New Suicide Squad #4 Review

Written by: Sean Ryan
Art by: Tom Derenick
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: November 12, 2014

Not So Deadshot

The New Suicide Squad has been fun enough, but the story has stalled a bit over it's first three issues. I like the team (or what's left of them) and the action has been pretty explosive, but I wouldn't complain if we could just get them the hell out of Russia and get to some meatier stories.  However, the Vic Sage versus Amanda Waller side story has me intrigued.  I am a fan of Waller and watching her drive Vic crazy is hilarious.  For better or worse, this month's issue pretty much continues everything I've mentioned above.  The team is still stuck in Russia, there's explosive action and Amanda Waller is driving Vic insane.



The issue starts with Vic demanding to have the Suicide Squad detonation codes.  He's not getting anywhere and he really comes off as a desperate lunatic.  Is anyone going to be surprised when Vic goes rogue?  We then switch to Deathstroke continuing his torture/interrogation of Deadshot.  They have a bit of back-and-forth, but I wish it was better.  This whole scene feels a bit like a wasted opportunity when it gets interrupted by the arrival of two of my favorite villains in all of comics...Black Manta and Harley Quinn.

This is the fun, crazy action I was talking about.  Black Manta comes in guns a blazin'  while Harley does her best Jean Claude leaping split kick.  They go through tons of baddies to get to Deadshot and when they do they find out that there is no Deathstroke in team.

Meanwhile, Vic continues to go nuts over his lack of complete power and actually assaults Waller.  It's pretty bad and ends with him storming out.  All this is going on as Black Manta and Deathstroke battle it out.  Black Manta is a bad ass, but it takes Harley and Deadshot to finish the job.  Of course, 'finish" means wounding Slade so he can still come back at some point and star in his solo series.  It is a bit too convenient for my tastes, but I really liked Deadshot's reaction to a far from "dead shot".  The issue ends with Vic recruiting a new member for his fantasy villain team.  It's a big guy whose getting a push recently and makes sense for the locale.

There is really nothing different about this issue from the first three.  I had fun watching the action scenes and I really enjoyed Vic and Amanda fighting it out, but I want more story.  The ending promised a new setting which this book desperately needs and a new member/adversary which would be great.  It was odd that Joker's Daughter is only briefly mentioned, but since I hate her with a passion, it's all good with me.

Tom Derenick's art is hit-or-miss this month.  Most of the book is really good with some nice set pieces and detailed work while the rest is generic transition art.

Bits and Pieces:

New Suicide Squad is more of the same, a fun, action filled romp that lacks a solid story.  Sean Ryan has done a fine job making this new team enjoyable, but after four issues I want more.  Hopefully, the ending tease and a new setting will do the trick.  I hope so because I really am enjoying this book.

6.5/10