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Suicide Squad (2011)
Suicide Squad, Volume 1: Kicked in the Teeth
As a part of the acclaimed DC Comics—The New 52 event of September 2011, writer and co-creator of the CW show Supernatural Adam Glass rolls out an all-new team of death-row super villains recruited by the government to take on missions so dangerous–they're sheer suicide!
The story begins with the Suicide Squad defeated, imprisoned and being interrogated about their newest mission. Harley Quinn, King Shark, Deadshot and company must make it out alive without revealing who's pulling the strings behind their illegal operations. Who will be the first to crack under the pressure? More importantly will they make it all out alive?
The story begins with the Suicide Squad defeated, imprisoned and being interrogated about their newest mission. Harley Quinn, King Shark, Deadshot and company must make it out alive without revealing who's pulling the strings behind their illegal operations. Who will be the first to crack under the pressure? More importantly will they make it all out alive?
160 pages, Paperback
First published July 10, 2012
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 789 reviews
June 26, 2020
(B+) 77% | Good
Notes: Bloodstained and brassy, it’s repetitive: like plot-themed levels of a side-scrolling beat-'em-up. Junk food for the soul.
Notes: Bloodstained and brassy, it’s repetitive: like plot-themed levels of a side-scrolling beat-'em-up. Junk food for the soul.
February 8, 2017
I want at least one of three things in a comic book.
1. I like to care about the character or characters. Or possibly just care about what's going to happen to them.
I couldn't have cared less about what happened to these guys.
Butbutbut...what about Harley? Everyone loves Harley Quinn!
Yeah. No.
I guess it was supposed to tug at my heartstrings when Deadshot was with the little girl, and I'll admit my Inner Mom went awww for a few seconds.
Then I rolled my eyes and punched her in the face.
The kid thing has been done to death. What's next? A three-legged dog? A road trip with his senile grandpa?
2. If there's nobody I'm rooting for, then the plot has to make up for it.
Show me something I haven't seen before, and I'll forget all about the lackluster character lineup. Give me a twisty-turney story, and I won't even notice who's got the starring role. I promise I'm shallow enough to overlook a lot if I'm having fun.
This wasn't all that fun.
It was more like getting all dressed up to go out to eat...at McDonald's.
On one hand, you don't have to cook tonight. But on the other, you realize that you're probably going to feel like shit as soon as whatever is in that McMeat hits your stomach.
My point is, I've eaten at that 'restaurant' before. And, yeah, I'll probably eat there again. But I already know what the outcome is going to be.
Same thing with Suicide Squad.
Been there. Done that.
On the up side, unlike McDonald's, reading this won't give you diarrhea.
3. If you've got nothing else, Bring On The Funny!
As I mentioned before, I'm shallow. And a good time with someone you don't care about, is still a good time.
I can hear some of you out there.
Butbutbut...Harley has a mallet! What about the Mr. J is my puddin' thing?!
Again. No.
And before you say anything...Deadshot is not Deadpool.
So unless your idea of high comedy is watching King Shark Chomp, Chomp people, I didn't see anything particularly hysterical about this volume.
In conclusion, this was just not my cuppa.
However, I was surprised at the relatively high ratings it received here on Goodreads, so perhaps it's just me.
1. I like to care about the character or characters. Or possibly just care about what's going to happen to them.
I couldn't have cared less about what happened to these guys.
Butbutbut...what about Harley? Everyone loves Harley Quinn!
Yeah. No.
I guess it was supposed to tug at my heartstrings when Deadshot was with the little girl, and I'll admit my Inner Mom went awww for a few seconds.
Then I rolled my eyes and punched her in the face.
The kid thing has been done to death. What's next? A three-legged dog? A road trip with his senile grandpa?
2. If there's nobody I'm rooting for, then the plot has to make up for it.
Show me something I haven't seen before, and I'll forget all about the lackluster character lineup. Give me a twisty-turney story, and I won't even notice who's got the starring role. I promise I'm shallow enough to overlook a lot if I'm having fun.
This wasn't all that fun.
It was more like getting all dressed up to go out to eat...at McDonald's.
On one hand, you don't have to cook tonight. But on the other, you realize that you're probably going to feel like shit as soon as whatever is in that McMeat hits your stomach.
My point is, I've eaten at that 'restaurant' before. And, yeah, I'll probably eat there again. But I already know what the outcome is going to be.
Same thing with Suicide Squad.
Been there. Done that.
On the up side, unlike McDonald's, reading this won't give you diarrhea.
3. If you've got nothing else, Bring On The Funny!
As I mentioned before, I'm shallow. And a good time with someone you don't care about, is still a good time.
I can hear some of you out there.
Butbutbut...Harley has a mallet! What about the Mr. J is my puddin' thing?!
Again. No.
And before you say anything...Deadshot is not Deadpool.
So unless your idea of high comedy is watching King Shark Chomp, Chomp people, I didn't see anything particularly hysterical about this volume.
In conclusion, this was just not my cuppa.
However, I was surprised at the relatively high ratings it received here on Goodreads, so perhaps it's just me.
April 1, 2014
Kicked in the Teeth! Yeah, that’s pretty much how I felt after reading this.
Take a group of incarcerated villains, turn them into a black ops team and send them out to do the dirty jobs. As a fail-safe, implant each with a nano bomb to keep them in line. As a basic premise, it sounds interesting. The execution, however, leaves much to be desired.
You start with an assortment of villains ranging from assassin-softie(?) Deadshot, Harley Quinn (yay!), a big shark-man and some other guys I don’t remember. All with varying shades of evil and craziness. Then to gain reader sympathy, you have them being tortured in the beginning of the story. That’s right, tortured. It ain’t pretty! Oy!!!
