Suicide Squad Rebirth #1 and the DC Comics Rebirth era’s Harley Quinn #1 hit stands today on August 3, 2016 as the Suicide Squad movie is set for North American release this Friday on August 5, 2016! And, yes, their official hashtag is: #Skwad !
Harley Quinn #1 has 74 variant covers, yes, and is expected to light up comic book store sales while Suicide Squad Rebirth #1 has a modest two covers, but is expected to a core tentpole of DC Rebirth.
What kind of pop culture environment greets these two new comic books? Well, the Suicide Squad film is expected to rake in $130 million to $140 million in its opening weekend in North America. Wow. Pretty good for a super-hero property with name recognition only with a solid core group of fans.
DC Rebirth is upon us:
- Week One saw the debut of DC Universe Rebirth #1 and its massive reveals (spoilers here)!
- Week Two saw the debut of the critically acclaimed Batman Rebirth #1, Superman Rebirth #1, Green Lanterns Rebirth #1 and Green Arrow #1 (spoilers here).
- Week Three greeted readers with Aquaman Rebirth #1, The Flash Rebirth #1 and Wonder Woman Rebirth #1 (spoilers here).
- Week Four saw Titans Rebirth #1 hit stands anchored by a returning Wally West Flash (spoilers here).
- Week Five was an extra “fifth week” of comics that saw no special DC Rebirth one-shot released.
- Week Six saw Justice League Rebirth #1 had the New 52 Justice League accept the pre-Flashpoint Superman as Rebirth’s Man of Steel (spoilers here).
- Week Seven saw Nightwing Rebirth #1, with a prominent Batman appearance, and Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps Rebirth #1 land on stands (spoilers here).
- Week Eight saw Batgirl and the Birds of Prey Rebirth #1 and The Hellblazer Rebirth #1 one-shots make waves (spoilers here).
- Week Nine saw Red Hood and The Outlaws Rebirth #1 focus in Red Hood and Batman’s relationship as Bizarro and Artemis are set to round out Rebirth’s dark trinity (spoilers here).
Week Ten only has one DC Comics Rebirth one-shot for fandom timed with its namesake’s film release: Suicide Squad Rebirth #1! DC Comics has augmented the core Suicide Squad comics line-up to model the silver screen team with the addition of Katana and Killer Croc alongside the rest of the team of more classic Task Force X members like Rick Flag, Deadshot, (Captain) Boomerang, Enchantress and Slipknot with the DC New 52 Suicide Squad’s heart in Harley Quinn.
Suicide Squad Rebirth #1 spoilers and review follow.
This story really focuses on the introduction of former Colonel Rick Flag to the DC Comics Rebirth team and mythos. It builds on the teaser pages released by DC Comics that has President Barack Obama grudgingly agrees to the continuance of the Suicide Squad provided “good guy” patriot Rick Flag leads the villains team on the field.
Flag is, unknown to the President, in prisoon at Guantanamo Bay as a terrorist. However, he just refused an order that he found immoral and was likely illeagal; he’s a man of conscience, just what the #Skwad needs.
We pivot to an away mission by Suicide Squad members Deadshot, Boomerang and Harley Quinn…
…Director Amanda Waller needs Rick Flag to take on his field leader role now and help the team out with their latest mission.
As scientist has activated a meta-gene bomb creating several meta-humans for his benefactors, but killing millions as well. Darwin at its or his finest.
These new meta humans after after the scientist as he has a briefcase with his meta gene bomb and formulas. He’s captured, but…
…his briefcase is saved by the Squad as Boomerang loops of the scientists hands for the greater good!T he team seems set to be consumed and destroyed by the meta humans, but it looks like Rick Flag has accepted Amanda Waller’s offer…
…quickly gets into the field and counsels the team to activate the second meta gene bomb that would take away the meta powers…
…and it does leading to Rick Flag…
…take his place as field leader of the Suicide Squad!
So…
I liked story by writer Rob Williams, but Philip Tan’s pencils usually have an earthy quality ti them that could have worked for this one-shot, but the multiple inkers negated that possibility. In addition, an artist with a cleaner style like DC Comics co-publisher Jim Lee, who will be drawing the main stories in the ongoing twice monthly shipping Suicide Squad series, issue #1 in two weeks, would have been a better choice if Jim Lee wasn’t available. That said, so glad that Rick Flag is FINALLY back with the #Skwad!
Covers Jim Lee’s Suicide Squad #1 and #2 issues are below.
Fun times ahead!
