Comic Book Review - Suicide Squad: Blaze #1

Rob reviews Suicide Squad: Blaze #1...

Long-time readers of Geek Culture Reviews will know, I normally shy away from comics when it comes to DC. Aside from having a slight interest in Batman, reading a DC comic hasn't interested me - and I've not got a valid reason as to why. Thankfully this all changed as I discovered DC's "Black Label". What the Black Label does is that it takes the normally vibrant DC worlds and adds a more adult twist to them. And when it comes to the Suicide Squad, the format works incredibly well. 

Considering that Task Force X is made up of "supervillains" and other anarchists, the more adult form of storytelling works incredibly well. What we get with Blaze #1 is a comic that doesn't pull its punches (it doesn't need to), and one that also manages to be a thoroughly entertaining read from cover to cover. 

Written by Si Spurrier, Suicide Squad: Blaze sees Amanda Waller assemble Task Force X to hunt the rogue superhuman known as Blaze. To do so Waller gives the job to Harley Quinn, King Shark, Captain Boomerang, and Peacemaker (whose excellent portrayal by John Cena has thrust the unknown character into the spotlight). As things - pardon the pun - "heat up", the Squad are subject to an experimental process that will give them godlike powers - but it will eventually kill them within three months. Knowing that DC isn't going to kill off its main cast, it falls to a group of random prisoners to take the hit. It's also here where the fun starts. 

Spurrier then switches over to reveal our mystery narrator who happens to be the superhero from page-3. Michael Van Zandt (our narrator) is currently serving thirty-to-life and is offered to assist the Squad with his unique powers. Sceptical over the whole "dying" issue, Michael soon agrees when there's mention of an old acquaintance also agreeing to the procedure. We then follow Michael as he gets conscripted to "Project Blaze" and then to Task Force X. 

This issue then follows the mismatched team as they head out to tackle this rogue superhuman. Van Zandt is a great character to show us this world, and it's through his eyes and thoughts that we see just how gritty it is. Where we get given a lot of character to Van Zandt, Spurrier uses his fellow inmates as fodder for what transpires. Naturally, we're meant to connect to Michael Van Zandt, which will no doubt come back to haunt the reader come Blaze' conclusion. 

What transpires throughout this opening act is a great psychological look inside the minds of those who deal with Amanda Waller. Whereas the Suicide Squad have had their more colourful adventures, in recent times they've been portrayed as to what the team is - a group of deranged, blood-thirsty criminals that are good at what they do. The team here are ultimately unlikeable characters who are a far cry from those seen within James Gunn's recent film - and television series. 

Art comes from Aaron Campbell who creates page after page of stunning artwork. Much like Spurrier's script, Campbell manages to capture the essence of this gritty ultra-violent world with imagery that sticks long in your memory. What makes the art more striking is that Campbell makes his people look like people. Harley Quinn looks as much as a deranged psychopath as she's always been made out to be, whilst King Shark is a brute in ways that other "muscle" characters wouldn't get away with. Even though you meant to dislike these terrible people, Campbell draws them with a shred of humanity. 

Blaze is a comic that I'm glad I've experienced. This whole opening is a gritty look into how the Suicide Squad operates from the "squad" right up to its higher echelons. Si Spurrier writes a terrific script that portrays these characters as the psychotic villains that they are. There's a lot here to like and I'm excited to see what comes next. 

Rating 9/10

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