New Suicide Squad #20

I probably wouldn't pay to go see this action thriller, German Castle Thrill Climb III.

The Review or Whatever!
Currently, the Suicide Squad...excuse me...the new Suicide Squad is trapped in a room in a German castle called the Fleischhaus as dozens of psychotic game-players are hunting them down for points. But they have nothing to fear because Amanda Waller with her new friend, The Hunky Punk, is coming to save them! Also they have nothing to fear because members of the Suicide Squad don't die anymore. Only Amanda Waller's assistants die.

If you read the book, Floyd Lawton summarizes the book in one panel the way that I just summarized the book. Sometimes that doesn't happen as clearly or concisely in DC comics which is why I like to remind myself what was going on. Otherwise, I spend five to six pages reading the comic book like my aunt watches movies. "Who is that character? Why is he hurting that person? What are they even trying to do?" Why DC doesn't just take the hit and rip-off Marvel's First Page Synopsis idea, I don't know. Who cares how many Marvel Zombies are going to thrill at pointing out how DC is once again stealing from Marvel! Think of the older fans you're hurting by not reminding us of the story we read a whole fucking month ago! Plus, you'd be helping my blood pressure because writers inevitably spend way more than one page reminding readers what was happening previously. Oh! And think about how much better the collected editions would read if the Synopsis Page were dumped and the story just kept going without these weird bits where characters remind each other what was going on in the previous few pages!

Using Harley's knowledge of psyches, Deadshot formulates a plan that makes sense. The dialogue is entertaining and the characters of Deadshot and Harley have seldom shined through as much in this book. It also gives a quite valid reason for having Harley on the team. Actually, two reasons. First, she knows how criminals think, both the demented and non-demented kind. Second, as Floyd states, she's a wild card that makes the non-demented kind of criminal uneasy. This opening scene and discussion (which leads to the first big battle of the book) is reminiscent of Ostrander's 80's version of the team. Why Rob Williams was tapped to write the new team instead of Tim Seeley, I don't know. I'm sure Rob Williams won't make it as boring as he wound up making Martian Manhunter.

Apparently you can take a character a long way with just two major points of characterization. Hmm. Maybe the mustache isn't major.

While the Squad fights to save their lives, Rose Tattoo, the spirit of murder, rises and begins stalking the Fist of Cain. The name Rose Tattoo makes me think of Justin Long. You figure out the connection yourself. I'm busy.

Amanda, Hunky Punk, and Captain Boomerang are headed in to save the Squad. Hunky Punk should be worried that he's the only one of the group with a fake Who's Who entry! Although El Diablo doesn't actually have an entry either. I mean, there's an entry for El Diablo but it isn't this guy. Which is why he's always sort of the one that might possibly be killed! Although I still think he'll be killed in the movie.

During the flight, they have a discussion about being heroes. Or the possibility of having been heroes instead of dumb jerks.

If I were a villain, I would be Captain Boomerang. I know I chose to be Captain Cold when I hosted my first gaming convention but that's mostly because I'm a lot like him as well and I didn't have to speak in an Australian accent all night.

The New Suicide Squad discover evidence of Rose Tattoo having manifested inside the castle. Deathtrap invoked her name earlier so she's probably going to kill him. That would be too bad because he and Hunky Punk really need to start a Suicide Squad United Kingdom. Once the Rose Tattoo panic sets in, everything goes to shit. That's when Waller's squad arrives! Just in time to save Harley's life! Too bad for Hunky Punk though.

He really should have considered the consequences of joining a Suicide Squad full of death-immune characters.

Waller and the group rescue the others but Adam, the guy running the show, winds up knocking Waller out and convincing Deathtrap to shoot Deadshot in the face. He'll be okay though because Waller, a few panels earlier, made sure to mention how heavy he was in all of his armor. The issue ends with Cheetah attacking Rose Tattoo while El Diablo and Harley make a run for it. Captain Boomerang is unaccounted for so he's probably about to save the day! Unless he already did save the day?

This panel might be Deathtrap shooting Deadshot in the face. It could also be a boomerang blowing up Deathtrap's gun!