Interestingly but logically, to some extent, the Suicide Squad started off in Secret Origins # 14, May 1987, showing that there have been various teams over the years. As it also briefly shows the Justice Society in the 1950s, there is a suggestion that this was on Earth-2, yet the main…er…villains were from Earth-1. That sort of gets sorted later as part of the New 52. Oh, the team leader and his son also points out that there has always been a Rick Flagg on the ground with them.
Then its immediately into their own comicbook, which frequently gives reference to that ‘Secret Origins’ issue. Actually, they aren’t in the opening part of the issue, which is reserved to look at their opponents, the Jihad, as they lay waste to an airport with a lot of dead bodies. It’s actually a demonstration of what they can do as a mercenary group. The dead people, when alive, were taken from Qurac’s prisons and used for practice. Not all criminal but dissidents and creatives. This is the kind of fight you wouldn’t have seen the JLA doing although you would have to wonder how they didn’t hear about it.
I was a bit puzzled why Nemesis was included. Hardly a villain, just a master of disguise. It is explained but he’s more like a free agent working with the team than as a prisoner under licence. He’s certainly not acting as one of the wardens like Flagg is. He also ends up being stranded in Russia. He’s also not the first to be used that way.
Looking objectively, the creators looked like they were still finding their way. The squad was beaten by Darkseid’s Fabulous Furies who were told to get Glorious Godfrey out of the cells. Sorting out a seemingly heroic character who is actually a racist in a really horrible costume. Then they were off in a multi-parter in Russia, mostly in disguise. The Enchantress is the most volatile. Normally kept in check by her civilian identity of June Moone but has to let her out occasionally for work and then working to keep her under control. A real loose cannon. This is more Mission: Impossible, with each member doing a specific task, and then finding the victim they were supposed to be rescuing wanting to be a martyr.
Although the stories propel along at a particularly fast rate, I wasn’t exactly taken by Luke McDonnell’s artwork. It took a while to figure out. He never used shadows which restricted depth in the panels and his inker doesn’t resolve. You do get used to it but you have to wonder why, especially as when they wore costumes they were garish and not particularly effective.
GF Willmetts
October 2026
(pub: DC Comics, 2005. 229 page graphic novel softcover. Price: varies. ISBN: 978-1-40125-831-3)
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