Top 10 Characters from The Suicide Squad Then vs Now
#10: Starro
“The Brave and the Bold” #28 (Feb-Mar 1960) Starro, or to give its full name, Starro The Conqueror, sounds more like it would grace the pages of a Pokemon comic book than a DC one. However, this supervillain first shone brightly across issue 28 of “The Brave and the Bold” during the Silver Age of Comic Books. Starro shares its debut with the Justice League of America, as a nemesis of founding member Aquaman and is essentially an alien which resembles a gigantic Starfish… really, not a Pokemon? Ok… Since its creation by Gardner Fox and Mike Sekowsky, Starro has appeared in original and titan form in TV, animated film, multiple video games, as well as theme park attractions. Don’t let its appearance trick you, Starro is a genius telepathic giant.
#9: The Polka-Dot Man
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“Detective Comics” #300 (Feb. 1962) Also from the Silver Age of Comic Books is The Polka-Dot Man. Don’t be fooled into thinking that Abner Krill is born of a lack of inspiration, this member of Batman’s Rogues Gallery was co-conceived by the Dark Knight’s other creator Bill Finger, with Sheldon Moldoff. Unfortunately, the only trait that is even slightly inspired by the Caped Crusader is the ever-resourceful utility belt. Polka-Dot Man’s myriad of dastardly devices are transferred from his costume’s––you guessed it––Polka Dots. Also known as Mister Polka-Dot, this villain rarely makes an appearance on DC’s pages, so it is somewhat unusual to see he’s part of James Gunn’s The Suicide Squad played by chameleon actor David Dastmalchian. Side note, technically... those aren’t actually polka dots…
#8: The Thinker
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“All-Flash” #12 (Fall 1943) The Thinker is the alter ego of four supervillains that have appeared in DC publications since the Second World War. The Clifford DeVoe version of the character was a failed lawyer, who intended on using his intellect to succeed where other wannabe crimelords had failed; and take over Gotham City. Foiled by the original Flash––as in, Jay Garrick in his winged tin hat––Thinker donned similar headwear to project mental forces and enhance his intelligence. The main antagonist of The Flash Season 4, an amalgamation of Clifford DeVoe and The New 52’s version of The Thinker will soon be portrayed by Peter Capaldi, who is no stranger to inheriting characters who have both previously appeared as multiple incarnations and whose first name is The.
#7: Captain Boomerang
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“The Flash” #117 (Dec. 1960) Just when you think he’s gone, Captain Boomerang comes right back at you… (see what we did there?) Again to be played by Jai Courtney, Boomerang makes this entry double-punned by being the first character who is returning from the previous film. This is largely due to how well Courtney’s performance was received in 2016’s “Suicide Squad,” and because the American-Australian supervillain has been a member of Task Force X since the 1990s. George “Digger” Harkness (and later his son Owen Mercer,) has been around for sixty years, however, as the lethal boomerang-wielding fiend has butted heads with “The Flash” in comics and TV since 1960. An expert marksman normally clad in a blue tunic, we’re all wondering how he earned his rank.
#6: Amanda Waller
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“Legends” #1 (Nov. 1986) Have you ever been warned not to “cross the boss or else?” Well, employees at Cadmus don’t get that cautionary tale, as Amanda Waller is the type of person who responds to a mistake with the “else.” The sometimes-adversary/sometimes-ally of the Justice League, she is always portrayed as the no-nonsense pragmatic government agent who is responsible for the fight back against metahumans. Regardless of where her methods lie on the morality scale, she is usually armed with a quick reply or rebuttal to the World’s Greatest Detective. Played again by Viola Davis in the upcoming movie, Waller’s appearance as The Suicide Squad’s leader is a welcome return for a character that has changed little since her 1986 debut.
