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New Suicide Squad
New Suicide Squad, Volume 2: Monsters
Writer Sean Ryan (Nova) and artist Philippe Briones (Captain America Corps) set villain against villain in an epic battle for the greater good in NEW SUICIDE SQUAD VOL. 2: MONSTERS!
A splinter sect has broken off from the legendary League of Assassins. Like their predecessors, this new League is made up of some of the deadliest killers on the planet. But unlike Ra’s al Ghul’s followers, these renegade assassins have no plans to remain hidden in the shadows.
With countless innocent lives at stake, there’s only one team ready to handle this new terrorist threat:
Deadshot. Black Manta. Captain Boomerang. Harley Quinn. Reverse Flash. Parasite.
It’s up to Amanda Waller’s Task Force X to destroy this terrorist organization from the inside, and that means going deep undercover. They’re being sent far behind enemy lines to face a foe like nothing they’ve ever encountered. And if they don’t all make it back? That’s why they’re called the Suicide Squad.
Collecting: New Suicide Squad #9-13, Annual #1 and DC Sneak Peek: New Suicide Squad #1.
A splinter sect has broken off from the legendary League of Assassins. Like their predecessors, this new League is made up of some of the deadliest killers on the planet. But unlike Ra’s al Ghul’s followers, these renegade assassins have no plans to remain hidden in the shadows.
With countless innocent lives at stake, there’s only one team ready to handle this new terrorist threat:
Deadshot. Black Manta. Captain Boomerang. Harley Quinn. Reverse Flash. Parasite.
It’s up to Amanda Waller’s Task Force X to destroy this terrorist organization from the inside, and that means going deep undercover. They’re being sent far behind enemy lines to face a foe like nothing they’ve ever encountered. And if they don’t all make it back? That’s why they’re called the Suicide Squad.
Collecting: New Suicide Squad #9-13, Annual #1 and DC Sneak Peek: New Suicide Squad #1.
144 pages, Paperback
First published February 9, 2016
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614 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 93 reviews
February 20, 2024
(B+) 79% | Good
Notes: It's a less pungent onion: sautéed pity and peeled back layers, rich with gravy from the juices of its reprobate players.
*Progress updates: Preamble ◦ DC Sneak Peek: New Suicide Squad #1-Issue #9 ◦ Issue #10
Notes: It's a less pungent onion: sautéed pity and peeled back layers, rich with gravy from the juices of its reprobate players.
*Progress updates: Preamble ◦ DC Sneak Peek: New Suicide Squad #1-Issue #9 ◦ Issue #10
May 13, 2016
3.5 stars
I'll be the first one to admit I had super-low expectations going into Monsters because, let's face it, until the movie drops, there's no way DC will cancel this title. No matter what.
Suicide Squad or New Suicide Squad is going to be a thing for a good long time to come.
Unless the movie tanks...
Anyway.
Me = Zero Anticipation for Volume 2
And maybe that was a good thing, because I was pleasantly surprised by the depth of the story in this one. Yeah. Depth.
Ok, no. It didn't make me cry, or change my worldview. But I did sorta care about some of these characters more than I had in the past.
I do wish Suicide Squad had a little more humor in it, but I guess that might be hard to do when they're trying to turn this into a serious team. Ish.
Still, there were a couple of panels that made me smile, and for now, that'll be enough.
I thought the plot was coherent and made more sense than some of the previous stuff, as well. In the past it seemed (to me) like the wacky characters were the plot, and this time around it just seemed like there was a bit more thought put into what/who they were fighting.
So, yeah. Much better.
I may not the biggest fan of the overall title, but even I thought this was pretty entertaining. If the upcoming movie has piqued your interest in these guys, give this title a shot!
I'll be the first one to admit I had super-low expectations going into Monsters because, let's face it, until the movie drops, there's no way DC will cancel this title. No matter what.
Suicide Squad or New Suicide Squad is going to be a thing for a good long time to come.
Unless the movie tanks...
Anyway.
Me = Zero Anticipation for Volume 2
And maybe that was a good thing, because I was pleasantly surprised by the depth of the story in this one. Yeah. Depth.
Ok, no. It didn't make me cry, or change my worldview. But I did sorta care about some of these characters more than I had in the past.
I do wish Suicide Squad had a little more humor in it, but I guess that might be hard to do when they're trying to turn this into a serious team. Ish.
Still, there were a couple of panels that made me smile, and for now, that'll be enough.
I thought the plot was coherent and made more sense than some of the previous stuff, as well. In the past it seemed (to me) like the wacky characters were the plot, and this time around it just seemed like there was a bit more thought put into what/who they were fighting.
So, yeah. Much better.
I may not the biggest fan of the overall title, but even I thought this was pretty entertaining. If the upcoming movie has piqued your interest in these guys, give this title a shot!
March 1, 2016
I wonder how much attention DC pays to readers’ reviews - probably nowt much but they seem to have addressed two of the main complaints some people had about the first volume of Sean Ryan’s New Suicide Squad in this second book. First, there’s just the one artist throughout - Philippe Briones - as opposed to 8(!), and second, there’s just the one storyline instead of a few. Weirdly, those changes have resulted in a far inferior comic.
