Celebrating Artist Steve Leialoha

Celebrating the birthday of artist Steve Leialoha, born on this date (January 27, 1952).

Here, he covered two covers, the first crossover between the Justice League International and Suicide Squad, resolving a storyline of Batman being at war with Rick Flagg's Suicide Squad that had started in the Legends mini-series in Justice League International #13 (May, 1988) and Suicide Squad #13 (May, 1988).

Two Quick Shots Of The Suicide Squad

There are two members of the Suicide Squad from the recent movie that were similar, yet had very different foundations before they ended up serving time with the Squad.

The odd thing, as professional assassins, both of them likely could have been hired to be a part of the team, but instead they were captured by heroes, and forced to serve like most of the other members.

So, without further ado, here's a quick rundown of Javelin and Blackguard.

Javelin

This German assassin was first hired by Congressman Bloch (by the Monitor) to take out Green Lantern and Ferris Aircraft with his special weapons....from which he took his name....in Green Lantern #173 (February, 1984) by Len Wein and Dave Gibbons.  The battle continued into the next issue with Green Lantern winning (and a little flashback in the next issue to before events in these two issues.

Javelin was recruited for the Suicide Squad in Justice League International #13, where he and the Squad faced off against an equal number of members, and, in Suicide Squad #13, the battle ended, with Batman very leery of the Squad.  Javelin next showed up in Suicide Squad #58, preparing with the team to attack Circe's island, and it looked like she finished him off in War Of The Gods #3....yet, he survived, returning in Power Company #5, then again in Deadshot #4 and #5 as part of team to take out Deadshot....

...with a few appearances as a member of the Suicide Squad proper in Checkmate #6 and #7, then as a villain on the run in Justice League: Cry For Justice #2 and #3, sometimes with his trademark German accent, sometimes not, but always there with his Javelin, ready to battle (as long as the money was right).

Blackguard

Richard Hertz (though no alter ego given in his first appearance) in Booster Gold #1 (February, 1986) by Dan Jurgens and Mike DeCarlo, where he was the main enforcer for the 1000 (a group of mobsters that grew out of the 100, which faced the Thorn and Black Lightning).  Basically a tough guy in a super suit, with a few technological weapons, he was a menace to Booster Gold for his first four issues.

Blackguard next appeared in a super prison in Green Lantern #52, though mostly in passing.  Blackguard got an upgrade from the demon, Neron, in Underworld Unleashed #1, and was part of a team of enhanced villains (including Cheetah and Earthworm) to attack Guy Gardner's bar in Guy Gardner: Warrior #36.  His birth name was revealed in JLA: Classified #4, where it looked like he retired, but he was recruited for a Squad mission in Suicide Squad: Raise The Flag #4, and served until he, like most members recruited for this mission, gave his all for the team (which was through issue #7, though the only covers he made were those of Booster Gold)..

Of course, these aren't the only members of the Suicide Squad, and covered before are: Rick Flag and Captain Boomerang, Amanda Waller, Harley Quinn, Polka-Dot Man, and Bloodsport, as well as folks who appeared like the Thinker, Calendar Man, and the mystery villain, with more to come!

DC Invasion Crossovers Extra

Invasion aftermath...and a few extra secrets of the Invasion! as well.



Not every part of the Invasion! was covered in official crossovers, or its own 3 issues, and here are a few of the secret tales that filled in a few holes in Invasion!, and helped to place a few missing members of the DC Universe in one of its biggest events.

Suicide Squad and Titans

In Suicide Squad #23 (January, 1989 by John Ostrander, Kim Yale, Luke McDonnell and Karl Kesel), had Bronze Tiger, Vixen and Duchess facing the Warlords of Okaara and Thanagarians in Russia with the Rocket Red Brigade, Nemesis and Captain Boomerang fighting Khunds in Australia, and the introduction of computer guru Oracle (off-panel).  With New Titans #52 (January, 1989 by Marv Wolfman, George Perez and Bob McLeod), Speedy and Danny Chase were trying to find Titans to help in the Invasion! while the active members of the team (including Nightwing, Cyborg, Starfire, Jericho, Changling and Raven) were in space, finding out the history of Donna Troy/Wonder Girl.

