#Richard Craemer

[pixie-mask]

[zahri-melitor]

So I was delighted to find that Gail Simone teamed up with John Ostrander for part of the Secret Six 2008 run (issue #15 is exactly three sort of characterisation interstitial issue Ostrander used to do on Suicide Squad 1987, AND it involved Floyd talking to Richard Craemer) and then…

Oh yeah! Skartaris story (Secret Six #25-28)

Lori I would totally suggest you should ACTUALLY steal magic from Jennifer or Ashiya except for the fact that you’ve never met any of them and you need to know magic users exist to nick their powers. Ashiya would be right up your alley. (Instead, of course, she absorbs Deimos. And not even his dress style).

Also given we are ducking in and out of Suicide Squad storylines I am once again reminded of the absolute nonsense that is the explanation of how Rick Flag survived the nuclear explosion in Qurac (no, not the one you’re thinking of; the other one at Jotunheim) and I’m still mad about it, John Ostrander. Rick was nowhere near that damn sword, I’ve been over all the panels.

Okay that aside this hmmm isn’t that bad for a Skartaris story? There’s nothing overtly factually wrong here and it’s using a bunch of real Skartaris characters reasonably canonically.

I lost it giggling at this point.

Thomas Blake, aka Catman, aka a poor expy of Batman, is dressed as Travis Morgan, aka the Warlord, aka slightly taller colour corrected Oliver Queen, aka Green Arrow aka ANOTHER poor expy of Batman.

In addition Floyd Lawton runs out of bullets. Hey Floyd I have it on good authority (from Travis) that there is always an endless supply of extra bullets in Skartaris, even if you brought in a very specific number originally, if you need them for plot reasons. Mike Grell has assured me of this on multiple occasions.

(And what do you know, Floyd finds an extra bullet right at the end, even after claiming he was all out. That’s the Skartarian magic for you)

[jerseyluck]

Suicide Squad (1987) #10 Readthrough

Last time in the Suicide Squad: the team got involved in the event comic Millenium. They did not have a good time! This time a Dark Knight invades the Squad’s home turf.

The issue starts with Father Richard Craemer joining the support staff of the Suicide Squad. It is a thoughtful motion to give them with a spiritual side for guidance, and that is something we would not get today. With his introductory tour, we get an update on the squad, including the fact that they have gotten a new member: the mysterious Duchess. The book introduces her by showing her interest in a big gun.

We then get to emotional core of issue with Flag suffering through the fallout of losing his ex-girlfriend Karin Grace last issue. Shaw offers to take him on his adventures (in new Ostrander’s series: Manhunter) but Flag refuses. To make matters worse, Waller is questioning his ability to lead and complains that she was given Flag for her squad against her will.

However, we got to get to The Batman part of the book. In the guise of Matches Malone, Batman is transferred to Belle Reve as a prisoner. Through some classic trick, he escapes the cell and manages to get The Batman costume he had sent. With almost everyone leaving for the night, Batman sneaks into the file room and gets data showing the Suicide Squad’s organizational structure.

Before Batman can actually escape the prison, Waller realizes that the prison has been infiltrated. With very few members on base and not injured, Waller sends out Duchess, Deadshot, and Rick Flag to stop The Dark Knight.

As Batman gets closer to escaping, he manages to overpower both Duchess and Deadshot with ease. However, Flag manages to match Batman blow-for-blow when they meet in the hallway. Batman finally speaks for the first time when the prison guards back Flag up. The hero is angry that the government is letting unreformed criminals back on the street and he intends to shut the Squad down.

But it is Amanda Waller, who saves the day for The Suicide Squad. She reminds Batman that when he entered the prison as a criminal, they would have his fingerprints because he wasn’t wearing gloves. Waller threatens to expose Batman’s secret identity if he blows the whistle on The Squad.

The book ends with Flag being angry that he had to go after a true hero like Batman, to protect the criminals that form the Suicide Squad. Waller, swayed by Flag’s passion, decides that he can lead The Suicide Squad on missions again.

This issue happens to be one of the classic issues of the entire Suicide Squad run. And it is easy to see why it is so popular. Batman is DC’s biggest hero, and he comes off like an unstoppable badass in this especially in the fights with Duchess and Deadshot. It makes perfect sense why Batman is opposed to existence of criminal group like The Suicide Squad.

That is why it is impressive when Flag and Waller manage to stand up to Batman. While Flag proves that he is a physical match towards Batman, it is Waller who is cemented as DC’s biggest tactical mind. She is seen besting Batman, getting him to back them with classic logic. It is rare to see Batman out thought, but it is some good stuff here.

Ostrander manages to get another classic issue and Luke McDowell does some classic artwork her. 10/10

[mickroryapologist]

Count Vertigo and Father Richard Craemer in Suicide Squad (1987) #31

[panels-of-interest]

Richard Craemer vs. Count Vertigo.

[from Suicide Squad (1987) #31]

[badreturns-m]

Belle Reve

basic information

official name: belle reve federal penitentiary  name meaning: (origin: french) beautiful dream location: terrebonne parish, louisiana  institution description: belle reve is a federal penitentiary and sanitarium housing criminal metahumans and supervillains. amanda waller chose the institution as  a base of operations for her suicide squad. while belle reve is not a secret, the suicide sqaud, more officially known as task force x is in fact a secret covered up by the us government and great measures are taken in keeping it as such.

belle reve staff

warden: john economos, amanda waller head psychologist: dr. simon lagrieve psychological assistant: marnie herrs head mechanic/pilot: briscoe head of maintenance: mitch sekofsky mission controller:  florence crowly head of the prison guards: j. daniel murphy prison guards: various head doctor: dr. karin grace later dr. mary white doctors: ??? various reverend: richard craemer

notable inmates

black manta

captain cold

captain boomerang

deadshot

doctor light

el diablo

enchantress

general zod

hector hammond

harley quinn

killer croc

lex luthor

maxwell lord

mr. freeze

penguin

punch and jewelee

rainbow raider

riddler

[greatghuleh]