Ray: DC publicity hasn’t been shy about the terrible fate that’s coming for Deadshot in a few issues. Whether we can believe that all is as they say, who knows – the Squad has had many close calls before. But until we get there, Tom Taylor and Bruno Redondo continue to give us one of the most entertaining books at DC at the moment. When we last left off, the Squad had rebelled against their sadistic leader Lok, killed him, and escaped – minus one member. As the issue opens, they’re getting their neck bombs surgically removed by a shady back-alley doctor who escaped from Arkham – Harley can’t remember whether she’s the cured one or the serial killer. They also pick up a dog that has an uncanny ability to pretend to be taxidermied, in a return to form for Taylor after his past memorable animal sidekicks like Jonathan the Actual Wolverine. But they’re also in Gotham now, and that means a big, Bat-shaped hitch in their escape plans.
The second half of the issue is a non-stop action segment with the Squad discovering some shocking reveals – including the fact that Deadshot and Harley had completed their terms of service and were being kept illegally. But when Batman shows up, looking to arrest them instead of letting the hundreds of assassins dispatched to kill them do their work, the issue shows off Taylor’s skill for chaotic action. It’s Batman against a dozen diverse assassins and metahumans, and even Batman’s an underdog there. The dog surprisingly plays a pretty fun role in all this, and the ending of the issue is Batman vs. Deadshot one-on-one – in a sense. Deadshot has always been a Bat-rogue, but a more nuanced one than his usual psychopaths. He seems to genuinely be trying to walk away from his life of violence, and that even extends to his approach to Batman. Bad things are coming for Floyd, and Taylor did one very important thing this issue – he made sure that whatever happens, we’ll care.
To find reviews of all the DC issues, visit DC This Week.
GeekDad received this comic for review purposes.
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