Suicide Squad #50: Cue the John Williams Suicide Squad Theme

The final issue of Suicide Squad is here and it is a nonstop action-packed roller coaster of a story with high stakes and just a dash of humor.

Although this volume of Suicide Squad has certainly had its ups and downs, the series can thankfully end on a high note with issue #50. We find the Suicide Squad facing the dangers unleashed from Tunguska’s body, building on events that have impacted the team for dozens of issues. This helps to tie everything together while also providing a unique opportunity to show an enormous flaming Amanda Waller attacking Harley Quinn and others.

The issue works well primarily because of two reasons, the extra-sized anniversary length and the commitment to action. These issues can often feel packed with dialogue as the story drags on, but the creative team behind issue #50 pulls off an engaging extra-sized issue that flows incredibly well. The nonstop action is honestly exactly what I am looking for in a Suicide Squad comic book like this though. The additional pages allowed the story to effectively capitalize on many different action sequences without placing undue strain on the pacing.

There are interesting character development instances such as Katana’s struggle with the souls in her sword and Rick Flagg’s past coming back to haunt him, but the team dynamics mixed with brilliant visuals are what makes the issue so great. Set against almost a continuous fight throughout the entire issue, we get a chance to see each of the individuals finally embrace what it means to be a team and literally save the world.

The issue ends with the closing of the portal and all of the victims finally returning to normal again. It was actually even similar to the ending we saw in the Suicide Squad film, with each member joining together to pitch in and defeat the big bad while closing the portal causing such havoc. The issue does end somewhat abruptly though, with Waller declaring that no one ever leaves the Suicide Squad as Rick Flagg looks over the remains of his former team. It’s a moment that contributes to the dark inevitability surrounding the Suicide Squad itself, but it also leaves the door open for much more in the future…