Suicide Squad #23 – Review

By: Ales Kot (story), Rick Leonardi (pencils), Andy Owens, Derek Fridolfs, Marc Deering (inks), Brad Anderson (colors)

The Story: Two teams of crazies, but only one will make it out with pie on their face.

The Review: All too soon, we’ve come to the end of Kot’s promising run on this series.  I still don’t really understand why this had to happen, though the continuously dwindling sales probably have something to do with it.  At any rate, my mind’s made up to depart from Suicide Squad at the same time Kot does.  In just four issues, Kot has definitely established a powerful, specific voice and direction for this title, which I don’t believe anyone can emulate.

There is a very, very fine line to the tone Kot has brought to the Squad, balancing precariously on a tightrope between extreme* and excess.  Take James Jr.’s attraction with Waller, for instance.  Despite how difficult it is to believe that a sociopath like him can experience something like sentiment for anything, James’ feelings are still convincing.  Of course, choosing Waller as his object of affection is simply inspired—no other word for it—but it’s the sinister curiosity behind James’ obsession with her that seems true to his character.