While DC Comics’ film Suicide Squad was released to less than favourable reviews, the opposite can be said for DC Comics Suicide Squad Rebirth #1. DC has embarked on yet another reimagining campaign, moving all their titles into “Rebirth”. Check out my previous article for a lowdown of all the information regarding DC’s latest revamp. This review will be focused on what DC is doing with the Squad.
Suicide Squad Rebirth #1 is a single issue and was released in early August to coincide with the film’s debut. The comic will lead directly into the Suicide Squad #1—an ongoing series offered twice a month. Suicide Squad Rebirth #1 begins with a meeting between Amanda Waller, head of Task Force X, and US President Barack Obama. The two political titans battle it out over the Squad and whether it should continue to exist. Waller is a realist and very persuasive in America’s need for Task Force X, strong-arming the President into turning a blind eye at the continuation of the Suicide Squad. For Waller, getting the band reinstated is one thing; convincing model solider, Rick Flagg, to take the reins of this motley crew is another.
All in all, this is a good comic; solid in its balance between giving the reader another introduction to the team yet still keeping things fresh. The comic’s plot has similar threads to the movie, yet this Squad has only three members to start: Harley Quinn, Boomerang and Dead Shot. As the cover of the next issue teases, the old gang will be back together at some point. Writer Rob Williams does a good job introducing the group without it being overdone.
Suicide Squad Rebirth #1 is a quick set up. But while it’s heavy on information, it also puts the reader right in the middle of action, which is a hoopla that’s as fun as it is violent. Suicide Squad Rebirth #1 comes with a Teen Plus rating on the cover, which only adds to the lore of the Squad. Whether it’s Harley ripping off a chunk of cheek from an armed guard or a boomerang being tossed and separating a poor soul’s hands from his body, the comic is full value for being Teen Plus.
Artist Philip Tan brings Williams world to vibrant life. His penciling shows an air of fun with an edgy grit. This is where the comic differs quite a bit from the movie. Whereas film director David Ayer showed a Squad-filled world that was as visually dark as the material, Tan is able to bring vividness to his artwork. It not only complements the story, it brings a well-crafted lightness to the seriousness of the comic.
In the end, Suicide Squad Rebirth #1 is a solid reimagining of Task Force X. Even with all the exposition, there is just enough in the comic to make the reader interested to find out what will come next. The issue will not blow anyone away, but it sets the tone for what is to come and wets readers’ appetites. From those elements, it works as both an introduction to the Squad and piques curiosity of where things will go from here.
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