R.G.U.S. and the Department of Justice. In the comics, she has also worked for Cadmus and was the Warden of Belle Reve Prison.
• In Assault on Arkham, Waller's design was more obese compared to the other instalments. The design was somewhat similar to her pre-New 52 appearance. In Arkham Origins and Arkham Underworld, she looks younger and slimmer than said version, although not to the extent of her New 52 counterpart.
• When Batman confronted her in Assault on Arkham due to her role in the events of the film, she casually states that one can't make an omelette without breaking a few eggs, which was what the Joker told Vikki Vale in the 1989 Batman movie when explaining that Alicia Hunt "committed suicide" by jumping off a building, and which was itself based on a comment made by Walter Duranty regarding the Soviet Union.
• Waller has numerous issues that make her more of a full-fledged villain rather than one who is neutral evil.
  • Her trigger temper has her threaten to blow the bombs in the Suicide Squad just because they annoy her; not because they are disobeying her.
    • A probable factor was due to having someone's head blow up in her face, but she was unnecessarily angry with the Squad; knowing full well that they would have attempted to remove the bombs. She even excessively destroy the device that was meant to remove them.
    • King Shark notes that Waller is a control freak, explaining why she flips out so much whenever her plans go sideways; regardless of the fact the Squad is trying their best to succeed.
    • The Squad all but point out that Waller would screw herself over if she actually detonated the bombs. No Task Force X? Her A.R.G.U.S. goons go back into the field and get slaughtered easy; the Squad were the ones pulling their asses out of the fire multiple times.
    • As with other depictions of Waller, she speaks using deeply profane language whenever provoked.
    • She clearly has a problem with Batman, as evidenced by his actions during the Kill Arkham Asylum incident. It seems that with Brainiac’s invasion, she felt that she finally had an excuse to have him killed.
    • She is seemingly dismissive, rude, and condescending around civilians, as evident by her quote in the codex.
  • She linked the bombs to her own heartbeat, so they would blow the moment, she would die. This doesn't help herself considering almost the age of a senior and is constantly under stress - which is a common heart attack factor.
    • It doesn't help that she seemed ignorant enough to think she could escape the blast radius of a nuke within minutes of it launching, not to mention that she was on the same island.
  • She wants to take the Terminaut tech and learn how to brainwash others.

External links

• Amanda Waller on the DC Comics Wiki