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Suicide Squad (2011)
Suicide Squad, Volume 4: Discipline and Punish
New team members, new direction, new creative team! After the Suicide Squad is nearly massacred, the team returns to Belle Reve to lick their wounds and bury their dead–but when they find out what's waiting for them at the prison, they'll wish they were back out in the field! Task Force X has a new leader, who will make this team of killers and thieves even deadlier than ever before.
From rising writer Ales Kot comes Suicide Squad, Volume 4: Discipline and Punish.
Collecting: Suicide Squad #20-23, Justice League of America #7.1 and Batman – Detective Comics #23.2.
From rising writer Ales Kot comes Suicide Squad, Volume 4: Discipline and Punish.
Collecting: Suicide Squad #20-23, Justice League of America #7.1 and Batman – Detective Comics #23.2.
144 pages, Paperback
First published May 6, 2014
31 people are currently reading
1113 people want to read
About the author
Aleš Kot
267 books177 followersAleš Kot is a post-Chernobyl, pre-revolution, Czech-born, California-based writer/producer who started in graphic novels and now makes films, television, and an occasional novella.
A. believe in art and community.
A. doesn't believe in borders nor cops.
A. believes in love, which they know is a very Libra answer. And what about it?
A. believe in art and community.
A. doesn't believe in borders nor cops.
A. believes in love, which they know is a very Libra answer. And what about it?
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 172 reviews
May 11, 2015
4.5 stars
Fanfuckingtastic!
This is by far the best volume of Suicide Squad that I've read.
I loathed volume 1, was only slightly more impressed with volume 2, and grudgingly gave volume 3 a less than enthusiastic passing grade.
In fact, I almost let this one go back to the library unread.
But...Shiny new cover! Must Read!
Discipline and Punish is the volume that finally highlights Harley Quinn in the right way, because she shines like a whacked-out glow stick. And let's face it, when she's on top of her game, nobody in the DCU is more fascinating to watch go BOOM!
There's even a bonus issue, Detective Comics #23.2: Harley Quinn, that showcases her origins in a newish and interesting light. Harley as a kid? Who doesn't want to see that?!
Speaking of origins, you get Deadshot's in Justice League of America (2013- ) Featuring Deadshot #7.1. I'm not a Deadshot fan, but I loved it anyway. This one was surprisingly well done, in my opinion.
But.
The real star of this show came out of left field, and knocked me on my ass.
Raise your hand if you recognize the scariest fucker in DC.
That's right. He's the only psycho I'd lay money on to walk into a room with the Joker, and walk back out wearing him as a coat.
James Gordon is an official member of the Suicide Squad now. Waller, who is never one to worry about pesky things like ethics or morals, is now using him as consultant for all her psychological warfare needs.
But that's not even the best part.
The other notable addition to the team is Wonder Woman's old nemesis, Cheetah. Her introduction in Justice League was seriously lacking, but when she shows up in this title, it's a whole different ballgame. She doesn't really play a big role in this volume, but the few panels she appears in?
She makes quite the impression.
Yes. Seriously.
This had everything I look for in a book. It was laugh-out-loud funny, it had a few unexpected twists, and it even made me really feel things for the characters.
Even if you'r not a fan of Suicide Squad, I think this one is worth checking out.
Highly Recommended!
Also reviewed for Shallow Comic Readers.
Fanfuckingtastic!
This is by far the best volume of Suicide Squad that I've read.
I loathed volume 1, was only slightly more impressed with volume 2, and grudgingly gave volume 3 a less than enthusiastic passing grade.
In fact, I almost let this one go back to the library unread.
But...Shiny new cover! Must Read!
Discipline and Punish is the volume that finally highlights Harley Quinn in the right way, because she shines like a whacked-out glow stick. And let's face it, when she's on top of her game, nobody in the DCU is more fascinating to watch go BOOM!
There's even a bonus issue, Detective Comics #23.2: Harley Quinn, that showcases her origins in a newish and interesting light. Harley as a kid? Who doesn't want to see that?!
Speaking of origins, you get Deadshot's in Justice League of America (2013- ) Featuring Deadshot #7.1. I'm not a Deadshot fan, but I loved it anyway. This one was surprisingly well done, in my opinion.
But.
The real star of this show came out of left field, and knocked me on my ass.
Raise your hand if you recognize the scariest fucker in DC.
That's right. He's the only psycho I'd lay money on to walk into a room with the Joker, and walk back out wearing him as a coat.
James Gordon is an official member of the Suicide Squad now. Waller, who is never one to worry about pesky things like ethics or morals, is now using him as consultant for all her psychological warfare needs.
But that's not even the best part.
The other notable addition to the team is Wonder Woman's old nemesis, Cheetah. Her introduction in Justice League was seriously lacking, but when she shows up in this title, it's a whole different ballgame. She doesn't really play a big role in this volume, but the few panels she appears in?
She makes quite the impression.
Yes. Seriously.
This had everything I look for in a book. It was laugh-out-loud funny, it had a few unexpected twists, and it even made me really feel things for the characters.
Even if you'r not a fan of Suicide Squad, I think this one is worth checking out.
Highly Recommended!
Also reviewed for Shallow Comic Readers.
February 10, 2017
Ah well this one is all fun all the time, and while there wasn't anything much of depth in this volume, it makes up for it with many fun and shiny explosions and disturbing images and people. :)
In other words, this is a must-read volume of SS. :)
I'm really loving James Gordon JR. I suspect I might have to do a bit more research and find all the places where this psycho shows up. :)
And King Shark? He's really tickling my funny bone. :) He's here to party.
