Justice League Book Club Week 29: The Suicide Squad is Here!

[Vroom]

Happy Suicide Squad Day/Week, League!

This week, I’m serving a buffet that is full of delicious treats, be they titles starring the Justice League, or books starring characters that have been in a Justice League at some point. The thread linking all of them? They all feature characters seen in The Suicide Squad.

You don’t have to read all of the books in this literary buffet. Pick one or two that star a character from the movie that you may not know much, if anything, about and go from there. Then choose a few more. This is one buffet that you can come back to again and again wherein you will always find something new to sink your teeth into.

Read

Comics starring the Suicide Squad:

• Justice League International #13
• Suicide Squad #13 (Note: This issue and JLI #13 told the tale of the first time the Justice League and Suicide Squad rumbled, long before 2016’s Justice League vs. Suicide Squad mini-series. A special thanks to @CaptainYesterday for highlighting these two issues some time back.)
• Justice League of America (2006-2011) #'s 17 and 18
• Checkmate #'s 6 and 7

Comics featuring King Shark:

• Aquaman: Sword of Atlantis #'s 46 and 47
• Suicide Squad: King Shark #1 ( Brand-NEW to DCUI! )

Comics featuring assorted members of the Suicide Squad:

• Booster Gold #1 (Blackguard)
• Superman #4 (Bloodsport)
• Superman #170 (Mongal)
• Justice League vs. Suicide Squad (Amanda Waller, Harley Quinn, Captain Boomerang and Rick Flag, among others)

Comics featuring Starro:

• The Brave and The Bold #28, featuring the first appearances of Starro and the Justice League of America!
• Justice League of America #'s 189 and 190
• Justice League Adventures #5
• Booster Gold #'s 13 and 14
• DC Super Friends #12

Discuss

• This week features two different takes on the Justice League and Suicide Squad duking it out: The two-parter from Justice League International #13 and Suicide Squad #13, along with 2016-2017’s Justice League vs. Suicide Squad event mini-series. Which of these tales featuring a titanic tussle of The World’s Greatest Super-Heroes™ and The World’s Unlikeliest Heroes™ was your favorite?

• Who from The Suicide Squad movie would you place in the ranks of the Justice League (be it a comic-based League, or the DCEU iteration)? Surely there’s one person on Amanda Waller’s team that could be amongst the proverbial angels of the League…right? Anyone? Bueller?

• Which of this week’s picks do you feel best captured the tone, characters and aesthetics of The Suicide Squad?

• Finally, which books did you select, and what was it about them that caught your discerning attention?

That’s your mission, League! Again, you can read any of the books above that you want. Don’t rack your brain thinking you have to read all of them, because you don’t. This is just a medley of schtuff featuring some of our latest big screen superstars that you can pick and choose from at your leisure.

I mean, heh-heh, it’s not like Amanda Waller is overseeing this or anything…

phone rings, he picks it up and speaks to the person on the other end, then hangs up

Read the comics. ALL of the comics.

Have fun League, and enjoy The Suicide Squad, both on-screen and (of course) on the page!

[Vroom]

coughs, comically

Didn’t anyone hear about a certain movie that opened a week ago, and these reads which fit it to the letter (and then some)?

[D4RK5TARZ]

I have the main books in my rotation in the very near future. I have been sidetracked with dwindling down the books on my physical shelf. Eek, those stacks of floppies are still scaring me!

[Vroom]

Floppies? Oh, yes, single issues.

Don’t let those singles scare you, mon frere. You lead House of Horrors, so you should scare them!

[D4RK5TARZ]

I might have stacks dating back about 2-3 months. They are not small piles of comics. I did get some triangle era in tonight. Fun fact, Action Comics 661 is on DCUI but is not on the Triangle Era vol. 1 list. (AC 661 is Triangle 3)

[Vroom]

I know the feeling.

I remember having stacks date back half a year in the mid-'00s, when I read nearly everything DC and Marvel in singles, along with manga and non-DC/Marvel titles.

Good thing my social life was nearly non-existant then, so as to have time to eventually get caught up with some of those books, at least.

That’s nice to hear that you got some Triangle Era in! You know, the FDA says that at least one or two Triangle Era books a day will keep the “I haven’t read any good comics lately.” blues away, and I fully believe them.

