Suicide Squad

   Spiraling out of the events of Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice, Central Intelligence adviser Amanda Waller seeks approval from the Department of Defense to held up a special group of meta-humans called Task Force X. Unofficially known as the Suicide Squad, Task Force X is made up of the worst of the worst villains and top notch commandos the DC Universe has to offer and it's their mission to do the tasks that the American government can't do without serious repercussions. 

     When a supernatural threat begins to lay waste to Midway City, the Suicide Squad are activated and must learn to work as a group or they'll die in a bloodbath of Biblical proportions. Meanwhile, the villainous Joker, upset over losing his girlfriend Harley Quinn to the prison system, works in the background to steal her back in the midst of the Suicide Squad's deadly mission. 

     I don't know what Rotten Tomatoes was thinking- this movie wasn't bad. I went to see it with my wife and she even liked it and she has very little background knowledge of most of the characters. Plus, she said it kept her attention and she would recommend it for people to go and see. For a violent movie such as this, that's high praise from a non-comics reader.

     The film has been slammed for being chaotic. But, there's a ton of back story to go through and spending the first 15-minutes trying to provide dossiers on the members is vital background information that needs to be presented for both the causal viewer like my wife and expert collectors such as me. Now, the opening credits, as well as the closing ones, are a bit of a mess, but really who judges a film on credits?

     Of course, Harley Quinn, played by the Wolf of Wall Street's Margot Robbie stole the show but it wasn't Jared Leto's Joker, who dominates the trailers but has maybe 15 minutes screen-time as best, that interested me as much as The Fresh Prince of Bel Air. Yes, Will Smith as the ultimate assassin Deadshot was amazing. So what if his eye piece was on the wrong eye. If Harley was the heart of the Suicide Squad, Smith's character was the soul.

 
     Another character that just literally kills in Suicide Squad was El Diablo played by Jay Hernandez (Friday Night Lights.) His troubled gang banger who refuses to use his pyrotechnic super powers as penance because of a tragedy in his mysterious past was intriguing and I felt like his performance could be Oscar worthy.

     The one character I really felt coming into this picture that was miscast was Viola Davis as Amanda Waller. To me, CCH Pounder, who provided the voice of the anti-hero bureaucrat in the Justice League and Justice League Unlimited animated series, was Amanda Waller. But Davis did a pretty good job and I wouldn't mind seeing her back in the role for the inevitable sequel. 

     If you've been on the fence about seeing Suicide Squad, I urge you don't listen to the haters. I had every intention of seeing it last week, but I was too exhausted from a 6 day work week and spend most of last Sunday asleep. This movie was a lot better than certain internet sites would have you believe. I really enjoyed it and I would love to see a director's cut. (Just please don't release it only on Blu-ray!!!) 

     A great comic book based film but a little too mature for those under 13. This is NOT Batman V Superman, people! 

     I give it a solid 8.

     Worth Consuming

    Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Suicide Squad #1 (Free Comics Book Day 2016 Edition)

 Though the movie is getting slammed by critics, DC Comics has done everything right in marketing this film. From overtaking Hot Topic and Journeys clothing and accessories line to making Harley Quinn the flagship character of the franchise, DC hasn't disappointed me in their attempts to build excitement and garner new viewers for the villain-led film. This May, DC Comics officially kicked off the Suicide Squad fervor issuing a Free Comic Book Day giveaway. So it was an ideal read to get me even more excited for when I go see the movie tomorrow.

    Reprinting the first issue of the New 52 Suicide Squad from 2011-2014, this book kicks you in the teeth and then literally rubs salt in those wounds. In this issue, the squad has been captured and being tortured for information regarding their team's designation. As the interrogator makes his way from villain to villain, each member of the Suicide Squad reflects on the crimes that sent them to Belle Reve Prison. But how did they end up captives of the Scarecrow and can they free themselves before one of them breaks?

      Though DC will have cancelled this title and relaunch it twice prior to the release of the Suicide Squad film, I really am interested in reading this series. It was extremely compelling and there are some mysteries involving Harley Quinn and Deadshot that I really want to get to the bottom of. And that cliffhanger- holy cow! I must know what happened next! 

    Yes- I hate cliffhangers. Especially when I don't have the follow-up titles. But unless DC published an one-shot story with all new material, I doubt that any of Suicide Squad titles starring the villains appearing in the film were published without a cliffhanger.

    HEY!!! WHY DIDN'T DC MAKE THIS ISSUE WITH ALL NEW MATERIAL???

    Okay, I'm a little peeved. But regardless of my misgivings, writer Adam Glass wrote one heck of an opening chapter and the interior artwork of Federico Dallocchio was off the chain crazy good. Like I expect the film will be, this book was mega gritty, crazy violent, and had a bit of sex appeal. Not a book for kids. 

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

DC Comics Presents - The Flash #1

A tribute issue in honor of the passing of the great Julius Schwartz, long-time Editor In Chief of DC Comics. Schwartz was known for having concept covers drawn up and then would assign writers to use that idea for use in a forthcoming issue of said title. It's also fitting that the Flash is used as one of the heroes to pay respect to Julie as it was Schwartz who was solely responsible for the Speedster's 'return' to comics in the 1950s.

The first take has Barry Allen testifying against a mob boss. But before he can testify, an assassin marks the criminologist for death. Cameos abound with Iris West, Martian Manhunter, Deadshot & more.

The second tale features some of the Flash’s Rogue’s Gallery. However, the story is rather flat.

Worth Consuming if for just the first story alone.

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.