But as always, the problematic structure is this series' worst enemy. There's little room for Williams to introduce the next big conflict or escalate the tension again. The main story cuts off very abruptly and with a rushed, unsatisfying cliffhanger. At this point, I'd rather Suicide Squad switched to a monthly shipping schedule and an oversized format if it meant each issue gave Williams more room to work with.
Jim Lee's art remains a big draw, though the relative lack of action means his dynamic pencils don't stand out quite as much as in recent issues. Still, Lee frames the Enchantress/Croc scene very effectively, and Alex Sinclair's colors further heighten the mood. It's also nice to learn that there's an actual in-story reason for why Lee is depicting Zod as a ten-foot-tall giant. The presence of multiple inkers does harm this issue at points, though. The excessive amount of lines lends a harsh, overly masculine quality to characters like Enchantress and Hack.
The Hack focus continues in the backup feature, as Williams and Stephen Byrne explore her troubled childhood growing up impoverished in Africa. This story doesn't quite rival the most poignant of Williams' backups to date, but it certainly lends more depth and pathos to this new character, and adds context to her Harley Quinn obsession. Plus, Byrne once again proves himself as one of the rising stars in DC's current talent pool.
![Suicide Squad [2016 - Current]](https://assets1.ignimgs.com/2016/08/16/suicide-squad-1final-cover-artjpg-1d8080.jpg?width=114&auto=webp)
