Genre: Superhero | Author: Marv Wolfman | Release Date: 2016 | Publisher: Titan Books
A secret government agency, led by Amanda Waller, assembles a team of imprisoned supervillains for deadly black ops missions. In exchange for reduced sentences, they must confront a powerful threat and prove they're more than expendable.
Plot
Suicide Squad: The Official Movie Novelization follows Amanda Waller, a ruthless intelligence officer who recruits a team of imprisoned supervillains to combat threats too dangerous for conventional forces. When an ancient sorceress named Enchantress and her brother Incubus unleash chaos on Midway City, Waller activates "Task Force X"—a reluctant band of criminals including elite assassin Deadshot, unhinged former psychiatrist Harley Quinn, pyrokinetic ex-gangster El Diablo, thief Captain Boomerang, monster-like Killer Croc, and soldier Rick Flag.
The plot is compelling in its premise, with enough intrigue and high-stakes action to maintain interest. There are strong character arcs, particularly for Deadshot and Diablo, who wrestle with their pasts and seek redemption. The team’s gradual cohesion offers satisfying emotional beats. However, the novel stumbles when juggling its subplots, especially the one involving Harley Quinn and the Joker. While the book teases depth in their toxic relationship, it ultimately glosses over its complexity. The Joker appears intermittently, never fully integrated into the main storyline, which undercuts any meaningful development between him and Harley. Their "love story" feels more implied than explored, reducing emotional impact.
The final act delivers strong action and a clear climax, but it lacks closure. Important character threads—such as the strained relationship between Flag and June Moone (Enchantress’s host), or Waller’s consequences for her actions—are unresolved. The story ends abruptly, leaving key dynamics underdeveloped.
Despite their villainous labels, the characters are written with surprising nuance and charisma. Deadshot serves as the team’s unofficial leader—his deadly precision is matched by his motivation to reunite with his daughter. Harley Quinn’s manic charm hides traces of pain and psychological complexity, though the book doesn’t fully commit to unpacking her trauma or her obsessive relationship with the Joker. El Diablo is a standout, haunted by his past and reluctant to unleash his deadly powers. Boomerang adds comic relief, while Killer Croc is underused but visually distinct.
Rick Flag, the team's military overseer, offers a human counterpoint, especially in his relationship with June Moone. However, both characters feel sidelined toward the end. Amanda Waller is excellently portrayed—cold, calculating, and the most dangerous person in the room. She's one of the few characters with consistent presence and agency throughout the novel.
While the squad members receive just enough development to be compelling, the villains—Enchantress and Incubus—are disappointingly flat. Their motivations are vague, their dialogue minimal, and their mythos underexplored. This leaves the central conflict feeling hollow despite the scale of the threat.
Ranking: 3 out of 5
Writing
Marv Wolfman’s writing captures the chaotic energy of the Suicide Squad while improving on aspects from the film. His action scenes are sharply rendered, with clear choreography and intensity. He handles character banter well, particularly Deadshot and Boomerang, and enhances character insight with internal monologues. The prose isn’t overly detailed, but it offers vivid snapshots of violence, emotion, and urban decay.
However, the biggest drawback is structural: there are far too many shifting points of view. Nearly every character—including minor or irrelevant ones—gets a say, diluting the story’s focus. This makes it harder to build consistent tension or emotional resonance, as scenes often leap between perspectives mid-conflict.
Compared to the film, the novel provides deeper insight into certain characters, especially Deadshot and Diablo. There’s more time spent exploring motivations and background, adding texture the movie lacked. Yet, just like the film, it still skirts the opportunity to fully flesh out Harley and the Joker's disturbing relationship, and fails to elevate Enchantress or Incubus beyond supernatural filler villains. The novel adds polish to the bones of the story but can't completely fix its structural issues.
Ranking: 3 out of 5
The Verdict
In the end, Suicide Squad: The Official Movie Novelization is a decent companion to the 2016 film, offering a bit more clarity and depth where the movie faltered. It features a great ensemble of anti-heroes, engaging dialogue, and strong action, but suffers from overloaded perspectives and underwritten villains. The Joker subplot is disappointingly superficial, and some emotional arcs are cut off just as they gain momentum. Still, for fans of the Suicide Squad or superhero fiction in general, the book is worth a read—especially for those who wished the film spent more time developing its misfit team. Suicide Squad: The Official Movie Novelization gets 3 out of 5.
Comments
Post a Comment