And then there's Harley. She's kinda a star. *wipes a tear from eye* I really like her. ;)
BOOM! Everyone's great fun in this one.
In other words, this is a must-read volume of SS. :)
I'm really loving James Gordon JR. I suspect I might have to do a bit more research and find all the places where this psycho shows up. :)
And King Shark? He's really tickling my funny bone. :) He's here to party.
And then there's Harley. She's kinda a star. *wipes a tear from eye* I really like her. ;)
BOOM! Everyone's great fun in this one.
September 11, 2016
I guess DC were aiming for the Fifty Shades crowd with the subtitle: “Discipline and Punish”? The only thing masochistic about Suicide Squad is that I keep reading the series even though it’s never been good, including this one!
Ales Kot has (briefly) taken over from Adam Glass and the series has become slightly more fun as a result - that fun manifesting as “wacky captions”! But that’s it. Otherwise this is still overly-angsty moronic bees in a jar being shook up.
There’s a couple of changes to the lineup which now looks like this: Deadshot, Harley Quinn, Voltaic, Unknown Soldier, King Shark, Cheetah, James Gordon Jr and Amanda Waller. I missed Vol 3 so I’m not sure when the new guys showed up or why (Unknown Soldier, really?). There doesn’t seem to be a real reason for James Jr. to be here besides people liked him in Scott Snyder’s Batman stories.
The idiots fight each other, fight some giant dead monster in Las Vegas, and fight some superhero stand-ins (nobody major) in what looks like an African country literally described as “Some Country Far Away” (that’s how much thought's been put into this). They also have those neck bomb implants taken out so there’s no real reason to still be on the Squad… but that’s an angle that’s glossed over.
Really that "Some Country Far Away" approach feels like the lazy attitude that Kot has written this book. In "some country far away", some "characters" do "something". Just one big shrug! The characters are barely different from one another - they’re all mean and violent and that’s it. Except for Harley who’s still got the spotlight and Deadshot who’s only singled out because he and Harley are fuckbuddies. Nothing to ‘em. The same could be said for the “stories”.
Kot spends no time setting up anything, he just throws the Squad at some “threat” and expects the reader to be immediately caught up and engaged with what’s going on. That’s not how it works. If you build up a storyline, explaining what they’re aiming for and why, taking that time makes it meaningful to read; having bland “characters” fight even blander “villains” is totally uninteresting.
I really liked Patrick Zircher’s art though, he’s an artist who needs to be doing more high profile stuff. His work on XO Manowar was great and that experience translates well to the action-heavy Suicide Squad. Shame he only draws half the book.
This slim volume rounds out with two Villain’s Month issues: Harley Quinn and Deadshot, both written by Matt “Just Earning a Paycheck” Kindt. Blech, is all I can say. Bad origin stories (find out how Harley got an outfit! Deadshot becomes a bullet because his parents wuz killed by bullets!) are the worst and Kindt’s hacky scripts are always a slog to get through. Villain’s Month was such a pointless gimmick.
The subtitle was half right - this is punishment.
Ales Kot has (briefly) taken over from Adam Glass and the series has become slightly more fun as a result - that fun manifesting as “wacky captions”! But that’s it. Otherwise this is still overly-angsty moronic bees in a jar being shook up.
There’s a couple of changes to the lineup which now looks like this: Deadshot, Harley Quinn, Voltaic, Unknown Soldier, King Shark, Cheetah, James Gordon Jr and Amanda Waller. I missed Vol 3 so I’m not sure when the new guys showed up or why (Unknown Soldier, really?). There doesn’t seem to be a real reason for James Jr. to be here besides people liked him in Scott Snyder’s Batman stories.
The idiots fight each other, fight some giant dead monster in Las Vegas, and fight some superhero stand-ins (nobody major) in what looks like an African country literally described as “Some Country Far Away” (that’s how much thought's been put into this). They also have those neck bomb implants taken out so there’s no real reason to still be on the Squad… but that’s an angle that’s glossed over.
Really that "Some Country Far Away" approach feels like the lazy attitude that Kot has written this book. In "some country far away", some "characters" do "something". Just one big shrug! The characters are barely different from one another - they’re all mean and violent and that’s it. Except for Harley who’s still got the spotlight and Deadshot who’s only singled out because he and Harley are fuckbuddies. Nothing to ‘em. The same could be said for the “stories”.
Kot spends no time setting up anything, he just throws the Squad at some “threat” and expects the reader to be immediately caught up and engaged with what’s going on. That’s not how it works. If you build up a storyline, explaining what they’re aiming for and why, taking that time makes it meaningful to read; having bland “characters” fight even blander “villains” is totally uninteresting.
I really liked Patrick Zircher’s art though, he’s an artist who needs to be doing more high profile stuff. His work on XO Manowar was great and that experience translates well to the action-heavy Suicide Squad. Shame he only draws half the book.
This slim volume rounds out with two Villain’s Month issues: Harley Quinn and Deadshot, both written by Matt “Just Earning a Paycheck” Kindt. Blech, is all I can say. Bad origin stories (find out how Harley got an outfit! Deadshot becomes a bullet because his parents wuz killed by bullets!) are the worst and Kindt’s hacky scripts are always a slog to get through. Villain’s Month was such a pointless gimmick.
The subtitle was half right - this is punishment.
September 11, 2016
Maybe that's some of the true measure of love - the kindness we give to those who are too damaged to even perceive it. Not falling in love, but staying in it. Regardless of what comes.
