Wednesday, February 6, 2019

Suicide Squad Black Files #4 Review and **SPOILERS**


The Suicide Squad is Inept. Call in the Suicide Squad.

Writers: Mike W. Barr, Jai Nitz
Artists: Philippe Briones, Scott Eaton
Inks: Wayne Faucher
Colorists: Gabe Eltaeb, Guy Major
Letterer: Dave Sharpe
Cover Artist: Will Conrad with Ivan Nunes
Group Editor: Jim Chadwick
Editor: Harvey Richards
Cover Price: $4.99
On Sale Date: February 6, 2019

**NON SPOILERS AND SCORE AT THE BOTTOM**

I must admit, as this weird mini/maxi-series has gone along, I’ve anticipated each issue more and more. Not always for the most altruistic of reasons, though. I cannot wait to get back inside that Soultaker and see what they’re paying for gas. You can check it out by reading my review of Suicide Squad Black Files #4, right here!


Explain It!

Alright, my comp starts with the Katana-based story, so we’ll start there: having emerged into corporeality in the body of Eve, the high priestess of Kobra or whatever, she has to face off with herself…Eve’s spirit being in Katana’s body, of course. You think the two of them are really gonna scrap, but they talk a lot of crap to each other before Katana scurries off to convince the Suicide Squad that she’s herself, in Eve’s body. Before making it back to the Squad, Katana does find Halo, all trussed up in some locker, but Halo lashes out because she recognizes only Eve, not Katana…it works much better when read, trust me. Especially since Eve, in Katana’s body, is still wearing Katana’s costume. Why? She could wear whatever she likes, but she’s still dressed like a 1980s club kid. Her boyfriend, the head of Kobra, probes Eve’s memories to find out Katana’s secrets—and in doing so, makes Eve sympathize for her. But no matter, because now Kobra has what it needs to infiltrate Belle Reve!
In the second story, Amanda Waller is brought before some kind of secret governmental committee to explain why she lost all of Suicide Squad Dark when they tussled with Sebastian Faust in Gemworld. So Waller sends the regular Suicide Squad to go get Sebastian Faust for good, but in the process he tricks them into getting all the Macguffins he needs to end magic. The Suicide Squad are also able to find the members of Suicide Squad Dark, who were thought to be suffocating in a cave but turned out to be okay. Which begs the question: how can you suffocate Gentleman Ghost, anyway? So now, it’s Suicide Squad vs. Suicide Squad Dark, the former being possessed by Sebastian Faust.
Look: these are not the greatest comic books. Why Sebastian needed several elements collected when it all happened in a single issue is one mystery. Why Eve and Katana are wearing the same uniforms as the bodies they’ve possessed is another. The storytelling is straightforward, even if the stories themselves are a little bonkers, and if you were looking for a relatively cheap thing for a kid that likes to read, this could be it. I’m just saying. It’s not great, but not horrible. And at four bucks a pop…it is still the best value on the comic book stands today! ‘Nuff said!


Bits and Pieces:

On one hand, you've got Katana running around in Eve's body, and still wearing her Kobra uniform. On the other hand, you've got brain bombs being defused by magic. Split the difference, you've got a couple of weird but inoffensive comics that would probably appeal to a young kid. For four bucks, not a bad investment!

6/10

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