Hawk and Dove and Power Company?

One of those Titans still on Earth, was the original Hawk (Hank Hall), and he participated in the Invasion! with his new partner, the new female Dove as seen in Hawk and Dove #1 (June, 1989 by Barbara and Karl Kesel, Greg Guler and Scott Hanna), filling in a little of their cameo in Invasion! #2.  Metropolis lawyer, Josiah Power, who would form the Power Company, got his powers from his metagene triggered by the gene-bomb detonated in Invasion!, and there were a few flashbacks to that time in Power Company Josiah Power #1 (March, 2002, by Kurt Busiek, Keith Giffen and Al Milgrom).

First Strike Aftermath

You may have noticed on the crossovers in the previous two articles that the crossovers were labeled either "First Strike" or "Aftermath".  For reading order, you read the First Strike issues between Invasion! #1 and #2, and the Aftermath issues between Invasion! #2 and #3, with reading the title crossovers with Flash first, then Manhunter; Superman first, then Adventures of Superman; Wonder Woman before Captain Atom; Firestorm the Nuclear Man before Starman; with Suicide Squad and Hawk & Dove happening between Invasion! #2 and #3, and New Titans and Power Company Josiah Power dealing with the Invasion! in general (but more or less around/before Invasion! #2).  

Atom and Superman

After the Invasion!, Atom (Ray Palmer) declined to rejoin the Justice League in Power of the Atom #9 (February, 1989 by Roger Stern, Graham Nolan and Keith Wilson) even as the team's membership was swelling (mostly as he didn't like Guy Gardner).  Superman had held to his promise and left Earth, with stories starting a lengthy outer space adventure, starting with Superman #28 (February, 1989 by Roger Stern, Kerry Gammill and Brett Breeding) and Adventures of Superman #451 (February, 1989 by Jerry Ordway).

Action Comics Weekly

Where was the crossover for one of DC's oldest titles, Action Comics?  Well, from May 24th, 1988 to March 14th, 1989, it was Action Comics Weekly, featuring short tales in serial form, featuring Superman and other members of the DC Universe.  The characters in ACW weren't left out of Invasion!, as Green Lantern, Black Canary, the Demon, Phantom Stranger, Deadman and Speedy were in various of the crossover issues....and Wild Dog even had a cameo in a panel in Invasion! #2!

L.E.G.I.O.N. and Justice League Europe

In the wake of widening of the DC Universe, there were a few new titles added to the line up, coming from Invasion!.  Starting with L.E.G.I.O.N. '89 # 1 (February, 1989 by Keith Giffen, Alan Grant, Barry Kitson and Mike DeCarlo), following the adventures of some of the aliens we met during Invasion! including Coluan Vril Dox, rock hard Dryadian Strata, mystery alien Stealth, Cairn police Garryn Bek, "the Durlan" and Talok VIII planetary champion Lyrissa Mallor (and, following their adventures showed ties to Brainiac, and later, the 30th Century Legion of Super Heroes!).  The JLI formed a European branch (rolling out from Justice League International #24) in Justice League Europe #1 (April, 1989 by Keith Giffen, J. M. DeMatteis, Bart Sears and Pablo Marcos), with new (or rejoining) members of Elongated Man, Rocket Red, Wonder Woman, Animal Man, Flash (Wally West), Metamorpho and Power Girl under the leadership of Captain Atom (who had strained his relationship with the rest of the JLI due to his history).

Even Snapper Carr (an honorary JLAer from the team's first appearance, who got powers in Invasion! #1), and a group of humans who also got powers (Dexter Fairfax, Moshe Levy/Dust Devil, Mrs. Levy, Amos Monroe/Crackpot, Fritz Klein/Frag, Carlotta Rivera/Jolt, and added cat alien, Churl Jenkins were the group called the Blasters, got a one-shot special, the Blasters Special #1 (1989) by Peter David, James Fry and Robert Campanella.  Their outer space adventures continued in the Valor title, and Snapper later reappeared in Hourman in the early 21st Century (eventually relating the fate of the Blasters).

