Secret Six 32 – 36

Secret Six (Volume 3) #32
Written by Gail Simone
Art by J. Calafiore

The Secret Six travel to hell in a fantastic issue. I forgot how much I missed reading this book with it’s hilarious but dark characters and it’s beautiful artwork. I loved how Bane seemed shock that he might be damned to hell because he considers himself to be good. I loved that Ragdoll doesn’t want to return to earth because he is going “sane.” I loved it all.

 

Secret Six (Volume 3) #33
Written by Gail Simone
Art by J. Calafiore

In this issue, Catman goes to make sure that his father is in hell where he deserves to be only to find that his mother is in hell too – she eats his father every day as a lioness to torture him. Etrigan tells Catman this is heaven for his mother. I guess his Dad got what he deserved! That is some dark humor there and I love it. We even get to see the personal hells of all of the Secret Six. Some were sad like Bane’s but then Gail Simone – the master 0f writing comedic relief – shows King Shark’s hell as a vegetarian restaurant. Anyways, Lady Blaze tells Scandal her other girlfriend’s soul will soon belong to her in hell. I can’t remember who Scandal’s other girlfriend was.

Secret Six (Volume 3) #34
Written by Gail Simone
Art by J. Calafiore

Did Jeanette quote Julian of Norwhich in this issue? Scandal sure did lie to her girlfriend in this issue didn’t she? Anyways, this was a heartwarming issue in a dark heartwarming disturbing way only the Secret Six can bring. Bane goes on a date and gets in a fight. Jeanette seems to have decided to turn good? And it was just a lot of fun.

 

 

Secret Six (Volume 3) #35
Written by Gail Simone
Art by J. Calafiore

In this issue, Bane decides to lead the team in another assault Batman after realizing that he never got to really break the Batman like he wanted to back in the day. They start by drafting the Penguin to join the team. I enjoy the way Simone writes Penguin…it reminds me of Batman Returns a bit. And that is my favorite Batman movie. This was a fantastic issue.

 

Secret Six (Volume 3) #36 
Written by Gail Simone
Art by J. Calafiore

This is the final issue of a great series that I will miss. Gail Simone is a creative genius. You writes complex characters who are so well-rounded it is like they are real people. She is truly a gem in the comic book world. Also, she has a scene in this where they feed a man to King Shark on a fishing hook. So she is hilarious too. The part where Scandal decides she wants to marry both Knockout and Liana was a tad strange though but hey these are crazy people this book is about. The only problem I had was it is really hard to believe all of those supeheroes would show up to fight the Secret Six like they are Darkseid or something. But they sure got their asses handed to them and this villain team went out in a blaze of glory. What a fitting finale to an amazing series!

 

Secret Six 5 and 6

Secret Six (Volume 3) #5
Written by Gail Simone
Art by Nicola Scott

And DC’s craziest series gets even crazier in this issue as the villain Junior is revealed to be Ragdoll’s sister. I can’t believe I never thought of such a thing before as the villain did fit in a box! She is even scarier looking then Ragdoll.

Secret Six (Volume 3) #6
Written by Gail Simone
Art by Nicola Scott, Favi Pina, and Pete Woods

In the main story, learn more about Ragdoll’s sister and it turns out the one asking for the card is Mad Hatter who I am excited to see. He really doesn’t get enough appearances for a Batman villain. We also learn more of the perfectly disturbing backstory of Jeanette. Oh and Deadshot betrays the team. He was my least favorite member, so I really hope he is out for good. I like that despite they are working together, they really are still villains. In Origins and Omens backup story, we get some panels that could show the future of the team as well as an explanation of their origins by Mad Hatter who looks to have bad things in mind for their future. Awesome issue.

Craziness Continues

Secret Six (Volume 3) #4
Written by Gail Simone
Art by Nicola Scott

The craziness continues this issue as the Secret Six finally meet up with their sixth member in vegas. Jeanette is an interesting character in a series full of interesting characters. There are so many great moments in this issue I don’t even know where to start. If you are not picking up this series, run to the store and pick it up now! The art is great and the story is both shocking and hilarious. Simone is one of the best writers DC has right now. And yes they do actually ride in an ice cream turck this issue! The art is dark, and I love that about it. It fits the tone of the series perfectly with its dark humor. I love the line “What if?” that tarantula says because she is sooo right. Even if one doesn’t believe in hell or believe that the Get out of Hell Card works, there is always going to be the “What If” that is the back of these villains minds that makes them wanna grab it. We get more of the creepy villain, Junior, who murders a priest in a rather disturbing scene. This book is not for the squemish, that is for sure.