Throw in Amanda Waller (who’s gone on the Atkins diet), Mad Dog (one of the more odious DC characters), Yo-Yo (his part as a meal turns out to be amusing) and assorted DC villains and scenarios to make one big ugly stew.
The only bright spot here is the back story on Harley Quinn, the only compelling character in this mess. Question: Does the Joker have a vat of chemicals put aside for those very special occasions?
Take a group of incarcerated villains, turn them into a black ops team and send them out to do the dirty jobs. As a fail-safe, implant each with a nano bomb to keep them in line. As a basic premise, it sounds interesting. The execution, however, leaves much to be desired.
You start with an assortment of villains ranging from assassin-softie(?) Deadshot, Harley Quinn (yay!), a big shark-man and some other guys I don’t remember. All with varying shades of evil and craziness. Then to gain reader sympathy, you have them being tortured in the beginning of the story. That’s right, tortured. It ain’t pretty! Oy!!!
Throw in Amanda Waller (who’s gone on the Atkins diet), Mad Dog (one of the more odious DC characters), Yo-Yo (his part as a meal turns out to be amusing) and assorted DC villains and scenarios to make one big ugly stew.
The only bright spot here is the back story on Harley Quinn, the only compelling character in this mess. Question: Does the Joker have a vat of chemicals put aside for those very special occasions?
November 16, 2016
Find all of my reviews at: http://52bookminimum.blogspot.com/
I put myself on the ol’ wait list for this about eleven thousand years ago and my turn finally came around. Now I sorta wish it hadn’t (*sad face*). To anyone who is seeing this due to the new site features that show you strangers rather than your friends, allow me to give you a teensie bit of backstory regarding me: While I’ve read a handful of “pitcherbooks” I am most definitely not anyone who claims to know anything about the world of comics. However, I have surrounded myself with GR friends who do and I am happy to say most of them agree this was a stinking pile so odds are I didn’t read it totally wrong.
Now, about the story. Being a comic noob I didn’t get the memo I was supposed to hate the as-of-then-not-yet-released Suicide Squad movie, so like I said above I requested Kicked In The Teeth well in advance of the film release (and after viewing said film thought I would luuuuuuurv the comic as well). I mean, after all these are kinda my peeps . . . . .
(Usually Mitchell is the psychopath sitting next to me, but you get my drift.)
In case you are new to this planet and aren’t already aware, the Suicide Squad is a group of baddies who live in asprawling estate maximum security prison known as Belle Reve and have been presented an offer they can’t refuse: Work on super secret government stuff in order to earn time off for good behavior – or refuse and get their heads blown off by a bomb planted in each of their necks. Their mission(s) in this volume?????
I mean really. Just look at her . . . .
Definitely a threat to ‘Murica’s safety.
Anywho, the Squad has to stop a bunch of even badder bad guys (and zombies, because when all else fails add some G.D. zombies to the mix).
Who makes up the Suicide Squad, you might ask? Well . . . .
As with the movie, Harley Quinn and Deadshot are the featured players, but this mahfah seriously packs in just about errrrrryone you’d never care to know more about. You’ve got Boomerang . . .
And Yo-Yo . . . .
And Black Spider . . . .
And Savant . . . .
And the whiniest bitch in the history of the universe, Diablo . . . .
The only thing Kicked In The Teeth had that I enjoyed? King Shark . . . .
But it gets 2 Stars instead of one because at least it wasn’t as effing vapid and pointless as Squirrel Girl!
I put myself on the ol’ wait list for this about eleven thousand years ago and my turn finally came around. Now I sorta wish it hadn’t (*sad face*). To anyone who is seeing this due to the new site features that show you strangers rather than your friends, allow me to give you a teensie bit of backstory regarding me: While I’ve read a handful of “pitcherbooks” I am most definitely not anyone who claims to know anything about the world of comics. However, I have surrounded myself with GR friends who do and I am happy to say most of them agree this was a stinking pile so odds are I didn’t read it totally wrong.
Now, about the story. Being a comic noob I didn’t get the memo I was supposed to hate the as-of-then-not-yet-released Suicide Squad movie, so like I said above I requested Kicked In The Teeth well in advance of the film release (and after viewing said film thought I would luuuuuuurv the comic as well). I mean, after all these are kinda my peeps . . . . .
(Usually Mitchell is the psychopath sitting next to me, but you get my drift.)
In case you are new to this planet and aren’t already aware, the Suicide Squad is a group of baddies who live in a
I mean really. Just look at her . . . .
Definitely a threat to ‘Murica’s safety.
Anywho, the Squad has to stop a bunch of even badder bad guys (and zombies, because when all else fails add some G.D. zombies to the mix).
Who makes up the Suicide Squad, you might ask? Well . . . .
As with the movie, Harley Quinn and Deadshot are the featured players, but this mahfah seriously packs in just about errrrrryone you’d never care to know more about. You’ve got Boomerang . . .
And Yo-Yo . . . .
And Black Spider . . . .
And Savant . . . .
And the whiniest bitch in the history of the universe, Diablo . . . .
The only thing Kicked In The Teeth had that I enjoyed? King Shark . . . .
But it gets 2 Stars instead of one because at least it wasn’t as effing vapid and pointless as Squirrel Girl!
July 29, 2016
I thought Suicide Squad would have a better plot than this. It was quite simple and straightforward. No twists here and there, nothing to make you jump up your seat.
The only thing that I liked would be Harley Quinn. Honestly she's one of the main reasons why I read this in the first place. Aside from the fact that the 2016 movie is not that soon approaching. Harley Quinn is one of my favorite villains ever, in the DC universe. She has this crazy but hot chick vibe in her that I really like. I even like her more than The Joker. So to talk about her in this graphic novel now. She obviously has a major role here. She's quite the center piece, but that was still inadequate to make the plot more interesting. I get it, she wants answers and The Joker himself, but all the other elements of the graphic novel was either bad or mediocre.