Wow, Suicide Squad just got deep. *lol*
This volume had some more new team members (yes, I'm bored by the everlasting avalanche of "awsome" newbies flooding the team for 3 seconds). The best new character definitely is James Gordon's son (who is not as nice as daddy) - a killer, psycho and really good at analyzing others (as well as ). Moreover, Deadshot is no longer in command; The Unknown Soldier is. Considering what The Unknown Soldier is in our world, the potential for this one is pretty great but so far, I'm unimpressed. And that about sums up the entire SS run so far. Yes, last volume was pretty good but my hopes were not met, which is why this volume only gets 3 stars.
The most brilliant, as usual, is Harley what with her intelligence that people STILL underestimate.
However, and this is really off-putting, so many things are lamely explained away with not a hint to lead you to that conclusion. It always feels like a deus ex machina and I hate it. Moreover, I get the whole "need to know" thing but if you want a team to perform a certain task, you really need to evaluate how much they need to know. So far, we had 23 issues aka 4 volumes full of team going in, discovering there's more to the mission than they knew, getting their asses handed to them, complaining to Waller over the com, Waller giving in and giving them the information anyway.
And don't get me started about the fantastic potential of the whole using-death-row-inmates-as-drone-pilots theme that just gets shut down again and again and again. They KNOW they have such great potential at their hands and they obviously purposefully and voluntarily throw it away!
Wow, Suicide Squad just got deep. *lol*
This volume had some more new team members (yes, I'm bored by the everlasting avalanche of "awsome" newbies flooding the team for 3 seconds). The best new character definitely is James Gordon's son (who is not as nice as daddy) - a killer, psycho and really good at analyzing others (as well as ). Moreover, Deadshot is no longer in command; The Unknown Soldier is. Considering what The Unknown Soldier is in our world, the potential for this one is pretty great but so far, I'm unimpressed. And that about sums up the entire SS run so far. Yes, last volume was pretty good but my hopes were not met, which is why this volume only gets 3 stars.
The most brilliant, as usual, is Harley what with her intelligence that people STILL underestimate.
However, and this is really off-putting, so many things are lamely explained away with not a hint to lead you to that conclusion. It always feels like a deus ex machina and I hate it. Moreover, I get the whole "need to know" thing but if you want a team to perform a certain task, you really need to evaluate how much they need to know. So far, we had 23 issues aka 4 volumes full of team going in, discovering there's more to the mission than they knew, getting their asses handed to them, complaining to Waller over the com, Waller giving in and giving them the information anyway.
And don't get me started about the fantastic potential of the whole using-death-row-inmates-as-drone-pilots theme that just gets shut down again and again and again. They KNOW they have such great potential at their hands and they obviously purposefully and voluntarily throw it away!
June 20, 2016
Harley Quinn <3
Amanda Waller needs to die.
Amanda Waller needs to die.
October 18, 2014
Suicide Squad, Vol. 4: Discipline and Punish is the only volume of the New 52 Suicide Squad I’ve been willing to roll the dice on for two reasons. One, my home girl Anne seems to have really enjoyed it. And two, because Ales Kot is so stinkin' fresh. His offbeat style continues to charm the hell outta me.
Couple of minor spoilers coming up folks. This volume picks up with the re-programming of the current members of the squad and introduces a couple of new ones. Deadshot, Harley, and King Shark are all present and accounted for. Amanda Waller takes this opportunity to inject some new blood into the group. I like the odd team Ales puts together in this one with the new additions. The Unknown Soldier adds some seriousness to the team. James Gordon Junior is an interesting choice for the team’s analyst. This is a unique idea that has some potential for the future. And Cheetah is kinda cool. What’s up her controlling bees though? Did I miss something? Gotta say that Harley really shines in this one. The way that Ales writes her dialogue is simply spot on.
Ales introduces the team with a story that jumps around a bit before reaching it's climax four issues in. The back and forth between past and present works well for me here and the story is pretty entertaining. Sadly Ales only writes four of the issues contained in this one. The remaining two are essentially New 52 origin stories for Harley and Deadshot. Not bad, but not as good as the beginning of the collection.
Patrick Zircher pimps out the majority of Ales run on the title (3 issues) and his stuff is pretty good. Rick Leonardi, Neil Googe, and a couple of others all throw in to complete the collection. Googe. Great name. I really liked his cartoony style in the Harley origin issue too.
I am sad that Ales didn’t get a chance to write more of this title because, like Simone’s Secret Six, Suicide Squad had that special “It factor” while he is writing it. Clicked for me and I would’ve stuck around longer had Kot settled in. Couple of minor quibbles. New 52 Deadshot seems a little more ho hum these days and is missing the trademark mustache. You can change his costume, just don’t fuck with the ‘stache. Also, I prefer my Waller a little more full figured. Girl can’t have a donut once and a while?
All in all it’s probably one of the best New 52 titles I’ve read. Didn’t pick up any of the earlier collections and really didn’t feel lost. I would say a general knowledge of the concept behind the Suicide Squad is all you would really need to get some enjoyment out of this one. Good call Anne.
Get this review and more at:
Couple of minor spoilers coming up folks. This volume picks up with the re-programming of the current members of the squad and introduces a couple of new ones. Deadshot, Harley, and King Shark are all present and accounted for. Amanda Waller takes this opportunity to inject some new blood into the group. I like the odd team Ales puts together in this one with the new additions. The Unknown Soldier adds some seriousness to the team. James Gordon Junior is an interesting choice for the team’s analyst. This is a unique idea that has some potential for the future. And Cheetah is kinda cool. What’s up her controlling bees though? Did I miss something? Gotta say that Harley really shines in this one. The way that Ales writes her dialogue is simply spot on.