[D4RK5TARZ]

I do have a couple reading projects, club reading which mainly HoH, Modern Supes, JLBC, and BoP with hopes of fitting in JSA club and maybe Batman club. Then I have the goal of reading books I have purchased in single issue or collected formats. I did organize all of my single issues last night so they are in an easy to read stack. Then there is the Identity Crisis to 52 reading list that I have been making along with Triangle Era.

While I can read comics on the clock in between calls, I can’t really read DC books because of things so I am slowly getting through my Comixology and bundle backlogs during the day. I am almost done with InSEXts and the first arc was really good but the second arc…not so much.

[Vroom]

@D4RK5TARZ

read comics on the clock in between calls

If only smart phones existed back when I worked in a call center in the mid to late '00s.

Incoming caller: “Uh, hello?”

Me: “Yeah, I’m here. Just a second please. I’m finishing the latest issue of Batman, #655, and man, what a read!”

Incoming caller: “O-okay. I’ll just finish some stuff while you read, then.”

Me: “Great, thanks! I’ll be right with you!”

If only…

[D4RK5TARZ]

Why settle for a phone when I can use my tablet. I do, however, promptly put my tablet up once I hear the first beep for a call.

[Vroom]

I wouldn’t take my tablet to work, but if it was on a work-provided tablet, then…

…yeah, still wouldn’t do it. Too many potential peeping eyes, where with a phone, you can guard it from unwanted attention.

This said by a guy who decked out his cubicle with DC and Marvel stuff from one end to the other.

[D4RK5TARZ]

Working from home does have its benefits, along with not sitting in a Petri dish and wearing sweat pants and shorts every day. I have not worn jeans since I have started this job.

[Vroom]

@D4RK5TARZ

Working from home does have its benefits, along with not sitting in a Petri dish and wearing sweat pants and shorts every day. I have not worn jeans since I have started this job.

It is nice to wear shorts to work (I’m rockin’ my tan cargos, ATM).

The last time I wore pants to work in a non-meeting capacity was…months and months ago. When I get a new gig, I’ll have to re-acclimate myself to the worlds of jeans, gabardine dress pants and/or slacks, once more!

What about footwear? I’m barefoot during my work day. Not gonna lie, it’s pretty rad to stretch the 'ol tooties whenever the need arises.

stretches out toes

Oh, yeah. As Groundskeeper Willie once said, “That’s the schtuff!”

[D4RK5TARZ]

@Vroom

What about footwear?

What is footwear, again? The most is my trusty Teva sandals. It is a shame because I just got a set of Justice League socks that I have barely worn. Winter will be here and I guess that is when I will be rocking those. It is sounding more and more that my permanent “office” is about 3 feet away from my comic collection. The only upside to COVID? I think so.

[Vroom]

You know, I bought some Superman socks, once.

“One size fits all.” my ass. They were too snug for my brawny feet and lower legs. I guess nobody at that apparel company knows what its like to have six-inch wide calves.

[ajm08g]

Well hello there Justice League Book Club! Tally-Ho!

Onto the discussion of these reading choices.

@Vroom

This week features two different takes on the Justice League and Suicide Squad duking it out: The two-parter from Justice League International #13 and Suicide Squad #13, along with 2016-2017’s Justice League vs. Suicide Squad event mini-series. Which of these tales featuring a titanic tussle of The World’s Greatest Super-Heroes™ and The World’s Unlikeliest Heroes™ was your favorite?

I liked them both because each had a lot of fun moments to pick and choose from while reading through each of them.

Brace yourself for the amount of panels to follow at the end of this post!

@Vroom

Who from The Suicide Squad movie would you place in the ranks of the Justice League (be it a comic-based League, or the DCEU iteration)? Surely there’s one person on Amanda Waller’s team that could be amongst the proverbial angels of the League…right? Anyone? Bueller?

I would have picked Rick Flag to be among the Justice League.

Sees Batman give a trademark scowl…

Oh… Right… Justice League International #13 and Suicide Squad #13 tell otherwise.

Well, going toe to toe with Batman sure gives credit to being apart of the League that’s for sure.