The artwork was just decent. I didn't even like the look of Harley in here, more so the other boring characters.
So speaking of the boring characters, well, if the 2016 movie's based on this, then I might hate the movie too. I didn't care for any of the other characters, or maybe a little for Diablo, but the others were shit. Not even the shark was a bit likable. They were underdeveloped and I didn't even get enough information to like them. The villain of the villains was dead boring too.
2/5 stars. I gave it an extra star because of Harley Quinn, and that amazing cliffhanger. At least there's something to look forward to. I'm hoping the next volume would be better than this sorry excuse for a graphic novel. I love DC, but some New 52 volumes are just testing my patience.
The only thing that I liked would be Harley Quinn. Honestly she's one of the main reasons why I read this in the first place. Aside from the fact that the 2016 movie is not that soon approaching. Harley Quinn is one of my favorite villains ever, in the DC universe. She has this crazy but hot chick vibe in her that I really like. I even like her more than The Joker. So to talk about her in this graphic novel now. She obviously has a major role here. She's quite the center piece, but that was still inadequate to make the plot more interesting. I get it, she wants answers and The Joker himself, but all the other elements of the graphic novel was either bad or mediocre.
The artwork was just decent. I didn't even like the look of Harley in here, more so the other boring characters.
So speaking of the boring characters, well, if the 2016 movie's based on this, then I might hate the movie too. I didn't care for any of the other characters, or maybe a little for Diablo, but the others were shit. Not even the shark was a bit likable. They were underdeveloped and I didn't even get enough information to like them. The villain of the villains was dead boring too.
2/5 stars. I gave it an extra star because of Harley Quinn, and that amazing cliffhanger. At least there's something to look forward to. I'm hoping the next volume would be better than this sorry excuse for a graphic novel. I love DC, but some New 52 volumes are just testing my patience.
September 28, 2018
EDIT: I completely forgot that I even read this one! Pretty embarrassing if you ask me. So, it was okay again. The plot seems to be a bit repetitive but the ending killed, again!
But since I was not able to remember the plot at all, I will reduce the rating to three stars.
Jasný, že jsem to četla kvůli Harley. Ten konec je bomba!
But since I was not able to remember the plot at all, I will reduce the rating to three stars.
Jasný, že jsem to četla kvůli Harley. Ten konec je bomba!
April 11, 2017
This was my introduction to most of the characters of the Suicide Squad and the general premise which I read to prepare for the (somewhat disappointing) live-action movie version. In the movie, I felt that the casting of Will Smith as Deadshot was OK but that he hogged too much of the screen and did not allow the read star of the comic, Harley Quinn enough space to demonstrate her humour and insanity. The comic is a fun romp that gives the backstory and a few adventures and kept my attention cover to cover. A must.
February 9, 2017
Well, you know, I just had to read the comics after loving the movie. Yeah, yeah, I know some people love to hate, but I've got nothing but love for the crazies and the psychos in there. :)
It's all about RELATIONSHIPS. It's a romance, see? Don't let all the action and the exploding nanites and the collateral damage fool you. It's a love story.
Mostly.
Of course, for most of them, it's just a love of staying alive just a little bit longer, but don't let anyone tell you that self-love is less important than the gushy stuff!
These stories are pretty fun for an intro in the fourth revision of Suicide Squad. I'm particularly loving Harley. Her origin is pretty much what we saw in the movie and I'm lovin it. :)
It's all about RELATIONSHIPS. It's a romance, see? Don't let all the action and the exploding nanites and the collateral damage fool you. It's a love story.
Mostly.
Of course, for most of them, it's just a love of staying alive just a little bit longer, but don't let anyone tell you that self-love is less important than the gushy stuff!
These stories are pretty fun for an intro in the fourth revision of Suicide Squad. I'm particularly loving Harley. Her origin is pretty much what we saw in the movie and I'm lovin it. :)
September 10, 2016
So after really liking the movie despite it's weaknesses, I discovered that I especially liked these two:
From there it was only a small step to the comics.
What appealed to me was the whole what-defines-good-guys vs what-makes-a-bad-guy dynamic. Just look at how miserably the good guys treat the Suicide Squad but what the Joker is willing to do for his Harley! Yes, I'm a romantic, deal with it!
Imagine my surprise when reading this first volume then.
Not only is Waller considerably younger, Deadshot is also not quite as appealing as Will Smith's version of him (yet) and the Joker is !
Moreover, the art isn't bad but it's not overwhelming yet either. I'll definitely read the other volumes too but it needs to improve.
From there it was only a small step to the comics.
What appealed to me was the whole what-defines-good-guys vs what-makes-a-bad-guy dynamic. Just look at how miserably the good guys treat the Suicide Squad but what the Joker is willing to do for his Harley! Yes, I'm a romantic, deal with it!
Imagine my surprise when reading this first volume then.
Not only is Waller considerably younger, Deadshot is also not quite as appealing as Will Smith's version of him (yet) and the Joker is !
Moreover, the art isn't bad but it's not overwhelming yet either. I'll definitely read the other volumes too but it needs to improve.
February 18, 2013
“Suicide Squad” is like Marvel’s “Thunderbolts”, a team of baddies who’re put together and sent on dangerous missions. They even share similar plot points such as nanite bombs implanted inside each team member set to detonate unless they do what they’re told. There’s also a Hydra-like organisation included, calling themselves Basilisk, saluting and shouting “Hail Basilisk”, ready to kill themselves at a moment’s notice.
