Review: Secret Six Volume 3 - Cat's Cradle

Amanda Waller is determined to bring Deadshot back into the Suicide Squad and there’s nothing she won’t do in order to achieve her goal – including murdering Deadshot’s current teammates in the Secret Six. Then, Catman goes rogue when his son is kidnapped by a group of sociopathic mercenaries.  Deadshot, Scandal, Ragdoll and Black Alice take off after Catman, leaving Bane and Jeannette to assemble a new Six to fulfill another contract.

Secret Six Volume 3: Cat’s Cradle collects Secret Six #15-24 and Suicide Squad #67, written by Gail Simone and John Ostrander with art by Jim Calafiore.

It should go without saying that Gail Simone’s Secret Six is like the spiritual successor to John Ostrander’s Suicide Squad. As such, it’s really no surprise that a team-up between the two writers should be nothing short of brilliant. Ostrander flies solo on issues 15 and 23 of Secret Six, while the two share writing credits for issues 17-18 and Suicide Squad #67. This union sees a crossover between their individual creations as Amanda Waller orchestrates a plan to wrest Deadshot from the Secret Six and bring him back into the fold at Belle Reve. What follows is a rather impressive set of action sequences, illustrated by the capable Jim Calafiore, as the Secret Six face off against the Suicide Squad. The dialogue is impeccably well-done with an edge of dark humour that is a trademark for Gail Simone’s body of work. Of course, it is naturally Amanda Waller that steals the show. Her ruthlessness is the stuff of legends, while her interactions with many of the other characters (particularly Scandal) are electric. There is also a level of unpredictability due to the presence of Black Alice, who was added to the team by Simone in issue 16. She adds in a little comic relief, particularly when paired with Ragdoll.

Simone takes the wheel fully for the four-part “Cats in the Cradle.” It’s an arc that really fractures the team – Catman goes AWOL, Bane and Jeannette form a new Six, and Black Alice loses it on Scandal. Simone also delves into Catman’s past, revealing an abusive childhood that left him shattered and with darker impulses than any of his teammates could have guessed. It’s not an arc where a whole lot happens, as it is light on plot, but it’s heavy on character development. “Cats in the Cradle” is basically just Catman going off the deep end and seeking bloody vengeance on the captors of his son, while his teammates unsuccessfully try to pursue him in order to bring him home. Amidst all of this action though is a whole lot of insightful, and often funny, dialogue that reveals a lot about the cast. We’re able to sympathize with Black Alice through her father’s illness while we finally begin to see Ragdoll as more than just comedic relief. As mentioned previously, Black Alice and Ragdoll are paired up with one another. It’s a totally batty combination, but it works due to Simone’s quirky dialogue. It works as yet another example of Simone’s near incomparable ability to create engaging team dynamics. From the palpable homoerotic subtext between Deadshot and Catman to Scandal’s relationship with an erotic dancer to Bane’s overprotective father vibe, Black Alice and Ragdoll are just yet another endlessly amusing gift that just keeps on giving.

As a whole Secret Six Volume 3: Cat’s Cradle is crazy good. It’s an entertaining read practically bursting at its seams with intense action and hilarious dialogue. The characters continue to be relatable, which is kind of messed up since they’re all violent monsters in one way or another. Ostrander and Simone’s Secret Six/Suicide Squad arc is incredibly satisfying, while “Cats in the Cradle” helps to both tie up loose ends and to introduce new team dynamics. While it concludes with two regrettably forgettable filler issues, this collection features high quality storytelling. Though I selfishly wish the insanely talented Nicola Scott were able to remain the permanent artist for the entirety of Gail Simone’s run, Calafiore’s pencils for the bulk of the issues collected here are expressive and match the overall tone of the series.  Cat’s Cradle is dark and bloody in all the right ways, making it a must-read for anyone with a twisted sense of humour. More importantly though, it has a cast that is distinctive and multi-dimensional.

