Tag Archives: suicide squad/banana splits special

Review: Suicide Squad/Banana Splits Special #1

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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

Preview: Suicide Squad/Banana Splits Special #1

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Suicide Squad/Banana Splits Special #1

(W) Antony Bedard, Mark Russell (A) Ben Caldwell, Howard Porter, Mark Morales (CA) Clyde Caldwell
In Shops: Mar 29, 2017
SRP: $4.99

“SUICIDE SPLITS”! Mistaken for metahumans, thrown in the bowels of Belle Reve, the animal rock band Banana Splits are recruited by Amanda Waller for a secret mission: to save the Suicide Squad! What follows is the weirdest team-up you never thought you’d see! How can Fleegle, Bingo, Drooper and Snorky stand up to Harley, Deadshot, Katana and Croc?! And in the backup feature, Snagglepuss is a Southern gothic playwright working with an ensemble cast of cultural figures, exploring an intensely creative time in the New York City theater scene of the 1950s…

Review: Suicide Squad/The Banana Splits Special #1

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“SUICIDE SPLITS”! Mistaken for metahumans, thrown in the bowels of Belle Reve, the animal rock band Banana Splits are recruited by Amanda Waller for a secret mission: to save the Suicide Squad! What follows is the weirdest team-up you never thought you’d see! How can Fleegle, Bingo, Drooper and Snorky stand up to Harley, Deadshot, Katana and Croc?!

And in the backup feature, Snagglepuss is a Southern gothic playwright working with an ensemble cast of cultural figures, exploring an intensely creative time in the New York City theater scene of the 1950s…

Ok, want a concept that shouldn’t work by does and then you realize it’s something you’re missing in your life and you want more of it? Then take the Suicide Squad, add in The Banana Splits, and have it written by Tony Bedard with art by Ben Caldwell.

While the Suicide Squad is well know partially due to their high profile from a film its been a while since The Banana Splits has been a thing and for those that don’t know them, think 70s music focused show where the band is dressed in costumes and are made of nightmares similar to the animatronic Chuck E Cheese band. In this story after a misunderstanding the band is recruited by Amanda Waller and must save the Suicide Squad and it’s insane. Like, what’d Bedard take while writing this insane. But, it works. This comic is fun, full of energy, and completely out there. It makes me want to see more of this, and especially The Banana Splits as a hardcore rap group (read the comic it makes sense). Bedard in his writing not only is able to use the insanity of the Suicide Squad times ten, but he also seems to mine NWA and CB4 for material as well. More please!

Caldwell’s art too is fantastic. The style by which it’s all done feels like it enhances the insane energy and these two together as writer and artist are awesome. Caldwell makes the case that he needs to do a Harley Quinn comic as his renderings show off her insane glee of destruction. It’s a perfect mix of concept, writer, and art.

But, the main story’s insanity isn’t the best part!

That’s delivered by writer Mark Russell and artist Howard Porter who deliver Snagglepuss as a Southern gothic playwright dragged in front of the House of UnAmerican Activities committee. That’s funny, but the second half of the story is tragic and a hell of a statement as to the importance of art in society. It’s a gut punch through the laughter, but again shows off that Russell is a master at mixing comedy with social relevance in an entertaining package. Porter’s art is top notch here with a very cool design of Snagglepuss and the world around him. It’s just a fantastic combination that makes me want to see more of it all.

This comic is my favorite of the week delivering two entertaining stories that are entertaining in totally different ways.

Suicide Squad/The Banana Splits

Story: Tony Bedard Art: Ben Caldwell
Story: 9.35 Art: 9.35 Overall: 9.35 Recommendation: Buy

The Snagglepuss Chronicles

Story: Mark Russell Art: Howard Porter
Story: 10 Art: 10 Overall: 10 Recommendation: Buy

DC Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Graphic Policy’s Top Comic Picks this Week!

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Wednesdays are new comic book day! Each week hundreds of comics are released, and that can be pretty daunting to go over and choose what to buy. That’s where we come in!

We’re bringing back something we haven’t done for a while, what the team thinks. Our contributors are choosing up to five books each week and why they’re choosing the books.

Find out what folks think below, and what comics you should be looking out for this Wednesday.

Paul

Top Pick: X-Men Prime #1 (Marvel) – Well it wasn’t looking good for awhile there.  It seemed that Marvel was giving up on the X-Men and moving on with other titles.  But, now we have ResurrXion and I am excited!  I can’t wait to see how it all begins here and see the new teams and books take shape.  Not a fan of some of the costume designs I’ve seen peeks of (I’m looking at Rachel Grey) but really cannot wait to see this new chapter take shape.

All-New X-Men #19 (Marvel) – Jean Grey is back and the gangs all here.  This has been a fun title and I’m sorry to see it end.  Yes, I know this team is coming back in X-Men Blue, I just hope it brings along the fun from this first book.  And I am excited to see it focus on the 5 original members (no offense to Idie, Laura and Evan).

