The Good
The artwork in this issue may be inconsistent, but it really shines with the non-organic elements and the effects. The settings (debris, buildings, etc) all look perfectly fine, but it's the effects that really give these pages some much-needed energy. The vivid explosions and bright bullets soaring through the air are striking and Black Manta's glowing eyes will catch your attention.
Thankfully, Deadshot's struggle receives more attention in this one. The brief mayhem going down in China is an okay amount of fun (again, it's the effects which really sell it), but showing us Floyd's difficulty was greatly appreciated. He's just a guy who's exceptional at shooting, so without that skill being what it once was, he must feel empty, useless, and outraged. The execution of his panels allowed me to feel his frustration and anger and I'm happy that subplot made some much-needed progress.
Another highlight is Black Manta being bold enough to call out Waller when things don't go his way. A fair amount of the issue highlights the complexities behind how the squad operates and why them failing may actually be beneficial, but the narrative really shines during this character-driven moment. I'm not the biggest fan of how Waller is handled (I'll explain in "The Bad"), but it illustrates the loveless dynamic that you'd expect from the team and I think it's Black Manta's standout moment in this series. People yelling at Waller is nothing new, but he got under her skin and kept his composure while lashing out. I know he's not a part of the upcoming roster, but I hope he's given more time to shine before he potentially leaves the title.
The Bad
The inconsistent artwork is very distracting. Certain things look fine or even impressive (covered above in "The Good"), but the character work fluctuates so much from page to page and it's almost impossible not to notice it. Expressions sometimes seem off, character's appear oddly rigid, and I even noticed the new powerhouse character undergoes a change in hairstyle. Maaaaaybe leaving the planet burned off his sides?
I'm all for showing and not telling, but it feels like two full pages aren't used properly. It's a silent scene as we see Deadshot's frustration and that part is effective, but the other panels don't add anything substantial to the issue. It almost feels like showing us what should mostly be off-panel.
I love having Black Manta stand up to Amanda Waller and I'm all for giving us insight into her more vulnerable side, but she doesn't come off as a strong individual here at all. It's almost like the issue paints her as more of a victim instead of illustrating the point she thinks she's doing what needs to be done. It makes her come off as weak, not confident and strong. Showing her anger and then following it with a cool, confident and imposing rebuttal would have been an effective way to give both characters credit. Again, I'm cool with showing moments of weakness and humanizing her by looking at how lonely she is in her off-time, but this seemed to strip her of her defining characteristics.
Minor criticism: I thought it was a bit odd that Harley Quinn seems to almost have an existential crisis just because someone saved her. I get it, her teammates wouldn't and this enemy did, but is that really enough to make her question killing random enemies just because her savoir is against killing? Hasn't she experienced way worse and way crazier over the years? How many times has she encountered and possibly been saved by Batman -- a guy against killing -- again? Okay, that's an unfair question since Batman's continuity is a tricky subject, but the point is it seemed like the moment was trying a little too hard to be heavy. Also, the ending seems like it's there to offer some contrast to all of the negativity and messed up stuff we've been seeing. A "normal" life is happier and has problems that can often be easily fixed. It could also mean there's teams out there that are in much better shape. The drastic change in direction is obviously there to be thought-provoking, but it didn't really resonate all that much with me. I would have much rather received a teaser for what's to come (that would have made the next page even more exciting!) or a little more insight into the main roster. They're why many of us are reading the book, after all. Lastly, with the military focused on the area, it seems like the team escaped way too easily.
Personal criticism (and it's an ongoing one -- doesn't impact the score, though): I don't understated why Black Manta doesn't use energy blasts. The artwork makes it seem like he can use them, but then he sticks to just hand-to-hand combat against odds which obviously warrant firing projectiles. Incorporating them would certainly look good (the coloring thrives with effects) and that would add a little more excitement to the action sequences.
The Verdict
Everything in me wants to love this comic. I love the premise behind the team, I like the cast of characters, and I most definitely like seeing them get throw into all kinds of chaos. It has the potential to be smart, exciting, and even funny. However, noticeably inconsistent and stiff artwork and a mostly uneventful issue leaves me feeling pretty disappointed. There are times when the comic is obviously trying to offer something more compelling -- an effort I absolutely appreciate -- but it doesn't really deliver and unfortunately, it feels like some of the pages could have been used in better ways. I want this series to impress and feel like a noteworthy addition to Task Force X's long history, but sadly, it's just not doing anything to really pull me in, care about what's going on, and then leave me wanting more. At least not yet. Maybe the new roster (which has been teased in Channel 52) will breathe new life into this title. I wasn't a fan of this issue, but I'm still rooting for you, NEW SUICIDE SQUAD.
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