The Justice League just gave Batman a heads up about the recent behavior of Talia al Ghul, hinting at her involvement in the upcoming Shadow War.
WARNING: The following contains spoilers from Justice League #74, on sale now from DC.
With DC’s Shadow War crossover drawing ever closer, the major players have positioned themselves in preparation. Even as the sides grow clearer, however, one character’s role remains a mystery.
Despite being both Batman’s former beloved and Damian’s mother, Talia al Ghul has left her intentions stubbornly ill-defined. Given her intelligence, skills, and legion of followers, she could easily tip the balance if she chooses a side. Unfortunately, recent indicators suggest she might forgo the existing alliances and upend the entire dynamic of the conflict.
DC’s solicitations hint the Demon’s Daughter will take a more reactionary approach to the war in response to her father’s death. A vengeful Talia is a frightening prospect, indeed — one that would present a challenge to heroes and villains alike. Everyone involved in the Shadow War should prepare for a brutal and bloody conflict if she does indeed pursue that approach.
However, Justice League #74, by Brian Michael Bendis, Szymon Kudranski, Emanuela Lupacchino and Wade von Grawbadger, suggests something even more dangerous may be in motion. Hawkgirl opined that the leader of the League of Assassins is “getting ready to do something insane.” More chilling is the hint that Talia had been putting these plans together before the Shadow War was even on the horizon. She’s even more proactive than anyone seems aware.
As many Batman fans know, Talia al Ghul is the daughter of Ra’s al Ghul, the leader of the League of Assassins and one of Batman’s most persistent enemies. Talia has been a character defined by her divided loyalties between the love she feels for her “beloved” and her belief in her father’s mission. Recent years, however, have portrayed Talia as striking out on her own, being less reactive to the problems caused by the two most important men in her life and instead forging her own path, often dragging them along for the ride as well. This behavior will likely continue in the Shadow War.
If Hawkgirl’s warning holds true, then perhaps Talia was somehow involved in her father’s death. The love between them was always contentious at best and had frayed even further within the last few years. It’s possible that Talia might have been preparing for some kind of coup, attempting to usurp her father and assume control over his organization. It wouldn’t be too far of a stretch for her to pin the death on Deathstroke. The solicits certainly point to him as the most likely suspect, but with these sorts of stories, the obvious answer is rarely the correct one.
If this is true, it perfectly fills Hawkgirl’s prediction. Talia successfully usurping her father would result in a major shift in the power structure of the DC Universe. Ra’s immortality meant he had a hand in so many events within the world, political, financial, military, even mystical. If Talia does end his life, so much could be unraveled by it.
This is all speculation, though. While Talia is not above this level of family infighting, it is impossible to say she had a part to play in her father’s death until more evidence is shown. What is certain is that Talia will be more active in the war that reunites her family and may result in her making a move that could permanently alter the status quo.
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