By my count this is now the fourth version of this DC Comics’ team.  The original debuted in the late 1960s, a group of people brought together by the mysterious Mockingbird working together towards an unknown goal.  This format has continued throughout the various other versions, the 1980s version where each member had been handicapped in some way, of the 2000s version where the villainous characters were brought together and where Mockingbird was finally known.  This version seems to be a combination of all of the previous, and although the most recent version of the series had a dedicated fan following, this series is quite different.

The story here brings the same six characters together, though the reader is likely only to be familiar with one or two of them.  Most of the action here focuses on Catman, the lone holdover thus far from the previous run of the characters.  As he is brought in to the mix of the other characters, things are for the first time shown to be very different from previous.  Although this is a group of supervillains, their connection to each other is very different than the most recent version, tying instead more into the previous versions, where group of strangers must learn to work with each other.  In a bit of Saw-like inspiration, the characters are forced into situations where they are stuck together in a room and forced to comply to demands from the voices directing them.  The other characters are introduced in this way, but the readers will be left with more questions than answers going forward.

Those fans of the previous incarnation of the team that read this might find themselves a little lost.  Although still written by Gail Simone, this is not the team that won so much attention a few years ago.  The pace here is different as is the focus, but the potential is still there.  This is starting out less on a bang like some might have expected, but the pieces are all there for the development of an engaging series.  Readers will have to wait and see if Gail Simone can make lightning strike twice.

Story: Gail Simone Art: Ken Lashley
Story: 7.8 Art: 7.5 Overall: 7.8 Recommendation: Read