DC Comics reviews for 6/28/17

Suicide Squad #20

With Rick Flag dead, Amanda Waller has to appoint his successor as Suicide Squad leader. But with candidates like Capt. Boomerang, Katana, Killer Croc and Enchantress, the viable candidates are slim. Most of the issue deals with Waller vetting the best man or woman for the job. In essence, it’s a filler issue, but writer Rob Williams makes it worth picking up all the same for Squad fans.

I’m still worried the book is going to miss having that straight man role Flag handled so well. Now, the team is a bunch of nut jobs with no one to keep them in line outside of Waller’s brain bomb threat, which could get old. While I’m fine with Flag being out of the picture for awhile — I still contend he’s just trapped in the Phantom Zone — none of the existing team members make for ideal leader material. And Williams’ choice for the leader is uninspired and seemingly chosen more for the character’s popularity over the best fit for the book. That’s a potential problem for another time.

This issue was another terrific character study. Williams has a better feel for the characters’ voices than his peers and these slower paced issues allows him more time to spotlight these eccentric personalities. It’s funny how the best issues of Suicide Squad are the ones with the least amount of action.

Another strong selling point to pick up this book though is the phenomenal art from Stjepan Sejic. I’ve got a lot of time for any DC book Sejic is drawing at this point after my first introduction to his work on Aquaman #25. Sejic’s beautifully emotive characters, smooth action and posing make this the best looking issue of Suicide Squad yet.

The leadership choice has me worried Suicide Squad is about to become a little too much like the movie. That’s a problem for another time though. For now, issue #20 was an exceptional slice of life look at the Suicide Squad.

Rating: 9.5 out of 10