The 2007 - 2008 # 9 issue of the Suicide Squad mini-series was everything that any fan of the original 1 - 65 series could ask for and then some.Some of the "then some" comes compliments of the French Canadian bombshell known as Plastique. If you recall she was with the Squad from their very first mission in issue 1 of the original series. And on that mission attempted to sell out the squad but was fortunately stopped by the Squad's double agent Nemesis (a.k.a Tom Tresser). There are many cool moments with Plastique like when Bronze Tiger in the middle of battle urges the other team members to not use lethal force and to only disable if possible. Plastique responds with a cool line I would more expect to come from Deadshot, "Why, killing disables them no?".
But where she really shines is when faced with the choice of loyalty or betrayal when a coup led by Gen. Eiling within the Squad ranks occurs in the middle of a mission in true Suicide Squad fashion. At first it looks like it's gonna be one of those old habits die hard kinda moments but then she surprises us. Not only does she choose loyalty to her comrades who are not part of the coup, she ends up being instrumental in putting the coup down by among other things taking out one of Gen. Eiling's co-conspirators, White Dragon.
White Dragon was the misogynistic racist rich dirt bag Mel Gibson . . er I mean William Heller who masqueraded at one time as a cross bow wielding "hero" who seemed to only be able to manage catching criminals of color. Now in possession of a powerful suite of armor and pissed off about having to take orders from a black woman he gladly joins Eiling's agenda of destroying the Squad from within and taking revenge on Waller.
But he bites off much more then he can chew when he spews his misogynistic rant at Plastique who it turns out may be something of a feminist. She basically goes O.J. on White Dragon's aryan ass and takes him out. So for me this min-series among other things was something of a road to redemption for the Plastique character. When asked by Bronze Tiger why she did not go throw with the coup that she had been originally recruited for her reasoning comes off as being very logical. But I like to thinking there was something more noble to her motivations and I'm looking forward to se
eing her in further Suicide Squad adventures. Especially if she keeps wearing that skin tight costume. Maybe we'll get lucky and see an Adam Hueys rendering of her some day. By the way is there anyone out there who speaks French and can tell the rest of us what "cochon" means?
My high school french is a bit rusty, but I think it means "dirty pig".
ReplyDeleteyou see that extensive list of followers in the right hand column? well that little typing writing monkey icon is for a French speaking Canadian fella. as soon as he sees this posting in the next day or two we'll find out if you were paying attention or mostly day dreaming in French 101 :)
ReplyDeleteand also in the next day or two we've got the ultimate Deadshot blog posting and a look at the camaraderie between Rick Flag and Bronze Tiger.
"Cochon" is just "pig".
ReplyDeleteThere may be more than feminism at work in Plastique's attitude towards the racist Heller (who is a white supremacist). She's not just French Canadian, she's a Quebequer (and a separatist Quebequer at that). She would therefore be very sensitive to minority rights. So Heller is no doubt distateful to her in every way.
Plus, Quebequers are notoriously brash and argumentative. She'd be quick to outrage.
that was some interesting insight on not just Plastique but also to the culture of America's neighbors to the north.
ReplyDeleteMerci beaucoup Siskoid
Nice post - like the wanted poster on the side too - like the original SS advert. Would be cool to see the side bar grow with those of others as you profile them.
ReplyDeleteI thought that Plastique was one of the best-used characters in this mini-series, too. Ostrander really knows how to write with "character", you know? I wonder, he and Gail Simone are buds, if Ostrander could convince her to pull Plastique into the Secret Six, even if just for a guest-spot?
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