The Suicide Squad are betrayed from within.
While Jim Lee is one of the toughest acts to follow in the comics industry, there's no question that Suicide Squad has become a better and more cohesive book in its second major story arc. It's more focused, does a better job of exploring the team dynamic and allows the main feature and backup stories to work more closely together. Finally, Suicide Squad is living up to its full potential.
It turns out that the death of Amanda Waller (staged though it most likely is), is a great opportunity for writer Rob Williams to delve deeper into the various damaged personalities that make up this team. Not just big guns like Deadshot and Harley Quinn, but characters like Hack and Agent Harcourt as well. The backup feature is particularly effective in that regard, as we see the various Squad members deal with an unexpected bout of freedom and all the emotional chaos that brings. Williams has proven by now that he knows how to mine humor form this team lineup, but he's really starting to get into deeper, more compelling material in this arc.
That goes as much for the villains as anything else. Rustam makes for a far more nuanced enemy because he never really comes across as a villain at all. Building on the recent Justice League vs. Suicide Squad crossover, Rustam is portrayed simply as a wronged man hoping to exact a little vengeance and maybe recruit Waller's own soldiers to his crusade.
But by far the most significant improvement with this arc involves the interplay between the main story and the backups. While each issue continues to devote roughly equal space to each, the two are interconnected enough that they essentially read like two chapters of the same story. The book's pacing has greatly increased now that Williams is able to devote all 20 pages to furthering a single narrative.
Even better, the two halves of the story are divided in such a way as to take full advantage of John Romita, Jr. and Eddy Barrows' respective strengths. Romita's page tend to be a little more action-oriented, and here he brings a great sense of energy to Deadshot's frantic battle with his teammates. Romita's style also suits Hack's digital realm especially well, with his blocky figure work and Dean White's colors giving the book a very Tron-like feel. Meanwhile, Eddy Barrows' art in the backup is more emotionally charged, with his expressive facial work and textured, moody environments really bringing out the most in Williams' script. While I'd rather see Barrows remain on Detective Comics, his work is just as gorgeous on Suicide Squad as it has been there.
The Verdict
It's great to see Suicide Squad taking its place alongside the other titans of the DC Rebirth lineup. The series is in better overall shape following the Justice league vs. Suicide Squad crossover. The characterization is deeper and the two halves of the book are finding a better balance.
Aucun commentaire:
Enregistrer un commentaire