Tony Bedard gives us the mash up that we never saw coming, we get a shove back into the way back machine for this very special “Suicide Splits” comic. The Banana Splits are way before my time but, that doesn’t make this issue any less enjoyable to me. I was drawn in for the Suicide Squad and stayed for the animal rescue team that Amanda Waller provided to help the Squad out of a jam. It’s all fun and games until there’s an ambush in a Forrest and some rogue robot factory.

Ben Caldwell‘s penciling and Mark Morales’ ink work provide the perfect jump off point for Jeremy Lawson‘s insane color palette. There’s darkness when there needs to be, a little bit of Reservoir Dog stylization and some seriously fun pop color, cartoon-like artwork for the Squad. The artwork is exactly what you need it to be for a story that isn’t taking itself too seriously. There’s also so killer detail on the Banana Splits making them appear to be the prominent drivers of the story.

The story is just fun and considering the previous issues of the Suicide Squad comics have been tense and violent up until thus point, a little bit of fun is exactly what us readers needed. There’s not a lot going in that adds to the Squads universe as a whole, thus us just a fun romp through silly town that gives the reader some action and comic relief. It’s well written, well executed and interesting enough without being too silly to take seriously. It’s an unlikely crossover comic that gives you a bit of the Squad without too much heart-wrenching darkness.

Suicide Splits is exactly what you’d expect and what your soul wants in your one off mash-up story. Well written, great art and a bit of a pulp all in one comic. Trading off of the Squads badassery and having them need a rescue from a pop band who hasn’t had a hit since before I was born is a cute touch that works well with the over the topness of the Squad.

Story: Tony Bedard Art: Ben Caldwell, Mark Morales and Jeremy Lawson
Story: 8.7 Art: 8.9 Overall: 8.8 Recommendation: Buy

DC Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review