Cover art by Dan LuVisi

Secret Six #22

Writer: Gail Simone
Artist: J. Calafiore
DC
Released: June 9, 2010

The comics that I deem “good” are the ones that really tug my emotions or shock the shit out of me. The final installment of the Secret Six “Cats in the Cradle” story arc was a full on jaw-dropper, kids. If you haven’t been reading, you need to grab the trade. I went back to issue #19 and read straight through. This story is intense, fast-paced and clever, and it will make you say, “Oh. My. God.” J. Calafiore’s art style works well for the characters, and his backgrounds add great dimension to the story. Jason Wright’s dark colors are a constant reminder that this ain’t the damn Justice League. Not that you’ll need to be reminded.

The issue takes us right back to Alice being possessed by the demon Estrogan on some ultra PMS rampage, picking a fight with Scandal … over Ragdoll. It’s kinda ridiculous. OK, it’s really ridiculous. Black Alice’s inception in Birds of Prey was so interesting and ripe with potential, but it just has not come to fruition. Or maybe, five years later, I just have a much lower tolerance for bratty teenagers. That’s certainly why Wonder Girl grinds my nerves. Whatever the case, her catfight with Scandal is mildly amusing, only because of Deadshot’s ambivalent spectator commentary.

While Gail is the queen of witty banter, and there is plenty in this scene; I just wanted more from Alice. She eventually gains control of her magic and immediately begins snotting herself. I rolled my eyes at Alice’s “emotional” revelation that she probably gave her father cancer by magic, but was pleased with her moment of maturity when she enlightened the “adults” on Catman’s state of mind.

Speaking of Catman’s state of mind, “Holy what the fucking shit!?!” as someone so eloquently put it on Twitter. I’m usually all for the major spoilage, but not this time, homies. You gotta see that mess for yo’ self. Cheshire’s homicidal, maniacal tendencies have caused one hell of a butterfly effect. Gail took it there.

Now, the question is: Where on Earth will she go next? I hope Alice has gone to master her “skills” or grow up or something, but she seems to be exiting scene. Cheshire is 38-hot to say the least, so will Jade finally get some screen time at Gail’s hand? Catman has blazed past the point of no return. The Usual Suspects – Scandal, Doll, and Deadshot are left to pick up the up the body parts. How is THAT confrontation gonna go? Let’s not forget; last time we saw Bane & Jeanette, they were merc’n with the likes of Dwarfstar, Giganta, Lady Vic, and King Shark. It’s a big bowl of “Holy what the fucking shit!?!” soup.

Whatever tumult is in store for the Six, it is apparently time to get off the teat, son.

Black Alice is wildly powerful with magic. She can gank the powers of any magical being that she’s laid eyes on including the likes of the Spectre and Wonder Woman. She has also proven to be naive and immature, often succumbing to emotionally-driven bad decisions.

X-23 is an expert martial artist who will kill you. I think she could own Lady Shiva. X-23′s heightened senses, healing factor, and pure skill might just give Black Alice one hell of a fight.

What say you?

Aside from being one of the most consistently good mainstream comics around, the current incarnation of Secret Six is a carnival ride of moral ambiguity; wildly amusing yet sickening. While darkness seems to plague this colorful cast wherever they go (Junior, Devil’s Island, *shudder*), there’s also plenty of humor and the perfect Hollywood cliché of stuff just … blowing up. That’s a filmmaker and casting director’s dream (or at least the dream of the alternate universe versions of V and I that make movies).

Let’s face it; a smaller, off-kilter movie about a group of rogues stands a better chance of being good — or at least interesting — than any live-action Justice League movie a studio would whip up. (I’m not saying I don’t want to see a live-action JL movie, but I just don’t see how it could possibly be done well.)

We’ve got our own ideas about casting Secret Six: The Movie, but first we want to hear yours.  Who’s your big-screen dream team to portray Bane, Jeanette, Catman, Deadshot, Ragdoll and Scandal Savage — or Knockout or Black Alice?



Secret Six #16
Writer: Gail Simone
Penciller: Peter Nguyen
Inkers: Doug Hazelwood & Mark McKenna
DC Comics
December 9, 2009

The Story

*Spoiler Alert*

We’ve all watched movies with serial killers where you wished nothing more than for Justice to assail them squarely in the nuts.  Well, our favorite amoral anti-heroes of Secret Six do much, much worse. Leave it to Gail to make demented so delicious.

The issue opens up with Catman and Deadshot abducting a serial-killing child molester from police custody, only to turn him over to the father of 9-year-old Katie Sanchez, one of his victims.  Mr. Sanchez wants revenge.  Before parting ways, Catman gives the bereft father a few tips.  “When you flense him, don’t think of him as human. It’s just tissue.”  Catman and Deadshot exit scene  to talk about … dinner!  Gail perfectly articulates the fine line these lovable psychopaths teeter on.  The diabolical duo don’t get very far before the one and only Black Alice makes her presence known.

Now, I am beyond thrilled that Alice is back in Gail’s hands.  I loved her at inception, and have been champing at the bit for more of the character ever since.

Having witnessed the tutorial on torture, Alice is unaffected and wants to join the Six.  In her bratty, teenager fresh-from-hell kind of way, she refuses to take no for an answer.  Throw in some strip club shenanigans, Black Alice’s magical mojo, some sentiment from the teddy bear that is Bane, the always welcome witticism of Ragdoll, and you got yourself a Dionysian good time.

The Art

I pretty much jizzed on myself when I got a look at LuVisi’s cover back in August.  I LOVE HIS ART.

But I have to admit; I really missed Nicola, who is about as good as a comic artist can get.  Having said that, I think Peter Nguyen did a excellent job.  The facial closeups were awesome. I absolutely loved what he did with Alice’s costumes as she moved between magics.  The Alice Banshee was some rock star shit, fa sho.  I also dig the ink, which is appropriately ominous. My only criticism is that the faces seemed elongated in certain panels. All in all, enjoyable.

I had a great deal of anticipation for this issue, and I was not disappointed.  I look forward to whatever fuckery the Six can get themselves into next and … and what happens if (OK, when) they make Alice angry.  Cowabunkle!