Suicide Squad Most Wanted: Katana

Suicide Squad Most Wanted #2

by Mike W. Barr (Writer), Diogenes Neves (Illustrator), Ruy Jose (Illustrator)

THE ONLY THING DEADLIER THAN THE BLADE…IS THE WOMAN WHO WIELDS IT

For the assassin named Katana, this was supposed to be just another mission. She doesn’t know why the island of Markovia has been invaded by the fascist death cult called Kobra, and she doesn’t care. She simply knows that as a member of the Suicide Squad, it’s her job to stop them by any means necessary and get out in one piece.

Only one thing is certain: Katana must cut her way through the evil to the terrible truth behind her mission, or the whole world will be endangered—and her Suicide Squad puppet masters will be more than happy to let her fall on her sword…

One of the stars of this year’s highly anticipated action blockbuster gets her own turn in the spotlight in SUICIDE SQUAD MOST WANTED: KATANA, by her co-creator Mike W. Barr and artist Diogenes Neves—a razor-sharp thriller that will slice right through you!

Collects: stories from Suicide Squad Most Wanted #1-6.

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Dc Comics, Superheroes, Fantasy, Adventure, Comic Book

128 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 20, 2016

About the author

Mike W. Barr is an American writer of comic books, and mystery, and science fiction novels. Barr's debut as a comics professional came in DC Comics' Detective Comics #444 (Dec. 1974-Jan. 1975), for which he wrote an 8-page back-up mystery feature starring the Elongated Man. Another Elongated Man story followed in Detective Comics #453 (November 1975). He wrote text articles and editorial replies in letter columns for the next few years. By mid-1980 he was writing regularly for both DC and Marvel, including stories for Marvel Team-Up, Mystery in Space, Green Lantern, and various Batman titles.

Legion of Super-Heroes #277 (July 1981) saw him take on editorial duties at DC, while writing issues of DC's Star Trek comic, for whom he created the native American character Ensign Bearclaw and a pacifist Klingon named Konom. In December 1982, he and artist Brian Bolland began Camelot 3000, a 12 issue limited series that was one of DC Comics' first direct market projects. In August 1983, Barr created what may well be his most enduring work, the monthly title Batman and the Outsiders with art by Jim Aparo. Barr wrote every issue of the original series, and its Baxter paper spinoff, The Outsiders.

His other comics work includes Mantra and Maze Agency as well as the 1987 OGN hardcover book Batman: Son of the Demon (with art by Jerry Bingham), proceeds from which reputedly "restored DC Comics to first place in sales after fifteen years." This title, and Barr's work on Batman with artist Alan Davis have been cited by Grant Morrison as key inspirations for his recent (2006) run on the Batman title.

In 2007, he wrote a two-part story for the pages of DC's JLA: Classified (#47-48, Jan-Feb 2008), returned to the Outsiders with Outsiders: Five of a Kind—Katana/Shazam #1 (Oct 2007), contributed to Tokyopop's Star Trek: The Manga, and relaunched Maze Agency at IDW Publishing. He has also scripted many of Bongo Comics' Simpsons titles, including a Christmas story for 2010.

In May 2010, the Invisible College Press published Barr's science fiction/fantasy novel, Majician/51, about the discoveries of a scientist working at Area 51.

Reviews

[Jayson · Rating 2 out of 5]

(B) 72% | More than Satisfactory
Notes: At start, a decent solo quest, and art's appealing; the rest is messed once allies guest: annoying and too dated-feeling.

[Anne · Rating 1 out of 5]

Bad. Just so bad.
There was honestly nothing about this that I would recommend to anyone.
The dialogue was grating, cliche, and super clunky. I mean, just...wow.
Have you ever seen little kids playing with action figures, and then listen to them make them talk?
Yeah. Well, this comic sounded like that.
Don't believe me? Here's an actual conversation:

"Fight Blackadders! Or this blade will taste your blood!
Excuse me...Or do not! Either way that blade is mine!
Akkkk!
Touch that sword again and die! Actually, you will die anyway!"

Oh. My. F-ing. God.



Ok, here's another perfect example of the horrible:
Katana and friends find themselves regrouping & hiding out in a secret bunker/cave. So. What does Katana do? She decides that now is the perfect time to rid herself of her pesky armored outfit...



And slip into a belly shirt and jacket that allows her to "move". OH! OH! But that's not all! She also finds the time to hand stitch her initials onto her new pants.
As you do before you go into a fight for your life...



Don't get me wrong, the new outfit isn't bad! It was just such a stupid premise for a costume change.
Stomach exposed, or armor plating all over? Hmmmm?
So hard to decide!



This is a prime example of DC milking the Suicide Squad cash cow without caring about the quality of the writing or story. And while I would recommend Suicide Squad Most Wanted Deadshot, I would urge anyone looking for more information on Katana to stay faaaaar away from this stinking turd pile.
It's neither an origin story nor a good story. Save your $$$!