I recognised a couple of squad members, the Joker’s squeeze Harley Quinn (along with her awesome mallet) and another member of Batman’s Rogues Gallery, Deadshot (looking very Boba Fett), but the others were new to me - King Shark, Captain Boomerang, Diablo, Black Spider. In this first book we see them head into a stadium full of zombies while avoiding kill squads sent out to collect bounties on the villains’ heads. Also Harley finds out what’s happened to her puddin’ Mistah J from another “New 52” book.
The book feels a little light as we only really get to know Harley and Deadshot, the other characters remain somewhat obscure. It’s always great to see Harley and she takes centre stage in the strongest part of the book, the final third. This part also ties into “Batman: Faces of Death”, so check that out before this to get the full story.
The story felt a bit weak, the team didn’t really gel, and the characters were underdeveloped. The missions weren’t very satisfying and it’s unclear where this series is headed - do they just keep going on random missions indefinitely? Harley saved it but there are at least 5 other characters on the squad who are dead weight - she can’t carry the book or series alone. “Kicked in the Teeth” isn’t bad but it definitely needs a more ambitious story arc and a better writer too for it to become a great series.
I recognised a couple of squad members, the Joker’s squeeze Harley Quinn (along with her awesome mallet) and another member of Batman’s Rogues Gallery, Deadshot (looking very Boba Fett), but the others were new to me - King Shark, Captain Boomerang, Diablo, Black Spider. In this first book we see them head into a stadium full of zombies while avoiding kill squads sent out to collect bounties on the villains’ heads. Also Harley finds out what’s happened to her puddin’ Mistah J from another “New 52” book.
The book feels a little light as we only really get to know Harley and Deadshot, the other characters remain somewhat obscure. It’s always great to see Harley and she takes centre stage in the strongest part of the book, the final third. This part also ties into “Batman: Faces of Death”, so check that out before this to get the full story.
The story felt a bit weak, the team didn’t really gel, and the characters were underdeveloped. The missions weren’t very satisfying and it’s unclear where this series is headed - do they just keep going on random missions indefinitely? Harley saved it but there are at least 5 other characters on the squad who are dead weight - she can’t carry the book or series alone. “Kicked in the Teeth” isn’t bad but it definitely needs a more ambitious story arc and a better writer too for it to become a great series.
August 28, 2015
( 3.7 STARS )
From beginning to end, this was a pretty insane read! The action, the gore, the characters all made this really exciting and entertaining... But I kind of felt like it was missing something.
I loved the members of the squad however I felt as thought I didn't really know any of them?! They all felt distant, even characters, such as Harley, who I already know and love seemed empty. There was very little attempt to make the reader attached to the characters which was a real shame. I guess a reason as to why the writers did this could be to show just how disposable the members of the squad are!
The dialogue was all really well written and made reading it easier due to how real it felt. At times the story was a little hard to follow but it was still really enjoyable and gripping!
Will most likely continue with this series but I'm more excited for the movie than I am for reading the rest of the series really!!
From beginning to end, this was a pretty insane read! The action, the gore, the characters all made this really exciting and entertaining... But I kind of felt like it was missing something.
I loved the members of the squad however I felt as thought I didn't really know any of them?! They all felt distant, even characters, such as Harley, who I already know and love seemed empty. There was very little attempt to make the reader attached to the characters which was a real shame. I guess a reason as to why the writers did this could be to show just how disposable the members of the squad are!
The dialogue was all really well written and made reading it easier due to how real it felt. At times the story was a little hard to follow but it was still really enjoyable and gripping!
Will most likely continue with this series but I'm more excited for the movie than I am for reading the rest of the series really!!
March 28, 2016
|3.8 stars|
I’ve been meaning to read this one for a while and since Harley Quinn is one of my favorites from DC and the movie is coming out soon, why not.
The premise is interesting enough and the characters, while not all of them, catch the eye tremendously. The plot is pretty simple and it doesn’t have many twists, despise the end. Which wasn’t really shocking.
I think it’s safe to say that the star of these 7 issues is Harley Quinn and I loved revisiting her and the way she behaves and kicks ass.
I didn’t enjoy Captain Boomerang as much as I thought I was going to do, though. It’s been ages since I’ve picked a DC but I did enjoy Deadshot and King Shark.
I wouldn’t say this is a safe installment but you won’t find any surprises here.
I’ve been meaning to read this one for a while and since Harley Quinn is one of my favorites from DC and the movie is coming out soon, why not.
The premise is interesting enough and the characters, while not all of them, catch the eye tremendously. The plot is pretty simple and it doesn’t have many twists, despise the end. Which wasn’t really shocking.
I think it’s safe to say that the star of these 7 issues is Harley Quinn and I loved revisiting her and the way she behaves and kicks ass.
I didn’t enjoy Captain Boomerang as much as I thought I was going to do, though. It’s been ages since I’ve picked a DC but I did enjoy Deadshot and King Shark.
I wouldn’t say this is a safe installment but you won’t find any surprises here.
July 21, 2016
The last half of this book is way stronger than than the first. And that ending!!!
September 5, 2022
This one was actually pretty good! We get to see this new squad come together and we'll go on deadly missing and like fight zombies and rescue some baby and omg the brutality of it is insane like they don't hold back and then the characters there are so fun like Diablo in particular and the lengths deadshot will go to.. the chemistry between the squad members is really well written.
And then seeing new enemies like Basilisk risk and it seems like something of a future arc resolution and then I love that 2 parter with Harley and like seeing her new origins and all and the way it's retconned and all and her feelings after what happens to Joker.. it's a wild one for sure and maybe the best story of the lot.
So yeah a good read overall, it has familiar elements but introduces new stuff as well and new enemies and challenges for the villains and really is surprising as to who will die. So the surprise factor is maintained and I love the art.. it's very wild and all but makes for a good read.
