[Editor’s Note: This review may contain spoilers]

Writer:  Tom Taylor
Art: Nicola Scott
Colors: Annette Kwok
Letters:  Wes Abbott

Reviewed by:  Matthew B.  Lloyd

Summary

Three plotlines interweave in Titans #4: Wally’s fate, Gar’s concern for Borneo and the fallout from last issue’s encounter with the Church of Eternity.

Positives

It’s not clear exactly why, but in Titans #4, but Taylor makes the reader feel like one REALLY is experiencing a group of friends that have been so since childhood and are experiencing adulthood together as well.  There are little details like Linda Park West showing up, Babs in the mix and the change Beast Boy feels about the Titans making a bigger statement than simply punching evil in the face.  There’s a palpable maturity to the characters.

As always, Nicola Scott makes the book look great.  She captures some subtle emotions especially when Garth and Linda greet each other and when Wally protests being kept on the sidelines.  Taylor hits the readers with a big surprise that connects back to the previous issue, and if you have forgotten the surprise from that issue and this one will hit harder.

Negatives

The inclusion of the Suicide Squad and Amanda Waller detracts from the other aspects of the issue.  While Taylor has set them up as the big adversary since issue #1, if you’re not a fan it feels like wasted space.  There are three other plot threads that all have more going for them.  This space could’ve been used to push one of the other plot lines forward with more urgency.

Verdict

Titans #4 bogs down a little bit despite having some really interesting and satisfying moments.  There are lots of good ideas at play in this series, but the Suicide Squad pages in this issue could’ve been used more effectively.  Overall, it’s satisfying to see the Titans feel like old friends readers have grown up with.

The post Review: Titans #4 appeared first on DC Comics News.

[Editor’s Note: This review may contain spoilers]

Writer: Tom Taylor
Art: Nicola Scott
Colors: Annette Kwok
Letters: Wes Abbott

Reviewed by: Matthew Lloyd

Summary

The Titans have taken the place of the on-hiatus Justice League.  But, just as they’re getting started and getting things in place, one of their own has been targeted- Wally West, The Flash!

Positives 

It’s hard not start with the beautiful art of Nicola Scott that graces the pages of Titans #1.  Whether it’s an intimate close shot of Raven holding Garfield as a mouse, or the wide shot of Dick and Donna talking to Garth on the beach or the new Titans Tower in Bludhaven, Scott makes the book look incredible.

One of the biggest draws for Dick Grayson as a character is that he’s been able to age, grow and develop.  This concept is applied to the Titans as a whole and it’s easy to see that this is the draw for the team- a group of friends who’ve grown up together.  It almost doesn’t matter what  crisis they face, it’s really about the group of friends- Nightwing, Donna Troy, Wally West, Garfield Logan, Victor Stone, Raven, Starfire and a number of others over the years.  Tom Taylor captures this as the team comes together for this new stage in their careers.   It’s really interesting that Garth (Aqualad/Tempest) is set apart in the story.  Dick makes it clear he wants Garth to be part of the Titans, but he can’t.  It’s nice to see that it’s not out of animosity or misunderstanding demonstrating simply that Garth has different priorities right now.

With all that Wally’s been through over the past five years beginning with Heroes in Crisis, it’s clear that the wound he suffers on the first page is not fatal despite the intensity of the dramatization in the issue.  It’s interestingly juxtaposed against the rest of the team bringing things together.  It’s going to be the journey of how Wally gets out of this as opposed to a shocking death.

Negatives

It seems like it’s a bit of piling on after Jeremy Adams has done all the work in undoing the damage wrought on the character.  It may feel tiresome to some to have Wally targeted on page one.  However, Wally, because of the trials he’s already come through is the only one who could be on the verge of death and it be clear it’s not a cheap stunt or meaningless death.

The inclusion of Peacemaker and Amanda Waller was a direction I didn’t expect and it feels slightly off.  Time will tell if they work as antagonists for the Titans.

Verdict

There’s a lot of heart in this issue as Scott communicates it through the characters faces and body language and Taylor wisely plays off the established history of these characters.  It began way back in Brave and the Bold #54  with Robin, Aqualad and Kid Flash, the sidekick proteges of the Justice League of America.  It then started again with the New Teen Titans in 1980 by Marv Wolfman and George Perez.  Titans #1 begins the latest series to feature these friends who’ve grown up together.  Certainly the journey will be fun and exciting, but the heart of this issue as well as the popularity of this group of characters is their friendship and shared experiences that continue on just like real life.

