DC Comic's Expendables

Every country needs soldiers to protect and serve it's freedom, but some squadrons of soldiers aren't as noble as others, especially DC Comic's Suicide Squad. This team of characters is unlike many other superhero teams in comic books, basically on the grounds that it is a team not comprised of heroes. The members of Suicide Squad are the worst of people doing the best a person can do. Saving the world, one compromise at a time.

(Yes, give them the Twinkies)

Starting in 1987, the Suicide Squad series isn't so much a team as it is a sentence. Known criminals are drafted into a team that requires their abilities, if they do not comply they usually end up dead or back in a cell. But more often dead. If the selected criminals go through with the mission they're given, the U.S. Government will shorten their sentence and allow them to walk away with a clean record. Because this program was founded in the 80's, many of the Suicide Squad's missions dealt with recent wars and known politicians. It should also be mentioned-although the reasoning is quite obvious-why the team is called The Suicide Squad. The context for the name is that if any members of the Suicide Squad become harmed or killed during a mission they will not be considered a loss (hence the "Expendables" reference above). Of course in censoring situations the team has also been referred to as Task Force X. Members of this roster-rotating party include dangerous assassins like Deadshot, Bronze Tiger and Deathstroke, more colorfully clad super-villains like Captain Boomerang, Black Adam and Cheetah, as well as known superheroes like The Atom, Superboy and Batman. There have been over fifty individuals roped into this death wish of a military group. With so many operatives, one should ask who organizes all these disposable lives? Doctor Amanda "The Wall" Waller, political scientist and agent of the American Government. Waller once lived in the slums of Chicago and witnessed the murder of her husband and children before escaping the projects. Now, Amanda Waller is a force to reckoned with as she's been a recurring enemy for Batman, The Justice League and the entirety of the DCU. She has no special powers, but her intellect, cunning and militaristic prowess cause internal issues for superheroes. With organizations like The Suicide Squad, Checkmate and ARGUS behind her, Amanda Waller represent the gray area threat that coats the universe of DC Comics.

There are two reasons I wanted to educate you readers on The Suicide Squad. Firstly, because they're getting a movie! Second and more importantly, The Suicide Squad continues the idea of villains being more than evil. Members of the Suicide Squad may be criminals held against their will, but they still do good things. Some of them have even changed sides, some have people they wish to protect. Much like real people, these heroes and villains don't have an alignment when they are serving something greater than themselves. And as for Waller? Yeah, she's a calculating, cold-hearted witch, but her intentions have meaning. Everything she does she does for her country. Every live lost, every awful choice, all to keep her home safe the way she never could. These people aren't heroes or soldiers, these people are guilty, and by the saving the lives of others they may save their own lives, as well. Thanks for reading.