A splinter group of Ra’s Al-Ghul’s League of Assassins imaginatively calling itself The League has stepped out of the shadows and is forging a new world order of its own. Task Force X, aka Suicide Squad, comprising Deadshot, Black Manta, Captain Boomerang, Reverse-Flash, Parasite, and Harley Quinn, have to stop them. Aaaaannnnd… break!
What took me out of the story the most - which in itself isn’t terrible - was the contrived and stupid way Ryan writes the characters. There are some super-powerful characters on the team that could easily take out a group of assassins by themselves (Reverse-Flash for example) but then there wouldn’t be a book so Ryan has to come up with dumb ways of weakening them to tease out the plot.
Reverse-Flash - a guy who’s so fast he can literally run on water - gets hit by a pulse gun of some sort and is out of action. Nobody, assassin or not, should be able to hit this guy when he’s moving at speed! And Parasite - this dude’s taken out by a freeze gun instantly. Parasite - the guy who goes up against Superman! And then on the flipside of that approach there’s everyone’s favourite, Harley. I believe her character when she’s firing grenades from a rocket launcher - I don’t when she’s taking out a room full of ninjas with a blade. I like her too but she’s not Batman!
Briones’ art is fine but nothing special. It’s very DC house-style, ie. forgettably standard superhero comics illustration. I liked Juan Ferreyra’s covers though.
Even if the second volume of New Suicide Squad was disappointing after such a strong first book, I’m still interested in seeing what Sean Ryan will do with the series. A new team member is added at the end which could improve the series or torpedo it entirely but either way I’m gonna come back and see for myself - I believe in this Sean Ryan guy. For now. As for Monsters, unfortunately the squad fail to hit the target for me in this weak second outing.
A splinter group of Ra’s Al-Ghul’s League of Assassins imaginatively calling itself The League has stepped out of the shadows and is forging a new world order of its own. Task Force X, aka Suicide Squad, comprising Deadshot, Black Manta, Captain Boomerang, Reverse-Flash, Parasite, and Harley Quinn, have to stop them. Aaaaannnnd… break!
What took me out of the story the most - which in itself isn’t terrible - was the contrived and stupid way Ryan writes the characters. There are some super-powerful characters on the team that could easily take out a group of assassins by themselves (Reverse-Flash for example) but then there wouldn’t be a book so Ryan has to come up with dumb ways of weakening them to tease out the plot.
Reverse-Flash - a guy who’s so fast he can literally run on water - gets hit by a pulse gun of some sort and is out of action. Nobody, assassin or not, should be able to hit this guy when he’s moving at speed! And Parasite - this dude’s taken out by a freeze gun instantly. Parasite - the guy who goes up against Superman! And then on the flipside of that approach there’s everyone’s favourite, Harley. I believe her character when she’s firing grenades from a rocket launcher - I don’t when she’s taking out a room full of ninjas with a blade. I like her too but she’s not Batman!
Briones’ art is fine but nothing special. It’s very DC house-style, ie. forgettably standard superhero comics illustration. I liked Juan Ferreyra’s covers though.
Even if the second volume of New Suicide Squad was disappointing after such a strong first book, I’m still interested in seeing what Sean Ryan will do with the series. A new team member is added at the end which could improve the series or torpedo it entirely but either way I’m gonna come back and see for myself - I believe in this Sean Ryan guy. For now. As for Monsters, unfortunately the squad fail to hit the target for me in this weak second outing.
February 12, 2016
I received a preview eARC of this title from the publisher through NetGalley.
This is the second sequence featuring the newly reformed Suicide Squad, and the team is finally starting to come together. Well, they're still pretty messed up and dysfunctional, but they're getting better. I mean, what can you expect from a squad of super-villains turned secret government operatives?
My favorite member of the team is definitely Harley Quinn.
This isn't the fun-loving, (mostly) good-natured vigilante with her own sense of justice featured in the Harley Quinn series (Volume 3 reviewed here). In her solo series I labeled her as batshit crazy, but this one...this one. Yeah. This girl is completely nucking futs.
She's still fun though. Just don't let her get bored. Ever.
We also get the other members of the Squad in this: Deadshot, Captain Boomerang, Black Manta, Reverse Flash, and Parasite.
So in this volume, ourheroes err, team members set out to infiltrate a splinter branch of the League of Assassins. Whatever you do, don't ask for weekends off. This is a group that feels the original LoA has gone soft and lost its sense of mission. These dudes are seriously dedicated.
And our New Suicide Squad? Not so much.
But they're getting there...
This is the second sequence featuring the newly reformed Suicide Squad, and the team is finally starting to come together. Well, they're still pretty messed up and dysfunctional, but they're getting better. I mean, what can you expect from a squad of super-villains turned secret government operatives?
My favorite member of the team is definitely Harley Quinn.
This isn't the fun-loving, (mostly) good-natured vigilante with her own sense of justice featured in the Harley Quinn series (Volume 3 reviewed here). In her solo series I labeled her as batshit crazy, but this one...this one. Yeah. This girl is completely nucking futs.
She's still fun though. Just don't let her get bored. Ever.
We also get the other members of the Squad in this: Deadshot, Captain Boomerang, Black Manta, Reverse Flash, and Parasite.
"Who the hell is Parasite?"
