Over before it really even began, Ales Kot’s refreshing run on “Suicide Squad” goes much like it began. Unfortunately, while that unbridled, spastic energy is present, there’s little of the structure necessary to give it cohesion.
Written by Ales Kot
Illustrated by Rick LeonardiSuicide Squad is sent on a mission to take down a dictator who is planning to create his own metahuman army. But what the Squad doesn’t know is that he already has a batch of super-powered soldiers ready to defend him—cue the mayhem! Plus, the true nature of Waller’s new deal with the team is revealed!
No one can fault Kot for his ambition. The young writer took a struggling book and made it one of the most interesting books in DC’s stable in less than a handful of issues. Whether or not his departure from the series was planned (I call shenanigans, but that’s irrelevant here), Kot leaves several intriguing threads hanging. The lack, and apparent defiant disregard, of any form of resolution makes this final issue slightly unpalatable.
Picking up haphazardly, as Kot is wont to do, from last issue’s attack on Las Vegas, we find the Squad in a generic, stereotypical, Middle-Eastern country under a despotic dictator. This gag sets up a few laughs, but is mostly set-up for the issue’s indulgent tribute to obscure late 90’s Wildstorm characters.
The fact is, if you aren’t well-versed in Warren Ellis’ “Stormwatch,” or one of the ten people that read Justin Jordan’s “Team 7,” you’ll likely have a hard time connecting with this issue. It seems strange for Kot to utilize these characters to wrap up the biggest lingering mystery of his run, as they come completely out of left field in the context of the series, bearing only a tangential connection to Squad leader Amanda Waller. Had Kot brought in O.M.A.C., a character alluded to several times in recent issues, “Suicide Squad” #23 would have been a veritable island of misfit toys.
The absence of Patrick Zircher adds insult to injury. Rick Leonardi does a fair job, but lacks the attention to detail and strong sense of design seen in the past few issues. On more than one occasion Leonardi’s composition interrupts the flow of the story. For instance, a key panel in which a character is grazed across the face with a bullet is drawn so that the attack looks dramatically fatal. Only when the character continues to speak and, well, live, does the nature of the wound become obvious. His designs for the various new characters are satisfyingly spot-on, but on more than one occasion the main characters look hilariously misshapen. It’s hard not to chuckle at zombie Deadshot making all the right moves, or a Cheetah with a smile worthy of Sophie the Giraffe.
This issue isn’t a total wash, thanks to Kot’s trademark quirks. Pop culture references abound, and Kot uses every chance he can to shake up traditional graphic story-telling. Kot’s makes abrupt plot jumps with little explanation, making for a frantic and disorienting read and begging comparisons to the work of Grant Morrison. The comparison goes further, with fantastic high concepts like weaponized bees, pheromones, and pies. Kot takes several comic book faux pas, like ID boxes and expository dialogue, and turns them on their side with metatextual references and a fair bit of fourth wall bending. Even the issue’s bookending narration, a musing on love through the mouth of James Jr., takes a turn for the absurd with layers of Foreigner and Justin Timberlake. Unfortunately, the insanity lacks any sort of unifying thread, rather coming off as series of fragmented, indulgent gags.
Whatever the circumstances involving Kot’s departure, it certainly seems his heart isn’t with the series in his final moments. “Suicide Squad” #23 bears the wounds present in many New 52 books, like the work of some deranged serial killer bent on eliminating exceptional story-telling. Matt Kindt is a more than adequate successor, but one has to wonder if even he can mend the damage.
Final Verdict: 6.8 – A disappointing finale to a short but innovative run. Buy it, if only to support the creative team.