Better still, the Suicide Squad story was recently reprinted in Suicide Squad: Rogues in 2016, the New Titans story reprinted in New Titans: Who Is Donna Troy tradepaperback of 2005 , and Justice League Europe #1 can be found in Justice League International tradepaperback #5 of 2011, so it should be easy to find these stories, along with the tales around them to add more meaning!

Suicide Squad A Little Harley, Croc and Slipknot

Go to any comic book store this week and the topic is the Suicide Squad.

Skipping around a bit, and quickly covering the three characters from the comics in the movie that are members of the Suicide Squad who haven't been covered in previous Suicide Squad articles here with more coverage of Harley Quinn and Killer Croc to come later!

Slipknot....well....

Harley Quinn

Harleen Quinzel was the Joker's psychiatrist....and he drove her crazy.  Crazy in love with him, that is.  Harley would do anything for her "puddin'", but Joker never felt that way about her, really.  She was a way to escape prison, and later even an annoyance to the clown of crime.  But, that didn't stop Harley from pursuing the Joker, much to her own harm (though after 38 issues of her own series, and 26 issues of Gotham City Sirens, with Catwoman and Poison Ivy, among others, Harley finally was able to shed the Joker for a time (at least until Flashpoint brought us the New 52.....).

Harley Quinn first appeared in the Batman Animated Series, and was created by Paul Dini and Bruce Timm.  Harley first appeared in the comics with Batman Adventures #12 (October, 1993), in comics set in the universe of the animated series.  Harley Quinn first appeared in DC Universe comics in Batman: Harley Quinn #1 (October, 1999), with a stunning Alex Ross cover that they echoed in the Suicide Squad movie. 

Harley started her move to her more Deborah Harry styled costume with her first new 52 appearance, which also heralded her entrance to the Suicide Squad, in Suicide Squad #1 (November, 2011). 

Check with your local comic store for reprints of these and many other Harley Quinn stories.

Killer Croc

Waylon Jones first appeared in Detective Comics #523 (February, 1983) by Gerry Conway and Gene Colan, but was part of a multi-issue storyline over Batman #357 to #359 in 1983, with art by Dan Jurgens, Dick Giordano, Curt Swan and Don Newton,  that led to Jason Todd becoming Robin, culminating in Detective Comics #526 (May, 1983).  At this time, Killer Croc was an unloved boy, born in the Bayou, shunned by humanity because of his appearance, who, with his toughness and raw ability, moved to being a crime boss, and nearly taking over Gotham, making him one of Batman's toughest villains that he had faced.

Time wasn't so kind to Waylon, ending up in Arkham Asylum, experimented on, being broken by the newer and deadlier Batman foe, Bane, given more strength and regenerative abilities (including by Batman foe, Hush), but at the cost of his intellect.  The boy who didn't want to be a monster, became a monster in spite of himself (but, Waylon did always want to be stronger, and didn't mind shying away from other humans....). 

Oddly, Killer Croc really wasn't a part of the Suicide Squad (that was Superboy foe, King Shark....), but they both were monsters, who occasionally ate humans....and you can find more on Killer Croc on the just released Batman: Arkham Asylum: Killer Croc tradepaperback.
 

Slipknot

Christopher Weiss was the name of the assassin that the Monitor sent to face Firestorm (though the readers didn't learn of that until much later) in Fury of Firestorm #28 (October, 1984, by Gerry Conway, Joey Cavalieri and Rafael Kayanan).  A man who manipulated ropes was a threat to Firestorm, as the ropes were organic, and Firestorm couldn't use his transmutation powers on the organic material of the ropes.  Slipknot returned to face Firestorm, along with Blue Devil, working with Blue Devil foe, Bolt, and Firestorm foes of Mindboggler, Hyena and Multiplex in Fury of Firestorm #45 to #47 and Blue Devil #23 all in 1986.