The post Review: Titans #1 appeared first on DC Comics News.

This is the fifth time the long-awaited multi-player game has been withheld from release. The game was originally previewed during the Pandemic in 2020 at the first DC FanDome online event. The previous rescheduling had planned to debut the game last year before it was again rescheduled for this coming May. Developers released a recent trailer that added more hype to the project with the reveal of the late Kevin Conroy voicing Batman in the game one final time. The recent passing of the voice actor added more emotional investment and anticipation to this game’s launch.

Suicide Squad Problems Target Rocksteady’s Reputation

So why another delay?

Bloomberg reporter Jason Schreier’s latest Tweet on the topic claims that it was the result of a Playstation showcase last month. The gameplay had been “poorly received by fans.” Another source closely familiar with the game has stated that the game is on an indefinite hold until they work out the problems the fans noted about the quality of the product. This is a major blow to the Montreal-based Rocksteady, which has not released a game since 2015’s Batman: Arkham Knight. 

Suicide Squad: Kill The Justice League is set five years after the events of Batman: Arkham Knight and revolves around Task Force X’s latest mission in Metropolis which initially pits them against the forces of Brainiac.  That is, until it’s revealed he has taken control of the Justice League, thus creating a new mission objective. The voice cast includes Tara Strong as Harley Quinn, Bumper Robinson as Deadshot, Samoa Joe as King Shark, Daniel Lapaine as Captain Boomerang, and Debra Wilson as Amanda Waller. Aside from Conroy as Batman, the only other Justice League voice actor confirmed is Scott Porter as The Flash.

Official Source – Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League Release Date Reportedly Delayed Again (comicbook.com)

The post Suicide Squad Game Delayed Yet Again, According To Sources appeared first on DC Comics News.

[Editor’s Note: This review may contain spoilers]

Director: Jaume Collet-Serra

Writers: Adam Sztykiel, Rory Haines, Sohrab Noshirvani

Starring: Dwayne Johnson, Pierce Brosnan, Noah Centineo, Sarah Shahi, Henry Winkler, Aldis Hodge

Reviewed By: Derek McNeil

Thanks to WB for providing a review copy.

Summary

Black Adam: Nearly 5,000 years after he was bestowed with the almighty powers of the ancient gods – and imprisoned just as quickly – Black Adam is freed from his earthly tomb, ready to release his unique form of justice on the modern world.

Positives

While I usually have high expectations for most DC movies, I had some trepidation about Black Adam – mainly due to the lead actor, Dwayne Johnson. I have some doubts that a professional wrestler would have the acting ability necessary for a lead role. However, The Suicide Squad and its spinoff Peacemaker have taught me that sometimes they can actually do quite well in a superhero role.

While I can’t say that Johnson’s performance is as good as Cena’s as Peacemaker, I was surprised to see that Johnson did a decent job of bringing the character of Black Adam to life.

I loved that Black Adam also featured the Justice Society, and that they were integral to the movie’s plot. The JSA has only gotten brief recognition in DC’s TV offerings, and has never been referred to in any DC live-action movie before now. You would think that DC’s first superhero team would have been mentioned before now. They laid the foundation for DC’s superhero universe and I believe they are deserving of their own movie at some point.

The movie had a strong theme of the nature of justice, which is fitting in a movie featuring the Justice Society. Black Adam’s idea of justice is brutal and frequently lethal. While Hawkman has a more even-keeled idea of justice. Hawkman and Black Adam frequently argue over Adam killing his enemies. While Hawkman doesn’t really bring Adam over to his way of thinking, Adam’s position does soften somewhat. Perhaps in future installments, Adam might come around fully to share Hawkman’s view of justice.

Positives Cont.

Of the various characters in Black Adam, the best was Pierce Brosnan’s Doctor Fate. This interpretation of the character was incredibly faithful to the comic version. And Brosnan was amazingly charismatic in the role of Kent Nelson. I would really love to see Brosnan star in his own Doctor Fate movie. While the events of this movie might make a sequel with Brosnan as Doctor Fate difficult, they could easily make a prequel.

I also quite enjoyed Sara Shahi’s performance of Adrianna Tomaz. who became the heroine Isis in the comics, as well as being Adam’s love interest. If a sequel to this movie happens, I would love to see her taking on the role of Isis in the world of Black Adam.