[Chad · Rating 1 out of 5]

The Good: Mike W. Barr created Katana, Halo, and Geoforce (Prince Brion) as part of the Outsiders back in the 80's.

The Bad: Unfortunately, this isn't the Outsiders or the 80's. This is utter schlock. Terrible dialogue, awful story, I'm surprised we didn't hear any maniacal laughter out of Kobra.

The Ugly: Pretty much everything about this book is ugly. So, so bad

[Brent · Rating 3 out of 5]

This collected edition is dedicated to the memory of artist and co-creator Jim Aparo, and !@#$ if it didn't make me miss his work. This fine artist has a pleasing style, different and more superheroic than Aparo's almost Milton Caniff-inspired illustrations. Characters familiar from (1980s-90s) Batman & the Outsiders reappear here, reintroduced in new DC continuity. I will say Halo is more interesting, less dour, than her original version. Covers by Cary Nord are great. I have missed scripts by Mike Barr, but this just makes me want to see him settle in for a long run. As a mini-series, this is suitable, just better for new readers for old, and that's ok, too.

[Elisa H · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was my first Katana comic I do not know much about her besides that she looked badass in the suicide squad trailer. The story was just ok to me, although I did like Katana's character (she IS badass) I like the part with Anna and the cat.

[Kenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

Katana is on a rescue mission to Markovia without the Suicde Squad and a former team mate appears.

[Quentin Wallace · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought this started out okay but then went off the rails. The story tried to maintain the DC continuity where Katana wasn't really a member of the Suicide Squad, but here she does team up with them. Mike W. Barr wrote this, and he also created Katana and the Outsiders that used to hang with Batman. As such, we get some of the Outsiders showing up as this is a new origin story for Halo.

I thought the art was okay but it did get confusing at times. And the story, as I said earlier, it started out okay but then got really weird by the end.

[Danielle The Book Huntress · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not what I was expecting. I was excited that my library had this book. I'm intrigued by Katana as a character, her interesting backstory. I think she was underused in the Suicide Squad movie. So, I jumped into this book headfirst. Katana is on a side mission to extract a scientist from a wartorn region and ends up in the middle of a civil war, and of all things, protecting innocents who can't fight for themselves.

It was interesting, and it was cool to see Katana as the main character, but I think I would have preferred a book about her backstory. If one doesn't know her history, one wouldn't get why she's so disconnected emotionally. There is a brief flashback about the importance of sword to her history, but that's all.

I checked on Wikipedia and she shows up a lot in the Outsiders. I wanted to read that anyway. Looking forward to more about Katana. I mean, she's a dangerous woman with a sword, I'm easy like that.

[Katie Greenwood · Rating 2 out of 5]

**Actual review 2.5**
Gonna take a moment to talk about the DC Cinematic Universe and MCU here. Marvel have yet to put together an anti-hero group but considering how cohesive they've made their universe I feel like there's only a slim chance that it'll flop. DC however created Suicide Squad and introduced characters that haven't previously had their own films (focusing on the cinema first). The Joker and Harley Quinn are the most famous out of the group and even then I can't recall Harley featuring in a film in recent years. As much as I loved Suicide Squad (for the plotless chaos it was) the vast majority of it was backstory, we found out bits about each member and then arguably one of the most interesting (Katana) we were told hardly anything about. She just spoke to her sword and threatened people... Similar thing has happened with Justice League. We've had multiple incarnations of Batman and recently Wonder Woman (which was incredible and I sobbed) and also the Flash TV show but we know nothing of Aquaman and Cyborg...HE'S A TEEN TITAN.

For this reason I really wanted to know more about Katana from the little description we got I was immediately hooked by her character and when I saw this graphic novel I thought it would be exactly what I wanted. A look at how she got to where she is. It's not. It follows her on a journey to a place called Markovia to complete a mission of some kind. As much as I love anything superhero/anti-hero this fell a little flat for me. I can't really remember anything about the graphic novel which is never a good sign and I don't feel as though it furthered her character.

I remember enjoying what I read but it wasn't anything mindblowing. The art was pretty and I liked the colour palette but everything else was a little meh. With, from what I remember a very odd plot.

[Katie Harder-schauer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book through the Goodreads First to Read program in the hopes that I would leave an honest review.

So I don't read a lot of graphic novels, I've mentioned that before, because I find they just don't really appeal to me all that much, but sometimes I win them, and when I win them, I feel like I should read them (especially since they are much faster to read than novels.) I was really hoping this book would be an exception for me because I really enjoyed Suicide Squad, but I just did not really enjoy this graphic novel.

The illustrations were good, I guess. Because of my lack of experience with graphic novels, I don't have much to compare them to however. I didn't find myself having issues following the illustration panes, so that's a positive for me. Being able to follow the storyline was definitely a bonus, but it didn't help much.

