Review: Suicide Squad, Vol. 3

Suicide Squad: Burning Down The House | Rob Williams

Published by: DC Comics, September 12th 2017

Genre: Comics, Superheroes, Supervillains

Pages: 160

Format: Ebook

Source: DC, via Netgalley

Amanda Waller is used to getting what she wants—but this time, what Waller wants is something only Lex Luthor has. Striking a deal won’t be easy—or cheap! It’s a war on two fronts as Waller leads a smoldering charm offensive in Luthor’s penthouse while her Suicide Squad tries to open the most heavily guarded safe in all of LexCorp.

In SUICIDE SQUAD VOL. 3, writer Rob Williams is joined by superstar, and new series artist, Tony S. Daniel (BATMAN, JUSTICE LEAGUE)! Collects SUICIDE SQUAD #16-20.

This volume was basically Suicide Squad but with all my favourite bits removed. No cameraderie, barely any Killer Croc and June (why??), and they did something pretty awesome (killed someone off but I won't spoil) but then went back on it by bringing her back to life (meh.) It's not that I didn't like this, because I really enjoyed parts (mostly Harley and Flag) but ... it felt lacking for me. Didn't enjoy it half as much as I expected to.

Characters ★★☆☆☆

Setting/world ★★★☆☆

Writing ★★☆☆☆

Review: Suicide Squad, Volume Two

Suicide Squad: Volume Two: Going Sane  | Rob Williams, Jim Lee, Stephen Byrne

Published by: DC Comics, June 13th 2017

Genre: Comics, Science Fiction, Superheroes

Pages: 144

Format: Ebook

Source: DC Comics, via Netgalley

From writer Rob Williams, superstar artist Jim Lee and Philip Tan comes the new Suicide Squad! 

The government has once again handpicked the worst of the worst for its Task Force X: Harley Quinn, Deadshot, Captain Boomerang, Katana and Killer Croc. Following their clash with the Justice League, the team faces a new challenge as the dark energy of the Black Vault starts to drive the prisoners of Belle Reve insane--except for Harley Quinn, who seems to be more rational and level-headed than...well, ever. 

Collecting: Suicide Squad 5-9

This was confusing. Awesome ... but confusing. I got lost so many times as to whether something was happening now or in the past, if it was real or not, and sometimes that mind trip is pretty cool, but with this comic I got frustrated. The story was just ... okay. And while Harley being suddenly sane was a cool plot device, super problematic handling of mental health there.

BUT the characters continue to be strong as hell. We got to see Harley in a less sexualised, more human-being light. It gives more backstories for the gang (which I loved) and cleverly uses this format to introduce a new character. My favourite part has to be June and Killer Croc though. O-T-fricking-P. They're so cute and wholesome and pure and I want them to stay together forever, which probably means one of them will die in the next volume... But I just loved this sweet little romance between a murderous monster and a girl possessed by a nightmare of a witch. In the middle of the crazy, the action, the confusion, I really needed that.

I did enjoy this, but I didn't 100% love it. Still gonna read the next volume though, because I'm a sucker for this team.

Characters ★★★★☆

Setting/world ★★★☆☆

Writing ★★★☆☆

Review: Suicide Squad, Volume 1

Suicide Squad: Volume One | Rob Williams, Jim Lee, Philip Tan, Jason Fabok, Ivan Reis, Gary Frank

Published by: DC Comics, March 7th 2017

Genre: Science Fiction, Superheroes

Pages: 161

Format: Ebook

Source: DC Comics, via Netgalley

Harley Quinn. Deadshot. Killer Croc. Enchantress. Captain Boomerang. Katana. They’re dangerous. They’re deadly. They’re deeply unstable. And they’re our only hope. They’re the characters from the smash-hit film and they’re here in this great new starting-point graphic novel, SUICIDE SQUAD VOL. 1: THE BLACK VAULT, as part of DC Rebirth!
 
Assembled by the tough-as-nails intelligence expert Amanda Waller and overseen by disgraced military genius Captain Rick Flag, the men, women and monsters of the Suicide Squad—a.k.a. Task Force X—do the jobs that are too dirty for any superheroes to soil their capes over. 
 
Their latest mission should be easy enough: recover a powerful cosmic weapon called the Black Vault from enemy hands. But what happens when the Black Vault begins turning them into their own worst enemies?
 