While he only had a brief cameo, I loved seeing that Henry Winkler was cast as the original Atom Smasher. Winkler is a legend and I wish he could have gotten more screen time. But I was happy to see his inclusion in the movie.

I loved the end credit scene where Henry Cavill makes a cameo as Superman. Unfortunately, it appears that this scene will mark Cavill’s final appearance in the role, as James Gunn has declared that the role of Superman will be recast in future DC movies. Hopefully, that will change, and we will get to see him reprise the role, even if only in a multiverse story or an Elseworlds movie.

Positives Cont.

The movie looks absolutely stunning on a 4K UHD capable TV. However, the regular Blu-Ray looks quite nice on a 1080p TV also, which will be fine for many viewers. If you are on a budget or don’t really care about having the best possible picture, then the DVD version is quite watchable.

Warner Home Video offers this movie in three different physical packages:

• 4K UHD combo pack, which also includes a Blu-Ray copy and digital download code
• Blu-Ray combo pack, which also includes a DVD copy and digital download code
• DVD single disk pack

Take note that the digital download code is only available in the United States. Warner provided me with an American copy of the 4K Blu-Ray which included the code, but it isn’t usable in Canada. But, I personally don’t see that as a drawback, as I prefer to use the physical media over watching the streamed digital version.

The package includes a wealth of special features, with several short documentaries about the subjects such as the history of Black Adam and the Justice Society in the comics, and the realization of a live-action version of the country Kahndaq. There are also features about the process of making the movie, and technical subjects like costumes and special effects.

Keep in mind that the special features are only on the regular Blu-Ray. The 4K set includes the Blu-Ray, so these features are available, but in 1080p, not 4K UHD. The DVD only version contains no special features at all.

Negatives

Unfortunately, there are a few things that I found disappointing about this release. While I love that the Justice Society played a central role in this movie, I was disappointed that they whittled the roster down to only four members. I wish some more of the classic JSA members or their proteges could have been included.

I also didn’t care much for some of the deviations from the source material regarding some of the characters. The race-swapping of Hawkman or Cyclone didn’t bother me at all. That didn’t really change the characters other than visually, but I didn’t like that Cyclone and Atom Smasher had somewhat different personalities than their comic book counterparts. However, I have to admit their costumes and powers were spot on.

Atom Smasher is played as something of a well-meaning screwup in this movie, whereas the comic book version’s a quite capable and competent hero. The movie version seems to be more of an amalgam of Atom Smasher and the similar character Damage from the comics.

Cyclone has suddenly been promoted to being a technological genius. She’s clever in the comics, but she’s not a super-genius whiz kid. Instead of changing these characters to have these qualities, why didn’t they just add a couple more JSA members that have these traits. This would better round out the team.

Negatives Cont.

I understand that they had to break Shazam and Black Adam into separate movies to do both stories justice. However, I do wish that they had made the connection between Adam and Shazam/Captain Marvel more clear. I feel that the terrific end credits scene with Cavill would have been much better if Zach Levi as Shazam had accompanied Superman to confront Adam.

I also didn’t like that they referred to Henry Winkler’s character as the original Atom Smasher. Al Pratt was the Atom in the comic, Albert Rothstein created the name Atom Smasher as an homage to the Atom, but it was also his own unique identity. Changing Al Pratt’s superhero name ultimately had no effect on the events of the movie, making the change pointless. So why didn’t they stick with the comic-accurate name?

Also, while the wealth of special features in this release were both interesting and informative, I do have a small gripe about them. As with a lot of other movies, there is a glaring omission. I feel that all home video special features should include, at a bare minimum, the trailers for the feature movie itself. No trailers, TV spots, or any promotional videos are included with this release, which is a shame.

Verdict

Despite these drawbacks, I quite enjoyed the film. While I was a bit apprehensive about Black Adam, it surpassed my expectations. Watching this movie was a fun and entertaining experience. While Black Adam isn’t the best movie in the DCEU franchise, it is far from being the worst. It’s a solid film, and well worth watching. I wouldn’t be averse to seeing a sequel in the future, hopefully one where Johnson’s Black Adam faces Zach Levi’s Shazam/Captain Marvel.

The post Blu-Ray Review: Black Adam appeared first on DC Comics News.

Kevin Conroy.

