Well what we have here is the first cross over story line into another DC title. Waller sends the Squad to kill Mitch Shelley but deliberately with holds any information about his resurrection powers. Apparently Shelley's powers have Waller thinking he can be used in some part of grand scheme of hers. The Squad clashes several times with Shelley and a rival agency's operatives ( The Body Doubles) that also wants him. When it's all done and said Waller manages to get what she wants by cutting off one of Shelley's hands while he is "dead" . . yet again.
These issues featured a more ruthless Amanda Waller then we've seen before and I think things are coming to a head with her and Deadshot. Harley has seemingly reverted to her alto ego Harlene Quinzel as a result of having been shot in issue #6 and Yo-Yo finally managed to get out of King Shark's belly while he was unconscious. There's a new member on the Squad called Iceberg I'm pretty unenthusiastic about. I would have probably liked him better if he had a better name like "Icecube" or "Icebro" given that he happens to be black. Resurrection Man seems like a pretty cool character and both issues had plenty of good one liners, quips and witty pop culture references.
But the Resurrection Man issue pissed me off by having what by any reasonable estimation was Count Vertigo on the cover but not having him inside the issue at all again denying us the full return yet again (Capt. Boomerang in issues 3 & 4) of a long standing Suicide Squad member from the old DCU. I have to admit this sort of thing is wearing on my patience. Abnett & Lanning have not been on my list of favorite writers lately with the way they sodomized the ROM spaceknight legacy in their Annihilators series so I suppose it should come as no surprise they would do a bit of the same on my favorite DC title as well. As for Adam Glass, he's a good writer but I really think the Suicide Squad is going to start seeing a drop in readership soon if they don't make some roster changes and I ain't talkn about more characters like Iceberg. You can see some previews of the issues at the links below.
What did Lanning and Abnett do that was so messed up? They usually show love and care to b-,c-level characters.
ReplyDeletein a nut shell Marvel over the last ten years or so has been trying to make use and pay homage to the ROM legacy. but here's the rub. in that time frame Marvel lost the licensing rights to the ROM character himself. so basically all the "creative writing" narratives that marvel has been trying to come up with has left old school ROM fans feeling much how many old school Suicide Squad fans feel about the SS relaunch.
Deleteby the way i made some edits (Iceberg character) to the second paragraph i think you'll get a kick out of.
Well man, I feel your pain and what I have excepted is that this is a new squad and no one on the old team will be a core member if they show up at all. So I take it for what it is.
DeleteI've said numerous times before and i'll say it again here; I don't want the Tiger as a member of this new Squad, a cameo, yes crossing over from this book to his, yes; but not a member.
I guess your saying, Hell he needs to first get a book. True. Now that doesn't even matter. I just finished reading Battle Scars. It was great, a new Marvel spy book with a new outlook on the game. I'm all in.
well i'm afraid i can't comment on Battle Scars but i would be down for BT to get his own book. but i'm the sentimental type so i'd like to see him as part of the team again. but what we want doesn't mean diddly squat to DC i suspect. so we'll just see how things play out with upcoming issues and based on that i may or may not continue to pick up this title.
DeleteWhoa.....that's a major statement there compadre. I thought we were all in together. We are two of the truest squad members around. The book is good and if you look at it, this current team could be turned into a live action movie. Take King Shark off the team add Bane or some other strenght guy that's easy for them to use and BAM, Suicide Squad movie.
DeleteAs far as old members coming back and being back, you can forget that shit. I won't believe it until it happens. Look at this new Deadshot. Really he ain't nothing. Do you want to see Flagg or Ben go out like this? I don't. I think the Tiger, Flagg and Nightshade have outgrown this little group. Captain boomerrang is running around getting beat up by Robin. Things are not looking good for Ostranders team.
Think about it Adam wants to make his own mark with new members. Harley has been a hit. He kept Deadshot just like Gail did to anchor the group and give em killer credibility, not to mention a serious fan base. It's working, why would he change up?
Ben's right about DC shitting it's old-school friends. I'm just amazed you guts still act surprised by all this. DC/Dan Didio's been screwing over loyal fans since 2005! Now they've forced an unnecessary reboot down our collective throats, neglected a few money-making toy lines leading them to be either cancelled or put on hiatus, screwed over famous former employees, and ran off countless others all in the name of giving us what we want. We wanted change, but not that kind of change.
ReplyDeleteAs for the SS, well Ben, the old one is dead and likely to stay there until a new regime takes over and deems it worthy or restoring. I was pissed when they cancelled Secret Six and Doom Patrol, and that's not even all of it. And I guess from their standpoint they have to commit to making things seems new in the NuDCu, otherwise it'd be the old one but with a stupid name.