Read the rest of my review on my blog. --> http://justanothergirlandherbooks.blo...

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting, but the Aurakle stuff was unnecesarily confusing.

[Carl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed this novel.....

[Jared · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well drawn and a solid superhero story. It was interesting how it combines the character's past with the Batman & the Outsiders and her current look and affiliations with the Suicide Squad. Only cons I'd give us that some of the writing/dialogue was a little trite (I'm sorry, Barr, but "My name is that of my blade -- Katana!" gets super annoying when it's said half a dozen times) and the climax got a little too out there and sloppy.

Overall, not the best thing ever, but if someone is looking for more content with Katana, this is not a bad way to go.

[Sylvester · Rating 1 out of 5]

Katana's portion is really painful to read. There's literally no explanation to why Waller wants to steal Soultaker from Katana, the threat and climax made no sense. Katana's narration also fell flat. The squad was extra numerous this time just for stealing Katana's sword? The ending also failed miserably, it's extremely disappointing.

[Alexander · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good story of one awesome samurai warrior! I’ve always had an interest in finding out more about Katana, and this story did not disappoint! She’s got lots of character and an intriguing back story! Throw in the Suicide Squad for some team-up adventures and you’ve got the makings of a fast action monarchy saving shenanigans! Definitely not the best story I’ve ever read, but it was fun!

[alejandro galvez · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kind of boring.

Nothing that cool happened. I do love the character of Katana a lot but this book didn't do her justice. She is very interesting but this book kind of dumbed down her features.

[PJ Ebbrell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Loved the artwork, but struggled with the story. The Poul Anderson/Michael Moorcock's destructive sword needs a bit more work to give it an original twist.

[B Molles · Rating 3 out of 5]

Loved the art to pieces. And if you're here for a good katana book -- you got it . It's everything else happening around katana that's kind of lackluster and forgettable.

[George Fowles · Rating 1 out of 5]

The story is so weak that I could not sit through it, and the character designs are ick

[Ronald Esporlas · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story is weak. The pacing is fast. There is no character moments. The art is great.

[Jay · Rating 3 out of 5]

Katana goes to the country of Markovia to find a woman who may help her uncover more of the secrets of the Soultaker, a Katana blade that captures the souls of those it kills. But even as Katana arrives, Markovia is in the middle of an invasion by Kobra and his forces - and their intent is to capture the same woman Katana came to meet.

This is really a pretty unabashed attempt to cash in on the fact that Katana is in the Suicide Squad movie. This seems to be the first time she meets the Squad, and while they work in parallel to take out Kobra, they're not true allies and don't even leave the story together. In fact, neither of them actually accomplish what they set out for.

This is a thinly-veiled attempt by Mike Barr to bring his characters from the 80s series Batman and the Outsiders into current continuity. Halo is basically recreated in the story and attached to Katana, and while Prince Brion Markov doesn't exhibit any powers, he was originally part of that team as well. I'm not sure these characters have appeared again recently, but neither has Katana!

I think the story was a little too long - particularly the first few chapters. It was decent, but not overwhelmingly amazing. I think it would have been more enjoyable at about four chapters. Kobra got kind of annoying and repetitive, as did his snake-babe, Eve. They're one note villains at best anyway, but to deal with them over six chapters was just a little much.

Not bad, especially if you're a fan of the old Outsiders team, but there's not a lot of Suicide Squad to enjoy.

[Sassafras · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great artwork and story keep the reader's attention. It was awesome to see a host of other DC heroines aka villains: Harley Quinn, Enchantress, Battle Axe, Halo, etc.

[Daniel Butcher · Rating 2 out of 5]

Okay action beat them up story.

My issues are with the idea that is slipped in that Katana, a very Japanese character in current form, is thinking and speaking to her dead husband in English. It's a subtle thing that "doesn't fit".

[Ch · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyed this a bit more than the first one, this has more depth and action, here's to hoping it'd continue to improve at this rate to the the rest.

[Olivia Rose · Rating 3 out of 5]

I fell in love with Katana when reading the New 52 Birds of Prey run, so when she was announced for the Suicide Squad movie, I was delighted. This would mean more merchandise (since last summer I have purchased both her Pop! Figure and Moopez doll!) and maybe even a solo series. While I was disappointed with the movie, and her role in it, I was pleased with this book. While it was easy to grow tired of the phrase, “my name is that of my weapon, Katana,” the rest of the story was pleasurable enough. We got to see Tatsu in a more maternal light, not to the rest of the squad, but to a cat and a little girl named Anna. This book had much better characterization than the movie, with Tatsu staying cordial despite the heat of the situation, and hey, at least this book had a plot. She also breaks Captain Boomerang’s nose, so there’s a plus as well.