Earlier today, we got our second-ever look at DC’s upcoming Suicide Squad. Called the worst heroes ever, the Suicide Squad was accompanied by the best soundtrack ever. Queen, no less. And Bohemian Rhapsody, at that. Check it out below, if you haven’t yet.
Meanwhile, let’s check out the five things you should know about the Suicide Squad. Unless you’re a comic book geek, it’s perfectly understandable if you haven’t heard of the Squad prior to the first two trailers that were released.
1. If it wasn’t already obvious from the trailer, the Suicide Squad is a government-sanctioned band of mercenaries tasked to handle the supervillains that the good guys can’t handle. In return for commuted prison sentences, the group goes out and beats down bad guys for the government.
Suicide Squad first appeared in The Brave and the Bold, Vol. 1, issue 25, way back in 1959. Back then, the group consisted of Hugh Evans, Jess Bright, Karin Grace, and Rick Flag. The characters that the film features were not in center stage yet. That came a few decades after. This century’s version of Suicide Squad consists of Deadshot, Harley Quinn, Boomerang, El Diablo, Killer Croc, Enchantress, and Katana. And besides a commuted sentence, our merry band is outfitted with bomb transplants in case they go back to their evil ways.
More than a mercenary team, the Suicide Squad conveniently explained why DC’s supervillains kept escaping from prison and tormenting the likes of Superman and Batman.
2. Expect some collisions with the Batman universe. Harley Quinn, Deadshot, and Killer Croc are villains that operate mostly in Gotham. If DC wants to expand their cinematic universe, we should all be on the lookout for anything that might connect to this year’s Batman v Superman flick.
If that doesn’t convince you, Ben Affleck has already been confirmed for a cameo role as Batman.
3. Deep in its villainous core, Suicide Squad is also a love story. We already know that Joker plays a role in the movie. He won’t be just a villain, but also as Harley’s origin story. In DC canon, Harley Quinn (then known as Harleen Quinzel) was Joker’s psychiatrist. Her care for the Joker first started as professional curiosity but quickly turned to mad (in all senses of the word) love.
DC’s New 52 altered that origin quite a bit with Joker shoving Dr. Quinzel into the same toxic pit that spawned him. We see this from a quick shot in the trailer.
4. Magic! Suicide Squad is the DC cinematic universe’s way of embracing the supernatural into its canon. The merry band includes Enchantress, as played by Cara Delevingne. She is a sorceress by nature. The rest of the Suicide Squad relies on brute force and weaponry.
How is this a good thing for DC? For the longest time, the Marvel Cinematic Universe was evading the supernatural throughout its movies. The most Marvel ever stretched for was science fiction. Doctor Strange, also showing this year, is Marvel’s first entry into the supernatural. While DC wanted to keep the dark and gritty nature started by Man of Steel, the Enchantress’ inclusion is an indication that we’re in for a wild ride for future films.
5. DC hasn’t announced the full list of baddies yet. All trailers indicate that we’re in for a Suicide Squad vs. Joker confrontation, but DC hasn’t clued us in on one more supervillain that the Squad will go up against. Which brings up a lot of confusion. They’re all baddies, so will the unannounced character be an even bigger bad guy or will he or she be a kinda-good bad guy?