Being a team player got Slipknot recruited to a collection of Firestorm foes in the Suicide Squad, when the Squad (including Multiplex, Killer Frost, Deadshot, Rick Flag and Captain Boomerang) was sent to bring down Firestorm in Fury of Firestorm #64 (October, 1987) and Firestorm Annual #5 (1987), and, amazingly Slipknot survived this mission, only to get recruited again as the Manhunters attacked Earth in the Millennium mini-series of 1988, getting his arm blown off (thanks to encouragement by Captain Boomerang) in Suicide Squad #9 (January, 1988). 

Slipknot survived, turning to the religion of the Cult of Kobra (Kobra being a quasi-religious leader who vexed both Batman, the Outsiders and the Suicide Squad, as revealed in Identity Crisis #4 of November, 2004).  Slipknot later ran afoul of Ink (the newer version of Tattooed Man) during the Final Crisis Aftermath: Ink mini-series of 2009, leading to a final confrontation between the two in Titans #31 (March, 2011), with Ink the one coming out alive to greet his teammates of Deathstroke, Arsenal and Cheshire. 

All of Slipknot's later appearances starting with Millennium have been collected (mostly as Millennium, Suicide Squad in the Nightshade Odyssey, and the Final Crisis and Titans in collections of their books), but his Fury of Firestorm and Blue Devil appearances still need to be roped in.....

Suicide Squad Movie Review

From what people said so quickly about the Suicide Squad movie, you'd think there were major issues with the movie.

Suicide Squad is a comic book movie, it should have issues.

Here's a few to show that the movie did at least follow the comic.

Legends

First up, we saw the team form.  This happened in Legends #3 (January, 1987), and that story (and the previous issues capturing a few members of the team, the introduction of Amanda Waller and her battles with Rick Flag, as well as the situation of a missing Superman and the populace hating heroes) was covered in the 6 issue mini-series, most recently reprinted in the Legends 30th Anniversary Edition, written by Len Wein and John Ostrander, with art by John Byrne and Karl Kesel.


As you can see by the cover, though the Squad members are not on it, they have at least been named, and this release timed to take advantage of the movie.

Nightshade Odyssey

Collecting Suicide Squad #9 to #16, Justice League International #13, Doom Patrol and Suicide Squad #1 and the set up story of Nightshade's origin from Secret Origins #28 (all from 1988, with the main Suicide Squad stories by John Ostrander, Luke McDonnell and Karl Kesel)...this covers the team working together, Firestorm foe Slipknot suffering nearly the same fate he did in the movie thanks to Captain Boomerang, Batman confronting Amanda Waller, then the team coming together to stop the Incubus (Nightshade's brother in the comic, but Enchantress and Nightshade do get their fates entwined here, not unlike June Moone from earlier in the comic series with Enchantress, and Nightshade was drawing closer to Rick Flag; so the movie just eliminated Nightshade from this equation), from expanding out from her home and taking over Earth's dimension.

Plus you get to see the second version of the Doom Patrol working with a doomed Squad, and Speedy and Vixen in action together for the first time (this is cooler more for CW's Arrow fans than for DC movie buffs, but still...).  

Kicked In The Teeth

The Suicide Squad changed over time, adding members like Harley Quinn, Black Spider, Voltaic and El Diablo to the mix during the start of DC's New 52,  as well as old members Deadshot and King Shark (though to be fair, King Shark only joined after the original Squad finished it's 66 issue run, being part of a group to join during a Squad appearance in Superboy's title).  Still manipulated by Amanda Waller, this group was a little looser in these stories by Adam Glass, Federico Dallocchio, Clayton Henry and more....

....but Harley was still haunted by the spectre of the Joker in these stories from Suicide Squad #1 to #7 from the 21st Century.  This series very much highlighted the illegal side of what the Squad was doing, moreso than before, and the slant of having the series tied a little stronger to Batman's foes (the movie even replaced King Shark with Killer Croc; Killer Croc being a Batman foe who started in the 1980s, and helped to make Jason Todd into Robin).