"You haven't seen him around? He's kinda like if Grimace had sex with a nightmare."
So in this volume, our
And our New Suicide Squad? Not so much.
But they're getting there...
February 19, 2020
2.5
Ehhh ... this wasn't the worst the Suicide Squad has had to offer.
Ehhh ... this wasn't the worst the Suicide Squad has had to offer.
March 26, 2020
Wow, what a turn around from the first volume. The focus has been turned completely towards the actual Suicide Squad instead of Vic Sage and his machinations. I liked the mission they went on and how the different characters reacted to it. They are basically taking on a super-powered ISIS.
Received an advance copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Received an advance copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
August 7, 2017
A splinter sect of the League of Assassins has broken off and this Suicide Squad is sent in to infiltrate and take it out. The Squad consists of : Deadshot, Black Manta. Captain Boomerang. Harley Quinn. Reverse-Flash (this is a thing? Guess so) and Parasite. I won't spoil the plot by talking about the plot any more.
This newer version of the Squad is ok. I do not like what they did with Deadshot. WTF is wrong with him? Parkinsons? Seriously? Fix Him. Harley and Black Manta were well done. I rather liked the Harley-children sub story. Especially when they really saw Harley-Quinn at "work".
The artwork is good. Nothing amazing but good. I did not hate this story. It's just not that good. It's an OK (2 star) story. I read it. Made a "meh" noise and then filed it in my library and mentally catalogued it as a book that I'd likely never read but merely flip through in the future.
I guess this version of the Squad-especially their version of Deadshot (feed him some stem cells dammit!)- I don't like some of the character's interpretations by the writer. I have also never understood the thinking process driving the "new" Amanda Waller. Most comic writers tend to lean left. They tend to virtue signal their liberalism through-out the plot and characterization. So, with that in mind, why would such people (it is a New 52 thing not limited to Suicide Squad) think it a good idea (or a necessary one) to change the old battle axe version of Amanda Waller (whom I loved! What a GREAT character. I admired her.) with this 20-some year old Halle Berry look alike? WTF? Why can't Waller look like a normal woman? Why does she have to be transformed into -ass-kicking-ninja-warrior-bikini-model trope? Why can't she be the older (FAR more realistic for the position she holds) highly intelligent, high experienced, ruthless, supremely cunning, strategic Machiavellian director of a high end secret government hit team that she was? Why must it be some infantile high-school male projection that all females in such jobs, in comics lore, must be some hot bikini model-ninja warrior? Guys can be just as bad-but there are male heroes who aren't model level (though many many are). But seriously..I liked Waller because she was normal. Looks were irrelevant. This 90 lb Mary Sue Halley Berry version is unnecessary. At least to me. But I am a notorious idiot. I know I am an idiot since when I watch the media people complain/lecture about the "self image" of young women I can't help but notice that all the media people, for the most part, that are anchors and their "guests" on their "panels" (male and female) happen to all be VERY attractive people. Every. Single. One. Of. Them. Are normal looking people not smart enough to read the news? Can't we speak on guest panels? I find that odd. It was that modality of thinking which drives my dislike of Halle Berry Waller. She is still smart. I just don't see why she has to be hot. Kinda like those anchors/"guest panelists". *shrugs* Ah well..forgive me..no more random thoughts. This isn't a blog. I don't do blogs. GR is close enough. Let's stick to books.
This book? I give it a whole hearted meh. Enjoy.
This newer version of the Squad is ok. I do not like what they did with Deadshot. WTF is wrong with him? Parkinsons? Seriously? Fix Him. Harley and Black Manta were well done. I rather liked the Harley-children sub story. Especially when they really saw Harley-Quinn at "work".
The artwork is good. Nothing amazing but good. I did not hate this story. It's just not that good. It's an OK (2 star) story. I read it. Made a "meh" noise and then filed it in my library and mentally catalogued it as a book that I'd likely never read but merely flip through in the future.
I guess this version of the Squad-especially their version of Deadshot (feed him some stem cells dammit!)- I don't like some of the character's interpretations by the writer. I have also never understood the thinking process driving the "new" Amanda Waller. Most comic writers tend to lean left. They tend to virtue signal their liberalism through-out the plot and characterization. So, with that in mind, why would such people (it is a New 52 thing not limited to Suicide Squad) think it a good idea (or a necessary one) to change the old battle axe version of Amanda Waller (whom I loved! What a GREAT character. I admired her.) with this 20-some year old Halle Berry look alike? WTF? Why can't Waller look like a normal woman? Why does she have to be transformed into -ass-kicking-ninja-warrior-bikini-model trope? Why can't she be the older (FAR more realistic for the position she holds) highly intelligent, high experienced, ruthless, supremely cunning, strategic Machiavellian director of a high end secret government hit team that she was? Why must it be some infantile high-school male projection that all females in such jobs, in comics lore, must be some hot bikini model-ninja warrior? Guys can be just as bad-but there are male heroes who aren't model level (though many many are). But seriously..I liked Waller because she was normal. Looks were irrelevant. This 90 lb Mary Sue Halley Berry version is unnecessary. At least to me. But I am a notorious idiot. I know I am an idiot since when I watch the media people complain/lecture about the "self image" of young women I can't help but notice that all the media people, for the most part, that are anchors and their "guests" on their "panels" (male and female) happen to all be VERY attractive people. Every. Single. One. Of. Them. Are normal looking people not smart enough to read the news? Can't we speak on guest panels? I find that odd. It was that modality of thinking which drives my dislike of Halle Berry Waller. She is still smart. I just don't see why she has to be hot. Kinda like those anchors/"guest panelists". *shrugs* Ah well..forgive me..no more random thoughts. This isn't a blog. I don't do blogs. GR is close enough. Let's stick to books.
