I really, really hated this issue. After the drek that was Legion of Doom, I decided I wouldn't pick up what Adam Glass was writing, but it was the Suicide Squad, whom I had great affection for under Ostrander's pen. So I caved,
Really wish I hadn't.
A lot has been said about making Waller into a Supermodel and all that implies about body images. I was, frankly, more disappointed in the premise and what it says about her character. The entire book is about the Squad getting tortured trying to break them into revealing the Squad's secrets. In the end (in a not so big surprise), it was Waller all along, testing the mettle of her new recruits.
I loved Ostrander's Amanda Waller, who was a complex, tough, no-nonsense character, that straddled a number of moral lines in service of what she thought was the greater good. Yes, she often struggled with that, but she was never outright evil. To torture, and possibly kill in the case of Savant, her own team was just way over the line of what she would ever do.
From: Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada | Registered: Sep 2004
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cleome46
or you can do the confusion 'til your head falls off
posted
It's a good thing they made Waller into a supermodel.
Lord knows, there's such a shortage of skinny young beauties in popular entertainment these days.
-------------------- Hey, Kids! My "Cranky and Kitschy" collage art is now viewable on flickr. Drop by and tell me that I sent you.
From: Vanity, OR | Registered: Dec 2008
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posted
Of course, I didn't mean to imply I approve of "Skinny" Waller, just pointing out that there's even more wrong here than just her appearance.
From: Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada | Registered: Sep 2004
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posted
"Removal" seems to be the theme of the series! Remove the 'stache, remove the girth, remove the clothes (sorry, Harley), remove the civilians...permanently.
Registered: Jul 2003
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cleome46
or you can do the confusion 'til your head falls off
posted
quote:Originally posted by Dave Hackett: Of course, I didn't mean to imply I approve of "Skinny" Waller, just pointing out that there's even more wrong here than just her appearance.
I didn't mistake your comments for approval, Dave. Just pinpointing why, as a fat, middle-aged woman myself, I'm royally steamed.
Waller was maybe the ONLY fat female protagonist I could think of in pop culture who wasn't played for laughs. (Even Etta Candy buffed up so she could be a "serious" secret agent or whatever over in the pages of Wonder Woman.) But even that was one too many for DC so of course she has to look like every other hot babe out there to bring in a more "diverse" audience or whatever.
Grrrr...
-------------------- Hey, Kids! My "Cranky and Kitschy" collage art is now viewable on flickr. Drop by and tell me that I sent you.
From: Vanity, OR | Registered: Dec 2008
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quote:Originally posted by Dave Hackett: Of course, I didn't mean to imply I approve of "Skinny" Waller, just pointing out that there's even more wrong here than just her appearance.
I didn't mistake your comments for approval, Dave. Just pinpointing why, as a fat, middle-aged woman myself, I'm royally steamed.
Waller was maybe the ONLY fat female protagonist I could think of in pop culture who wasn't played for laughs. (Even Etta Candy buffed up so she could be a "serious" secret agent or whatever over in the pages of Wonder Woman.) But even that was one too many for DC so of course she has to look like every other hot babe out there to bring in a more "diverse" audience or whatever.
Grrrr...
For all DC's talk of diversity, its pretty telling that the crippled and overweight people are being 'fixed'. I guess DC wants to remove all the 'ugly folks' for their diverse universe!
How cutting edge! (Note sarcasm).
From: If you don't want my peaches, honey... | Registered: Sep 2003
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posted
So with all this controversy around moustaches and big bones, I rushed Suicide Squad to the top of the pile. My immediate reaction was it's not as bad as I've been hearing but it's not fantastic either. It's 'okay', and with the plethora of comics out there, that might not be enough to come back.
Beyond the 'stache and Amanda--two things which *are* lame--the major problem I have is of everyone introduced in #1, no one was given any redeemable qualities. There was no one to empathize with or connect with. So far they're all heartless killers or psychos. That may change over time but DCnU comics don't have time given their competition.
This leads to the next problem: that causes the comic to be pretty mean-spirited. The 'twist' has been done before (and much, much better) but it's still a good one. But that just means all that happens in #1 is really for no reason other than to inflict a lot of cruelty. Thats off-putting.
Overall, there isn't anything wrong with the writing specifics or art in my mind, it's just the tone. But that's a big hurdle.
What doesn't help is that while I love some of these characters, for all I know they're unrecognizable now. That means they enough to stick with it (sorry, Floyd).
Cobie Comparion: Did I enjoy it as much as Justice League #1? no.
From: If you don't want my peaches, honey... | Registered: Sep 2003
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posted
For a great Suicide Squad comic, I recommend Thunderbolts, which I recently reviewed!
From: If you don't want my peaches, honey... | Registered: Sep 2003
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posted
I still haven't read it... that Cobie did NOT like it as much as the very thin JL # 1 is telling... BUT, to play devil's advocate...
I've been a fan of no-goodniks as main characters since way back in SECRET SOCIETY OF SUPER-VILLAINS (one of my fave all-time titles, I suppose)... and there was NOTHING good about the likes of The Wizard, Grodd and Sinestro in that book...
...So this just might be something I can get into. *fingers crossed*
I can tell you already I won't mind Deadshot without the porn-stache... but The Wall being a supermodel? >bleah!!<
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