The Good

No disrespect to Adam Glass, but I really wasn't digging this book's previous stories. I love the characters so I of course stuck around for a bit, but ultimately, I made the decision to drop the title because it just wasn't doing anything for me. Now a new creative team has jumped on the title and it's promoted as a fresh start -- and oh man, it definitely does feel like one!

First and foremost, Patrick Zircher is an exceptional artist. I love his work over at Valiant and his dark and detailed vibe is a perfect fit for this title's atmosphere. Throw in Jason Keith's colors and we're treated to some downright jaw-dropping panels. The scene on the medical table? Tragedy has never looked so good!

But it's not just the visuals that won me over. Ales Kot went all out to make this a fantastic jumping on point and filled it with plenty of intrigue. Additionally, the issue serves as a character study for each member of the team (some more than others, of course), and the surprise addition to the roster is sure to keep things incredibly interesting. I love how even the base and its inhabitants are being fleshed out and surely are a tease for what's to come.

The Bad

My only gripe here is the serum. Up until now, a big part of this book was the element of surprise. Sure, it's same to assume someone like Deadshot or Harley Quinn will probably survive, but everyone else? Anything can happen. Being able to resurrect any of them will seemingly take away a sense of danger. Can it really be a high-risk mission if we know they basically have an extra life? We saw it's not foolproof, but I assume that was a special situation due to the character's abilities.

The Verdict

This fresh direction is something both new and old fans are sure to love. We dive back into each character without it feeling like forced exposition because in this case, it actually serves a greater purpose. It doesn't feel like a 101 for each teammate or rehashing the basics. Instead, you're likely enjoying the greater scheme at hand and when you're hit with the reveal, it'll make perfect sense. Just one issue in and you can really tell Kot has big plans for this book. Throw in Zircher's art and I'm absolutely stoked to stick around for the ride. Welcome back to my pull list, SUICIDE SQUAD.

I loved this issue. So good. Although, I noticed the lack of El Diablo in this issue. Where'd he go to? I actually really liked him from the issues I'd read.

The serum was from Glass' run on the book: an absolutely terrible idea that completely missed the point of a team called the Suicide Squad. I think Kot is setting the scene in order to remove that piece of stupidity from the book.

Amazing issue and i have missed Zircher drawing stuff since he left Shadowman.

The Unknown Soldier is such a badass.

A great issue.Altough I miss El Diablo.He should be in the team as well.

This issue made me decide to start reading the series again.

I'm a die hard fan of John Ostrander's run from the late 80's. Never read any of the New 52 Squad stuff and I think I made the right choice. It's a light week for me next Wednesday, think I'll pick this up.

as good as that serum is I don't think its bringing back anybody who gets their head blown off by Waller.

Really hope Batman finds this serum in a year or so and brings Damian back.

I dropped it back on issue 12, saw this review and decided to give 20 a try. I am sorely tempted to drop Batman and Robin for this now.

"Welcome back suicide squad" indeed.

I've been getting this book in trade, 2 volumes so far, up until issue 12 i think. Is vol 3 worth picking up or as bad as everyone says? although i'd like to have the DOTF tie ins...

This issue renewed my interest in the series. I hope they continue adding new members though because one of the fun parts of the book is seeing what villians come and go on the team

About time, this book failed to live up to the past Suicide Squad since the start.

Great issue

I thought the issue was great...

up until the final revelation

The final character on Suicide Squad makes NO SENSE, not only im disappointed of seeing this character so soon, im disappointed on seeing it here and seeing it in the state that he is in.

this is a book dropper for me,though the character was better written than how it was written by the other HACKwho broke this beloved character, but it just makes no sense to have him here, and the the final dialog feels more like the HACKY of of writing it and not the right way.

So, what is the appeal of Suicide Squad?

My interest in it would be the characters, but I don't like getting in the habit of investing emotionally in characters who are in high risk of dying, which is pretty much what this book sounds like. This serum thing sounds like it could be the justification I need (nevermind the new creative team), but it also seems to run contrary to what many people enjoy SS for -- the impending potential for death.

As one who sees caring about characters and wanting characters to be on death's threshold somewhat mutually exclusive, I legitimately have never understood the appeal, which is why I'm asking :)

The Character is an intelligent psychopath.A role this team lacks.
I see it as Batman in JL(including the psychopath part :-P).
i haven't read the issue but i like the idea of him being there

@squalleon: So I guess Harley Quinn does not count as an intelligent psychopath? I mean I do not even think JGJ even knows how to read her.

@akbogert: In all honesty people that are reading this tile love characters like Deadshot and Harley Quinn. Unlike Avengers Arena that said yes were going to kill off as many characters as we want, Suicide Squad has had few deaths of known characters plus with the serum that will bring them back from the dead or heal all injuries its more about seeing villains do the wet work for Wallerand have to come together as a make shift team, then about the sense of danger and death. I hope that made sense if not I have been up for hours so blame that :p

@br_havoc: I guess I'm just confused as to why people would get upset over the serum (as people clearly are) and complain about the lack of risk. This stems once more, I suppose, from me having a fundamental inability to understand why people think likelihood of death is necessary to make a story worth reading. *shrug*

He is more manipulative than her,more tactical and let's be honest more distorted.She is clever but Harley is definetely not "Evil Mastermind" material
He was the Joker of Dick Grayson pre 52
But he did.

@k4tzm4n:Should i pick the issue up,i have to order it online so i wanna know if it is worth the trouble?

EDIT:Hooray 1000 post!

@akbogert: People hate change I mean I am not innocent of that 20 issues and I still bitch about Harley's new look lol. Well the funny thing is even when the serum was not in this comic very few characters died I mean when they did kill off a member it was the random red shirt. So I am just as confused as you are to why people hate this serum so much because if they honestly thought they were ever going to kill off Harley or Deadshot even Kingshark they were delusional.

It suits Amanda Waller's character perfectly, and Glass ran her so far into the ground she came out in China. So I'm on board with it. Plus, yes, it's been established in this series for almost a year, so holding that against this issue is some serious weaksauce.