This book? I give it a whole hearted meh. Enjoy.
March 30, 2017
I love this series because it is willing to take on some bigger themes with this cast of characters. The theme here is who are the true monsters. The suicide squad goes up against monsters but are they monsters themselves and what makes a monster. Monsters are just not skin deep. This theme piggy backed on the control them of the previous volume has really made this series something to read and grab your attention.
June 29, 2017
While not as fun and insane as the first volume I still found myself enjoying this one. This time Mantis, Deadshot, and Boomrang are all on a mission to go undercover to take out a new "cult" clan that broke off from the League of Shadows. Harley, Reverse Flash, and Prasite are all on duty too as backup incase things go bad. So...things go bad. Lots of shit happens. And things explode. Sounds like Suicide Squad to me!
What I liked: Art still solid. I really enjoy the moments with Deadshot and Mantis, or any of the characters really taking together. They have fun, make fun of each other, and this makes the chemistry always entertaining if nothing else. I also enjoyed the ending and thought it was kind of brave to kill off a character. Their death was actually pretty well done too. Even villains can do heroic things sometimes.
What I didn't like: The plot was really weak. The league were terrible villains. I didn't care about any of them. Also Mantis was kind of acting out of character for me. I just didn't buy the sudden change...it felt forced.
Overall I still had a lot of fun with this volume. Still better than any other suicide squad comic I read. I hear Sean Ryan leaves soon. That makes me sad. I'm going to miss the dialog banter between everyone. Oh well, I'll enjoy it while it last.
What I liked: Art still solid. I really enjoy the moments with Deadshot and Mantis, or any of the characters really taking together. They have fun, make fun of each other, and this makes the chemistry always entertaining if nothing else. I also enjoyed the ending and thought it was kind of brave to kill off a character. Their death was actually pretty well done too. Even villains can do heroic things sometimes.
What I didn't like: The plot was really weak. The league were terrible villains. I didn't care about any of them. Also Mantis was kind of acting out of character for me. I just didn't buy the sudden change...it felt forced.
Overall I still had a lot of fun with this volume. Still better than any other suicide squad comic I read. I hear Sean Ryan leaves soon. That makes me sad. I'm going to miss the dialog banter between everyone. Oh well, I'll enjoy it while it last.
February 12, 2016
A stronger storyline in this volume. I like the suicide squad, because you get a solid amount of characters and they're all bad guys. So the dynamics are interesting. As a whole Pretty good book. In this volume I don't think people reading this will be annoyed by Harley Quinn (I saw some are sick of her in SS) Good storyline, good artwork, good book.
I received an advanced copy of this from NetGalley.com and the publisher.
I received an advanced copy of this from NetGalley.com and the publisher.
May 8, 2018
Sean Ryan is back with new artist Philippe Briones. The art work is much much better this time around as compared to vol. 1. The story involves our team of super villians trying to stop an off shoot of the League of Assassins from setting off a chrono-bomb. Storywise I enjoyed it better than last volume because it was a bit more cohesive and not all over the place like last volume.
January 8, 2017
slow start but paid off in the end.
February 9, 2016
This is much better than the first volume and has quite a serious story being quite dramatic going into some depth with most of the characters. We have a new team with 6 members (some from last time) divided into two sets of three. Three working inside a cult and three working on extraction. I won't name names but one member gets brainwashed into the cult which upsets the plan from the beginning and a character I never really liked ends up getting a redemptive moment and an actually sad death. Though they are careful to say "lost" so maybe it's not really final, but the book ends letting us know who the replacement team member will be. I liked Harley's insight into herself as well. My favourite new team member is Parasite. Only thing I didn't like is the art for this volume. Harley, my favourite she-villain, is drawn ugly and I couldn't get used to her and Reverse Flash just looked plain weird. No, not a fan of the art. Otherwise, a good volume leaving me looking forward to the next one.
August 17, 2016
One of the better collections of Suicide Squad. Action packed (even more than usual) and the characters are being fleshed out. The art is improving and this series should be selling okay. Only two more volumes in this run. I am already on the ground running with
. And just picked up
. August seems to be my Suicide Squad month. And I am liking it!
. And just picked up
. August seems to be my Suicide Squad month. And I am liking it!
October 3, 2015
For the most part this was good! So in this volume the team are sent somewhere to stop a rouge group from The League of Assassins who are trying to blow up the world. The cast this time around is Harley Quinn, Deadshot, Parasite, Captain Boomerang, and Reverse Flash(not the cool reverse flash we all know a spaz version!) My main issue was there wasn't much story here, there also a side story with Black Manta which i didn't really care for. In the end despite its issues it still ends off on a high note!