Suicide Squad Gets A Final Dose of Vengeance From Conroy’s Dark Knight

The 68-year-old actor, who passed away on November 10 was, for over 30 years, the definitive voice of Batman. This game will mark his final performance as the Dark Knight. Rocksteady’s latest trailer for this long-awaited game made this revelation at the end of one of the game’s cinematics.

After a grieving period that feels longer than it should for longtime Batman fans, hearing that iconic tone and those lines one last time will bring tears to your eyes. Since the premiere of Batman: The Animated Series in September of 1992, Conroy had reprised the role in multiple spinoffs, video games, and DTV animated features. He even got the chance to play a live-action Bruce Wayne in The CW’s Arrowverse crossover event Crisis on Infinite Earths. Since his passing, former cast mates and fans worldwide have paid tribute to Kevin’s memory via social media and fan videos.

Here is the official synopsis for the multi-player platform:

Based on the DC Comics supervillain/anti-hero team the Suicide Squad, the game revolves around the titular team of super-criminals, who are assembled by Amanda Waller and sent to Metropolis to stop the alien invader Brainiac and save the members of the Justice League who have been brainwashed by him.

Other confirmed cast members include Conroy’s fellow BTAS alum Tara Strong once again as Harley Quinn, Debra Wilson as Amanda Waller, and Joe Seanoa as Nanaue/King Shark. Seanoa is best known to WWE fans as Samoa Joe.

Click below to view the trailer.

The game was first announced at the 2020 DC FanDome during the global pandemic and has been delayed multiple times. It is expected to be released May 26, 2023.

Official Source – Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League trailer reveals Kevin Conroy’s Batman (batman-news.com)

The post Suicide Squad: Kevin Conroy’s Final Bow As Batman appeared first on DC Comics News.

The Rocksteady-produced game had been originally anticipated by fans for its December 2022. The company is famous for its dip in the DC Universe with its phenomenal Batman: Arkham series, and now brings its talents to the dysfunctional Task Force X. After two groundbreaking trailers the year before and several months back, the game seemed to be set to go under everyone’s tree. And yet, news has reached the gaming community that the target date has been rescheduled to some time in 2023. The reason has not been confirmed, but the pandemic is one culprit. It has become common because of COVID-19 for both games and movies to be delayed. In the case of video games, anxious gamers can expect a product to be delayed and rescheduled at least once.

Suicide Squad – Who Are They and What Is The Game About?

For those new to the franchise, The Suicide Squad is a group of DC’s worst supervillains corralled by Amanda Waller with bombs in their heads and led on the field by Colonel Rick Flagg. The deal is simple: Complete missions that will go towards taking time off of their sentence and stay within established boundaries. If one of them tries to escape or disobey orders, Waller detonates the bomb in the disobedient team member.

The team was brought onto the world stage in 2016’s Suicide Squad with its breakout star Margot Robbie’s portrayal as Harley Quinn. Its standalone follow up The Suicide Squad by James Gunn saw Robbie’s return, and newcomer Peacemaker, played by John Cena. Cena is currently starring in HBO’s Peacemaker series, which is a prequel to the events of the film.

As the trailers have revealed, the game focuses on The Suicide Squad ordered by Amanda Waller to take down the Justice League after they have been possessed by the alien Brainiac. The roster includes Deadshot, Captain Boomerang, Harley Quinn, and King Shark. Its voice cast features Tara Strong, Debra Wilson, and Joe Seanoa aka former WWE Superstar Samoa Joe.

Click below to see the latest trailers.

Official Source – Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League reportedly won’t come out until 2023 – The Verge

The post “Suicide Squad: Kill The Justice League” Rescheduled For 2023 Release appeared first on DC Comics News.

[Editor’s Note: This review may contain spoilers]

Director: James Gunn

Writer: James Gunn

Starring: Viola Davis, Joel Kinnaman, Margot Robbie, Jai Courtney, Idris Elba, Peter Capaldi, Nathan Fillion, Sylvester Stallone, John Cena

Reviewed By: Derek McNeil

Thanks to WB for the free review copy.

Summary

The Suicide Squad: The government sends the most dangerous Super-Villains in the world – Bloodsport, Peacemaker, King Shark, Harley Quinn, and others – to the remote, enemy-infused island of Corto Maltese. Armed with high-tech weapons, they trek through the dangerous jungle on a search-and-destroy mission, with only Colonel Rick Flag on the ground to make them behave. As always, one wrong move and they’re dead – whether at the hands of the ultimate Kaiju; Starro the Conqueror; a teammate, or Waller herself. If anyone’s laying down bets, the smart money is against them. All of them.

