When you take a look back at film in 2016, it’s no secret that Suicide Squad was a massive success. It may have been met with some harsh criticism, but the film made a killing at the box office — and won an Oscar.
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No matter what the critics said about the film, fans loved getting the chance to see many of their favorite DC villains on-screen together. The movie received an impressive 4.07-of-5 rating in the ComicBook.com User Ratings, good enough for No. 8 overall, however it only scored a 57.88 in the ComicBook Composite, which was a dismal No. 72 All-Time.
While it was great to have Killer Croc, Harley Quinn, and Captain Boomerang co-starring in a film, there’s plenty of characters for Suicide Squad 2 to add to its roster.
One of the best aspects of the Suicide Squad property is its constantly fluctuating cast of characters. The premise allows for new villains to be added on every mission, whether they turn out to be long-lasting components of the team, guest stars, or purely cannon fodder. No matter how their fate turns out, this series allows creators to reinvent and revive characters cast off long ago to the C- or D- list.
Here are a few suggestions for which villains we think would benefit from joining the Suicide Squad, no matter how hazardous it may be to their health.
KGBeast
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Created by Jim Starlin and Jim Aparo
Alter Ego: Anatoli Knyazev
Abilities: Cybernetic enhancements, Master combatant, Weapons specialist
Key Appearance: Batman (vol. 1) #417, Grayson: Future’s End #1
The KGBeast may be the most underutilized Batman villain today. He may have started as something of a Cold War relic, locked in the sewers to die by the Batman, but consider all he has to offer. KGBeast has a killer (pun intended) design loaded with weapons and a grisly mask. More significantly, as tensions between the United States and Russia rise again, KGBeast makes for the perfect character to explore the relationship between these two nations after the Cold War.
There’s no better place to explore ideas like that in the DC Universe than in Suicide Squad. KGBeast would make for a deadly team member and help reignite plot lines from the very origins of Suicide Squad at DC Comics. You couldn’t hope for a better addition to the roster than this assassin ready to drive both action and themes in the series.
Magenta
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Magenta
Created by Marv Wolfman and George Perez
Alter Ego: Frances “Frankie” Kane
Abilities: Magnetic control
Key Appearance: The New Teen Titans (vol. 1) #17, Teen Titans Spotlight #16
Magenta has some of the most interesting powers in comics. Just consider everything Magneto has accomplished in his long career. Unfortunately, Frankie Kane has largely been relegated to the role of spurned lover of Wally West. Wally may be back in the DC Universe now, but it’s time for Magenta to leave his shadow.
Suicide Squad has always been a great series for exploring character motives and backgrounds. The Suicide Squad would offer her new ways to utilize her potent powers over magnetism and a chance for creators to explore this character and provide her with a unique story. Just imagine what she and Deadshot could do together in an assassination attempt! It’s time for DC Comics to stop sitting on all of the potential found in Magenta and let her loose alongside everyone else in Suicide Squad.
Ten-Eyed Man
Ten-Eyed Man
Created by Frank Robbins, Irv Novick, and Dick Giordano
Alter Ego: Phillip Reardon
Abilities: Vision in all ten fingertips, Skilled combatant
Key Appearance: Batman (vol. 1) #226, Batman (vol. 1) #675
While the Ten-Eyed Man may be one of the strangest super villains you’re likely to read about today, he should not be underestimated. The Ten-Eyed Man is someone that no one is likely to take seriously, but that’s what makes him both dangerous to opponents and interesting to readers. Consider all of the little tricks a man capable of seeing from his fingertips could accomplish. He could quickly scan files, cheat at cards, or play the role of point man for a strike team. It’s that potential that led him to be featured in Grant Morrison’s epic Batman run. It’s that potential someone like “The Wall” is likely to see as well. While Ten-Eyed Man could remain a joke, he could also be turned into an effective Squad member and fan favorite by the right creative team.
Giganta
Giganta
Created by William Moulton Marston and Harry G. Peter
Alter Ego: Dr. Doris Zeul
Abilities: Size manipulation tied to strength and durability
Key Appearance: Wonder Woman (vol. 1) #9, Secret Six (vol. 3) #28
Recent years have seen Giganta become an increasingly neglected part of Wonder Woman’s rogues gallery. She hasn’t had much to do since outings in Secret Six and Salvation Run. That’s too bad considering the interesting change of character she found with Ryan Choi, not ready to turn good, but ready to be less bad.
The Suicide Squad would be the perfect team for her to explore that change of heart. Many reformed villains like Bronze Tiger have found the heart of their character in Suicide Squad, and so could Giganta. She’s also a multi-faceted asset to any time considering she’s a doctor ready to provide support in a tight spot. That’s not to mention how much fun it would be to have this skyscraping bruiser along on missions.
Kite Man
Kite Man
Created by Bill Finger and Dick Sprang
Alter Ego: Charles “Chuck” Brown
Abilities: Skilled flyer, Trick kites
Key Appearance: Batman (vol. 1) #133, Hawkman (vol. 2) #4
If you thought Ten-Eyed Man had a bad reputation, he must look The Joker compared to Kite Man. Not only is Kite Man a joke among fans, but he’s regularly the source of humor in DC Comics as he is sacrificed in rituals or killed to make a point. It’s hard to make a living in Gotham City when you wear a kite on your chest. It’s that underdog status that makes Kite Man a perfect nominee for the Suicide Squad though.
Don’t forget that before he arrived in Suicide Squad, Captain Boomerang was every bit as much of a joke trying to fight The Flash with children’s toys and an Australian accent. Kite Man is essentially a blank slate waiting for a creator as talented as John Ostrander to come along and give readers a reason to care. While he may never be the most effective member of a team, Kite Man could become something every bit as special (or deranged) as Boomerbutt himself.
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