And then seeing new enemies like Basilisk risk and it seems like something of a future arc resolution and then I love that 2 parter with Harley and like seeing her new origins and all and the way it's retconned and all and her feelings after what happens to Joker.. it's a wild one for sure and maybe the best story of the lot.
So yeah a good read overall, it has familiar elements but introduces new stuff as well and new enemies and challenges for the villains and really is surprising as to who will die. So the surprise factor is maintained and I love the art.. it's very wild and all but makes for a good read.
May 30, 2019
I bought Suicide Squad, vol. 1 when traveling in Taipei, and I totally love it.
The artwork is so damn awesome, the story is fast-paced, finely plotted and entertaining, the main characters are (mostly) charming and they are all vivid characters, the action scenes are brutal. What more can I ask for?
I wish I could read vol. 2 ASAP, what a shame that I didn't buy it along with vol. 1.
PS: I totally want more of Deadshot/Harley Quinn in the next volume! Although Joker/Harley Quinn is hot too! *fangirl's exclaim*
LOL
Review: Batman: A Death in the Family https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The artwork is so damn awesome, the story is fast-paced, finely plotted and entertaining, the main characters are (mostly) charming and they are all vivid characters, the action scenes are brutal. What more can I ask for?
I wish I could read vol. 2 ASAP, what a shame that I didn't buy it along with vol. 1.
PS: I totally want more of Deadshot/Harley Quinn in the next volume! Although Joker/Harley Quinn is hot too! *fangirl's exclaim*
LOL
Review: Batman: A Death in the Family https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
June 20, 2016
Interesting. I wonder where they are going with this?
June 21, 2016
I love Harley, but girl can't carry a team book by herself. Everyone else, especially Waller, can take a bullet.
Team books are difficult. Team books with all bad guys are even worse. You either need to make them fake the buddy-buddy, or go all out. This one mostly treats them as bad guys expect when it matters. That scientist who gets off the helicopter and uses his ipad to not turn off their implants, but extend the times? He'd be dead and that ipad in one of their hands before he knew what happened. Then when the guy says he has the detonator? He'd be dead before he got his hand out of his pocket to show them. If Deadshot wouldn't do it, Harley would have. Both of them are smart enough to know they aren't getting out of this alive and would take shots when they presented themselves. This is Suicide Squad. No half measures.
Team books are difficult. Team books with all bad guys are even worse. You either need to make them fake the buddy-buddy, or go all out. This one mostly treats them as bad guys expect when it matters. That scientist who gets off the helicopter and uses his ipad to not turn off their implants, but extend the times? He'd be dead and that ipad in one of their hands before he knew what happened. Then when the guy says he has the detonator? He'd be dead before he got his hand out of his pocket to show them. If Deadshot wouldn't do it, Harley would have. Both of them are smart enough to know they aren't getting out of this alive and would take shots when they presented themselves. This is Suicide Squad. No half measures.
April 6, 2013
Man, the first three pages? Awesome - stylish, minimalist, I got the feeling the writer really know how to expect more from his audience.
Then we get (a) super-dumb exposition to introduce everyone and their power set/trademark (like most New52 books seem to be doing - hitting you over the head as if you've never read a superhero book before), (b) obligatory junior-grade fake-out, and (c) edgy first mission that turns out to be just weepy-angsty.
The only character who's not a caricature or stereotype is Harley Quinn, and I'm only letting her off the hook because at least her dialogue is *fun*. The Hispanic "Diablo" is sympathetic, but Oy is he a racist stereotype gone wild.
Good god it gets worse. Every single issue they name themselves to each other - "What I am is the new leader of Task Force X - the Suicide Squad - so some respect, mate", and we get a bad Hydra knock-off terrorist group - "Hail Basilisk!"
I really wish DC would get over their 70's editorial ideas and just throw in the page-one prologue/recap/character summary, so we don't have to suffer trough the pork-shoulder-fisted attempts to "not alienate new readers" (yeah, who again?).
At least with King Shark around there's plenty of gore to keep us awake.
This plotting is pretty much a Thunderbolts lite ripoff, which just makes me want to re-read Diggle's and Ellis' books. Same ol' repetitive "we hate each other and are only doing this to get our sentences reduced - oh crap he died - oh hell, we got betrayed?!" shtick.
Not until the HQ origin does the writing show any life (I won't say originality, 'cause I'm sure this is straight out of the J&H playbook). I'm impressed that I give a rat's ass about her at this point, but not sure it's really enough to keep slogging through the next book.
Art's pretty good, but a little too much dead-obvious repetition of camera angles (eg four panels in a row?). I'm really not sure about the costumes either - Deadshot's codpiece - really, does any badass killer wear a metal codpiece? Or Harley - is she using Krazy Glue to keep that barely-there bustier on her ample boobs?
Then we get (a) super-dumb exposition to introduce everyone and their power set/trademark (like most New52 books seem to be doing - hitting you over the head as if you've never read a superhero book before), (b) obligatory junior-grade fake-out, and (c) edgy first mission that turns out to be just weepy-angsty.
The only character who's not a caricature or stereotype is Harley Quinn, and I'm only letting her off the hook because at least her dialogue is *fun*. The Hispanic "Diablo" is sympathetic, but Oy is he a racist stereotype gone wild.
Good god it gets worse. Every single issue they name themselves to each other - "What I am is the new leader of Task Force X - the Suicide Squad - so some respect, mate", and we get a bad Hydra knock-off terrorist group - "Hail Basilisk!"
I really wish DC would get over their 70's editorial ideas and just throw in the page-one prologue/recap/character summary, so we don't have to suffer trough the pork-shoulder-fisted attempts to "not alienate new readers" (yeah, who again?).
