ARC REVIEW DC Universe Rebirth Suicide Squad vol 4 Earthlings on Fire

Suicide Squad

vol 4 Earthlings on Fire

DC Universe Rebirth

issues 16-20

by Rob Williams

art by: Tony S. Daniels, Sandu Florea, Neil Edwards, Stjepan Sejic, Tomeu Morey (colorist)

Story: Amanda Waller has really bit off more than she could chew when she acquires exactly what she wants, lucky for her Lex Luthor knows a lot more than she thinks he does. Waller thinks she can control Zod but he proves no one controls Zod. She just needs one mission to go right the one mission to finally take out The People and their own Suicide Squad, The Annihilation Brigade, and to lay a trap for the trader in her own ranks. Shortly after Waller thinks everything has gone well Zod breaks loose and starts reeking havoc in Belle Reve. The Suicide Squad barely contained him the first time and without the help of Hack they alone can not take him out.  

Art: The art was visually pleasing. I love the covers, especially Otto Schmidt's cover for Managing People, and there were quite a few individual panels I quite liked. "Alone" was probably the one I liked the least it didn't seem like it stayed consistent with the others it almost seemed like more time was spent on Zod, Eradicator, and Cyborg Superman then the rest of the characters.

Review:  Overall, it was a good story. I'll admit I did get teary eyed there. "Alone" while probably my least favorite art-wise was my favorite story-wise. In "Managing People" you discover that Waller knows what Boomarang did and I'm am just waiting for  the day Harley discovers it and tears him a new one. I love the unlikely romance between June and Waylon (still a better romance than Twilight as my son would say). And I'm still crossing my fingers that what happened isn't a permanent thing.      

ARC REVIEW DC Universe Rebirth Suicide Squad: vol 3 Burning Down the House

Suicide Squad

Vol 3: Burning Down the House

Issues 11-15

DC Universe Rebirth

By: Rob Williams, John Ostrander

Art by: Eddy Barrows (Illustrator), John Romita Jr. (Illustrator), Gus Vazquez (Illustrator), Dean White (Colorist) Adriano Lucas (Colorist), Richard Friend (Illustrator) Jeremiah Skipper (colorist), Carlos Rodriguez (Illustrator), Gus Vasquez (illustrator), Gabe Eltaeb (Colorist)

Story: After the events of Justice League vs Suicide Squad, the Squad has demanded a shore leave, even Rick Flag thinks it’s a good idea. Amanda Waller is on suspension because of what happened and Rustam leaving Harcourt in charge. While the Squad is in New Orleans enjoying their very rare time off and Floyd is visiting his daughter Amanda Waller is shot and killed. Rustam breaks into Blackgate and sets free all the prisoners and takes a few to form a new evil group he dubbed The Burning World. The Suicide Squads first fight against them puts Hack face to face with someone just as powerful as her Djinn. After the first failed battle they find out Waller is dead, and Hack is so close to finding out who the traitor inside Belle Reve but Djinn hacks the computer first and shuts down the brain bombs freeing the Squad. Rustam thinks he has it all figured out but in the end the Suicide Squad always wins.

Art: Romita, Friend and White tackle Burning Down the House Part One: The Life Inside (issue 11), Burning Down the House part two (issue 12) with Skipper; which has a great digital world interpretation; Burning Down the House part three: Being Good (issue 13), Burning Down the House Part four: Hit It (issue 14), And Burning Down the House Conclusion (issue 15). Barrows and Lucas handle Life Outside (issue 11), Those left Behind (issue 12), Hero or Villain (issue 13), Live Free. Die. (issue 14). Even though two different groups alternated within the each issue the art was pretty consistent, slight variations between the styles but otherwise it was a smooth transition between the two. I liked the hard lines and how some of the frames were more detailed and smooth giving them a lifelike appearance

The War Crimes special was Rodriguez, Vasquez, and Eltaeb. This is the kind of art I think of when I think comic books. I love it it’s cartoony but detailed and smooth. 

 

Characters: Rustam’s new group consists of Djinn, a digital being; Manticore, a genetically created creature, Ravan, a wizard; Jaculi, a speedster with the ability to morph his hands into weapons. War Crimes Special has Strike force Europa who are Angelique Durcoix, Kavga, Sachtten, Lionheart, Guerrieroa; with an appearance by Shado and joining the Suicide Squad this mission El Diablo, and Mad Dog the new guy.

Review: Overall, this has to be my favorite of the Suicide Squad so far. It was action packed and emotional, you find out who the traitor is and it is not surprising. The story in a whole is really good and the art just adds to it.

ARC REVIEW DC Universe Rebirth Justice League vs Suicide Squad

Justice League vs. Suicide Squad

DC Universe Rebirth

So many people worked on this I’m just putting up a screenshot of the title page…

Story: It’s pretty much what you would expect from a vs series. Justice League discovers the existence of the Suicide Squad and doesn’t think Amanda Waller has the ability to control them nor do these supervillains deserve the chance to work for their freedom. Epic battle ensues that only ends when Killer Frost absorbs Superman’s life force and freezes everyone in order to prevent Waller from blowing all their heads off. Now the JL is captured and in Belle Reve Penitentiary and Waller admits to having an ulterior motive (surprise, surprise). The very first Suicide Squad, Suicide Squad Zero, has escaped from their über secure facility and is now out to get her and get to something buried underneath Belle Reve. The leader is Maxwell Lord and he not only wants to seek his revenge against Waller but to get his hands on the Eclipso Diamond and finally make the world a safe place, but per usual in the comic book world, it all goes horribly wrong. Max is possessed by the diamond and takes control of most of the Justice League. It’s up to Batman and the Suicide Squad to set things right.