Unfortunately Peacemaker ended that… Still hurts thinking about that…

@Vroom

Which of this week’s picks do you feel best captured the tone, characters and aesthetics of The Suicide Squad?

The Suicide Squad to me had it’s funny moments, shocking moments, and was not
afraid to get a little brutal. That funny scene of Bloodsport and Peacemaker trying to one up each other as they were taking out all the rebels which they found out later comes to mind was just some of the brutality I think about.

I’d say a little from each of the comics best captured the tone, characters and aesthetics of The Suicide Squad.

@Vroom

Finally, which books did you select, and what was it about them that caught your discerning attention?

I selected them all because once I start reading… I won’t stop until I finish reading.

And eventually post in on the discussion.

As here are those moments that I felt captured the tone, characters and aesthetics of The Suicide Squad.

Justice League International #13

Suicide Squad #13

Justice League of America #17, #18

Checkmate #6, #7

No panels from these two.

Although these did have an interesting show of Waller not having her usual power which closely resembled her power in doing things towards the end of The Suicide Squad.

Aquaman: Sword of Atlantis #46, #47

Suicide Squad: King Shark #1

No panels from this one either.

Although it did a nice job showing the loyalty of King Shark to his friends.

Booster Gold (1985-) #1

Superman (1986-) #4

Superman (1986-) #170

Justice League vs. Suicide Squad and tie-ins from JL and SS

The Brave and the Bold #28

Justice League of America #189, #190

Justice League Adventures #5

Booster Gold (2007-) #13, #14

DC Super Friends #12

This was a nice little story and it is nice that if you wanted to be Aquaman you can just cut out this.

And also another look at Starro taking control of anyone and everyone.

@Vroom

I mean, heh-heh, it’s not like Amanda Waller is overseeing this or anything…

phone rings, he picks it up and speaks to the person on the other end, then hangs up

Read the comics. ALL of the comics.

Don’t worry Vroom I got you.

Plus, now to take a look and see what Waller is up to in Belle Reve.

Oh… No…

So, Waller doesn’t see my actual reaction to that, and it was not me who did it, but I know who it was that did.

Well onto other missions then!

[Vroom]

Er-ma-gash @ajm08g! Your panel selections are legion (and feature super heroes to boot! ) and worthy of a topic featuring a slugfest between The World’s Greatest Super Heroes and The World’s Deadliest Villains Whose Heads Go 'Splode If They **** Around (try fitting that on a lunchbox ).

@ajm08g

@Vroom

I mean, heh-heh, it’s not like Amanda Waller is overseeing this or anything…

phone rings, he picks it up and speaks to the person on the other end, then hangs up

Read the comics. ALL of the comics.

Don’t worry Vroom I got you.

Aw, shucks.

Thanks, man!

[ajm08g]

@Vroom

Thanks, man!

You’re welcome Vroom.

ajm08g then notices a shadowy figure walking down the hall…

Great Krypton! Time to go back into action.
You there! Out of the shadows!

A puzzled look of Captain Boomerang is revealed!

Sure did Boomerang… Now… Enjoy this!

With a mighty whirl and throw from ajm08g the following occurs.

Thank you for your time Boomerang.
Now off to go and get another pie. Any flavor of choice Vroom?

Boomerang is then seen mumbling inaudibly walking away.

[Vroom]

@ajm08g

Now off to go and get another pie. Any flavor of choice Vroom?

Great Rao, I love cherry pie, so go with that.

Oh, and uh, save me an extra will you? Chuck one at Digger all you want, just keep mine in the fridge, m’kay? TY.

[ajm08g]

@Vroom

I love cherry pie, so go with that.

One order up.

@Vroom

Oh, and uh, save me an extra will you?

Extra placed in the fridge.

@Vroom

Chuck one at Digger all you want

Yes, a very enjoyable action to take.

Also amuses Waller, and that keeps her distracted as well from pushing the exploding button which is good.

[Vroom]

Tossing a pie at a deserving jackass is always fun, and Digger is a deserving, boomerang-tossin’, jackass!

nibbles on pie

Mmm, scho gewd! Thank you, @ajm08g!

doesn’t usually speak with a full mouth, but when the pie is this good, it can’t be helped