RATING: B+

Review: Secret Six Volume 2 - Money For Murder

When the Secret Six are tasked with breaking out a prisoner from Alcatraz, they soon discover that a hefty bounty has been placed on their heads. The card they are to retrieve from the prisoner is coveted by every criminal in the underworld and one psychopath in particular is willing to do whatever it takes to get it. Then, the Six must decide whether to side with or against slavers who have legally imprisoned Amazons.

Secret Six Volume 2: Money for Murder collects Secret Six #1-14, written by Gail Simone and illustrated by Nicola Scott.

This volume picks up after the events of Birds of Prey #109. Scandal Savage’s girlfriend Knockout has been murdered, leaving her in mourning and the Six another member short. Hoping to snap Scandal out of her haze, the Six hastily recruit former Batman villain Bane into their ranks and accept a new job. For those who hadn’t followed Simone’s Secret Six’s adventures from the preceding mini-series or even from the pages of Birds of Prey, the first couple of issues in this collection are bound to be a bit jarring. There isn’t a lot of exposition, so readers must adjust to a series that feels almost as if it is in medias res. Thankfully, the characters are so vividly written and drawn that it’s quite easy to not only adjust to them but care about them within a rather short period of time.

Money for Murder collects two story arcs bridged by a single issue tying into the “Battle of the Cowl” storyline. The first arc deals with the Six breaking the vigilante Tarantula out of jail in order to retrieve a special card, which draws the attention of a third party interested in said card. The second sees the Six venturing to an island where a white-clad James Bond-esque villain has imprisoned and enslaved people to build his version of Utopia. Both storylines are funny, dramatic, action-packed and totally twisted all at the same time. There’s this perfect balance between humour and bloody violence that gives this book a dark yet quirky edge. There’s also a heart to it, which is largely due to the incredible character work that writer Simone and artist Scott contribute to this title.

The Secret Six are among some of the most flawed characters from the Pre-Flashpoint DC Universe. They’re horrible people who make bad decisions. Yet, they seem to find themselves doing the right thing more often than not. This makes for some riveting reading. Ragdoll continues to be the comedic relief, providing some of the most offbeat and darkly humourous dialogue throughout. It’s not hard to see why he became a favourite amongst readers. Similarly, Deadshot’s devil may care attitude and greedy tendencies often lead to moments of humour. On the other end of the spectrum, we have the more serious Bane and Scandal Savage. Simone smartly allows Scandal to mourn the death of her lover in a way that is gut-wrenching and wholly organic. To this end, we see Bane becoming a surrogate father for Scandal and it is through his affection for her that we see her begin to heal. This helps to make Bane one of the most remarkably layered and interesting characters in this collection, especially with the added dimension of his recovery from his venom addiction.

Of the Six, my favourite characters remain Catman and the then-new addition Jeannette. While there isn’t a lot of development for Catman in this particular collection, he has a presence on the page that is strangely charismatic and magnetic. This is no doubt helped by Nicola Scott’s incredible artwork (more on that later!). Jeannette is a Banshee who dresses vaguely as a vampiric Marie Antoinette. The mysteriousness of her past and her relationships with the other characters make her quite compelling as a character.

Nicola Scott’s art in Money for Murder is perfection. There’s absolutely nothing I have to complain about or criticize. It’s dynamic, colourful and expressive. Each character looks unique and distinctive, which is something not many comic book artists are able to achieve. Her Wonder Woman, who shows up in the second arc, is nothing less than stunning. She gives Wonder Woman a presence on the page that befits a character like her. Naturally the women are all gorgeous, but it is the men that hog the entire spotlight due to Scott’s glorious beefcake panels. Comics have long been denounced for its objectification of women, so it’s nice to see Scott (and Simone) subverting that by providing some good ol’ beefcake for gals and gays to ogle. No one draws a shirtless, muscular, hairy guy quite like Nicola Scott, that’s for sure. Once we put our tongues back in our mouths and eyes back in our sockets, it’s also quite easy to notice that the characters look just as great when they’re fully clothed too. I have a lot of respect for Scott as a penciller because she puts a lot of effort into drawing the clothing the characters wear. Not only does she match what they wear to their personality, but she ensures that readers can see the detail and construction on everything. Bodysuits have seams, boots have soles, and metals actually look three-dimensional. While I may have been introduced to Scott’s artwork through Birds of Prey, it was her art in Secret Six that made me a fan.

