Suicide Squad #14 Review

Well, this is one strange book to review. I have gone from really looking forward to Suicide Squad after reading last months fine issue, to now most likely dropping it after the Death of The Family ( DOTF ) tie ins are done with. What a massive difference a month makes.

So why is this book a funny one to review? Due to the fact that the DOFT tie in bits are brilliant, and the normal squad bits are very mediocre; that is why. The first half of this issue made up predominately of Harley and The Joker were exceptional. The Joker once again came across as completely terrifying. This new and improved persona he has taken on is more aggressive than anything we have ever seen, and I really hope it is here to stay. All the writers in the Batman family of books seem to be in cahoots on how to write him, which makes it a greater reading experience as the character is not having any major personality fluctuations.  I have heard rumours that it may be a copycat, but I really really hope that is not the case.

Now onto the second part of this issue. It was OK. Nothing great. All we see is the rest of the squad after the last mission which saw the death of Deadshot ( I am gutted about that by the way ). However it never really moved their story anywhere, and it just made me totally uninterested in any future story arc which includes this team. The only slightly interested bit is that Waller is planning on bringing Deadshot back from the dead ( or at least that is how I read it ), which would be pretty cool I guess.

So I have officially given up on this series. Yeah, I will buy the tie in issues just purely for any Joker appearances, and also for his interactions with Harley. Apart from that I am done with this series. I am going to miss Harley as she is one of my favourite DC characters; but alone she does not warrant the money that this series costs. If Harley had her own book then I would not have one single regret about dropping this book. It is a shame really as it used to be such a great series, and I hope one day that it can get back to those heights. If it does then I will no doubt be hopping back on board. But for now, me and this series are estranged.


Rating: 6 / 10

( The Joker and Harley = 7 / 10 )

Suicide Squad #13 Review

 It's funny because this used to be at the top of my reading pile no matter what week it came out. However, now it has dropped right to the bottom of it due to the last two or three issues. In fact I nearly dropped the book altogether this month, but I am now glad that I didn't having read this issue.

The book starts with us joining the team on the hunt for Regulus in a Basilisk base. Deadshot shoots what he knows to be a fake Black Spider in the head, as he had already figured out that the real one will be wherever Waller is. We then skip over to Waller's Nana's house, where we see that Black Spider has taken her hostage. Waller and her Nana end up getting away from Black Spider by hiding away in the safe room located in the house. Heading back to Deadshot and Harley, we see them in a battle against their own squad mates. However, their squad mates have been taken over by Basilisk so have no control over their own actions. Deadshot and Harley help them regain their control, and then go on to team up with Boomer and his small army against the agents of Basilisk and Regulus himself. Back in the safe room with Waller and her Nana, we get a glimpse of Waller's past growing up. Her Nana threatened her with a gun in order to get her out of the neighbourhood so she would receive a better upbringing than the one she was getting there. Right after this has been shared, Black Spider comes through the door which ends up falling on top and crushing Waller's Nana, possibly to death. This is the last we see of these two as we go back to the battle against Regulus for the final time. Regulus grabs Deadshot from behind thinking he has got him under control. However Deadshot puts a bullet through his own chest in order for it to hit Regulus. Which it does. Deadshot then falls to the ground, where he is held by Harley as this issue ends.

There was a lot happening in this book, however it never felt like there was too much to keep up with. That is always the sign of a good issue. This is what many of the earlier Suicide Squad issues that gained critical acclaim, as well as a couple of sold out first printings felt like. Full of action, yet never leaving the reader feeling confused about anything. That is exactly what this issue does really well. These books have never been about deep story telling, but instead about just being  fun easy books to read that make you want to read more. This issue certainly delivered in that respect. I am now very eager to get my hands on next months issue, which is a feeling that I wasn't sure Suicide Squad could make me feel again.



Rating: 7.5/10




Image From ifanboy.com