Ales introduces the team with a story that jumps around a bit before reaching it's climax four issues in. The back and forth between past and present works well for me here and the story is pretty entertaining. Sadly Ales only writes four of the issues contained in this one. The remaining two are essentially New 52 origin stories for Harley and Deadshot. Not bad, but not as good as the beginning of the collection.
Patrick Zircher pimps out the majority of Ales run on the title (3 issues) and his stuff is pretty good. Rick Leonardi, Neil Googe, and a couple of others all throw in to complete the collection. Googe. Great name. I really liked his cartoony style in the Harley origin issue too.
I am sad that Ales didn’t get a chance to write more of this title because, like Simone’s Secret Six, Suicide Squad had that special “It factor” while he is writing it. Clicked for me and I would’ve stuck around longer had Kot settled in. Couple of minor quibbles. New 52 Deadshot seems a little more ho hum these days and is missing the trademark mustache. You can change his costume, just don’t fuck with the ‘stache. Also, I prefer my Waller a little more full figured. Girl can’t have a donut once and a while?
All in all it’s probably one of the best New 52 titles I’ve read. Didn’t pick up any of the earlier collections and really didn’t feel lost. I would say a general knowledge of the concept behind the Suicide Squad is all you would really need to get some enjoyment out of this one. Good call Anne.
Get this review and more at:
July 9, 2016
Really enjoyed this volume! I flew through it!
Suicide squad volume 4 is the shortest comic out of the collection so far and there was little dialogue or action happening. But this volume went into depth about Harley and Deadshot's life leading up to when they joined the suicide squad and what made them join the squad.
I thought this was such a good and interesting read.
Suicide squad volume 4 is the shortest comic out of the collection so far and there was little dialogue or action happening. But this volume went into depth about Harley and Deadshot's life leading up to when they joined the suicide squad and what made them join the squad.
I thought this was such a good and interesting read.
February 20, 2015
3.5 Stars for sure, creeping a bit higher?
After the clusterfuck that was the "writing" of Adam Glass (is NOT half full of anything but shitty writing), this new direction from Ales Kot is a VERY welcome change. It's like eating Spam for 3 meals in a row, and then, having a hamburger: The hamburger to anyone else, is just an average hamburger, but to anyone who choked down the Spam? It's fucking Filet Mignon!
Finally, instead of infighting, triple agents, betrayal, the constant threat of blowing up bombs in their heads, and Deadshot being shot. dead. by. his. own. gun.; we have a squad of killers actually working at their maximum potential, and we've mostly eliminated the C-list cannon fodder.
No Yo-yo (shockingly he didn't regenerate AGAIN), Voltaic is there, and talks, all totally normal, but gets the shit kicked out of him, and the aftermath, well takes him out of the picture. No Avalanche, El Diablo, Black Spider, or any other fucktards.
We get: Deadshot, ALIVE AGAIN!!!!!! Harley, Unknown Soldier, King Shark, Cheetah (Wonder Woman villain) and...James Gordon Junior...WHA?????? OK well he's just an advisor to Waller, but he seems to make a lot better choices and suggestions than the past people have.
We finally get told that they unlocked Samsara Serum, which resurrected all the dead peeps (Deadshot especially). We also see the team work together to get the upper hand on Waller, and we also see Gordon wisely work with them, in order to balance things out and get everyone moving forward to actually accomplish shit.
The team are all actually bad guys here, not lame-o dudes. Deadshot kicks the shit out of Unknowy for payback after he killed him last volume, and Gordon knocks Deadshot out. Cheetah leaves Deadshot to fall to his death (though he doesn't actually).
We finally see the violence directed against the right people (ie. targets, and not each other so much. We also have a revelation, tied to Voltaic's death...that's permanent this time...the Samsara Serum...will actually kill people exposed to it...including...Deadshot AND Waller!!! Dum Duuu DAHHH!
The art goes downhill in the second half of the book, but seeing as how the writing isn't spam anymore...I'm not going to gripe too much about it.
Finally, instead of having their target always get the better of them, have a spy, an infiltrator, or just defeat them, with the aid of Gordon's brain and everyone on point, they totally bitchslap the minions of the badguy (named John Lynch...how original! He's the bad guy in the A-Team, in one of Ed Brubaker's books - SLEEPER I think...and just obvious) who was also on Team 7 (seriously, who the fuck WASN'T on this Team 7?)
Finally a squad of psychos and killers (who are actually intelligent here) gets the job done and just makes the other baddies look like chumps.
Oh, and there's a Foreigner song lyric used! I love it. 80s music nostalgia used in a 2010s comic...so good. Big Smile. (Oh and Gordon is in love with Waller!)
Then we've got 2 issues by Matt Kindt, which are both stand alones, one about Harley and one about Deadshot (because this series is making them the bread and butter of it, no matter what.)
I didn't care for the Harley one too much, as Mike ably pointed out, there's more info about how she got her costume together than anything else, and it's not very interesting, just kinda rehashed info.
I'm guessing Kindt wanted these to be packaged together, because Deadshot shows up at the end of Harley's, and his words at the end are more or less EXACTLY what he says at the end of his own story the next issue.
Deadshot's focuses on his origin, which I wasn't really aware of, and it's kinda Batman-esque, and also in a bad part of Gotham...but it doesn't have the same outcome, even though he also becomes a highly trained soldier in his own personal war, and he likes big money.
I almost liked it, except he lost the plot (Kindt) when he made it appear that Floyd's only motivation was $$...for everything else he shows, he just ruins it by showing the $$ motivation. I could have done without that...and then he goes and pretty much says he's useless without being aimed at the right target, and can't do anything alone...so of course he has to go back to Waller and the Squad to be complete or worthwhile...