All of which should be helpful to the new Suicide Squad fan who might have gone to see the movie, or for the current comic fan who has heard reports that they might not like the movie as it isn't like the comic.

A little more history of the Suicide Squad with Rick, the Enchantress, Deadshot and Captain Boomerang is here, Amanda Waller and the Incubus is here, El Diablo gets the focus at this spot, Outsider (and brief Suicide Squad comic guest star) Katana is here....and Harley Quinn and Killer Croc will likely get tons of coverage coming up!

The movie follows the basic, established in the 1980s idea of the Suicide Squad (that set up in the movie, the Dirty Dozen), that has the government using super-villains under the control (with the threat of death) of Amanda Waller, those villains resisting her control (to the point of being menaces if, or more likely, when, they get out of her control, with perhaps Amanda Waller being the biggest menace of them all....).

Maybe, at some point, people who are at their ends or considered useless by society, finding a little redemption by doing one last brave act as well.

That last bit was the crux of the majority of John Ostrander's Suicide Squad run, and stories would focus a character or two at a time with the rest as background (for those who thought Deadshot and Harley might have had too much time....they were the stars of this story, allowing the main story to unfold around them), and though not as high a death toll among the major characters (to be fair, people did also survive in the comic, too),  and focused on Harley Quinn (a later addition to the Squad after Ostrander's run)....but if you didn't like Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn, you are crazier than that character is!

So, while you may be able to say Suicide Squad isn't your cup of tea...

....you really can't say it didn't follow the comic books.

Suicide Squad Support

Fact.  The Suicide Squad wouldn't exist without Amanda Waller.

She brought Task Force X back from the (mostly) dead by sheer force of will, to accomplish what she wanted to get done.

Amanda also recruited a few specific people, Nightshade and Nemesis, that would help the covert nature of the team, and were heroes, which would also help deal with the criminal element that was a part of the team.

Here's the facts on these three Suicide Squad members.
 

Amanda Waller

Amanda Waller was introduced in Legends #1 (November, 1986 by Len Wein, John Ostrander, John Byrne and Karl Kesel), already fighting with Rick Flag, as she started her push to have him recruit villains to be a part of Task Force X, with him as leader.  Amanda really didn't want Rick around, she wanted Bronze Tiger to be the field leader, as she felt Rick's previous failures with the team made him a liability.  Amanda had the nickname of "the Wall" and she hit Rick (and almost everyone around her) like running into one.  You did things Waller's way, or else.  But, how did she get so tough?

Amanda started life as Amanda Blake, living in a bad neighborhood in Chicago, falling in love and marrying Joseph Waller, and having children with him.  Then, the streets of Chicago hit back, claiming the lives of Joe, Jr. and then Damita, pushing Joseph over the edge, to die in a shoot out with the man suspected of raping and killing Damita.  Amanda met Simon LaGrieve, who helped her carry on.  Amanda's kids all got college degrees, then Amanda got one herself.  Amanda went to work for Marvin Collins, helping him to get elected to Congress.  While doing research in Washington, DC, Amanda found the files on Task Force X, and thought of a way that old group could help people in the here and now (most of Amanda's pre-Squad history can be found in Secret Origins #14 of May, 1987, by John Ostrander, Luke McDonnell and Dave Hunt).

Amanda Waller's history is tied to that of the Suicide Squad, but she also had influence on many other heroes, like Captain Atom, Superman, the Justice League, and even headed Checkmate (whose later series has been collected, but only the issues with the Janus Directive from the original series...DC needs a a collection of the issues of the original Checkmate! now!  At least the first 14 issues in one volume plus Action Comics #598...please!).

Amanda found interesting people with problems to contribute to her cause....and Nightshade was one of the earliest.....

