Suicide Squad #50 – Rob Williams, Writer; German Peralta, Will Conrad, Brett Schoonover, Artist; Gabe Eltaeb, Colorist
Ratings:
Ray – 4/10
Ray: Aside from a few short storyarcs, fill-ins, and crossovers, Rob Williams has written Suicide Squad for the entire run of the series since Rebirth. That’s impressive – but it would be more impressive if it felt like this run had gone anywhere. Instead, it’s just been a bizarre series of generic villains and plot twists that didn’t do any of the characters involved any justice. Now, for this final issue, Suicide Squad #50, the Squad is up against a threat dating back to the early issues of the series – The Tuskanga virus, a sentient alien intelligence that possesses humans and turns them into giant lava monsters. And it’s gotten ahold of Amanda Waller and turned her into a hulking monster with a fang-filled mouth on her stomach.
It makes about as much sense in context as you’d expect, and the team seems to be having fun making jokes at their former handler’s expense. But that’s really the only amusing thing here.
The problem is, very few of these characters have had story arcs. They bumble along from plot to plot, given basic motivations. Deadshot has his daughter motivating him, of course. Digger had a son introduced only six months ago, but he doesn’t seem to factor into his decisions here. Harley wavers between sane and crazy, and Killer Croc randomly seems to regain his faculties at the end of the issue.
Remember when Enchantress died in an abrupt and ambiguous way? That’s never followed up on, which means it’ll be up to another creative team to bring her back. Rick Flag is the only character who has a real storyarc, coming to terms with the death of his team of soldiers and facing off against their reanimated forms. But Amanda Waller ends the issue on a down note, reminding the Squad that they’ll never be heroes and they’ll never earn their way free. That’s not a recipe for a compelling series, and the series ends much as it began.
To find reviews of all the DC issues, visit DC This Week.
Disclaimer: GeekDad received this comic for review purposes.