What a pile...for everything in the Deadshot issue I liked, he ruined it in the last 3 pages by wiping his ass with it.
So all in all, if you've not read any of Suicide Squad in New 52, this is average at best...if you've read it all, then this is like a Da Vinci masterpiece.
In all honesty, it's just above 3 stars, but the context of how bad it was, makes this a lot better. Were I to read it without context or not right after all the others today, it wouldn't impress as much.
I would actually go find volume 5 now...I will just wait for the library, but at least Ales Kot proved he's at least worth paying some attention to as a writer who's not stupid.
After the clusterfuck that was the "writing" of Adam Glass (is NOT half full of anything but shitty writing), this new direction from Ales Kot is a VERY welcome change. It's like eating Spam for 3 meals in a row, and then, having a hamburger: The hamburger to anyone else, is just an average hamburger, but to anyone who choked down the Spam? It's fucking Filet Mignon!
Finally, instead of infighting, triple agents, betrayal, the constant threat of blowing up bombs in their heads, and Deadshot being shot. dead. by. his. own. gun.; we have a squad of killers actually working at their maximum potential, and we've mostly eliminated the C-list cannon fodder.
No Yo-yo (shockingly he didn't regenerate AGAIN), Voltaic is there, and talks, all totally normal, but gets the shit kicked out of him, and the aftermath, well takes him out of the picture. No Avalanche, El Diablo, Black Spider, or any other fucktards.
We get: Deadshot, ALIVE AGAIN!!!!!! Harley, Unknown Soldier, King Shark, Cheetah (Wonder Woman villain) and...James Gordon Junior...WHA?????? OK well he's just an advisor to Waller, but he seems to make a lot better choices and suggestions than the past people have.
We finally get told that they unlocked Samsara Serum, which resurrected all the dead peeps (Deadshot especially). We also see the team work together to get the upper hand on Waller, and we also see Gordon wisely work with them, in order to balance things out and get everyone moving forward to actually accomplish shit.
The team are all actually bad guys here, not lame-o dudes. Deadshot kicks the shit out of Unknowy for payback after he killed him last volume, and Gordon knocks Deadshot out. Cheetah leaves Deadshot to fall to his death (though he doesn't actually).
We finally see the violence directed against the right people (ie. targets, and not each other so much. We also have a revelation, tied to Voltaic's death...that's permanent this time...the Samsara Serum...will actually kill people exposed to it...including...Deadshot AND Waller!!! Dum Duuu DAHHH!
The art goes downhill in the second half of the book, but seeing as how the writing isn't spam anymore...I'm not going to gripe too much about it.
Finally, instead of having their target always get the better of them, have a spy, an infiltrator, or just defeat them, with the aid of Gordon's brain and everyone on point, they totally bitchslap the minions of the badguy (named John Lynch...how original! He's the bad guy in the A-Team, in one of Ed Brubaker's books - SLEEPER I think...and just obvious) who was also on Team 7 (seriously, who the fuck WASN'T on this Team 7?)
Finally a squad of psychos and killers (who are actually intelligent here) gets the job done and just makes the other baddies look like chumps.
Oh, and there's a Foreigner song lyric used! I love it. 80s music nostalgia used in a 2010s comic...so good. Big Smile. (Oh and Gordon is in love with Waller!)
Then we've got 2 issues by Matt Kindt, which are both stand alones, one about Harley and one about Deadshot (because this series is making them the bread and butter of it, no matter what.)
I didn't care for the Harley one too much, as Mike ably pointed out, there's more info about how she got her costume together than anything else, and it's not very interesting, just kinda rehashed info.
I'm guessing Kindt wanted these to be packaged together, because Deadshot shows up at the end of Harley's, and his words at the end are more or less EXACTLY what he says at the end of his own story the next issue.
Deadshot's focuses on his origin, which I wasn't really aware of, and it's kinda Batman-esque, and also in a bad part of Gotham...but it doesn't have the same outcome, even though he also becomes a highly trained soldier in his own personal war, and he likes big money.
I almost liked it, except he lost the plot (Kindt) when he made it appear that Floyd's only motivation was $$...for everything else he shows, he just ruins it by showing the $$ motivation. I could have done without that...and then he goes and pretty much says he's useless without being aimed at the right target, and can't do anything alone...so of course he has to go back to Waller and the Squad to be complete or worthwhile...
What a pile...for everything in the Deadshot issue I liked, he ruined it in the last 3 pages by wiping his ass with it.
So all in all, if you've not read any of Suicide Squad in New 52, this is average at best...if you've read it all, then this is like a Da Vinci masterpiece.
In all honesty, it's just above 3 stars, but the context of how bad it was, makes this a lot better. Were I to read it without context or not right after all the others today, it wouldn't impress as much.
I would actually go find volume 5 now...I will just wait for the library, but at least Ales Kot proved he's at least worth paying some attention to as a writer who's not stupid.
October 8, 2014
This felt different from the last books, but then the writer is different. Still loving this series. Still lots of craziness, and violence. Not too gratuitous, thankfully. Some thoughtful stories, one with Deadshot as a young man who is driven by revenge, and another with Harley Quinn reflecting on her life. Both come to realize that they need the Suicide Squad to give them balance. For Harley, it keeps her off the edge of chaos, and for Deadshot, it's a challenge that means more than getting paid.
I am indifferent toward Cheetah as a member. She adds nothing to the team. The Unknown Soldier comes off as a bit of a Waller toady. The addition of Commissioner Gordon's serial killer son is intriguing. He's developed a fixation on Miss Waller.
