Wednesday, April 25, 2018

Suicide Squad #40 Review and **SPOILERS**


Amanda Punchenkick

Writer: Rob Williams 
Artist: Jack Herbert 
Colors: Hi-Fi 
Letters: Pat Brosseau 
Cover: David Yardin 
Cover Price: $2.99
On Sale Date: April 25, 2018

**NON SPOILERS AND SCORE AT THE BOTTOM**

Here is…the conclusion of this arc about “The Wall?” I think it must be. How much further can it go? We can find out together if you read my review of Suicide Squad #40, which commences below!


Explain It!

Family is a liability. Yes, they can be a source of strength, and inspiration, and with the support of a nice family, great things are possible. But also, families are liabilities. Feelings of responsibility and nurturing, combined with a healthy dose of guilt force people to accept and do things they would never have otherwise. Working a soul-numbing, dead-end job for thirty years is acceptable if it means you can send your kid to college. Going without new gadgetry is worth having the money available for your children’s after-school sports equipment. That’s on the micro scale. On the macro scale, people in power might choose their own children over the common good if given the choice. It’s why kidnapping works. And why I never trust any of them folks what’s got families.
Despite being estranged from hers, Amanda Waller still loves her family. Her kids treat her like shit and refuse to allow her into their lives—her youngest daughter didn’t even advise Amanda that she was going to be a grandmother!—but Amanda is a mom, and therefore her love is unconditional. Her anger is also unconditional, but that’s another thing entirely. Point is, Amanda Waller’s family is her weakness; get at them, and you’ll have struck Waller where it truly hurts. In her guilt bone.
Non-shocker of non-shockers, the augmented testosterone soldier known as The Wall was electronically hijacked by Hack, who then looked up Amanda Waller’s family so she could kill them. Or at least her daughter and grandchild. But when the moment arrives, after a steadying speech by Waller, Hack can’t do it, and she leaves the poor asshole who was in the The Wall suit physically and mentally destroyed. Hack also releases some secret government info, that we learn later was a red herring. At least the Suicide Squad is all intact! For crap’s sakes.
A tremendous amount of property damage, one soldier’s life shattered, tens of millions of research and development wasted, and Amanda Waller gets…a commendation from the President. Will she ever face any kind of retribution for being a grade-A bitch? Arguably, all of The Wall’s actions were not her fault—but just as arguably, they were. She’s the one that got Hack involved with the Suicide Squad and led to Hack being killed. She’s the one that placated the poor girl until she felt like everything had to come down. I don’t know why I’m going on about this because the issue was another story with no stakes or long-term ramifications. Rick Flag isn’t coming back to the Suicide Squad, but since most of the team stands around doing nothing in every issue, I don’t see that as being a big problem. This issue in particular, we could have done away with the Suicide Squad entirely and it wouldn’t have made a difference. This book is as boring as plain toast, and it needs a change. Soon.

Bits and Pieces:

The person behind The Wall freaking out and downloading Amanda Waller's contact info turns out to be just who you expected, and the denouement is less than satisfying. I think, however, that I'm going to apply to be a member of the Suicide Squad. Chances are you won't have to do anything but make fart jokes half the time.

4/10

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