February 15, 2016
The Suicide Squad is sent to the Middle East to deal with a terrorist group that had acquired super-hero type weapons and were recruiting super-villains. Things were wrong per usual and only the craziness of Harley Quinn and heroism of Reverse Flash managed to save the day after Black Manta started going native. All the action plus the behind the scenes shenanigans teasing the reader with what is to come made "Monsters" entertaining.
July 7, 2016
I really really loved the friendship between Reverse-Flash and Harley Quinn in this.
March 12, 2023
The Suicide Squad is tasked with investigating and then wiping the floor with a splinter group from Ra's Al Ghul's league of assassins. This new League is acting more openly and is believed to be using weapons supplied by super-villains. Black Manta, Deadshot and Boomerang infiltrate their ranks.
April 16, 2025
That ending with the Reverse-Flash. I'll be honest. I didn't expect that. I might have needed a tissue.
February 16, 2016
Wow! This is what I'm looking for in this series, characters I care about, cause in the end it's all about the characters.
This is the thing that Ryan gets and Glass did not, for readers to care about deaths you have to make us care about the characters. The first arc of the new series started off on a good place (flaws and all). It was not perfect but it understood what it needed to make the series interesting. This second builds on that and though there are still some hiccups it's actually quite a fun read, and that for a Squad book is all you can ask for.
World: I really like Briones' art, it's not spectacular but it's consistent and the quality is pretty good. The framing is nice and the action is kinetic, but the best part of the art are the characters, they are done well. The world building by Ryan is also strong, with the status quo changing at the start of the new series there was a lot of nice pieces of world building to be found. The overall arc with Sage is good and it leads to better characters (which I'll get into below). Not the main focus of the series (which is great cause I did not like the overly painting other nations as evil angle last arc) but strong enough to give a good sandbox for the story and characters to play out.
Story: Much better! The story had a lot of quiet moments which I loved because it allowed for the characters to shine through. I've been saying this a lot so I'll say it one last time here, you have to care about them so when the Squad is in jeopardy you care. Ryan understands this and that's why this story is good. The overall arc about The League is strong, and it's because of a couple of reasons; a strong villain, wonderful character interactions, and good balance of action and story. The stuff at Bell Reeve is great, that change has made it much more interesting in terms of Waller and gives us a more tangible reason to root for her. There was some issues this arc though as the introduction of Saladin was done like a throw away and I found that sometimes the pacing was a bit jittery, but other than that the arc reads wonderfully.
Characters: This is the heart of the series, or it should be and Ryan understands that. The characters matter and what they are going through matters. What Ryan did with Deadshot, Harley and even more so with Reverse Flash is great, it is a testament of what happens when you let characters develop. Readers care now and that's awesome. I don't want to say too much because this is the heart of the book so experiencing this unspoiled is best. This is great!
This is what I wanted the book to be! This is the direction I wanted! This is the book that I will recommend new readers to read if they want to get into Suicide Squad (yes the classics were great but the art turns a lot of new readers off).
Onward to the next book!
This is the thing that Ryan gets and Glass did not, for readers to care about deaths you have to make us care about the characters. The first arc of the new series started off on a good place (flaws and all). It was not perfect but it understood what it needed to make the series interesting. This second builds on that and though there are still some hiccups it's actually quite a fun read, and that for a Squad book is all you can ask for.
World: I really like Briones' art, it's not spectacular but it's consistent and the quality is pretty good. The framing is nice and the action is kinetic, but the best part of the art are the characters, they are done well. The world building by Ryan is also strong, with the status quo changing at the start of the new series there was a lot of nice pieces of world building to be found. The overall arc with Sage is good and it leads to better characters (which I'll get into below). Not the main focus of the series (which is great cause I did not like the overly painting other nations as evil angle last arc) but strong enough to give a good sandbox for the story and characters to play out.
Story: Much better! The story had a lot of quiet moments which I loved because it allowed for the characters to shine through. I've been saying this a lot so I'll say it one last time here, you have to care about them so when the Squad is in jeopardy you care. Ryan understands this and that's why this story is good. The overall arc about The League is strong, and it's because of a couple of reasons; a strong villain, wonderful character interactions, and good balance of action and story. The stuff at Bell Reeve is great, that change has made it much more interesting in terms of Waller and gives us a more tangible reason to root for her. There was some issues this arc though as the introduction of Saladin was done like a throw away and I found that sometimes the pacing was a bit jittery, but other than that the arc reads wonderfully.
Characters: This is the heart of the series, or it should be and Ryan understands that. The characters matter and what they are going through matters. What Ryan did with Deadshot, Harley and even more so with Reverse Flash is great, it is a testament of what happens when you let characters develop. Readers care now and that's awesome. I don't want to say too much because this is the heart of the book so experiencing this unspoiled is best. This is great!
This is what I wanted the book to be! This is the direction I wanted! This is the book that I will recommend new readers to read if they want to get into Suicide Squad (yes the classics were great but the art turns a lot of new readers off).
Onward to the next book!
February 27, 2016
**I received a free eARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review**
A new terrorist organization is convinced they're making the world a better place, by getting rid of everything and everyone they consider a possible threat. The Suicide Squad is ordered to infiltrate the organization and destroy it from within. But one of them might forget the purpose of their mission, once they start getting closer to these terrorist...
