DC's Absolute Suicide Squad Brings A New Era For Wonder Woman's Villains

DC officially unveils a brand-new version of the Suicide Squad. The Suicide Squad has evolved from a clever Bronze Age concept into a defining modern-day staple of superhero stories. For years, DC's most beloved anti-heroes thrived exclusively in the comic book pages, challenging the concept of superheroism without the aid of animated or live-action adaptations.

The Suicide Squad shot to worldwide popularity with Task Force X's 2016 movie, which cemented Harley Quinn as the heart of the team. Five years later, James Gunn's The Suicide Squad soft-reboot did something similar with Peacemaker, who now carries the squad's legacy in the DCU. With the Suicide Squad firmly established in pop culture, every iteration of the team inevitably shakes up its line-up for a new audience.

DC's New Suicide Squad Is Nothing Like Any Previous Version Of Task Force X

Absolute Wonder Woman #16; Written by Kelly Thompson; Art by Hayden Sherman & Jordie Bellaire

Following her first encounter with her most powerful enemy yet, Diana of Themyscira finds herself without access to magic at the worst possible moment. Not only is Diana weakened in the middle of Gateway City, but Zatanna has also arrived with company. Commanded by Veronica Cale, Absolute Zatanna leads the Absolute Suicide Squad, which also includes Doctor Poison, Giganta, Cheetah, and a fish woman who may or may not be Nina Mazursky.

In DC's Absolute Universe, the Suicide Squad is created by Veronica Cale specifically to take down Wonder Woman. Each member is kept under control not with an explosive chip, but with a degradable parasite implanted in their head. All subjects are imprisoned in Area 41, and only Doctor Poison and Zatanna have a brief history with Wonder Woman. Cheetah and Giganta, usually two of the longest-running Wonder Woman enemies, meet Diana for the first time in Absolute Wonder Woman #16.

Absolute Suicide Squad Fixes A Long-Running Task Force X Problem

Wonder Woman's Rogues Gallery Isn't As Prominent As Batman & Superman's

More than an alternate-universe Task Force X, Absolute Suicide Squad serves as a new version of Villainy Inc., the team that has targeted Wonder Woman since the Golden Age. However, it doesn't feature Clea despite her recent clash with Wonder Woman, and it doesn't feature Harley Quinn despite Harleen's debut in Absolute Batman. As a fusion of both team concepts, Absolute Suicide Squad finally adds Wonder Woman villains to Task Force X's history.

The Suicide Squad has housed a long list of Batman enemies, including Bane, Poison Ivy, and Deadshot. Superman villains like Parasite, Flash villains like Captain Cold, Shazam's archnemesis Black Adam, and Aquaman's archnemesis Black Manta have also been part of the team. However, Wonder Woman antagonists are few and far between. Only a handful, including Cheetah, Giganta, and Silver Swan, have been in Task Force X's ranks before the arrival of DC's Absolute Suicide Squad.

Absolute Wonder Woman #16 is now available from DC Comics.

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  Release Date August 5, 2016

  Runtime 123 minutes

  Director David Ayer

  Writers David Ayer

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  Release Date August 6, 2021

  Runtime 132 minutes

  Producers Charles Roven, Peter Safran