As usual, you don't get all the story or all the answers. It makes me eager to read the next volume.
My favorites are still Harley Quinn and Deadshot, both conflicted characters who leave you feeling sympathetic, but also kind of guilty that you like them so much.
I am indifferent toward Cheetah as a member. She adds nothing to the team. The Unknown Soldier comes off as a bit of a Waller toady. The addition of Commissioner Gordon's serial killer son is intriguing. He's developed a fixation on Miss Waller.
As usual, you don't get all the story or all the answers. It makes me eager to read the next volume.
My favorites are still Harley Quinn and Deadshot, both conflicted characters who leave you feeling sympathetic, but also kind of guilty that you like them so much.
November 15, 2014
Very confusing opener. We get that Waller is an unpredictable manipulator, and we already know that these guys are villains and deserve the bad treatment they get.
Even considering that, why the hell is Waller screwing with everyone? Is she just sadistic? Is this some kind of revival plan? Did I miss the one useful previous plot development by skipping the turd-sandwich-with-a-side-of-vomit that was Adam Glass' third volume of SS?
Perhaps it's just hard to follow because Kot decided it would be more "artistic" to chop the dialog and narration into a lot of tiny pieces that weren't well connected together. Gold star for trying to emulate Tarantino, knife to the eye for torturing us with a half-assed attempt.
I can't quite get a bead on whether I like Kot's writing or not. It's got me off-balance which is refreshing, and it's certainly chaotic enough to mirror the action they're creating.
Unfortunately, his characterization of James Gordon Jr. is just off enough - not believably genius-crazy, more like that really irritating person in high school who chose to be odd at unpredictable times, just to be different - and he keeps using him enough - that I'm not sure I can recommend this book on its merits.
I'm neither sure I would speak out against the book either. This is one of those puzzles where I don't know that I like it, but I can't quite say I dislike it. I get feelings stirred up about it, but can't isolate them - just a feeling of discomfort, unease.
Which is more than I can say for the two .1 origin stories they slapped in here from Matt Kindt. Bleh is the best feeling I can muster - but worse, I grimaced through much of the dialog.
And seriously, who spends as much time in their origin script rationalizing the *costume* (especially a redesigned monstrosity as Harley Quinn's) as they do about the character (or her "tee hee I'm a bimbo" past, pre-New 52)?
And Deadshot's? Most. Boring. Origin. Ever.
Even considering that, why the hell is Waller screwing with everyone? Is she just sadistic? Is this some kind of revival plan? Did I miss the one useful previous plot development by skipping the turd-sandwich-with-a-side-of-vomit that was Adam Glass' third volume of SS?
Perhaps it's just hard to follow because Kot decided it would be more "artistic" to chop the dialog and narration into a lot of tiny pieces that weren't well connected together. Gold star for trying to emulate Tarantino, knife to the eye for torturing us with a half-assed attempt.
I can't quite get a bead on whether I like Kot's writing or not. It's got me off-balance which is refreshing, and it's certainly chaotic enough to mirror the action they're creating.
Unfortunately, his characterization of James Gordon Jr. is just off enough - not believably genius-crazy, more like that really irritating person in high school who chose to be odd at unpredictable times, just to be different - and he keeps using him enough - that I'm not sure I can recommend this book on its merits.
I'm neither sure I would speak out against the book either. This is one of those puzzles where I don't know that I like it, but I can't quite say I dislike it. I get feelings stirred up about it, but can't isolate them - just a feeling of discomfort, unease.
Which is more than I can say for the two .1 origin stories they slapped in here from Matt Kindt. Bleh is the best feeling I can muster - but worse, I grimaced through much of the dialog.
And seriously, who spends as much time in their origin script rationalizing the *costume* (especially a redesigned monstrosity as Harley Quinn's) as they do about the character (or her "tee hee I'm a bimbo" past, pre-New 52)?
And Deadshot's? Most. Boring. Origin. Ever.
October 18, 2014
This was a HUGE improvement over the previous volume. Sometimes, that's what you get with a change in writers. Kot seems to be using the characters he has to their utmost. And let's face it, Harley is a gift to any writer who can appreciate her. Better yet? James Gordon, Jr. gets added to the mix. And he's in love with Waller. Isn't that just the most wonderful and terrifying thing you could imagine happening in this book? As a bonus, we get two backstory issues, one with Harley and one with Deadshot. Great choices, there. I really liked both of them. Harley's was appropriately disjointed, and in a meta sense, it was kind of cool to see how Deadshot started from a very similar place as Batman.
May 3, 2019
This was pretty fun. Ales Kot channels his secret avengers writing skills and goes a little batshit here.
Suicide squad is pushed back together, as always, but now besides Waller we have James Gordan helping her run the crew. He's extremely dangerous and also a bit insane, but that's what she needs to gain the advantage. Nobody is getting along of course but isn't that what makes the suicide squad so fun? Also two backup issues from other comics are placed at the end here about Harley and Deadshot's past.
Overall, pretty fun. Not like amazing or anything but fun enough. I wish this was as funny as the first volume of the "New Suicide Squad" but for what it is, I had fun reading it. The bonus chapters kind of sucked though. A 3 out of 5.
Suicide squad is pushed back together, as always, but now besides Waller we have James Gordan helping her run the crew. He's extremely dangerous and also a bit insane, but that's what she needs to gain the advantage. Nobody is getting along of course but isn't that what makes the suicide squad so fun? Also two backup issues from other comics are placed at the end here about Harley and Deadshot's past.
