This August John Ostrander Returns to SUICIDE SQUAD

The Task Force X, also known as the Suicide Squad, first appeared in a DC Entertainment comic book called The Brave and The Bold written by Robert Kanigher (The Metal Men) and drawn by Ross Andru (The Amazing Spider-Man) in 1959. A revamped version debuted again in Legends #3 and spun off into an ongoing comic book series written by author John Ostrander (Star Wars: Legacy). Ostrander’s story told with rogues looking for redemption ran 66-issues.

With an upcoming film in development, the publisher tapped Ostrander to create a brand new story starring the Suicide Squad titled Suicide Squad: War Crimes Special #1. Newsarama announced the news and creative team with artist Gus Vazquez (Alpha Flight) drawing the series that includes a cover by Juan Ferreyra (New Suicide Squad).

SUICIDE SQUAD: WAR CRIMES SPECIAL #1
Written by JOHN OSTRANDER • Art by GUS VAZQUEZ • Cover by JUAN FERREYRA
When a retired American politician is taken to Europe and tried for alleged war crimes, the USA must recover him from an allied nation before terrible truths are revealed. Enter the Suicide Squad, who storm the Hague itself to save America from her own dark secrets. The writer who started a revolution, John Ostrander returns to the Suicide Squad for the first time in a decade to tell one of his boldest and bloodiest stories ever.
One-shot • On sale AUGUST 31 • 48 pg, FC, $4.99 US • RATED T+

DC is also relaunching a new version of the comic written by Rob Williams (Doctor Who: The Eleventh Doctor). Jim Lee (Batman: Hush) and Scott Williams (Superman Unchained) are delivering art duties on the title shipping twice-monthly from DC. The fourth volume of the series is a part of DC’s Rebirth initiative happening line-wide on all of their superhero titles. After putting Harley Quinn on the team during the New 52, sales spiked and the publisher was reinvigorated to try again with the series.

SUICIDE SQUAD #1
Written by ROB WILLIAMS • Art and cover by JIM LEE and SCOTT WILLIAMS • Variant cover by LEE BERMEJO
“The Black Vault” part one! When a mysterious and definitely super-important cosmic item falls out of the heavens and into enemy hands, America has only one option: Task Force X, Amanda Waller’s strike team of incarcerated super-criminals. A one-stop-shop for plausibly deniable espionage and ultra- violence, this “Suicide Squad” only handles missions they’re not expected to survive. An insane new era of SUICIDE SQUAD begins here with superstar artist Jim Lee and red-hot writer Rob Williams (UNFOLLOW, MARTIAN MANHUNTER).
On sale AUGUST 17 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T+

The publisher isn’t just doubling-down on the Suicide Squad titles either, they are even adding an additional six-issue anthology mini-series starring the squad. The first issue of the comic, aptly titled Suicide Squad Most Wanted: El Diablo and Boomerang #1 (say that three times fast) is shipping in August featuring writing by Jai Nitz (Dream Thief) and Michael Moreci (Roche Limit) with art from Cliff Richards (Convergence: Aquaman) and Oscar Bazaldua (Heavy Metal Magazine).

SUICIDE SQUAD MOST WANTED: EL DIABLO AND BOOMERANG #1
Written by JAI NITZ and MICHAEL MORECI • Art by CLIFF RICHARDS and OSCAR BAZALDUA • Covers by MIKE HUDDLESTON
From the pages of SUICIDE SQUAD comes an all-new series featuring two of the team’s most infamous heroes, El Diablo and Boomerang! First, a sudden pardon frees the fiery El Diablo from Belle Reve prison, much to the shock (and irritation) of team leader Amanda Waller. Chato returns to his old neighborhood to reunite with his family, but when he’s attacked by a heavily armed local gang and their leader, the deadly, super-powered Bloodletter, will his freedom and his life get cut dramatically short?
Meanwhile, in the first chapter of two-part tale written by Michael Moreci (from DC’s Writers Workshop program) with art by Oscar Bazaldua, Boomerang and the Squad embark on a mission to take down a ruthless dictator within a small, unstable Central American nation, but when the mission goes awry, the Squad must jump in a helicopter and flee as all hell breaks loose. But amid the chaos, the team realizes one of them was accidentally left behind: Boomerang! How can he stay alive long enough to be rescued when a whole army wants him dead?
On sale AUGUST 10 • 48 pg, FC, $4.99 US • RATED T+

With the film coming to theaters in August, the publisher is looking to capitalize on some of its success with the newer publishing output. Note that there are some interesting prices running the gamut here with the main book launching at $2.99 and the side-issues shipping at the premium $4.99 price-point with an expanded page-count.