DC Comics reviews for 2/14/18

Suicide Squad #35

Dysfunction has been a hallmark of Rob Williams’ Suicide Squad run. With a book full of conniving, shady and crooked folks, team continuity is hardly a given. Drain the Swamp had some fun elements namely the introduction of a new government sponsored hero The Wall. Intent on protecting America’s borders and interests, Williams uses The Wall to deftly spoof both the current occupant of the White House and take a meta jab at Amanda Waller.

There’s also a fun segment tying in to the Squad’s encounter with Damage from Damage #1 although it seemed like Waller was in the area during that confrontation and not back at Belle Revue. Williams continues trying to soften up some of Waller’s rough edges, which doesn’t feel like the right approach for a character who plays better without personal connections.

One Squad member appears to quit, which is weird given the trouble Williams went through to bring them back in the fold. Some new Squad members make their debut, but they all fit in the same category. Tom King would never allow it, but it’d be fun to see Kite-Man show up on a random Squad mission.

Eduardo Pansica’s pencils are pretty solid. This isn’t the best Suicide Squad has looked as Pansica tends to over emote his characters, but it’s definitely serviceable. Adriano Lucas’ colors fit the tone of the book well despite looking a tad muted.

This issue was a case of solicitations and the cover spoiling the big reveal. Williams ends the issue with what could have been a dramatic twist if it wasn’t ruined from the cover. In the end that lack of suspense, killed a lot of the drama and made for a decent, but hardly essential read feeling more like the prologue than the start of the next big arc.

Rating: 7 out of 10