Overall, pretty fun. Not like amazing or anything but fun enough. I wish this was as funny as the first volume of the "New Suicide Squad" but for what it is, I had fun reading it. The bonus chapters kind of sucked though. A 3 out of 5.
June 26, 2016
Waller.
I am.
Really.
Sick.
Of your.
Games.
Me too, Harley. Me too.
Harley is still awesome. Waller still sucks. But the reason I think this one worked for me over the others is that the interesting conflict dynamic is between Waller and the squad. Having Gordon on site gives the writer an excuse to stick with Waller and get into her head a little more than previously. The single issue origin stories or Deadshot and Quinn were fun, though I do believe that is about the 4th Harley Quinn origin that I've read at this point. Though I like this one, so I suppose it's ok.
June 1, 2016
What a disappointing volume. The plot was a mess. New characters were being thrown out without being introduced such as Cheetah. The art didn't really workout with the previous volumes, though I didn't really mind it. This volume felt unnecessary. Though I liked how the older characters stayed true to themselves and how they gave us Harley's and Deadshots past in the final two issues. Overall I didn't really liked this volume, though some aspects of it were good enough.
August 14, 2019
The comic is totally fabulous.
November 12, 2017
I feel like the editing in this volume wasn't as good as it normally is for these comic volumes that come out with Publico (a newspaper here in Portugal). They normally work very well on their own and for people that are casual comic readers, but this one was confusing - I felt like things were missing and I didn't get a clear story
But the art was beautiful and I still like the stories and characters (for the most part). Floyd Lawton's backstory and Harley Quinn's were very interesting, but I really didn't like what they did with her at the end of that story
I still really appreciate that Publico puts out these editions at more affordable prices and I still liked it better than the Suicide Squad comic they put out before this one (last year or two years ago).
But the art was beautiful and I still like the stories and characters (for the most part). Floyd Lawton's backstory and Harley Quinn's were very interesting, but I really didn't like what they did with her at the end of that story
I still really appreciate that Publico puts out these editions at more affordable prices and I still liked it better than the Suicide Squad comic they put out before this one (last year or two years ago).
September 24, 2014
Really liked it!! Yeppee!
While this didn't rock my freak boat like the last volume, it certainly is epic. Especially with the add of James Gordon. Wow. He's kind of awesome, which I know I should not be feeling! But that's what Suicide Squad is all about, loving the characters we should loath. Plus, James Gordon's crush has to make you love him. *cough*
While this didn't rock my freak boat like the last volume, it certainly is epic. Especially with the add of James Gordon. Wow. He's kind of awesome, which I know I should not be feeling! But that's what Suicide Squad is all about, loving the characters we should loath. Plus, James Gordon's crush has to make you love him. *cough*
July 10, 2019
This was probably actually a 4-star, but I have come to expect a little more -- a bit more sophistication, a bit more oomph -- from Suicide Squad. This volume, introducing James Gordon Junior to the title, drags a bit, has some unexplained changes in character, and has some confusing dodges in the plot. Lead up to the Forever Evil event, which I am about to start.
May 25, 2015
Interesting comic. I want to learn the Unknown Soldier's identity. Nice to learn how Deadshot is always coming back to life. Wonder what will happen to the Suicide Squad.
August 9, 2016
Oh hey, look at me, reading my first suicide squad trade the same week the film comes out! (Which, as of writing this, I've not seen).
The 4th volume of something is a weird place to begin, but after doing a slight bit of research (googling for 5 minutes), this seemed like one of the better volumes of Suicide Squad to try from the more recent stuff.
And it was actually pretty okay! Harley and Deadshot both make good leads, and King Shark is an amusing addition because to me he's a character that should not really exist. Like the idea of a half shark half human thing just seems completely silly and could only really work in comics. Plus he was in the flash show.
Kinda wants to make me read more suicide squad stuff, but I think it's more just wanting more Harley and Deadshot. Like give them a team up mini or something.
The 4th volume of something is a weird place to begin, but after doing a slight bit of research (googling for 5 minutes), this seemed like one of the better volumes of Suicide Squad to try from the more recent stuff.
And it was actually pretty okay! Harley and Deadshot both make good leads, and King Shark is an amusing addition because to me he's a character that should not really exist. Like the idea of a half shark half human thing just seems completely silly and could only really work in comics. Plus he was in the flash show.
Kinda wants to make me read more suicide squad stuff, but I think it's more just wanting more Harley and Deadshot. Like give them a team up mini or something.
February 29, 2016
If you ever hanker to read Suicide Squad, do yourself a favor: skip volumes 1-3 and start with volume 4. You won't be missing anything important, and you can always read them later if you're really curious. With this volume, we have new writers: Ales Kot and Matt Kindt. And they bring with them the welcome gifts of character development and style. Instead of semi-random action sequences, we now have actual characters having adventures. Not sure why it took DC three volumes to figure that out. The moment when King Shark crashes in announcing, "My name is Trixie. I like to party, " more than makes up for the low point that was the previous three books. Loved the two issues focusing on Harley and Deadshot. The end of the book is the first cliffhanger of this series I've seen that actually has a sense of tension to it.
April 6, 2018
Another entertaining continuation in the series. The plot seemed a little more disjointed than previous episodes, jumping around from one situation to another where it wasn't always clear if this a was a flashback or just a scene change, but, eventually, it's possible to sort it out by the end of the book. Curiously, King Shark, shone in the rest of these volumes as a hammerhead is shown as a normal looking shark in one of the stories --- almost as if the authors switched artists without each looking to see how he's depicted in previous episodes. In this sort of way, it ends, going into the backgrounds of Harley Quinn and Deadshot, but it's interesting nonetheless.
