Wednesday, March 28, 2018

Suicide Squad #38 Review and **SPOILERS**


The Gall of that Wall

Writer: Rob Williams 
Artist: Tom Derenick 
Colors: Ulises Arreola 
Letters: Pat Brosseau 
Cover: Jorge Jimenez and Alejandro Sanchez 
Cover Price: $2.99
On Sale Date: March 28, 2018

**NON SPOILERS AND SCORE AT THE BOTTOM**

It’s that Squad that can’t stop going on suicidal missions! Primarily because they are forced to do so by way of remote-controlled bombs lodged in their skulls. Though these bombs have really been neutered recently…more like pinging annoyances than explosive devices, these days. Basically like having a cell phone in your head. Let’s check out my review of Suicide Squad #38, which is right here!


Explain It!

There are some real problems with forcing criminals to perform covert operations for the government. For one thing, it’s illegal, but in the shadowy work of secret agents and CIA-led coups that’s a minor hurdle. For another thing, it’s unethical, but that never stopped anyone from doing whatever they want. The thing that would really preclude such an operation is that it is very expensive, particularly when you’re dropping members of Task Force X in via military helicopter and outfitting them with laser weapons. And then, if things go tits up, the government is screwed because they’re caught out there using criminals for political actions. It’s not like they could claim plausible deniability, what the hell would Killer Croc be doing in Upper Bulgaria, if not to destabilize some warlord or organized crime figure?
This is why The Wall, a super-soldier vetted by the military that can fly around and fire shoulder-mounted missiles in full view of the world, makes more sense. No skulking around, no dalliances with unsavory characters, and lawmakers can see the results of the funds they’ve earmarked for defense. Unfortunately for Amanda Waller, this makes the Suicide Squad useless, so Belle Reve is shut down while she is elsewhere. Since Hack killed everyone in the prison except for the Suicide Squad last issue, it doesn’t take very long, which only makes Amanda Waller more furious. There’s no love lost between her and Task Force X—Deadshot reminds her (and the reader) that she blew them all up two issues ago, and there’s going to be retribution for that.
For now, let’s bask in the greatness of The Wall, a bit of a hotshot but nothing that the venerable Rick Flag can’t handle. He can also assume control of The Wall’s armored flying suit whenever he likes. Except for when he can’t. Then, The Wall flies straight to the Pentagon and downloads all of their secret, electronic information. And then somehow, using that info and the cellular phones of people in the immediate area, he assumes control of their frontal cortices and…this is starting to sound like an issue of Batgirl! There’s only one team of people that can stop The Wall: the Justice League! But they’re busy, so Rick Flag digs the Suicide Squad from the squalid hellhole they’ve been cast into, for one last mission. And then probably like a dozen missions after that.
One strange thing was seeing Captain Boomerang here—I could swear Hack held him back when she reinstated the Squad from their digital backups last issue. I was also confused by Killer Croc and June Moon’s relationship: she seems hung up on him, but Faraday says that Croc is still woozy from having been burnt to a crisp by Red Wave several issues back. So that was weird. The other thing was that Amanda Waller stood on some lonely plateau for like three issues, while a lot of important stuff happened—one would think she’d want to get right back to work, considering her ethic. Otherwise, it’s an okay story, fairly well-told and nicely rendered. It’s not anything to get wildly enthusiastic over, but I would like to see what happens with The Wall, so that’s a good sign.

Bits and Pieces:

It's all about The Wall now, and that is to the peril of our national security! Though having criminals handle black ops for the government probably wasn't too safety-minded, either. This is a passable story that is interesting enough to grab you for another issue. Whether we face delight or regret remains to be seen. 

6.5/10

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