Nightshade

Eve Eden premiered in Captain Atom #82 (September, 1966 by David Kaler, Steve Ditko and Rocco Mastroserio) as a supporting character in Captain Atom's life.  Eve was the Senator Wayne Eden and Magda Eden, with Magda revealing to her young daughter that she was from the land of the Nightshades, which had been taken over by the evil Incubus.  Magda also showed Eve and her brother, Larry, how to turn into shadow form and cross dimensions, taking them back home, where they captured Larry, with Eve and her mom escaping, though Magda died from her wounds. 

Eve began to train, putting on a black wig to hide her blond hair, and prepared to go back to the Nightshade dimension to rescue her brother Larry (and these early adventures, along with battles helping Captain Atom with the Ghost and Punch and Jewelee, and solo battles against Jewelee and the Image, took place in Captain Atom #82, #85 and #86, and her origins and solo battles were in her own back-up feature in Captain Atom #87 to #89 from August to December of 1967 (with art by Jim Aparo).

Thing is, that was Eve's pre-Crisis history.  As revealed in Secret Origins #28 (July, 1988 by Robert Greenberger, Rob Liefeld and Bob Lewis), Eve had never met Captain Atom or the Ghost prior to joining the Suicide Squad, instead having been partnered with King Faraday, though most of the rest of her history was intact.  Nightshade still wanted to get ready to go back to the Nightshade dimension, and did during the run of the Suicide Squad....much to her own and the Enchantress' dismay....as Eve took additional power from the Enchantress (and changed her costume as well).  Eve did continue on with the Squad until its end, later joining up with a couple of other groups (and she even met Captain Atom as well, early on.....).  But, she also fell for the man who helped her infiltrate the Jihad during Suicide Squad #1 (May, 1987).

Nemesis

Tom Tresser got his start in Brave and the Bold #166 (September, 1980 by Cary Burkett and Dan Spiegle), and was the son of Chet Tresser, and American agent, and after Chet died, Tom and his brother, Craig wanted to join the agency to help their country.  Tom proved to be better at invention, and Craig the better agent, so that's where the two ended up, until, while on assignment, the crime lords of the Council caught Craig, brainwashed him, had him kill agent Ben Marshall, and agents then killed Craig.  That began Tom's war against the Council, and it's six main members, as well as it's "head".  That war unfolded over the course of Brave and the Bold #166 to Brave and the Bold #193 (December, 1982), with Tom ending the Council (also a series that cries out for a collection in tradepaperback!).

Though Tom was thought dead by Batman at the end of his Brave and the Bold adventures, he did indeed survive, though severely wounded.  Found by agents of the U.S. government, they took care of his rehabilitation, planning to use his skills of infiltration, mask making and non-lethal freeze bullets.  For a time, Tom worked with the Suicide Squad, falling for Nightshade, but his moral code and own stubborn attitude would not let him work alongside Amanda Waller and her "do anything and sacrifice anyone for her cause".

There were other members recruited for the Suicide Squad, like Firestorm foes Mindboggler, Parasite, Slipknot, Killer Frost, Multiplex and Plastique, and many others like Penguin, Chronos, the Thinker, Captain Cold, Count Vertigo, Dr. Light, Poison Ivy, and heroes as well, like Black Orchid, Speedy, Shade the Changing Man, Manhunter, Katana and Vixen, and so many more, all a part of the team, and all there to do as Amanda Waller wanted....or else!

Still for 66 issues and Annual and a few crossovers, guest appearances and mini-series, the Suicide Squad kept the world safe from the menaces too dangerous for any heroes to face, and occasionally, they made the ultimate sacrifice as well.

In the end, fighting for everyone, and laying down your life for others, might have been the best end people like this could have hoped for.

Legends Of The Suicide Squad

It had been a time of Crisis, when everything in the universe had changed.  Old heroes were new, groups like the Teen Titans and the Justice League of America were being torn apart, and heroes across the globe were being consumed by all their own trouble....so, who were the average person on the street suppose to turn to....the villains?

That was the idea that Amanda Waller had, using jails overflowing with super criminals.  Here is who she recruited to join the Suicide Squad during the Legends 6-issue mini-series of November, 1987 to April, 1988 by John Ostrander, Len Wein, John Byrne and Karl Kesel.