I must say I really enjoy seeing these villains working together and trying to become better people. You can tell they're struggling, but they never stop trying.
One of the highlights for me is the lovely Harley Quinn, who (how one of the terrorists puts it) is pretty much mentally defective. Seriously, this woman is crazy. And I love it.
We get to see what she's capable of doing once she gets bored, especially when having an audience of little children who aren't even allowed to experience fun.
Also, not all members of the Suicide Squad infiltrate the organization, but the ones who do... man, those poor guys. The initiation is really messed up. How can people still think that you can stop wrongdoings with even more wrongdoings? Ugh...
I wanted to slap one the guys for the things he did, by the way. It's like he was brainwashed without even actually being brainwashed! Just get on with the mission, dude. And don't tell me it was all part of the plan, I know it wasn't.
There are also sacrifices to be made, which was very sweet, especially coming from these villains.
I'm looking forward to know what happens next and seeing all these guys working together again.
More reviews on my blog: Lipstick and Mocha
A new terrorist organization is convinced they're making the world a better place, by getting rid of everything and everyone they consider a possible threat. The Suicide Squad is ordered to infiltrate the organization and destroy it from within. But one of them might forget the purpose of their mission, once they start getting closer to these terrorist...
I must say I really enjoy seeing these villains working together and trying to become better people. You can tell they're struggling, but they never stop trying.
One of the highlights for me is the lovely Harley Quinn, who (how one of the terrorists puts it) is pretty much mentally defective. Seriously, this woman is crazy. And I love it.
We get to see what she's capable of doing once she gets bored, especially when having an audience of little children who aren't even allowed to experience fun.
Also, not all members of the Suicide Squad infiltrate the organization, but the ones who do... man, those poor guys. The initiation is really messed up. How can people still think that you can stop wrongdoings with even more wrongdoings? Ugh...
I wanted to slap one the guys for the things he did, by the way. It's like he was brainwashed without even actually being brainwashed! Just get on with the mission, dude. And don't tell me it was all part of the plan, I know it wasn't.
There are also sacrifices to be made, which was very sweet, especially coming from these villains.
I'm looking forward to know what happens next and seeing all these guys working together again.
More reviews on my blog: Lipstick and Mocha
February 13, 2016
A vast, vast improvement on the first volume, easily. Every issue in this volume, including the 8 issue preview and the extra-sized annual are all drawn by the same artist, with the same inker, and the same colourist. That's what volume 1 should have had, not one penciller, eight thousand inkers, and god knows who else throwing their hat into the ring. Visual consistency is the key, people! Granted, the artwork isn't mindblowingly good, but it's decent, clear, clean, and anything's better than the first volume.
The story, which sees Boomerang, Manta, and Deadshot going undercover with a splinter group of the League of Assassins, sets up some good ideas but ultimately fails in execution for the most part. Each character has a little arc to go through in the five issues, but they don't really reach any kind of conclusion as they do so. Black Manta's backpedals, Harley is basically blink and you miss it, and poor Reverse Flash ends up...well, let's just say in no position to talk about any changes he goes through.
At least the book is trying. I mentioned in volume 1 how DC could probably through shit at the page and this book would still sell like hotcakes as long as Harley was in it, but they seem to at least be trying to make it worth reading while they do so.
The story, which sees Boomerang, Manta, and Deadshot going undercover with a splinter group of the League of Assassins, sets up some good ideas but ultimately fails in execution for the most part. Each character has a little arc to go through in the five issues, but they don't really reach any kind of conclusion as they do so. Black Manta's backpedals, Harley is basically blink and you miss it, and poor Reverse Flash ends up...well, let's just say in no position to talk about any changes he goes through.
At least the book is trying. I mentioned in volume 1 how DC could probably through shit at the page and this book would still sell like hotcakes as long as Harley was in it, but they seem to at least be trying to make it worth reading while they do so.
July 24, 2016
As I mentioned in my review of Volume 1 , this volume of New Suicide Squad was very well-written. Sean Ryan did a great job of using the team's mission as the stimulus for delving further into their characters and motivations. Villains are interesting to learn more about because they are rarely given more purpose than to present the superhero with a challenge to overcome. They are who they are because they're psychopathic, right? Maybe not. The development here introduces the potential for a greater purpose for these villains. Are the members of the Suicide Squad more than what they seem?
September 3, 2016
The Suicide Squad (this time Black Manta, Harley Quinn, Deadshot, Boomerang and Parasite) are sent to infiltrate a cult that is acquiring super villain weaponry in order to forward its terrorist agenda.
Good storyline with quite the ending, and the art is nice as well. There's some deeper character development going on too.
Overall a good volume.
Good storyline with quite the ending, and the art is nice as well. There's some deeper character development going on too.
Overall a good volume.
September 28, 2016
I thought this comic was great because this story is unique from others because this villains are the hero's and its not what you would expect from criminals.
February 15, 2021
Pierwszy nowy SS nie dostarczył mi takiej zabawy jakiej oczekiwał, powodując u mnie wręcz napad ziewania. Podchodząc zatem do drugiego tomu nowej serii w ramach DC You (tudzież nadal New 52) nie miałem żadnych oczekiwań. Tym lepiej dla 'Potworów', bowiem omawiany zbiór jest o niebo przyjemniejszy niż jego poprzednik. A przynajmniej nie udziwnia i jedzie na utartym schemacie, ale w ciekawej otoczce.