April 15, 2015
A fun, fast read. Nothing too deep or involving and nothing mind-blowingly revelatory. The art work was solid, the script was funny at times, the action was relentless. I was intrigued by the inclusion of Gordon Jr., but King Shark is still the coolest team mate, in my opinion. Unknown Soldier, on the other hand, is someone I couldn't care less about.
Unfortunately there are two issues in it that act as dead weight: the Deadshot and Harley Quinn one-shots. I found them to be so boring and underwhelming.
Mostly entertaining though.
3.5/5
Unfortunately there are two issues in it that act as dead weight: the Deadshot and Harley Quinn one-shots. I found them to be so boring and underwhelming.
Mostly entertaining though.
3.5/5
August 2, 2016
I started reading these collections to get in the mood for the movie coming out this weekend. Four Vols down and one more to go in this "New 52" version. Then 3 more of the "New Suicide Squad". I also plan to continue reading Suicide Squad from their Rebirth issues up (now with Jim Lee as artist). Lots of action. I hope the movie does well, this whole "Dirty Dozen" aspect with super-villains appeals to me.
September 22, 2013
What else is there to say besides the fact that even during the height of Scott Snyder (Batman: Zero Year, Superman Unchained, the Wake), Geoff Johns, and Gail Simone, Suicide Squad would become my favorite book for 4 short months? And how devastated I was when Kot "left."
I leave you with this bon mot from King Shark: "HELLO. MY NAME IS TRIXIE. I LIKE TO PARTY."
I leave you with this bon mot from King Shark: "HELLO. MY NAME IS TRIXIE. I LIKE TO PARTY."
October 27, 2014
Always a fun read Suicide Squad delivered again. This volume wasnt as strong as others. It felt likecsomething was missing. The highlights were the Harley and Deadshot "origin" stories.
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May 10, 2021I love Aleš Kot but managing the nonlinear storytelling was not working out this time around. In a way it was like a series of disconnected short stories, but with everyone’s motivations and intentions so absolutely murky that I couldn’t enjoy the forest or the trees. Everyone gets lovely little moments here and there, but it doesn’t add up to much. Mind you Kindt’s stories at the back end somehow add up to even less. Nothing in this volume really gels with anything else in this volume. It manages to be fun for the first two issues, and then the next four are utterlyoff the wall. The violence is fucking exquisite though. Harley putting a landmine in a banana cream pie? Sumptuous. Mwah!!
July 9, 2021
the harley one shot i said thank u
February 6, 2016
Downward trajectory!
I can't believe that I miss Adam Glass. Sure, the writing was slowly getting better with each Suicide Squad arc and I was hoping that slowly we would get to the point where the characters were the big thing not the explosions, but this writing change pretty much makes the series start at square one again.
World: The art is not memorable, there is a consistency here but it's nothing special. I really wished the facial expressions and character models were illustrated with more detail and style cause they are rather boring and bland and static. The world building this time around is still present but it's off and feels hollow, this is mainly due to the poor writing and pacing of this arc which bleeds into everything. Sure we are still building little pieces of the world but this arc is so fractured from the last arcs that this feels like something written by another writer (which it is). Not good.
Story: Horrible pacing and writing. It's choppy, illogical and all over the place. We had finally reached a rhythm with Glass with missions, down time, missions, down time. Now with Kot we are all missions and poorly executed missions at that with barely any character development whatsoever. I don't want to ruin the story for readers but this story is stupid in it's ideas and poor in it's execution. I'll talk about the characters below cause they don't act like they do at all. Just bad.
Characters: Sure there are the Harley and Deadshot one shots here, but they are not good at all. Harley is not portrayed well and her origin is botched and fragmented, it's not the origin story she deserves and the writing she deserves. The same can be said for Deadshot. The rest of the book is also riddled with poor characterizations and poor writing. We were finally getting into a groove with Glass and his take on the characters and now Kot pretty much destroys that. Don't even get me started on JGJ...stupidity.
This arc was TERRIBLE. Bad writing, forgettable art made for a painful read.
Onward to the next book!
I can't believe that I miss Adam Glass. Sure, the writing was slowly getting better with each Suicide Squad arc and I was hoping that slowly we would get to the point where the characters were the big thing not the explosions, but this writing change pretty much makes the series start at square one again.
World: The art is not memorable, there is a consistency here but it's nothing special. I really wished the facial expressions and character models were illustrated with more detail and style cause they are rather boring and bland and static. The world building this time around is still present but it's off and feels hollow, this is mainly due to the poor writing and pacing of this arc which bleeds into everything. Sure we are still building little pieces of the world but this arc is so fractured from the last arcs that this feels like something written by another writer (which it is). Not good.
Story: Horrible pacing and writing. It's choppy, illogical and all over the place. We had finally reached a rhythm with Glass with missions, down time, missions, down time. Now with Kot we are all missions and poorly executed missions at that with barely any character development whatsoever. I don't want to ruin the story for readers but this story is stupid in it's ideas and poor in it's execution. I'll talk about the characters below cause they don't act like they do at all. Just bad.
Characters: Sure there are the Harley and Deadshot one shots here, but they are not good at all. Harley is not portrayed well and her origin is botched and fragmented, it's not the origin story she deserves and the writing she deserves. The same can be said for Deadshot. The rest of the book is also riddled with poor characterizations and poor writing. We were finally getting into a groove with Glass and his take on the characters and now Kot pretty much destroys that. Don't even get me started on JGJ...stupidity.
This arc was TERRIBLE. Bad writing, forgettable art made for a painful read.
Onward to the next book!
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