Rick Flag

Rick Rogers Flag, Jr. was part of a military family, and knew the meaning of sacrifice, which he was using ever since we first met him, as the leader of Task Force X, otherwise known as the Suicide Squad in Brave and the Bold #25 (August-September, 1959, by Robert Kanigher, Ross Andru and Mike Esposito).  Rick was a man with military talents, being able to shoot well, and he led his team on a few successful missions, until things went bad on one trip, involving a golden pyramid...which led to him working briefly with the Forgotten Heroes against Vandal Savage, and then against the Forgotten Villains, before being assigned to be the field leader of this version of the Suicide Squad.

Rick's appearances before Legends include Brave and the Bold #25, #26, #27, #37, #38, #39 (1959 to 1962, with the Suicide Squad pre-dating the JLA), Action Comics #552 and #553 (1984) and DC Comics Presents #77 and #78 (1985), with the Brave and the Bold issues and first Action Comics issue also featuring the rest of his Suicide Squad team of Karin Grace, Jess Bright and Hugh Evans; what happened to the three of them unfolds over the course of the 1980s Suicide Squad series.

Deadshot

Floyd Lawton was a man who had come from a troubled family, where he had learned to stick up for himself.  He first faced Batman in Batman #59 (June-July, 1950 by David Vern, Bob Kane, Lew Sayre Schwartz and Charles Paris) trying to be a hero in a top hat, but secretly stealing on the side.  It was his second appearance in Detective Comics #474 (December, 1977 by Steve Englehart, Marshall Rogers and Terry Austin) that gave this man his second shot at life, finally escaping prison (thanks to Penguin), and coming back to match his trick  shots against the Batman (which he could never quite shoot, maybe a throw back to looking for an authority figure in his life, or a subconscious feeling about being not worthy to live, only being a killer).

Deadshot's appearances before being caught by the Flash (Wally West) in Legends and being recruited by Amanda Waller and Rick Flag into the Suicide Squad include Batman #59, Detective Comics #474, Batman #351, Detective Comics #518, #520, Batman #354, #369, Detective Comics #536, Crisis On Infinite Earths #10 and Batman #400, and Floyd dealt with his issues during the 1980s Suicide Squad run (and even a 4 issue mini-series all his own at that time), and much later, ran across Green Arrow, another complex man with uncanny aim.

Captain Boomerang

George "Digger" Harkness was an Australian by birth, having been sent to America to get away from his step-father, taking a job with W. W. "Walt" Wiggins as of Flash #117 (December, 1960 by John Broome, Carmine Infantino and Murphy Anderson).  In America, Digger became Captain Boomerang, a mascot for Wiggins company (but used his boomerang throwing ability to commit crimes, running afoul of the Flash, who beat the Boomerang).  Captain Boomerang lived up to his moniker, continually coming back, sometimes alone, sometimes with other foes as a part of Flash's Rogue's Gallery, or even working with other foes of the JLA in the Secret Society of Super-Villains, with villains like Grodd against Captain Comet.

Captain Boomerang was among the earliest recruits to face Darkseid's forces in Legends, and had one of the longest histories of characters recruited into Task Force X (and also caused the most trouble in the group, being just not a nice guy).  Captain Boomerang appeared in Flash #117, #124, #148, #155, #174, Justice League of America #61, Flash #209, #227, #242, #243, #244, Secret Society of Super-Villains #1, #3, #4, #5, #6, Batman #322, Flash #275, #278, #283, #310, #311, #325, #337, #338, #339, #340, #341, #342, #348, #349, #350, Batman #388, Detective Comics #555, Crisis On Infinite Earths #5 and Blue Devil #30.    