Positives

Warner Bros. has released James Gunn’s The Suicide Squad in the three standard formats: A 4K/Blu-Ray combo pack, a Blu-Ray/DVD combo pack, and a DVD pack. Each of these also includes a digital copy code redeemable through Movies Anywhere. The review copy supplied included the 4K and Blu-Ray versions of the movie.

While I enjoyed the first Suicide Squad movie, it clearly had some issues. Gunn’s sequel is a big improvement over its predecessor. It would almost qualify as a reboot. However, it does acknowledge and build on the previous movie. A number of important characters return, namely: Harley Quinn, Rick Flag, Captain Boomerang, and Amanda Waller.

It also introduces a lot on new characters to the Squad. Gunn is clearly a fan of the comics, and has done some deep dives into DC Comics history to fill out the team’s ranks. Many of them look like they stepped right off the comic page, and Some of them have established history with the Squad in the comics. We get the likes of King Shark, Weasel, Ratcatcher, the Thinker, Mongal, and others. One of the weirdest is TDK, a.k.a. The Detachable Kid, based on the Legion of Super-Heroes reject, Arm-Fall-Off-Boy.

Positives Cont.

It turns out that the Suicide Squad needs a large roster, as the movie lives up to its title. This mission is indeed a suicide mission for most of the cast. I won’t get into specific spoilers about who dies, but Gunn killed off some characters that I thought for sure would come through alive. This really drives home that none of the characters are indispensable. The first movie attempted to do this by killing off Slipknot. But Gunn succeeds by actually wiping most of the team out.

In my opinion, the two stars of the movie are Bloodsport and Peacemaker. Tension is built up between the two, having very similar skillsets, but radically different attitudes. The pair spend a lot of the movie bickering and engaging in competitive behavior.

In many respects, a lot of Deadshot has been transferred over to the character of Bloodsport. They’re both incredibly skilled marksmen, and Waller uses Bloodsport’s daughter as leverage to get him to obey her orders, much like she has done with Deadshot in the comics and Idris Elba is definitely a major upgrade from Will Smith.

I didn’t expect much from John Cena at first, but I have to admit I was pleasantly surprised with his performance as Peacemaker. Unlike the comics, where the character was originally played seriously, Gunn has discovered a wealth of humor in the character. The whole idea of a man who loves peace so much that he’s willing to fight for it is a strange contradiction. This version of Peacemaker suffers from a condition that renders him unable to see that contradiction. And Cena sells that insanity in a hilarious manner.

Positives Cont.

I absolutely love that James Gunn actually using Starro the conqueror – exactly as he appears in the comics – the major villain. That would have fallen flat with any other director, but Gunn makes it work. Gunn’s love of the comics shows through in this movie. He even includes characters from the title’s minor supporting cast like John Economos and Emilia Harcourt.

The Suicide Squad looks and sounds great on Blu-Ray, but if you have a 4K player and compatible TV, then it’s worth the extra cost to see it in full 4K Ultra HD. On the other hand, if you’re not fussy about picture quality and don’t mind missing out on the special features, the DVD is a decent budget option.

There are a wealth of special features, which are primarily found on the Blu-Ray disc. There’s the standard Director’s commentary, deleted/extended scenes, and gag reel features. There are also scene breakdowns and mini-documentaries. Of special note is the feature “Gotta Love the Squad”, which focuses on how Gunn stays true to John Ostrander’s Suicide Squad comic. It really shows how much love Gunn tried to keep his movie true to the spirit of John Ostrander’s original vision.

I also loved the inclusion of three “retro trailers”. Each is a 70s or 80s style movie trailer for the film done in a different movie genre: war movie, horror movie, and buddy cop movie. These are all hilarious, but they also underscore that there are elements of those genres present in Gunn’s movies. While these trailers are hilarious, they do draw attention to those facets of Gunn’s movie as well.

Negatives

On the subject of trailers, I have to say that there is no excuse for not including the actual teaser and theatrical trailers for the film among the special features. In my opinion, every home video movie should include all the official trailers. However, this is a rather minor disappointment.

