Suicide Squad #11

 
Writer: Rob Williams
Artist: John Romita Jr. and Eddy Barrows
Publisher: DC Comics

Following the Justice League/Maxwell Lord affair, the Suicide Squad is back to doing what they do best. Breaking into heavily fortified secret bases and destroying anyone and anything that gets in their way. Picking up on story threads woven before the events of the Justice League/Suicide Squad crossover, Suicide Squad #11 see the Squad tasked with hunting down any lead that point toward the identities of those behind the Annihilation Brigade and the secret Russian prison from the Black Vault arc. Although things are back to normal for most members of Task Force X, Amanda Waller finds herself sequestered on “administrative leave” while Rustam runs free and begins his final preparations for his revenge.

The issue picks up a shortly after the events of Justice League Vs. Suicide Squad. The team is back in the field and set to the task of destroying secret base after secret base in the hopes of learning something about whoever was behind the events of The Black Vault. With Waller sidelined due to recent events, it is up to Harcourt to play taskmaster and if this issue is anything to go on, she may be a bit more lenient than the Wall. After successfully retrieving data from one of the aforementioned bases, she decides that because of their continued “good behavior”, Task Force X is owed a vacation. Although I am sure this is just a plot device to get the characters where they need to be, it is also an interesting way to show that Waller’s way is not the only way to manage criminals turned G-Men.

What this issue offers, that previous ones have not, is a little insight into what the Squad does in their down time. We are treated to a discothèque enjoying Boomerang who is forced to face his growing morality, a diner going Rick Flag who reflects on his preconceived notions about his criminal comrades and whether or not they can change, and the tender side of Deadshot as he gets to spend some much needed time with his daughter. While these are all very entertaining and insightful, the emotional center of the issue focuses on Amanda Waller. Following the previous issue she now knows that she is despised by her children, and combine that with the fact she has been removed from command, she finds herself in a pretty dark place. After a brief drunken monologue to the still sedated General Zod, she is forced out of Belle Reve and makes her way to New Orleans and what may turn out to be her ultimate fate.

 The issue following a major event can be difficult to write. You are forced to pick up on plots you put aside weeks ago, build on the momentum created during the event, and in some ways ever surpass it. Rob Williams manages to accomplish all through in this very thrilling issue by incorporating the character Rustam and his quest for vengeance into his larger story about the Annihilation Brigade the still mysterious Black Vault. With fantastic art by John Romita Jr. and Eddy Barrows this issue is sure to one of the best your read this week.