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If you were a super villain, what would you do to get out of time behind bars? If breaking out weren’t an option, would you be willing to work your time off? Even if it meant you could die in the process? Well if you end up working for Amanda Waller, you’ll likely end up on a black ops mission with a tiny bomb placed in your skull. Welcome to the Suicide Squad! Hope you survive the experience!

While the Suicide Squad is now known mostly for corralling super criminals, it started as just a standard squadron of soldiers. S Squadron earned their nickname for having a high death rate, when Rick Flag took over that began to change. Going from one of the worst crews to the best, the Suicide Squad became a name for crews ready to take on impossible odds. The moniker would survive beyond the second World War and change with outside influences.

President Truman would form Task Force X after the disbanding of the Justice Society of America, which lead to an increase in costumed criminals. The fight against super villainy was now officially government work. As time went on, with technology developing new ways to keep these super criminals in check once caught, Amanda Waller saw an opportunity.

Many super villains were seen as weapons, by themselves and others, Waller believed that with the right motivations and precautions, these weapons could be tools of the government. Task Force X became a home for imprisoned super inmates. In exchange for reduction on their sentences, these costumed villains would get implanted with cranial bombs, as a way to keep them in line, and sent on black ops missions that were too dangerous for your standard agents. Either powers or highly skilled and competent criminals who had been caught would be chosen.

Sometimes they’d get someone with super strength or energy blasts but they often found themselves filled with the deadliest humans with no powers at their command. Deadshot, possibly the most successful assassin with unerring aim was not only a frequent member of the Suicide Squad but would even take the lead many times. Captain Boomerang, deadly with an ancient weapon and able to face off with the fastest man alive proved to be a capable member of the team and frequently on it.

Other members came and went, often leaving in a body bag (if there were even enough remains for such a thing) but there were always new members reading to reduce their sentences. The Flag family found themselves tied to the Suicide Squad once more as Rick Flag, grandson of the original leader with the same team name, was the agent made to lead these criminals. Working with Waller as her field agent to keep everyone in check while she dealt with the red tape and any officials or heroes who may have a problem with such an organization existing.

There you have it! The Suicide Squad have been an infamous team in the DC universe. They’ve blasted and burned their way through hundreds of missions. Appearing on the big and small screen, live action and animated, the Suicide Squad is always getting brought together, killed off, and drafting new members. See you next time!

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Suicide Squad

Dr. Bustos
drbustos@comicattack.net