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+