Suicide Squad #43 – Rob Williams, Writer; Philippe Briones, Hugo Petrus, Artists; Hi-Fi, Colorist
Ratings: Ray – 6/10
Suicide Squad #43 continues Batman and Deadshot’s road trip, and at times it feels like it’s three comics in one – and they’re vastly different in terms of interest. The issue opens with a fairly routine chase segment, as the leads’ car is being pursued by an army of Kobra minions, led by a giant rampaging snake monster. There’s a lot of shooting and explosions, but the plot doesn’t really kick off until Deadshot has one of the agents of Kobra at his mercy. The villain taunts him about his daughter’s fate – and Deadshot ignores his promise to Batman and casually shoots the mook in the head.
That basically dissolves the partnership, and the two get into a shouting match that turns into a brawl. Part of the issue with this story – and this series as a whole – is that the lead characters are so uninteresting and unlikable that guest stars tend to take over. That’s definitely the case here – I never for a second considered taking any side but Batman’s in their conflict.
After all the fighting and taunts, the issue takes an upswing when the cavalry arrives, in the form of Harley Quinn, Captain Boomerang, and Captain Cold. Rolling up in a rickety helicopter and looking to cause some carnage, this trio of Waller’s soldiers doesn’t really get much done, but they do cause some chaos.
What sets this segment apart is that these three actually seem to be having fun. For a few minutes there, there’s a manic energy to the title that I really enjoyed. I just wish it lasted longer – Suicide Squad should be a wild, over-the-top book and not the grim affair it’s been for most of this run. Speaking of grim, the ending segment with Deadshot’s daughter being subjected to a ritual to turn her into a prophet of Kobra was nicely creepy, but this plot has gone on a bit too long. It feels like it could have been pared down and been a nice, tight thriller about the one thing Deadshot cares about.
To find reviews of all the DC issues, visit DC This Week.
Disclaimer: GeekDad received this comic for review purposes.