Art: For the most part there is some pretty bad ass art work going on here, some of the scenes are so massive and intricate it pretty impressive and with over 300 pages there is a lot going on. Waller is probably the only character not really drawn consistently and that’s my only real complaint. All the artist working on this did an amazing job.

Characters: 

Justice League: Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, Cyborg, Aquaman, Green Lantern, Green Lantern, and The Flash. 

Suicide Squad: Amanda Waller, Rick Flag, Katana, Deadshot, Enchantress, Captain Boomerang, Harley Quinn, Killer Frost, El Diablo, and Killer Croc. 

Suicide Squad Zero: Johnny Sorrow, Doctor Polaris, Rustam, Emerald Empress, Lobo, and Maxwell Lord. 

Special appearances by Steve Trevor, and some other baddies.

Review: It’s pretty much what I expected, I enjoyed it. The art was really what won me over on this. Like most vs storylines there are so many characters, thank goodness this was more visual than text because with as many people that are in it you could easily get lost. Aside from how predictable the overall story was it was entertaining and fun to read. I liked especially how Killer Frost became such a pivotal character in the story. Killer Croc vs Aquaman, that was a good laugh. The story just seemed to go on and on even after it was over, I swear it has two epilogues, but it also lets you see how massive the whole thing is when it shifts focus to Steve Trevor and what he's going through.            

ARC REVIEW DC Universe Rebirth Suicide Squad vol 2 Going Sane

Suicide Squad Vol 2: Going Sane

DC Universe Rebirth

Issues 5-8 plus the April Fool’s Day special

Story by Rob Williams, Simon Spurrier,

Art by: Jim Lee, Scott Williams, Sean Galloway, Stephen Byrne, Carlos D'Anda, Chris Ward, Giuseppe Camuncoli

 Story: So Waller used the Squad to attain the extra dimensional orb from the Black Vault which contained General Zod inside but what also lays await them is driving them insane they begin to act irrational and out of control all except Harley. Harley manages to become sane again and is the only hope to stop whatever it is that is messing with everyone’s head.

 Art: As usual I love Lee’s art and with everyone else this action packed volume is beautifully illustrated. The detailed contrasting colors work perfectly with what’s going on in the comic. The April Fool's day special especially had some super cute Harley looked like she was a Powerpuff Girl or an Animaniac.

Characters: Amanda Waller, Katana, Harley Quinn, Killer Croc, Captain Boomerang, Rick Flag, Deadshot, Enchantress, Special appearances from the Justice League, Poison Ivy, Scarecrow, Lex Luthor, Man Bat and many more....

  Review: For being such a short volume it was really good. It was fun seeing the character act on impulse the opposite of what they normally are and seeing Harleen Quinzel as her sane self was nice. I kind of like the unusual friendship Killer Croc and June Moone are starting, it's amusing. I liked Warm Heart a Justice League vs, Suicide Squad Prelude I like Killer Frost. The Personnel Files are one of my favorite things because it gives me a look at the characters that are new to me, or ones I just don't know much about.  

ARC REVIEW DC Universe Rebirth Suicide Squad Vol. 1 The Black Vault

DC universe Rebirth Suicide Squad Vol. 1: The Black Vault

By: Rob Williams

Art by: Carlos D’Anda, Gary Frank, Ivan Reis, Jason Fabok, Philip Tan, Scott Williams, Jim Lee, Alex Sinclair

Includes Issues Rebirth and 1-4

Story: The Suicide Squad is together again this time being led by Rick Flag. Amanda Waller sends them to an isolated Russian facility to uncover the contents of the black vault, an unknown spatial anomaly. As it always does nothing goes according to plan including Killer Croc almost chocking on his own vomit. This one is really short they get in they fight the Russian equivalent of the Suicide Squad get the objective and it really was funny, I bused out laughing. The second half of this volume is a bit of background history on the members. I liked it, it was good to know especially since I am relatively new to comics.

Art: I like Jim Lee I think he did a great job with Scott Williams and Alex Sinclair for The Black Vault. I love the way the characters were drawn, Harley is adorable especially in her “REBIRTH” t-shirt; Capt. Boomerang actually looks intimidating, Deadshot looks weird with his mask open but badass with it closed, Killer Croc love him so detailed and scary. Overall this was good eye candy especially the variant covers.

Characters: Amanda Waller, Rick Flag, Katana, Harley Quinn, Deadshot, Capt. Boomerang, Enchantress, Killer Croc. I love the way Williams did Harley he showed her crazy side but also how incredibly intelligent she is, for example Katana and her are fighting a bunch of Russian soldiers and the whole time Harley is asking her this deep questions and Katana just ignores her and keeps on killing. I don’t know much about the other characters but I like the balance between them they all seem to do their share and take turns fighting the big baddie at the end but yet still kind of self-serving. There is a new character I like her so far, but it’s only the beginning.

Review: Overall I enjoyed this more than I thought I would. The movie was just ehh, it had its moments, but this I enjoyed so much more. I like the established group more than the just throw them together right off the back, the interaction between the characters was more believable that they know each other’s strong points and are not surprised at all when Harley tries to bail on them. It was a good quick read gave me plenty of laughs.