Inhumans Prime #1 (Marvel) – I wasn’t at all happy that it looked like Marvel was going to sacrifice the X-Men and make the Inhumans the next “it” thing, but that seems to have all changed.  While I am very excited for the new X-Men books, I am a fan of the Inhumans and look forward to seeing what’s next for them.  The Royal family has left the throne and I’m hearing things about them heading out into space?  Yeah, definitely down for this one.

 

Alex

Top Pick: Divinity III: Stalinverse #4 (Valiant) – Alright, so I’ve already read this, and it’s fantastic. What’s got me excited is the thought of reading the issue without any watermarked art work because this is a beautiful looking issue, and a fantastic conclusion.

Voracious: Feeding Time #4 (Action Lab Entertainment/Action Lab: Danger Zone) – Another comic I’ve already read and loved, my reasons for picking this are very similar to Divinity III: Stalinverse #4 – I want to see the colours pop in print.

Aldous Spark #1 (Grenade Fire, Inc) – So this one’s a bit of a cheat, but it’s sat on my desktop right now waiting for me to read it for a review… and because I plan on doing that this week, and the comic looks pretty bloody awesome, I figured I’d have it as one of my top picks.

Ninjak #25 (Valiant) – It’s taken me awhile to get really excited for this series, and I’m not really sure why, but when I read the first part of The Seven Blades Of Master Darque something clicked and I was suddenly all in with Valiant’s purple clad ninja that blends James Bond with Batman. And swords.

Old Man Logan #20 (Marvel) – The last Marvel book still on my pull list is always going to find a spot here because I am an unashamed Wolverine fanboy. I make no excuses.

 

Joe

Top Pick: Animosity #6 (Aftershock) – This is one of my favorite comic books out in the entire medium, and I wish more people read it. An awesome story about a girl and her dog, and the downfall of humanity.

Dark Knight III: The Master Race #8 (DC Comics) – It hasn’t been all good, but I’ve enjoyed the last few. It feels just different and classic enough for me, even if it doesn’t touch the highs of the original legendary story.

Old Man Logan #20 (Marvel) – Lemire is done in a few issues, so I want to savor these. Also, we are almost at the past lives story arc which has me so excited. I love this book.

Moonshine #6 (Image) – This is such a crazy and original book. Moonshine, gangsters, romance, and werewolves. What isn’t there to like?

Booster Gold/The Flintstones Special #1 (DC Comics) – Mark Russell does amazing work on books like Prez, and The Flintstones, and now he’s giving us this odd gem among the other DC/Hanna-Barbera mashups.

 

Shay

Top Pick: Orphan Black Deviations #1 (IDW Publishing) – It’s a sci-fi bonanza , in a super sized cross over that’ll make the tv lover in you squeal with delight. It’s a 6 part arc and this is the very beginning of what I’m sure will be a lovely story!

Harley’s Little Black Book #6 (DC Comics) – Harley finds herself tossed out of a space ship and stranded with Lobos and his dog/food tester on a rainy planet, with minimal clothing. Hijiniks ensue in this over the top issue of Harley’s LBB .

Suicide Squad/Banana Splits Special #1 (DC Comics) – Yes, it is as silly as you think it is and yes you will laugh your butt off and love it as much as you think you will. It’s a mash-up you didn’t know you needed.

Inhumans Prime #1 (Marvel) – The bridge isn’t over, this is the super-sized issue that kicks it off. RESURRXION Starts now with the first issue in the arc that’ll connect IVX to whatever Marvel has planned next.

X-Men Prime #1 (Marvel) – The X-Men team have a little bridge of their own, Kitty Pryde is back, ready to lead & it’s time to rebuild.

 

Brett

Top Pick: Suicide Squad/Banana Splits Special #1 (DC Comics) – The concept is completely insane, but this is a comic that you didn’t know you need until you’ve read it. It’s off the wall fun and exactly what I was hoping for when DC Comics announced this series of mash-ups. The main story is solid, but the Snagglepuss story by Mark Russell with art by Howard Porter is perfection. Twisted fun that also reflects on the world.

Hook Jaw #4 (Titan Comics) – This is basically Jaws, except crazier, and I’m completely sucked in and sold on it.

Man-Thing #2 (Marvel) – I wasn’t completely sold on the first issue but the back-up story was top notch. I’m interested in seeing the second issue mostly because I have a better idea of what R.L. Stine is going for with this series so it won’t catch me off guard as much.

The Rift #3 (Red 5 Comics) – Time travel fun that’s a great twist on a Twilight Zone like story.

Rough Riders: Riders on the Storm #2 (Aftershock) – Historical figures come together in this weird twist on history. The first issue picks up where the first volume left off and it continues the fun. There’s lots of mysteries to answer and I want to see where this story takes us.