At least with King Shark around there's plenty of gore to keep us awake.
This plotting is pretty much a Thunderbolts lite ripoff, which just makes me want to re-read Diggle's and Ellis' books. Same ol' repetitive "we hate each other and are only doing this to get our sentences reduced - oh crap he died - oh hell, we got betrayed?!" shtick.
Not until the HQ origin does the writing show any life (I won't say originality, 'cause I'm sure this is straight out of the J&H playbook). I'm impressed that I give a rat's ass about her at this point, but not sure it's really enough to keep slogging through the next book.
Art's pretty good, but a little too much dead-obvious repetition of camera angles (eg four panels in a row?). I'm really not sure about the costumes either - Deadshot's codpiece - really, does any badass killer wear a metal codpiece? Or Harley - is she using Krazy Glue to keep that barely-there bustier on her ample boobs?
August 1, 2017
3.5🌟
It wss good but didn't connect very well. Deadshot is brutal and Harley is sinister but I just felt the stories didn't flow.
It wss good but didn't connect very well. Deadshot is brutal and Harley is sinister but I just felt the stories didn't flow.
July 27, 2016
Harley Quinn'e hayran bir ben olamam değil mi :')
Muhteşemdi ya!
Muhteşemdi ya!
October 14, 2016
3.5
Harley Quinn was the best thing about this.
Harley Quinn was the best thing about this.
July 13, 2014
There is something absurdly appealing about this series to me. I guess it's because it's so crazy and out there. A team of super-villains is selected from the population of Belle Reve, a maximum security prison in the middle of the Louisiana swampland designed to house dangerous meta-human criminals. the only ones selected for the team are the ones who survived vicious torture without breaking. They have nanite bombs implanted that will blow their heads off if they don't come back to the prison after the mission is completed, and are sent into missions where their chances of survival are extremely limited.
I haven't read much Batman in a long time (queued up on my reading list), so my experience with Harley Quinn is based on watching Batman movies and tv shows. She's seriously crazy and homicidally inclined, but in a strange way, I kind of liked her. Don't judge me! I'm trying to process it myself. Deadshot, I think I might be developing a crush on him. Stop judging me! I find King Shark disgusting. I hope he dies. He's yuck. Black Spider is interesting, although I don't trust him. Not that I trust any of these guys, but he has a sense of superiority because he's a vigilante who likes to kill criminals. A bit of self-righteousness can make someone very dangerous because they are good at justifying even their most questionable actions. El Diablo is quite a character. An ex-street criminal who felt severe remorse after flaming down a house full of women and children. He has the ability to start fires, and his numerous tattoos are burnt off in the process. There are a few other characters who round out the very fluid team membership. Amanda Waller, warden of Belle Reve, is the no-nonsense command officer for the Squad. She don't take no mess. She is fierce, and lays down the law with the members. It's do or die for them.
I think the creators of this series like the fact that they can go for it. You don't get those moments where the 'hero' wouldn't do 'that' or they wouldn't cross that line. They are pretty much what you think: violent criminal offenders who have a personal agenda for what they do. Admittedly, some have a bit more of an ethos than others. Their first mission is about as crazy as it gets. Getting dropped in the middle of a sportsdome full of people infected by a technovirus. Yeah, crazy!
Can I admit I'm shipping Harley Quinn and Deadshot? Well I am.
Yeah, I must keep reading this series.
September 27, 2016
Hmmm. A group of supervillains, forced to work together with the promise of reduced prison sentences for succeeding and death for failing. Lots of strife, backstabbing, mega violence and humor, of course. Those were well done. And I'm always happy for more Harley Quinn. But I think it did her a disservice. She's supposed to be hyper intelligent, not just insane. And she pulls off some incredibly big moves, but it's all glossed over in favor of more "look at this insane T&A!" I think they could have given her the cred she deserves without damping down any of the other factors and it would have made for a more compelling story.
And dude, King Shark? Not even in my nightmares, please.
And dude, King Shark? Not even in my nightmares, please.
July 1, 2016
(CONTAINS SPOILERS) One word... WOW!
This was action packed from start to finish!
The squad started together, some died, some betrayed others and Harley Quinn attempts to find and take her revenge on the joker, who she assumes is dead.
The best parts about this one comic was that is contained issues #1-7. My favourite issues for me were #6 and #7 (the search for Harley Quinn.)
The ending though, I mean, WOW!!! It just makes you need to read the next comic. The joker creates his own new Harley Quinn, and Harley has been shot right at the end but she can't be dead can she ...? Shall have to wait and see...
This was action packed from start to finish!
The squad started together, some died, some betrayed others and Harley Quinn attempts to find and take her revenge on the joker, who she assumes is dead.
The best parts about this one comic was that is contained issues #1-7. My favourite issues for me were #6 and #7 (the search for Harley Quinn.)
The ending though, I mean, WOW!!! It just makes you need to read the next comic. The joker creates his own new Harley Quinn, and Harley has been shot right at the end but she can't be dead can she ...? Shall have to wait and see...
June 17, 2016
Hello there, Goodreads! Why yes, I have retreated into comic books and fantasy pretty much entirely! I am fending off what has turned out to be a rather impressive case of the blues (five months and counting) and then I saw the Star Wars movie and it has triggered all my worst nerd obsessions, so I am catching up on superhero movies and fantasy series and generally ignoring all those serious books I normally intersperse in here. I'll get back to the weighty stuff as soon as I can manage it (or finish reading that lovely book on cetaceans I've been chipping away at), but in the meantime, I read this...
