Suicide Squad #5 review

Jog is on the run. Seared by a bomb rigged by Captain Boomerang, the speedster is in big trouble.

A member of the new Suicide Squad, he’s been tasked with capturing former conscript Boomerang, but the old Flash Rogue proves wilier than expected. Jog, though, has teammates looking out for him and soon ‘Boomerbutt’ is in the hands of the reluctant group’s new boss, Lok. Turns out, he doesn’t actually want to keep the oaf from Oz.

What is Lok up to? Will Deadshot kill his old pal? The answers come speedily and satisfyingly in another expertly crafted issue of the best Suicide Squad series since the Eighties book. The big surprise is the revelation of just who Lok has been answering to all this time; such reveals are only fun if you know the mystery person, and writer Tom Taylor certainly delivers on that front.

Ted Kord?

It’s very hard to believe a knight as shining as Blue Beetle would be running a show which involves killing anyone who doesn’t toe the line. And while this version of Ted likely wasn’t murdered by a shot in the head from Max Lord, seeing him look for all the world like that guy, condoning bullets being fired into the brain of even a scumbag like Boomerang, is weird. Unimaginable, even. Next issue can’t come soon enough.

So, the story can safely be described as ‘compelling’. As for the art, Bruno Redondo once again provides slick storytelling to match the fast-paced script. Highlights include the team’s takedown of Boomerang, and a goodbye in which nuanced art complements Taylor’s sensitive words to produce an elegantly poignant scene. Adding to the visual appeal are the vibrant colours of Adriano Lucas and sharp fonts of Wes Abbott.

Redondo and Lucas’s cover is decent, but doesn’t prepare the reader for the surprises within. Which, of course, makes perfect sense.

The final page tells us that the Suicide Squad are guesting in an upcoming Flash Annual. That’s great, but the quality of work from the creators merits a special all the team’s own.