Bronze Tiger

Ben Turner first appeared in Richard Dragon, Kung Fu Fighter #1 (April-May, 1975 by Jim Dennis and Leopoldo Duranona), but his life as the Bronze Tiger didn't start until Richard Dragon, Kung Fu Fighter #18 (November-December, 1977).  Ben was a kid from Central City, who killed a man attacking his parents, liked it, then tried to learn martial arts to calm his anger, ending up with the O-Sensei, where those two recruited Richard Dragon.  Richard and Ben fought the League of Assassins, including Dr. Moon, the Preying Mantis, Professor Ojo and the Axeman, who killed Ben's girlfriend, Janey Lewis, and with the help of Dragon and Lady Shiva, Ben tracked down the Axeman and killed him, though being captured by the League, brainwashed and turned into the Bronze Tiger.  While under the control of the Sensei, the Bronze Tiger fought Batman, being thought to have killed Kathy Kane (Batwoman), and eventually Richard found his friend and got him to the government, which led to Amanda Waller recruiting him, and trying to have him use his martian arts to atone for his misdeeds.

Ben Turner appeared in all but one of the 18 issues of Richard Dragon, Kung Fu Fighter of the 1970s, (missing #6), but it was the last issue that turned him into the masked Bronze Tiger.  The Bronze Tiger was in Detective Comics #485 and #489, and found by Richard Dragon in DC Comics Presents #39 (after which, the rage of tiger hit the wall....and then Ben was ready to work to save Earth's Legends, and later healing his soul during the 1980s Suicide Squad, and even finding love again with Vixen). 

Enchantress

June Moone was a freelance artist who went to a masquerade party with a friend, when the party took a strange turn and June found a secret passage leading her to the Dzamor, a demon who was willing to grant the quiet girl powers to magically fight evil, by saying the name, Enchantress, who she would turn into.   This started her career in Strange Adventures #187 (April, 1966 by Bob Haney, Howard Purcell and Sheldon Moldoff).  June only had two more adventures as a heroic Enchantress, until the use of her mystic powers pushed her over to the evil side, returning to face Supergirl, then later to lead the Forgotten Villains (with Rip Hunter's foe, Kraklow, among others) against Superman and the Forgotten Heroes (and having a new look briefly at that time).

June didn't like becoming evil, and went for help, ending up in the Suicide Squad, where Bronze Tiger was their to watch her (and also being linked to another future member of the team, Nightshade as well, but that all happened during the 1980s Suicide Squad run....and June later returned during the Day of Judgment mini-series, and again as a member of mystical group, Shadowpact).  Her appearances before the Legends mini-series were in Strange Adventures #187, #191, #200, Superman Family #204, #205, DC Comics Presents #77, #78 and Crisis On Infinite Earths #12.

Blockbuster

Mark Desmond was a smart kid, but tired of being picked on, so he developed a formula to turn himself into a hulking monster with super-strength, but it also destroyed his mind, and made him a victim of his criminal brother, Roland, who used the lad for crime and facing Batman and Robin as of Detective Comics #345 (November, 1965 by Gardner Fox, John Broome and Joe Giella).  Blockbuster was enraged by Batman, but could be calmed by Bruce Wayne (who had saved the life of young Mark earlier).  The Blockbuster was a hulking brute, usually being manipulated into fighting the Batman (often with the Justice League and Justice Society), or any of Batman's friends (including Wonder Woman), even working for the Secret Society of Super-Villains for a time, along with the Reverse-Flash and the Wizard.

Mark was hoping that the government could help him control his rages and keep others save from him before he was recruited for his short lived time with the Suicide Squad, which didn't work out so well for him (though his brother would later fight the team at the end of the run of the 1980s Suicide Squad).  Mark's appearances as Blockbuster before Legends include Detective Comics #345, #349, Justice League of America #46, #47, Batman #194, Justice League of America #135, Secret Society of Super-Villains #12, #13, #14, #15, Cancelled Comic Cavalcade #2, Justice League of America #166, #167, #168, Batman #308, #309, Detective Comics #498, #499, Wonder Woman #294, Crisis On Infinite Earths #5, #9 and #10.

Amanda Waller seems to have brought a few of these folks into Task Force X.

But, who was Amanda Waller?

Who else would be on the team?

Check back for more!