Nastąpił rozłam w Lidze Cieni i wyłoniła się całkiem nowa 'sekta', która jednocześnie się bardziej zradykalizowała. Na tyle mocno, iż Amanda Waller musi wysłać pod przykrywką kilku swoich speców od brudnej roboty, aby określili jaką bronią ci źli są w stanie zagrozić światu. Nie jest to zadanie łatwe, a jednocześnie jeden jegomość bruździ w interesach Waller, a ta nie za bardzo ma jak coś z tym zrobić, co w przyszłości z pewnością zagrozi istnieniu Suicide Squadu.
Niemniej wybrana szósta, czyli standardowo Deadshot, Harley Queen czy Bumerang zostaną wsparci przez nowego, świeżego dowódcę Black Mantę, wczasowicza Reverse Flasha i nowicjusza Parasite'a. Ktoś z nich straci życie, jak to zwykle bywa w serii, aczkolwiek sądzę, że można było się tutaj bardziej postarać, bo Ryan nie odważył się na ukatrupienie żadnego stałego bywalca ekipy. Może w dalszych tomach coś takiego nastąpi, bowiem nieubłaganie zbliża się Rebirth, czyli taki soft-relaunch serii, więc aż się prosi, aby tutaj pojechać po bandzie. Zobaczymy.
Tym czasem Czarna Manta da się zindoktrynować, co akurat uważam za głupszy element tej historii. Na plus jak zwykle Harley plus... Reverse Flash. Ich dywagacje na temat tego, czy z potworów jakimi są da się jeszcze coś zrobić i odbić w inną stronę dały nam zresztą znamienny podtytuł komiksu. Czy mimo przyczepionej łatki złego, da się wyjść na prostą. Hm, o to można zapytać łotrów z Central City czy Lexa Luthora.
Niemniej jest tu tona wartkiej akcji i niezłe bęcki jakie dostają, ale i dają nasi anty-bohaterowi. Na plus zaliczył bym jeszcze interakcje pomiędzy poszczególnymi osobnikami grupy, jak Parasite i Harley. Nieco humorystyczne elementy, jak się okazuje potrzebne tu bardzo, bo cała historia ma zaskakująco ponury wydźwięk.
Co do kreski. Philippe Briones potrafi ładnie rysować, dając nam solidny zbiór obrazków, który miejscami bywają krwawe i makabryczne. Liczba kości na stronach rośnie, ale mi to nie przeszkadzało, bo jednak SS to zespół od brudnej, mokrej roboty, której nie podjąłby się żaden inny zespół. To w końcu zwyrodnialcy, mordercy, psychopaci i tak ma być.
Drugi tom to zdecydowanie krok w lepszą stronę i być może bardziej zasługuje na 3.5, ale wszelkie zmiany trzeba nagradzać na plus. Niech tylko Pan Ryan poprowadzi szefową grupy nieco ciekawiej, a będzie zaiste świetnie, bo wątek Waller był tylko średnio interesującym zapychaczem. Niemniej warto nabyć 'Potwory', bo dają sporo prostego zacieszu.
Nastąpił rozłam w Lidze Cieni i wyłoniła się całkiem nowa 'sekta', która jednocześnie się bardziej zradykalizowała. Na tyle mocno, iż Amanda Waller musi wysłać pod przykrywką kilku swoich speców od brudnej roboty, aby określili jaką bronią ci źli są w stanie zagrozić światu. Nie jest to zadanie łatwe, a jednocześnie jeden jegomość bruździ w interesach Waller, a ta nie za bardzo ma jak coś z tym zrobić, co w przyszłości z pewnością zagrozi istnieniu Suicide Squadu.
Niemniej wybrana szósta, czyli standardowo Deadshot, Harley Queen czy Bumerang zostaną wsparci przez nowego, świeżego dowódcę Black Mantę, wczasowicza Reverse Flasha i nowicjusza Parasite'a. Ktoś z nich straci życie, jak to zwykle bywa w serii, aczkolwiek sądzę, że można było się tutaj bardziej postarać, bo Ryan nie odważył się na ukatrupienie żadnego stałego bywalca ekipy. Może w dalszych tomach coś takiego nastąpi, bowiem nieubłaganie zbliża się Rebirth, czyli taki soft-relaunch serii, więc aż się prosi, aby tutaj pojechać po bandzie. Zobaczymy.
Tym czasem Czarna Manta da się zindoktrynować, co akurat uważam za głupszy element tej historii. Na plus jak zwykle Harley plus... Reverse Flash. Ich dywagacje na temat tego, czy z potworów jakimi są da się jeszcze coś zrobić i odbić w inną stronę dały nam zresztą znamienny podtytuł komiksu. Czy mimo przyczepionej łatki złego, da się wyjść na prostą. Hm, o to można zapytać łotrów z Central City czy Lexa Luthora.