Maybe one day guys, maybe one day. I say this, you guys should be glad they're not back. There's no telling how bad the retcons/reimaging could go to damage the characters we all love. There's probably a goos reason why we haven't
seen BT or Flagg, or Jewel/Punch yet/. If we did, we wouldn't recognize them.
I'm going over to Goo's spot to see what he has on the subject but I think you said it all, we probably wouldn't recognize our guys.
Deletei gotta tell ya guys i wasn't expecting all this when i responded to your comments and i'm feeling a bit overwhelmed. look, i'm just talking about how i'm feeling at the moment. that could change with the next issue for all i know and i'm certainly not going to make any decisions about discontinuing to pick up the Suicide Squad or not any time soon. but either way that won't effect this blog or my interest in all the stuff we talk about here.
ReplyDeletelike i said before, the Squad reboot will be whatever it ends up being rather it has a rebooted BT, Rick Flag, Nightshade, Vertigo, Plastique or not. and don't get me wrong about some of the new guys because i genuinely want to see Diablo and Black Spider continue on the Squad. it's gonna be whatever Adam Glass and the powers that be at DC deem fit and i'll either like it or i won't.
think of it like women and drinking. why does one guy like bigger ladies and the other like em to be almost anorexic (the Shlomo can handle all kinds)? why does one guy like to get hammered on beer and the other on tequila? there's no real answer to these questions my friend it just is what it is.
lol .... the Shlomo can handle all kinds. Long live the Squad.
DeleteHonestly i think SS relaunch is not that bad. I mean, it has nothing on the SS Original Vol.1 or Raise the Flag Vol.3... but... it's not as bad as Vol.2 that's for sure!
ReplyDeleteI am not a fan of the redesigns... Deadshot, one of my fav characters, new suit is horrible. And i don't get the guns on his wrists... sometimes they r there, sometimes they r not... they can't pop up cause there is no room in that gauntlet so i honestly don't know what's going on there...
I am ok with Waller, i liked the old one's better but the new one at least keeps the attitude and that's what made Waller "The Wall".
Black Spider is clearly a "Bronze Tiger" replacement. Even though i like Bronze Tiger better, BS is ok.
El Diablo, not really a fan... and Harley, i love the char... not the redesign... and i was not sure she was suicide squad material... until the "Hunt" story arc.
The roster is NOT the best. I would love to see some appearences of classic chars and maybe even some secret six in the mix... and for more than just a couple of issues (Cap Boomerang). But i really miss Flagg... i mean... not the character itself, but there is no real "leader" in the team... and Deadshot is NOT leader material... he is supposed to be the homicidal/suicidal lunatic we love... there need to be someone on "Waller's side" controling the action from inside the team. That's just my guess. Anyway, it's a nice read, specially since the reboot screw so much up.
I am really glad they didn't got canceled in the first cut. And i hope the story and the chars gets better from now on.
thanks for that comment and welcome to the blog. i pretty much feel the same as you do about it all except that i like Diablo and Black Spider more then you do. also, Harley's new design is really a none issue with me like Waller their the same characters like in the old DCU. considering how you feel about Deadshot's costume i think you're gonna like my next posting. also, there's a Bronze Tiger blog you might like check my blog role in the hand column.
DeleteThanks, and by the way. Great Blog, i,ve been reading it for a couple of months now and i am hooked! I believe u r the only person with a suicide squad blog XD.
DeleteEl Diablo and Black Spider are really great chars, is just that i am really into the old gang. Still i am getting to like each one of them more as i read the series. For example, in the first issues i couldn't stand El Diablo... now i think he's ok...
Can't wait to read your next post. Keep it up!
I think your almost spot on. Waller and Harley are perfect, they are the spotlight of the book right now. With the possibility of some Black Spider and Amanda Waller romance, with a Deadshot vs Black Spider conflict looming, the spider might turn into a major player if he ever start kicking some ass.
DeleteI like Diablo but I'm like everybody else here. I want the old Squad Back in some form with my man Bronze Tiger out front and all over the DCU. But like Shlomo said " It is what it is".
I was sad to drop both these titles early on. I loved both their original runs, but I'm thinking if this pretty natural fit crossover didn't tick all the boxes it might not be such a bad thing. Hey what non-DC properties would everyone most like to see the squad tackle. I mean what if Waller ran the Marines in Aliens??
ReplyDeletei saw your other comment Dan rest assured i gave Dale the low down on what an "arvo" is after you told me last week. can't believe you actually read through all the drama ridden comments we all left here so far. how does you head feel? thanks for the comment on the ROM blog i'll have to see about getting back to you with all these hypothetical scenarios when time permits.
DeleteWell balls to you Dan!
ReplyDeleteGood points one and all. Amanda and Harley are good as characters, and only need their 'new mythology' expanded up to make them more relatable as people.
ReplyDeleteHarley's has been touched upon. Waller's need more work.