Review of Suicide Squad: The Secret History of Task Force X

Suicide Squad, Volume 6: The Secret History of Task Force X by Rob Williams

My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Is it an eventual plot reality for comics to head into space? Even if the cast of characters don’t possess enhanced abilities from distant planets? If you’ve already introduced antagonists from alternate dimensions, it isn’t that far-fetched to decide the need for a space adventure. But, honestly, Mr. Williams, this was a stretch – even for the Suicide Squad.

I accept the notion of a previous team (though imagining someone else with Amanda Waller’s ruthless personality is doubtful. No one’s proven a match for her through multiple story arcs). Although the presence of otherwordly invaders the Justice League tackles suggests they weren’t very adept at their self-appointed position of protection. (And why does every writer use the moon for nefarious purposes?) It’s the tired concept of a universe-possessing monster that a handful of people narrowly managed to contain that I grow weary of.

Not to mention the whole brain-sapping virus idea.

The Red Wave (I’m not going to touch the absurdity of names here) could have easily stayed locked away. All Task Force X needed to do was fly the “heart” into the sun. Problem solved. Instead, we need a dragged-out battle (one of the better sequences I’ve read, I’ll grant the creative team that one) that renders all of the progress made by the characters over the previous volumes moot? To what purpose? To confirm in the eyes of some DC executives that these are “bad guys?”

Not what I expected in the slightest. I’m genuinely disappointed.

Antiheroes – even villains – deserve so much better.

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