Verdict

There are some doomsayers that are declaring the DCEU a failure and that the Snyderverse is effectively dead. James Gunn’s The Suicide Squad utterly refutes that idea. It shows that with the right creative talent, there is still a lot of life left in the DCEU.

The post Blu-Ray Review: The Suicide Squad appeared first on DC Comics News.

[Editor’s Note: This review may contain spoilers]

Writer: Jeremy Adams

Artist: Will Conrad

Colours: Alex Sinclair

Letters: Steve Wands

Reviewed By: Derek McNeil

Summary

The Flash #773: On the loose and bent on destruction, Heatwave’s return couldn’t come at a worse time for Wally West. Now that the onetime Kid Flash has retaken the mantle of the Fastest Man Alive, he’s also taken a new job at Mr. Terrific’s Holt Industries. But all of that gets put on the back burner, when the Flash must outrace the flames of one of his greatest foes and figure out why the once-reformed rogue has gone bad again.

Positives

In The Flash #773, we see Wally on his first day on the job at Holt Industries. Despite the fact that he’s half an hour late, and has to dash off to deal with Heatwave, he manages to impress his new co-workers.

Last issue, Wally seemed doubtful that he was qualified for the job, despite Mister Terrific’s assurances. But Wally’s first action in the job proves him right. He is able to solve a problem due to having done “something similar with a treadmill”. This of course, refers to the Flash’s Cosmic Treadmill. He also manages to apply the fix to their device for them. Clearly, Wally has the knowledge and experience to be an engineer, even if he doesn’t have the formal accreditation.

There is a short interlude that shows a pair of Sinestro Corps members unsuccessfully attempting to stop and retrieve the mysterious object hurtling through space. They state that it’s headed towards Sector 2814. This is little more than a tease, but an intriguing one. Also, one of the Sinestro Corps is former Green Lantern Jessica Cruz. This is a nice cameo, but it would be great if she featured in the upcoming storyline about this mysterious object.

Positives Cont.

Wally is able to defeat Heatwave rather easily, but his true victory comes in the aftermath of their fight. Wally simply talks to the villain about his reasons for returning to his criminal ways. And upon learning about Mick Rory’s cancer diagnosis, offers to help. Wally isn’t content to just stop the villain, but extends compassion to him, despite his crimes. In this scene, Jeremy Adams demonstrates that Wally is a true hero. This is why Wally is help up as a symbol of hope in the DCU.

So Wally manages to stop, as well as comfort the villain. He manages to make a good impression on his new co-workers. And he ends his day spending quality time with his family. After all the grief Wally has been put through in recent years. It’s great to see things going great for Wally for a change.

Adams seems to be taking a very different approach with Wally than Joshua Williamson did with Barry. Williamson progressively made things worse and worse for Barry, so that he could triumphantly come rebounding back to greatness. But Wally’s already been taken as low as possible by Heroes In Crisis. So, Adams gets to start off with Wally at a high point. Undoubtedly, there will be rough patches ahead, but I hope that Adams will continue to keep this optimistic tone in the title over the long run.

Will Conrad has got to be one of the best Flash artists ever. His depiction of the Flash costume is absolutely gorgeous. And he captures Wally’s super-speed beautifully. I especially loved the splash page showing Wally creating  waterspout. And his backgrounds are crisp and complex.

Negatives

Absolutely none. The Flash #773 is an absolutely perfect issue.

Verdict

With The Flash #773, Jeremy Adams continues to demonstrate that he’s the man best suited to bringing us the adventures of Wally West. His run on The Flash is shaping up to be an all-time classic.

The post Review: The Flash #773 appeared first on DC Comics News.

[Editor’s Note: This review may contain spoilers]

Writer: Tim Sheridan

Artist: Rafa Sandoval, Jordi Tarragona, Max Raynor

Colours: Alejandro Sanchez

Reviewed By: Derek McNeil

Summary

Teen Titans Academy #3: Don’t miss this crossover with Suicide Squad! Hunted by the deadly Task Force X, the new students of Titans Academy will have to grow up fast or risk losing one of their own even faster. Why has the Squad put a target on new speedster Bolt’s back? And why, in its charge on Titans Island, is Amanda Waller’s team of villains being led by the mysterious Red X?!

Positives

In Teen Titans Academy #3, the Suicide Squad crosses over from their own title on a mission to capture Bolt. Bolt is a rather interesting character, being a speedster with prosthetic legs. And this issue, we learn her backstory, as she tells her origin story to her roommate.

