Review: Suicide Squad #3
[Editor’s Note: This review may contain spoilers]
Writer: Tom Taylor
Artist: Bruno Redondo
Colorist: Andrino Lucas
Letterer: Wes Abbott
Reviewer: Tony Farina
Summary
Suicide Squad #3 features a team divided and literally at each other’s throats. There are lots of electrocutions and bloodbaths. Harley Quinn is a team leader, so take that for what it is worth. Floyd considers just letting himself be killed. No one is in charge. King Shark may or may not die in this issue. I know, spoilers right, but the cover kind of tips you off. Be prepared to meet a whole new squad, who may or may not commit suicide. Things are sketchy for sure.
Positives
The star of Suicide Squad #3 is colorist Adriano Lucas. The Squad is always a colorful bunch and there is always a lot of blood. That is no small feat to deal with all of it and Lucas rises to the test. I mean, check out the panel below. It just jumps off the page.
Negatives
You can’t just have Harley Quinn in something and automatically make it good. If you are going to use her in a series, have her be the series. Suicide Squad #3 does not use Harley well nor does it use Floyd well. Deadshot and Harley are the key figures in the modern Suicide Squad, and while, I am all for branching out and trying new characters, this feels like a stew that simply hasn’t cooked yet.
Plus, as you may have noticed on that first page, there is a TON of swearing in this book. A TON, but it is in the DC regular universe. Why is that? This is not a Black Label comic. People are killed and tortured in this book. It is in the wrong place in the DC Universe and that is harmful to the overall success of it.
Verdict
There is a saying about too many cooks in the kitchen ruining the meal. Well, that is on full display in Suicide Squad #3. Seriously, I am not sure what is going on, who is in charge or why I should care. The charm of the Squad is that they band together not fight it out with each other. Sure, there is tension, but tension can be played upon. This is not that and it just doesn’t work. It is only issue 3 in a new run, so I will give it a chance. Considering the Boomerang is coming back next issue, I feel good.
