This is the penultimate issue of Tom Taylor and Bruno Redondo’s Suicide Squad, and they don’t hold back from delivering some hard knocks!
The Story
Tom Taylor and Bruno Redondo have delivered an insanely entertaining run on Suicide Squad! It’s a run that has been action packed, shocking, engaging, and even heartfelt. With the introduction of The Revolutionaries, Taylor and Redondo were able to encompass the best aspects Suicide Squad… D-list characters that could die at any moment, and some A-list characters (or, at the very least, A-list for Suicide Squad) who we’ve come to love and associate with the team in recent years.
Unfortunately, despite how incredible this title is, DC decided to cut the run unceremoniously short due to the changes coming to the line overall. Tom Taylor has publicly stated that this is the story he intended to tell all along – and that may be the case – but I think we all know that he intended to tell this story in a longer issue count. But alas, this is what we have, and despite the abrupt rush to close various plot threads up, this is still quite the read.
Last month’s issue ended with Deadshot’s death. This would’ve been shocking had DC not spoiled it months in advance… But they did. There was still a part of me that thought Floyd wouldn’t actually be dead, but when it was announced the title would be ending, I knew they weren’t trying to pull the rug out from under us.
Anyway, this chapter picks up exactly where the last issue left off – Deadshot, who is already dead, and Ted Kord falling from the top floor of a high rise. The Aerie sees them and flies up to help save their life. In doing this, they realize that Floyd is dead, invigorating the team to take swift action against their enemy… Whoever that might be.
With the real Ted Kord now at their feet, they learn that it was never actually him that was behind all of this, but Black Mask. What is he up to and why? Well… I’m not completely sure we’re going to get an answer to that since this book is rushing to wrap up all of its loose ends. In fact, despite being the big bad, Black Mask feels more like a cameo than anything else, and it kind of hinders the book from having as much of an impact as it should. Also, this issue plays into the abilities he acquired during “Year of the Villain,” but doesn’t expressly notate that he gained his powers there… So, if you didn’t read that one-shot, now you know.
One of my favorite aspects of this issue is the humor. Taylor has done a great job at peppering characterization and humor into this book, and he does it again here. There are some great moments concerning Ted Kord being a billionaire, and an even better moment where Harley thinks Ted is Batman… To which he explains that a billionaire would never be Batman because that would be stupid. I’m sure some people dislike the humor, but I feel like the quips play well, especially considering that most of them involve Harley in some form or fashion.
As entertaining as this issue is though – because it is – the story is burdened by the need for Taylor and Redondo to rush. Every beat of the story happens so fast that it’s almost impossible to fully take it in. I mean, the Squad essentially takes out an entire army in about a page. The same thing happened in the previous issue as well. With so many different characters with different abilities, there’s no doubt in my mind that Taylor had originally intended more of a detailed altercation here.
But it isn’t just the action that’s rushed here, it’s the actual plot as well. The Squad basically travels from one nation to another in less than a page, with quick, precise exposition dumps to quickly push the reader along. As a reader and a fan, I can’t help but feel cheated. And, again, this isn’t to say that this issue is bad, it’s just clearly noticeable that you’re being short-changed.
Ultimately, the kill mission turns into a rescue mission, but their attempts might be futile. If Black Mask doesn’t take another Squad member’s life by the end of the issue, he might lead them to a situation where he kills everyone, including himself. I’m not going to give anything a way though, so you’ll just have to read the issue. And, seriously, if you haven’t read this run, you should. It’s well worth your time and money, and does an outstanding job in introducing new characters that actually deserve your attention. Next month’s issue will be this run’s curtain call, and I’m genuinely sad that we’re losing something this great.
The Art
As always, Bruno Redondo does an incredible job with his artwork! I’ve come to place him relatively high on my list of favorite artists, and that’s because the “acting” he’s able to portray is top notch. That being said, there aren’t really any moments for the story to breathe in this issue, and that translates to Redondo’s art as well. Still, he does an incredible job with what he has, and delivers in spades.
Recommended If
- The entire run will end up being 11 issues… It’s well worth your time.
Overall
Suicide Squad #10 had the odds stacked against it because of the title’s unceremonious cancelation, but despite that, Tom Taylor and Bruno Redondo still manage to deliver one hell of a fun read! There’s action, laughs, and even some twists. All this issue really does is serve as a reminder of how much it sucks that we’re losing a great title that had endless potential.
SCORE: 8/10