Interestingly enough, her power comes from Johnny Quick’s speed formula (“3×2(yz)4a”). Apparently, the formula only works for some people, but not others. This raises the question of why it works for her in particular. Is she related to Johnny and Jesse Quick? Or does she have some connection to the Speed Force. Also, the formula gave Johnny the power of flight as well. Does this mean she has the potential for that power as well?

It turns out that Amanda Waller was the benefactor who gave her blades and enrolled her at the Titans Academy “on the condition that the instant she called, I would come running”. But Alinta has not been accepting Waller’s calls, so the Squad has come to fetch her.

The enigmatic Red X assists the Squad in breaking into the tower. It’s been implied that Red X is one of the Academy’s students, but his motives remain a mystery. However, this does imply that his motives are not benign. There is also some interesting discussion between the staff about who might be behind the mask. This is shaping up to be quite the mystery. I have to wonder just how long Tim Sheridan plans on keeping us in suspense.

Positives Cont.

During this staff discussion, Donna Troy refers to Billy Batson as “Captain Shazam” – well actually, “Captain freaking Shazam”. This may just be a throwaway line, but I think that Captain Shazam, while not as good as returning his name to “Captain Marvel”, would still be a big improvement on just “Shazam”. It certainly would eliminate the confusion of it being both the Wizard’s name and Billy’s hero name.

Superboy is now a member of the Suicide Squad and there’s a brief, but sad moment where he spots a picture of his days with the Teen Titans. He isn’t exactly a willing member of Peacemaker’s team and it must be galling to be sent on a mission against the Titans.

I quite like the concept of this title. The Academy setting allows for multiple incarnations of the team to be featured. The original Titans are present as the staff, while the most recent team are the upperclassmen, and the new additions are freshmen. And there are many students that we haven’t met yet, allowing other characters to be brought in as the story unfolds. And it’s a direction that hasn’t been explored much in the DCU, although it does seem to borrow from Marvel’s X-Men.

Negatives

This is a bold new direction for the Titans, and as such, is a somewhat risky move. However, I don’t detect any warning signs that Sheridan’s story is going off the rails. I’m enjoying this direction so far.

Verdict

Teen Titans Academy #3 continues to flesh out the intriguing beginning that Tim Sheridan has presented for DC’s foremost junior team. I look forward to seeing where Sheridan’s new direction leads.

The post Review: Teen Titans Academy #3 appeared first on DC Comics News.

This is overly optimistic to say the least. https://t.co/A7qqciurT8

— James Gunn (@JamesGunn) April 17, 2021

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Since the beginning, Gunn has said “don’t get attached” to the characters. Well, aren’t we already attached and that’s why we’re watching right? Besides that, when the first trailer was released the rated-R film set the record for the most-watched red band trailer on the internet. Dang, it even beat Wonder Woman. In the trailer, we see King Shark, played by Sylvester Stallone, ripping a body in half (ew) and that’s just part of the cake. The icing is hundreds of bullets and guns throughout the whole thing. So far, no death has been leaked . . . yet. For the full synopsis see WB’s release below:

“Welcome to hell—a.k.a. Belle Reve, the prison with the highest mortality rate in the US of A. Where the worst Super-Villains are kept and where they will do anything to get out—even join the super-secret, super-shady Task Force X. Today’s do-or-die assignment? Assemble a collection of cons, including Bloodsport, Peacemaker, Captain Boomerang, Ratcatcher 2, Savant, King Shark, Blackguard, Javelin, and everyone’s favorite psycho, Harley Quinn. Then arm them heavily and drop them (literally) on the remote, enemy-infused island of Corto Maltese. Trekking through a jungle teeming with militant adversaries and guerrilla forces at every turn, the Squad is on a search-and-destroy mission with only Colonel Rick Flag on the ground to make them behave…and Amanda Waller’s government techies in their ears, tracking their every movement. And as always, one wrong move and they’re dead (whether at the hands of their opponents, a teammate, or Waller herself). If anyone’s laying down bets, the smart money is against them—all of them.”

The Suicide Squad comes to theaters and HBO Max on August 6th, 2021. So what do you think? Is it gonna happen? Is Gunn just throwing us off the scent because someone got close to a leak? Let us know in the comments!

The post James Gunn Breaks Silence on ‘Suicide Squad’ Death Toll Theory appeared first on DC Comics News.