I never really intended to read any of DC's New 52 reboot; I hate reboots and I'm more a Marvel girl, really. Also heard horrific things about almost every series in this reboot from a feminism standpoint--lots and lots of fridge girls, apparently. (I don't typically let feminism guide me too much on what I read, but it happens that I do think the comics industry in general is a giant train wreck of misogyny, so it pays to heed the screaming around here if you hear it.) But, you know, so many superhero movies this year! And this looks so good...
Let's just say I hope the series gets better after this opening collection. Didn't love the art. The stories had the right premise but fell short in the execution. Too many point of view jumps, too many bit villains sliding in and out, not enough stardom to carry the ensemble performance (there's definitely a reason it already looks like Harley Quinn and El Diablo are stealing the show in the movie's trailer), too many moments of stupid (a super villain does not generally forget what his powers are when he's in a jam, writers: ), and nothing really new to see here plot-wise. Maybe the B-team from the author pool got stuck on this? I honestly don't know. Even Harley's arc lacked a little something.
BUT it was picking up at that point. Ooh, and those finishing scenes: so great! So I'll definitely keep reading. I just hope it gets a bit better from here. Is it wrong to want Harley to have better? It's probably wrong. Oh, well.
I never really intended to read any of DC's New 52 reboot; I hate reboots and I'm more a Marvel girl, really. Also heard horrific things about almost every series in this reboot from a feminism standpoint--lots and lots of fridge girls, apparently. (I don't typically let feminism guide me too much on what I read, but it happens that I do think the comics industry in general is a giant train wreck of misogyny, so it pays to heed the screaming around here if you hear it.) But, you know, so many superhero movies this year! And this looks so good...
Let's just say I hope the series gets better after this opening collection. Didn't love the art. The stories had the right premise but fell short in the execution. Too many point of view jumps, too many bit villains sliding in and out, not enough stardom to carry the ensemble performance (there's definitely a reason it already looks like Harley Quinn and El Diablo are stealing the show in the movie's trailer), too many moments of stupid (a super villain does not generally forget what his powers are when he's in a jam, writers: ), and nothing really new to see here plot-wise. Maybe the B-team from the author pool got stuck on this? I honestly don't know. Even Harley's arc lacked a little something.
BUT it was picking up at that point. Ooh, and those finishing scenes: so great! So I'll definitely keep reading. I just hope it gets a bit better from here. Is it wrong to want Harley to have better? It's probably wrong. Oh, well.
May 22, 2015
With hype already building up around the movie, I thought it was about time I got a feel for the series.
First off, I ADORE the premise. A crack team of super-villains, anti-heroes, and ethically-challenged mutants shaving time off their prison sentences by taking on high risk (and often morally ambiguous) missions? Harley Quinn wielding a sledge hammer along with her signature ‘crazy’? Sign. Me. Up.
We’re thrown into the concept with a good old fashioned torture scene, in which we get to see what each squad member is made of—quite literally, in some cases. From there the team’s first assignment is the site of a mass quarantine, with total slaughter of its infected techno-zombie populace as the objective. This is where it started going a bit downhill for me. The gratuitous gore level turned out to be somewhere between Spawn and Aliens--which would have been easier to muck through if there’d been more of the morbid kind of humor I was hoping for. Harley Quinn is worth an uncomfortable chuckle now and then, but for the most part, there wasn't much cause for amusement.
Diablo has all the makings for a possibly redemptive character, but with very little background on him, I had trouble becoming attached. At the very end we get a small taste for Harley’s history with The Joker, and there is a brief scene in which Deadshot interacts with what I presume to be his kid… but none of this is effectively sympathy-inducing. The plot perhaps did too good a job of driving home the point that all of the Suicide Squad is expendable. The audience is set up not only to expect little survivability, but to not particularly care what happens to any of them.
The art style is generally serviceable—effective on the dark and ominous side. Character faces were sometimes inconsistent to the point of distraction, but they conveyed the proper range of emotion. Joker was particularly well done—though he was more of a guest-star flashback than anything.
All in all, I’m left feeling pretty ‘meh’ about it. Not sure yet if I’ll read on in the series.
September 22, 2016
All righty then...here we have the Suicide Squad. An ultra-secret black ops unit composed of convicted felons to carry out classified missions for the US Government. Amanda Waller runs this unit, each member of which has a micro-explosive implanted in their heads. Deadshot, Harley Quinn, Diablo, King Shark, Black Spider are just a few of the members.
The first mission they undertake is a retrieval of a baby that is the carrier of an antidote for a nanovirus that has spread through a football stadium. The SS is sent in to retrieve the child and "neutralize" the infected. Which they do, the little twist about the "evidence" for the deaths is a nice touch. The Squad is also used to suppress a prison riot at Belle Reeve with particularly bloody results.The volume rounds out with the "Hunt of Harley Quinn" who is on the lam after finding out the Joker is lacking his face. The Squad is sent to haul her ass back in.
While I thought this would have been better than what it was, I did enjoy it. The Squad is brutal and I did enjoy the fact that members often get killed. It adds a new dimension to the concept of a "Suicide" Squad. Still I was expecting more of a grand story, perhaps Mr. Glass, whom I am not familiar with, will eventually expand on this most excellent premise and show the Squad undertaking some real down and dirty missions. We shall see.
The artwork was quite good. The writing had a good measure of dark humor and that works well for a series like this. This was an entertaining and fun read. Certainly a solid 3 star. It doesn't rewrite the genre but it does it's job well. If you are a Suicide Squad fan or like the idea-check out Adam Glass's take on the team. At the very least you will be entertained. Characters like Deadshot, Harley and the strangely humorous King Shark (did he eat Yo-YO?) make it an interesting ride. I'm in for volume 2.