Niemniej jest tu tona wartkiej akcji i niezłe bęcki jakie dostają, ale i dają nasi anty-bohaterowi. Na plus zaliczył bym jeszcze interakcje pomiędzy poszczególnymi osobnikami grupy, jak Parasite i Harley. Nieco humorystyczne elementy, jak się okazuje potrzebne tu bardzo, bo cała historia ma zaskakująco ponury wydźwięk.
Co do kreski. Philippe Briones potrafi ładnie rysować, dając nam solidny zbiór obrazków, który miejscami bywają krwawe i makabryczne. Liczba kości na stronach rośnie, ale mi to nie przeszkadzało, bo jednak SS to zespół od brudnej, mokrej roboty, której nie podjąłby się żaden inny zespół. To w końcu zwyrodnialcy, mordercy, psychopaci i tak ma być.
Drugi tom to zdecydowanie krok w lepszą stronę i być może bardziej zasługuje na 3.5, ale wszelkie zmiany trzeba nagradzać na plus. Niech tylko Pan Ryan poprowadzi szefową grupy nieco ciekawiej, a będzie zaiste świetnie, bo wątek Waller był tylko średnio interesującym zapychaczem. Niemniej warto nabyć 'Potwory', bo dają sporo prostego zacieszu.
June 30, 2023
Straightforward mission narrative not bogged down by EVENTS or cross-overs, which is an insanely low bar, but that's where modern capeshit books are at, I suppose. Kind of a disconnect seeing Harley treated as a "serious" character after the (correct) comedy take in Conner and Palmiotti's book running concurrently with this, but at least Ryan treats her as a fundamentally okay person rather than an edgy psycho.
Not sure if I'd ever actually read anything with Reverse Flash in it, but I was always under the impression he was a super psychopath -- he's pretty much a Peter Parker level nice guy in this?
The League of Assassins spin-off baddies are pretty boring but at least their motivations were clear and their treatment of the children was a dramatically sound way to avoid the MCU style "these guys have a point...." trap. I liked them dismissing Harley as useless, segueing into her entertaining the children.
Not sure if I'd ever heard of Deadshot's daughter who doesn't approve of his lifestyle before this? I'm guessing they wanted some movie synergy. He doesn't exactly look like Will Smith, so I'm not sure people will latch onto that!
Parasite looked like Resident Evil's Nemesis but purple. Cool.
Not sure if I'd ever actually read anything with Reverse Flash in it, but I was always under the impression he was a super psychopath -- he's pretty much a Peter Parker level nice guy in this?
The League of Assassins spin-off baddies are pretty boring but at least their motivations were clear and their treatment of the children was a dramatically sound way to avoid the MCU style "these guys have a point...." trap. I liked them dismissing Harley as useless, segueing into her entertaining the children.
Not sure if I'd ever heard of Deadshot's daughter who doesn't approve of his lifestyle before this? I'm guessing they wanted some movie synergy. He doesn't exactly look like Will Smith, so I'm not sure people will latch onto that!
Parasite looked like Resident Evil's Nemesis but purple. Cool.
April 4, 2018
The League of Assassins split, the new League now kills people in broad daylight and they are getting their hands on some special weapons. It's up to Amanda Waller's special black op team Suicide Squad to stop them (temporarily). A few roster changes including the addition of Parasite and Reverse Flash, plus the return of Captain Boomerang.
This volume is dark, not in the same graphic way from New 52 but in a more subtle way when we are exploring the dynamics of our anti-heroes. Not sure about how the annual would count as an annual when it actually was a conclusion to the arc...
Vic Sage a.k.a. the question's role as a bad guy is still quite confusing, I hope they will explain this soon.
This volume is dark, not in the same graphic way from New 52 but in a more subtle way when we are exploring the dynamics of our anti-heroes. Not sure about how the annual would count as an annual when it actually was a conclusion to the arc...
Vic Sage a.k.a. the question's role as a bad guy is still quite confusing, I hope they will explain this soon.
May 15, 2017
The stakes are raised in this one. So far, I have liked this arc better than any other. It has all the action and all the psychological games Waller and Vic play, as well as the inner psychology of all the Squad members.
Harley starts to see the truth- she does not have to be how she is.
Vic makes his big move, whatever it is geared to.
Manta shows what he really wants- and fails at it again.
Deadshot becomes a clown- meh not a fan of this side of hm.
Boomerang causes issues. As always.
Reverse Flash was becoming a favorite, but as with Joker's Daughter, away he goes.
Parasite was interesting, I look forward to see what they do with him.
Harley starts to see the truth- she does not have to be how she is.
Vic makes his big move, whatever it is geared to.
Manta shows what he really wants- and fails at it again.
Deadshot becomes a clown- meh not a fan of this side of hm.
Boomerang causes issues. As always.
Reverse Flash was becoming a favorite, but as with Joker's Daughter, away he goes.
Parasite was interesting, I look forward to see what they do with him.
August 25, 2019
So who thinks it's a good idea to use convicted criminals to go undercover in a criminal cult? It seems like a bad idea from the start, and of course things go horribly awry (although they do manage to right themselves). There's some good action, and Manta gets to be center stage for much of the plot (with Boomerang and Deadshot being the secondary characters, and everyone else relegated to a B-plot). There's also a fair bit of politicking between Vic Sage and Waller that ends up feeling like page-filler. At least the art is strong throughout. It's not the strongest volume, but it's not terrible either.
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