New Suicide Squad: Monsters Review and Story Recap by Deffinition

New Suicide Squad should have been called ‘Poo Suicide Squad’ (yes it’s one of those reviews). After praising the original New 52 run, I was massively disappointed by the soft reboot that happened after Volume 5. Whilst the original series balanced jokes, drama and black comedy perfectly, New Suicide Squad: Volume 1, seemed finding its feet rather difficult.

As with most creative team switchovers, the new bunch has had to take the reigns and course correct. I put Volume one down to their responsibility being that they had to resolve many of the prior problems, whilst creating their own story. Which is, of course, a difficult task (just look at the Justice League Movie).

With this being the second Volume I am expecting a higher level of quality from the team as the world is now established. Monsters has the potential to knock The Suicide Squad off as one of my favorite comic book teams so I am desperate for it to do well.

Of course, like many members of the squad, I have to be a realist and judge this on both its faults and merits.

Will this book finally put the X back in Task Force X, or does X…Mark the spot…(yeah it’s STILL one of those reviews).

Let’s dive in to find out!

“I’m growing concerned about Task Force X”

Opening on a quote that sums up my feelings for the run overall it seems that the creative team is aware that this book might now suck. Unfortunately, they seem inept to do anything about it and for most of the storyline are completely unaware of what made the Suicide Squad so likable in the first place. More wrapped up in presenting how craaaazy they are, they miss the point that unlike the Justice League, the Squad can do what they want. This should open up a plethora of potential. However, that freedom is sadly missing in these opening chapters and the book focuses on repetitive missions that have about as much depth as the song ‘Around The World’ by Daft Punk.

A League Of Their Own

Following this bland opening the Squad travel ‘Around The World’ (see what I did there, yeah it’s not exactly my A material) to infiltrate a splinter cell of The League Of Assassins.

What is most perplexing is that the League know who they are and yet still recruit them anyway. Famous for murdering criminals and possessing the mantra ‘Destroy The Corrupted’, there is no way that this extremist sect would accept a band of super-villains and any comic book fan with even an inkling of Ra’s Al Ghul’s philosophy will be taken out of the book because of this.

Clearly a metaphor for Isis, there is so much that could have been done politically with an offshoot group like this in the story’s subtext. It would have been the perfect opportunity to discuss indoctrination and people vs the state, however, the book’s main focus seems to be on action over ideologies. Which is a complete waste of time in my opinion.

Whilst the Squad aren’t exactly known for their high brow books, it doesn’t mean that they can’t be. They are supposed to be radical and this would’ve have been a perfect place to explore the radicalisation that exists within groups like Isis, The KKK and The IRA. I wanted to see how attractive the idea of ridding the world of criminals could be and how this hateful organisation corrupted the disenfranchised but the writers drop any interesting thread, thus destroying all potential that Monsters had.

The Conclusion

The book wraps up in standard fashion. The Squad’s identity is blown and they escape whilst taking down the bad guys. You’ve seen it a million times before and bar The Reverse Flash, every team member feels like they have about as much characterisation as a Call Of Duty multiplayer match.

In an unintentionally hilarious moment the team remark that they almost forgot to save Parasite, which made me smirk for all the wrong reasons as I had forgotten him too. Baffled by his unnecessary inclusion, the fact the majority of the team hadn’t even realised he was there really spoke volumes to the graphic novel’s flaws.

Capable of introducing aspects but unable to actually do anything interesting with them the entire story feels like a huge pile of squandered potential. Starting off bad and getting worse the longer it goes on, this is the comic book equivalent of Justin Bieber and if you detest him you will undoubtedly feel the same about the ending.

The Verdict

New Suicide Squad: Monsters manages to cement it’s place as the worst Suicide Squad book that I’ve ever read. Bland from start to finish, everything is about as fun as Christmas at your Girlfriends Mother’s house after you’ve had a 12 hour bender the night before and vomited all over the Turkey, ruining the day(I’ve been there, it isn’t fun).

Totally inept at characterisation, drama or action this feels like a bigger misstep with the Squad than the movie did and you’ll be praying for Will Smith to pop up and say ‘Awww hell nah’ just to add a minuscule of depth to it’s overplayed and drawn out plot.

Monsters…is a monster (I’ve stopped caring about putting effort in now, I don’t see why I should when the Writer clearly didn’t) and that’s why it gets a…

4.5/10

The art was ok I guess…

Now I know why they seem to change writers every book.

…..

oh….and they have The Joker on the cover for some reason but he isn’t in the book at all.