As the object’s dark influence spreads and the team is driven to madness and mayhem (more than usual, that is), there’s only one person sane enough to save the Squad from certain destruction…the Clown Princess of Crazy herself, Harley Quinn!
  
Legendary artist Jim Lee teams up with writer Rob Williams and a who’s who of top comics talent for SUICIDE SQUAD VOL. 1: THE BLACK VAULT! Exploding from the pages of DC’s blockbuster REBIRTH event and starring the characters you love and hate from the smash-hit movie, this graphic novel is a great jumping-on point for new readers! Collects issues #1-4 and the SUICIDE SQUAD: REBIRTH one-shot, including back-up stories illustrated by such acclaimed artists as Ivan Reis, Gary Frank and Jason Fabok!

Just when I think I've found my favourite Suicide Squad comic, the next one levels up massively. The Black Vault has the PERFECT combination of character and plot, and we get insights to back story AND some awesome antagonists and danger and stuff blown up (which is always my favourite.) I really loved Flag, who was new to me, and Katana, who I knew I would adore (and I do, so so much.) This whole gang is squad goals, honestly, and the story is gripping and exciting. The art is exceptional, the writing is SO GOOD, and the dialogue is immense. I need volume 2 right damn now!

Characters ★★★★★

Setting/world ★★★★☆

Writing ★★★★☆

Reading round up (73)

Reading round up is a weekly journal where I record my daily reading progress, my thoughts on each book as I read it, and any books I've acquired during the week.

6th April

I read a further 24% of The Singular and Extraordinary Tale of Mirror and Goliath by Ishbelle Bee, which is amazing. I'm at 39% and loving it, even if it is getting a little repetitive with certain words (everything is fairy tale in the past few chapters) but I can forgive that because it might be changed in the final version.

7th April

Continuing my trend of random reading, I read 58% of Suicide Squad, vol. 1 by Adam Glass, Ryan Benjamin and Federico Dallocchio, which is SO GODDAMN GOOD. Probably my favourite team ever. Now that I've seen them on TV, and in graphic novel form, I am buzzing with excitement for the film!!!! Heads up: it's like 50p on kindle, so if you 1) love comics and 2) own a kindle, GET THE THING NOW.

I also read 17% of Mirror & Goliath, which I'm enjoying a little less now the novelty has worn off, and sad about it. For a short book, there's an awful lot of story threads and so many characters!

8th April

I read the last 42% of Suicide Squad which was SO COOL until the last 2 comics. Didn't enjoy them so much. There's something about what they did with Harley that, while I enjoyed the back story, made me feel really iffy.

I also read 26% of The Singular and Extraordinary Tale of Mirror and Goliath and I'm getting bored-er.

9th April

I skimmed the last 18% of Mirror & Goliath and it was okay but the first half was better than the last, and started Magonia by Maira Dahvana Headley (11%) So far I'm not sure about Magonia but I'm fair interested in the ship in the sky. Waiting for it to all kick in.

10th April

Read 19% of Magonia, bringing me to 30%, and I'm liking this a bit more. I can see where it's going and I'm fairly interested in getting there. Also Jason is a cutie and his frantic disjointedness resounds with me for a reason I'd rather not think on too thoroughly.

I also read Lois Lane: Cloudy With A Chance of Destruction by Gwenda Bond, and I continue to love Lois so so much. She's likable and unlikable at the same time and I love that. I like to think I'm the same.

11th April

Pushing Magonia aside for today, I read Rat Queens, vol 1: Sass and Sorcery by Kurtis J. Wiebe & Roc Upchurch in its entirety. IT WAS AWESOME.

12th April

Read 28% of Magonia which is really making me feel stuff. SHIPS IN THE SKY! ALOOF AND ATTRACTIVE FIRST MATES! 

Books finished this week: 4
Books DNF'd this week: 0

For review:

Lois Lane: Cloudy With A Chance of Destruction | Gwenda Bond

Another Lois Lane short! I LOVED the first one and can't wait to read more of Lois's vibrant energy.

I also got a bunch of Harper September galleys but I'll put those in the next one because lazy.

I also got these AMAZON FREEBIES:

Hope(less) | Melissa Haag

Submerged | Nicole Sobon

Moonfall | A. G. Wyatt

All Fall Down | Christine Pope

The Singular and Extraordinary Tale of Mirror & Goliath (scheduled for 27th May)

Death Marked

Lois Lane: Cloudy With A Chance of Destruction