Suicide Squad is finished. But Amanda Waller has other ideas. Looks like you can’t keep a bad guy down.
It’s no secret Task Force X gleefully operates outside the realm of truth and justice. They simmer in moral ambiguity and controlled chaos to sidestep anything resembling honor to get the job done. Of course, things go boom and bodies hit the floor.
Suicide Squad Vol. 1: The Black Vault is a spectacular opening shot to the DC Rebirth storyline. Heavy hitters like Harley Quinn, Deadshot, Killer Croc, Katana, Enchantress, and Deadshot get the band back together. “Criminal filth. Be proud. Your country needs you.” The mission seems higher-than-normal stakes for the team, especially one that’s been on the sideline for so long. I suppose that’s how they earn their illustrious title.
For a team that is more wrecking ball than precision, it was a trip to see Jim Lee and writer Rob Williams drop the squad into cosmic high stakes. At first pass it might seem proper to call this a job for Superman. That goes double when a bombshell foe is found in the Black Vault. Thankfully we see a fresh face join the squad, Hack- a young, African-American woman who can turn matter into digital information.
The squad barrels through their mission with the wonderful absurdity that one would expect from this iteration of Suicide Squad. The stakes are high but the chill is low.
Origin side-stories for Katana, Boomerang, and Deadshot rounded out the story and offered depth, a welcomed rebirth roadmap.
This graphic novel collects issues #1-4 and the SUICIDE SQUAD: REBIRTH one-shot.
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! Available Editions: Paperback ISBN 9781401269814 PRICE $16.99 (USD)