For fans of the antihero archetype, you’ll find no cooler or more captivating antiheroes than the Secret Six. Simone and Scott work synergistically in this collection to deliver some impossibly action-packed and darkly humorous stories. It’s slick, it’s stylish and it’s incredibly fun to read. This is a must-read for any comic book fan (particularly if you’re part of the LGBTQ community – Secret Six was nominated for a GLAAD Media Award in 2010 and 2012).

RATING: A

Review: Secret Six Volume 1 - Villains United

When Earth’s villains band together to form a coalition against superheroes, six rebels are recruited by the mysterious Mockingbird to bring down this Secret Society. With their families and everything they care about on the line, this ragtag group of anti-heroes will do whatever it takes to get the job done. One thing is clear though – all six won’t be making it to the finish line.

Secret Six Volume 1: Villains United collects Villains United #1-6, Villains United: Infinite Crisis Special #1 and the Secret Six mini-series, written by Gail Simone and with art by Dale Eaglesham and Bradley Walker.

When I’d reviewed the Villains United mini-series back in 2013, I found it to be an enjoyable read that excelled at character interaction and development. The cast was spectacular, despite being comprised with D-listers and new creations. Writer Gail Simone’s reinvention of Catman was nothing short of brilliant and her portrayal of Cheshire was consistently conniving throughout. Additionally, the art was quite beautiful as well and can be appreciated for some of its drool-worthy beefcake moments. After another read, my opinions still stand regarding this mini.

On top of Villains United, this trade notably collects the mini-series that preceded Gail Simone’s critically-acclaimed ongoing series Secret Six. In this six-part story, Catman and his allies are left dealing with the fallout of their crusade against the Secret Society. The devious Doctor Psycho continues to plot Catman’s downfall, Ragdoll mourns the loss of his friend Parademon in unusual ways, and Scandal must deal with her tyrannical father inching his way back into her life. This mini is a far more engaging read that focuses more on its characters than Villains United, which is helped largely due to its smaller cast of characters and the elaboration on the relationships between the main “protagonists.”

The cast itself is distinct and loveable in every conceivable way. Each character comes across as fully-formed and fills a role needed within the group. Scandal is the stoic leader, Deadshot is the chain-smoking merc, Ragdoll is the quirky lunatic, Knockout is the aggressive tank and Catman, of all people, is the steadfast backbone of the Six. The dark humour Simone employs with Ragdoll is notable and makes him one of the standouts. Similarly, the mix of Knockout’s tenderness towards Scandal and her love of carnage elevates her above the others in terms of memorability.

If there is one chink in the armour of the Secret Six mini-series, it is that Simone walks on familiar territory with Scandal Savage’s character. The narrative of her father seeking an heir and manipulating his daughter in order to find her a mate feels like a rehash of the relationship dynamic between Ra’s al Ghul and his daughter Talia. For this reason, the series feels like it’s meant to be a story about Talia without ever actually including her (beyond a rear shot in one panel). While Simone acknowledged Scandal and Talia’s similarities when they faced off during Villains United, she does very little to actually define Scandal past being “the lesbian Talia.” Her personality, physical appearance, heritage and overall skillset are simply far too analogous. Sadly, her relationship with Knockout seems to be the one defining trait that seems to separate them. (Don’t get me wrong, I love the relationship, but characters can’t and should not be defined by their significant others – gay or straight)

Secret Six Volume 1: Villains United is a delicious sampling of the stories that ultimately led to the ongoing series that followed the adventures of Gail Simone’s fan-favourite Secret Six. While much of this collection functions as a tie-in to the events surrounding the event series Infinite Crisis, it stands on its own as an example of fantastic storytelling and impeccable character work. As always, Simone mixes dramatic action with clever humour. While there are areas that could have been improved upon, it’s a satisfying read from start to finish.

RATING: B