Waller’s quest for information puts her squarely in some supernatural sights.
Creative Staff:
Story: Jeff Parker
Art: Matthew Dow Smith
Colors: Tony Avina
Letterer: Deron Bennett
What They Say:
Amanda Waller has her “Get Out of Hell Free” card, but why did she go to such lengths to acquire it?
Content: (please note that content portions of a review may contain spoilers):
When DC Comics brings out a new digital-first series I find myself to be very curious about it. One of the big appeals about them for me is that it often stands alone, not connected to the mainstream books, which means it doesn’t require a lot to follow. I tend to prefer their fringe books so this works well for me. With the launch of this series, which is continuing on adventures of the group as presented in the animated movie, my interest was extra piqued with Jeff Parker writing it and then seeing Matthew Dow Smith handling the art duties with Tony Avina’s coloring. I’ve liked what Parker has done in the last few years that I’ve read and Dow Smith captured some of my attention with the Justice League: Gods and Monsters work previously. That said, I still haven’t seen the animated movie for this but you can jump in easily enough without it – which is a very good thing.
While the Suicide Squad is what it is, and it’s always fun with the cast of characters that get assembled over time, the cold dark heart of the Squad is Amanda Waller. It’s her intent and desire given physical form that she uses to achieve her goals. So focusing on her for a lot of this is appealing as she’s trying to figure out the importance of a “Get out of Hell Free” card that she has. And one of the best people to inquire about it is Jason Blood, who gives her some background on it (and the fact that it’s been redeemed already). Blood has always been a favorite of mine and I love Parker’s version of him here where he’s weary but not anxious or as often is the case with other writers, almost frightened of everything. His long life is problematic to be sure but there’s an ease here that I really like, especially as he’s working with Madame Xanadu here.
Xanadu is able to bring more to what Waller’s really dealing with to the forefront, providing an interesting way to recap some of the recent things the Squad has dealt with. Waller’s good at getting information and Xanadu unnerves her because she can get information from her as well – and unnerve her simply by performing her spells naked. The back and forth between all three is strong and the setup is just spot on here as Waller is looking to figure out who it is that may be “haunting” her in a way, making for some great light references from Blood. Bringing the Spectre into it is right up my alley as that character has had some great miniseries and short-run series before so I’m definitely curious to see how he’ll factor into events here. Dow Smith’s almost dreamlike approach to having Xanadu tell his tale which then shifts into her bonding with Blood for the spell is just delightful. Waller’s not easy to throw off, and she’s really not here, but making her uncomfortable is always a rare and welcome sight.
In Summary:
While a Suicide Squad book without the Squad in it for the first issue might seem like an odd choice to say the least, it works for me because I’ve always viewed Waller as the core of it, the piece that’s (almost) always there and in control of it. Focusing on her trying to discern some information from people she despises being involved with gives us a good look at what she knows and doesn’t know and sets the stage for something problematic coming in her future. Parker keeps things moving along well with a dialogue-focused work with no action to be had here and I absolutely love how he brings Jason Blood and Madame Xanadu to life. The same can be said of Matthew Dow Smith who infuses Xanadu with an otherworldly feeling and gives Blood a weariness that’s earned and authentic as we move about the room and engage back and forth amongst the three here. It’s a solid opener for me that may not click for many others without the action Squad elements here, but I’m excited to see what comes next.
Grade: B+
Age Rating: 13+
Released By: DC Comics via ComiXology
Release Date: March 21st, 2018
MSRP: $0.99