#5: King Shark
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Cameo “Superboy” #0 (Oct. 1994) / “Superboy” #9 (Nov. 1994) Marking his cinematic debut in the upcoming film, King Shark (or Nanaue to his friends) was originally intended to be part of the original 2016 movie lineup. However, owing to a budget that would not have room for a fully CGI-rendered character, the role of the anthropomorphic supervillain went to Killer Croc instead. Add to that the character’s hilarious, but co-incidental, appearance in the recent “Harley Quinn” solo animated series, and Shark is in. A relatively new member of Task Force X, Nanaue has been drawn and portrayed as both a hammerhead and bullhead shark. All we know for certain, is that he definitely has hands.
#4: Rick Flag
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“The Brave and the Bold” #25 (Sept. 1959) Like The Doctor––sorry––The Thinker, Rick Flag is another nomenclature used by several characters. In this case, three generations of Rick Flag have appeared in DC comics, all with the same name (which must surely be confusing during the holidays). Richard Montgomery Flag (Rick Flag Sr) was the only survivor of the Suicide Squadron, which led missions during the Second World War. Afterward, then-president Harry S. Truman asked him to head up Task Force X. His son, Rick Flag Jr. is the character that we see the most of, even if the timing doesn’t quite match up anymore. Once more to be portrayed by Joel Kinnaman, the group’s commander will this time be shown with his trademark bright yellow t-shirt, which is the epitome of stealth…
#3: Peacemaker
“Fightin’ 5” #40 (Nov. 1966) Another crazy costume to be making its debut in “The Suicide Squad” is that belonging to Christopher Smith, AKA, The Peacemaker. Let’s just put it out there, if you were to call John Cena’s Peacemaker a Captain America rip-off, a dork, or just plain weird… well we wouldn’t disagree. But there is much to be made of Peacemaker, despite his 60’s pop-art appearance. Firstly, unlike most of the Suicide Squad, he isn’t a villain. Secondly, he isn’t a DC original, first appearing in Charlton Comics before being acquired. Finally, he’s already getting his own spin-off TV series, meaning that in contrast to the man who portrays him, we will be seeing a lot of Peacemaker soon...
#2: Bloodsport
“Superman Vol.2.” #4 (Apr. 1987) It’s possible that out of all the Suicide Squaddies, Bloodsport has the most serious name, and backstory to boot. Another noms de guerre taken on by multiple people, the original Bloodsport is Robert DuBois, who evaded conscription to the Vietnam War efforts. Instead, his brother Michael went in his place and lost all of his limbs. Consumed with rage, and manipulated by Lex Luthor, DuBois wages war on Metropolis and almost takes out Superman after shooting him with a Kryptonite needle. Like Rick Flag, it’ll be difficult to reconcile this backstory for the upcoming movie, but Idris Elba’s DuBois looks like a good replacement for the Deadshot character of the film. Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions. Savant - “Birds of Prey” #56 (Aug. 2003) Bleached Blonde Super Hacker Turned Vigilante Turned Criminal Sol Soria - “Suicide Squad” Vol. 5 #33 (Mar. 2018) Gender-Swapped Juan Soria Drafted to the Squad Dick Hertz / Blackguard - “Booster Gold” #01 (Feb. 1986) Unlucky Mercenary Who Foils His Own Plans Arm-Fall-Off-Boy / Floyd Belkin/TDK - “Secret Origins Vol. 02” #46 (Dec. 1989) Does Exactly What His Name Suggests & Then Uses Them as Weapons Weasel - “The Fury of Firestorm” #35 (Aug. 1985) Like Rocket Raccoon, Sean Gunn’s Incarnation of Weasel Will Be MoCapped
#1: Harley Quinn
“Batman: The Animated Series” (1992-95) Fresh off the heels of her emancipation, Dr. Harleen Quinzel got her start in T.V––not on the page––debuting in “Batman: The Animated Series.” With her whiny voice and her plethora of phrases, Harley Quinn has been a firm favorite for nearly thirty years. Despite the common misconception, her relationship with The Clown Prince of Crime is not exactly a love story. With a fanbase built from every incarnation, Margot Robbie takes a fresh approach with each live-action production, looking set to steal this movie too. Whether clad in the red and black onesie, or eclectic patterns, Harley Quinn is the Suicide Squad’s queen.