The first mission they undertake is a retrieval of a baby that is the carrier of an antidote for a nanovirus that has spread through a football stadium. The SS is sent in to retrieve the child and "neutralize" the infected. Which they do, the little twist about the "evidence" for the deaths is a nice touch. The Squad is also used to suppress a prison riot at Belle Reeve with particularly bloody results.The volume rounds out with the "Hunt of Harley Quinn" who is on the lam after finding out the Joker is lacking his face. The Squad is sent to haul her ass back in.
While I thought this would have been better than what it was, I did enjoy it. The Squad is brutal and I did enjoy the fact that members often get killed. It adds a new dimension to the concept of a "Suicide" Squad. Still I was expecting more of a grand story, perhaps Mr. Glass, whom I am not familiar with, will eventually expand on this most excellent premise and show the Squad undertaking some real down and dirty missions. We shall see.
The artwork was quite good. The writing had a good measure of dark humor and that works well for a series like this. This was an entertaining and fun read. Certainly a solid 3 star. It doesn't rewrite the genre but it does it's job well. If you are a Suicide Squad fan or like the idea-check out Adam Glass's take on the team. At the very least you will be entertained. Characters like Deadshot, Harley and the strangely humorous King Shark (did he eat Yo-YO?) make it an interesting ride. I'm in for volume 2.
October 19, 2016
Honestly, I'm not sure what I want to say, because I am not sure exactly how I feel yet about this.
Intellectually and objectively, the art and coloration are good, with a lot of complex angles and rich, dark colors.
But here are some problems:
- The "New 52" is often touted as a good entry point into the DC Universe. And SS#1, here the first chapter, starts just after assembling this current version of Task Force X. But I am not that familiar with All Things DC, so I am overwhelmed with the number of villains unknown to me... Deadshot and Harley Quinn I know, but then The Black Spider, Voltaic, King Shark, Diablo and others are a mystery to me. Their characters are not well developed, even across the span of 100+ pages.
- Violence. Lots of it. Even against monsters, it gets excessive.
- Sex. More than you would expect given one female on a team of sociaopaths, and her in love with Mr. J.
- Flashbacks. Too many of them.
- POVs. Also too many of them. And the best of them is barely a decent human being, maybe able to qualify as an anti-hero, but more likely just to provide a centerpoint for violence.
Intellectually and objectively, the art and coloration are good, with a lot of complex angles and rich, dark colors.
But here are some problems:
- The "New 52" is often touted as a good entry point into the DC Universe. And SS#1, here the first chapter, starts just after assembling this current version of Task Force X. But I am not that familiar with All Things DC, so I am overwhelmed with the number of villains unknown to me... Deadshot and Harley Quinn I know, but then The Black Spider, Voltaic, King Shark, Diablo and others are a mystery to me. Their characters are not well developed, even across the span of 100+ pages.
- Violence. Lots of it. Even against monsters, it gets excessive.
- Sex. More than you would expect given one female on a team of sociaopaths, and her in love with Mr. J.
- Flashbacks. Too many of them.
- POVs. Also too many of them. And the best of them is barely a decent human being, maybe able to qualify as an anti-hero, but more likely just to provide a centerpoint for violence.
August 7, 2021
This was soooo much fun to read, I even liked Deadshot in this one and King Shark is my guy, haha. Print form or live-action, Harley Quinn cracks me up. Highly recommended.
Addendum: Looking back on it, thinking about this graphic novel, I couldn't help but feel this is how the Suicide Squad movie should have been, you know. Where the bad guys act like bad guys because they are the bad guys and not some impromptu motley crew of misfits put together, aspiring to be the Justice League or something.
Basically thinly-veiled good guys with feelings and the urge to do the right thing, gimme a break. In the comics, the Suicide Squad was deeply flawed and they were very celebratory of those flaws. They were amoral, disloyal, deceitful, decadent, corrupt, rotten to the core, would turn on you on a drop of a dime, to perfidy is their second nature, you get the picture, all the fun stuff.
King shark should have been in the movie too. I understand the limitations, CGI headaches, and I get budgetary concerns, but King Shark is the best, the best!
The ending was about Harley Quinn in the comic too, but I am telling you it was better than how the movie had ended.
February 14, 2016
3.5 stars
This was a pretty cool read. I enjoyed most of the issues, though I wasn't really in love with any of them. The Hunt for Harley Quinn Parts 1 and 2 were the highlight for me. That chick is crazy and I love her.
I wish that each issue had the same artists, as I found some of the styles more confusing than others. When reading the first issue it also took me a while to decipher who was talking, as each character had a different variation of red on black or black on red font. There were also just so many characters that I got lost.
Adam Glass writes for Supernatural, which is my favourite television show, and I thought it was kind of neat to see the diversity of his talents. I'll check out the second volume at some point, I'm sure, though this hasn't grabbed my attention in quite the same way as other graphic novels I've tried.
(Okay, now that it's been a day, I'm putting the rating up to four stars. I have an intense urge to read the next volume so it must have been better than I originally gave it credit.)
This was a pretty cool read. I enjoyed most of the issues, though I wasn't really in love with any of them. The Hunt for Harley Quinn Parts 1 and 2 were the highlight for me. That chick is crazy and I love her.
I wish that each issue had the same artists, as I found some of the styles more confusing than others. When reading the first issue it also took me a while to decipher who was talking, as each character had a different variation of red on black or black on red font. There were also just so many characters that I got lost.
Adam Glass writes for Supernatural, which is my favourite television show, and I thought it was kind of neat to see the diversity of his talents. I'll check out the second volume at some point, I'm sure, though this hasn't grabbed my attention in quite the same way as other graphic novels I've tried.
(Okay, now that it's been a day, I'm putting the rating up to four stars. I have an intense urge to read the next volume so it must have been better than I originally gave it credit.)
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