Birds of Prey 108 and 109

Birds of Prey #108
Written by Gail Simone
Art by Nicola Scott

Gail Simone’s final issue on this title is a tear jerker. You really feel that the writer is saying goodbye to her characters this issue. I don’t even know how to explain how good this issue is. Just read it. Characters from Simone’s entire run come back to defend Oracle against Spy Smasher. The “core team” cries together as they say their goodbyes and we find out who Misfit really is. It was amazing. Gail, thanks for making Birds of Prey a great read through your entire run.

Birds of Prey #109
Written by Tony Bedard
Art by Nicola Scott

Bedard begins his fill-in run with this issue. This was a very enjoyable read that I believe lives up to what Simone has done with this book. Oracle and Black Canary discuss the Green Arrow-Black Canary relationship and I like how Oracle basically says she shouldn’t marry him. It was a nice way of looking back at each character’s histories. There were some major continuity error though, the use of the Ventriloquist when Batgirl was around (he didn’t come about until after she was crippled) and the mention that Connor’s mother was Shado. Shado was not Connor’s mother. Other than those errors, this was a great issue. My personal favorite about it must have been Big Barda playing with Pokemon Cards! Oh and this tied into Countdown perfectly.

Barbara Is Pissed

Birds of Prey #107
Written by Gail Simone
Art by Nicola Scott

Gail Simone is leaving this title on a very high note. Sean McKeever (he still is taking this over right?) has very big shoes to fill. This is the conclusion of the Secret Six vs. Birds of Prey arc and it couldn’t have ended better. I am happy to say Ice is alive and back to her normal self. I was worried for a second there they were going to kill her off as soon as they ressurected her but nope, luckily I was wrong. Seeing Ice recognize Guy Gardner’s name put a smile on her face, it was his name that took her out of her evil spell. Any fan of the JLI would know why that would be. It will be fun to see those two re-unite. Barbara seems really pissed at Spy Smasher at the end and rightfully so. Spy Smasher is a bitch and a half. Oh and I am going to miss Lady Blackhawk, hopefully she will be back soon.

Did Ice Just Say Bastards?

Birds of Prey #106
Written by Gail Simone
Art by Nicola Scott

Sadly, from next month’s cover, I get the feeling that Ice’s resurrection is going to be short-lived. Anyways though, this was a wild ass issue!!! I loved it!! Simone writes some of the greatest banter between two opponents in comics like ever. Everyone who likes fun comics should read this. It is fun and action-packed. Some people were really looking forward to the Knockout/Big Barda fight teased on the cover and it was well and good, but I think all of the fights were good. Hawkgirl and Scandal, Harley Quinn and Misfit (Hilarious), Catman and The Huntress, Manhunter and Ragdoll (I loved how Manhunter noticed ragdoll’s balls are missing haha. Forget those naysayers who say this series is not as good without Dinah, I say it is better. I love the Black Canary but it was time for her to move on. This was just awesome.

And The New Member Of The Secret Six Is…

Birds of Prey #105
Written by Gail Simone
Art by Nicola Scott and Doug Hazlewood

Hella ya! I am just loving this book. It is a lot of fun and good at the same time. The beginning about Rasputin was interesting and gross along with the murder. I am not sure what exactly is going on but I am really into it. I have no idea how that guy brought Ice back to life or what Spy Smasher wants to do with the Birds of Prey. But I am loving every moment of it all. The last page cliffhanger was amazing and I can not wait to see a full on fight between the Birds and the Secret Six. Oh and Harley Quinn being the new Sixth member is genius! (Actually anything with Harley in it is genius). I love the new Birds of Prey. It is such a refreshing change of pace for this book. Oh and did I say how much Nicola Scott lives.

Birds of Prey 103 and 104

Birds of Prey #103
Written by Gail Simone
Art by Nicola Scott and Doug Hazlewood

Overall, I have to say that the new status quo of the Birds of Prey is a lot of fun and is a refreshing change. I really do think it was the right time for Dinah to move on. This issue was action-packed and a lot of fun. Spy Smasher is certainly making Oracle’s life a living hell. It was cool to see how she had a past with Barbara, you almost like Spy Smasher after reading this. I definitely recommend this issue.

Birds of Prey #104
Written by Gail Simone
Art by Nicola Scott and Doug Hazlewood

Wow, I did not expect the last page surprise of this issue! And I don’t think anyone did. I am not going to spoil for you all, but definitely go out and buy this issue. It is one hell of a shocker. It was also really fun to see the Birds interact with the Secret Six. The six are a fun villain group and it is good to see them anywhere. I liked the mention of how the former JLI has taken some hits over the last few years and talk of Rocket Red. It makes a fan boy like me smile. Simone is fantastic writer if I haven’t already said that enough. This was a hell of an issue.