Just the Facts: Suicide Squad

Alright, big news this week as the Suicide Squad cast was made official. Instead of giving you analysis or opinions on what each actor is going to bring to the role, or how CrAzY the producers must be for X decision. We’re here with a multimedia character guide for the Suicide Squad giving you, you guessed it, just the facts. Hopefully this will allow you to form your own opinions on whether or not Hancock will make the best Deadshot.

Let’s meet our cast and characters

From left to right: the film will star Jared Leto as Joker; Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn; Will Smith as Deadshot; Tom Hardy as Rick Flagg; Jai Courtney as Boomerang; and Cara Delevingne as Enchantress. We’re going to introduce you to these characters below, but first… let’s look at a great intro to the Suicide Squad as a whole. Our character guide will consist of character descriptions from the DC Universe Wiki and then an Origins video or comic panel. No bells, no whistles. Just the facts.

The Suicide Squad

“The Suicide Squad is a team of imprisoned super-villains who perform high-risk missions for the U.S. Government in exchange for commuted sentences. They are formally known as Task Force X. The team’s actions are highly classified, and the government is able to deny any involvement by claiming that they are not responsible for the damages of a random super-villain attack. Their commander isAmanda Waller, who runs the organization out of Belle Reve prison. The Suicide Squad was created by Robert Kanigher and Ross Andru, first appearing in Brave and the Bold #25. (1959)”

The Joker (Jared Leto)

“The Joker is a serial killer and a super-villain, a dangerous madman who dresses like a clown and commits violent crimes. He is often recognized as Batman‘s greatest enemy, living in and terrorizingGotham City, although he spends most of his time in Arkham Asylum. In addition to being a deadly and unpredictable physical combatant, he is a brilliant and ruthless criminal mastermind. His crimes require no motivation other than his sadistic desire to show people the meaninglessness of life through pain and death, and the narcissism to see the world remade in his own image. He is constantly adapting his personality and his psychosis to respond to the world around him, sometimes a harmless trickster and at others a brutal mass-murderer. Batman is his only worthy opponent, and although he has passed up multiple opportunities to murder the dark knight, he has no such problems with killing Robin or crippling Batgirl. Although his origins remain unclear and shrouded in mystery, it is also known that prior to the chemical accident that scarred his mind and body he was the small-time criminal Red Hood. He has also been a member of theInjustice Gang and the Injustice League. Joker was created by Jerry Robinson, Bill Finger and Bob Kane, first appearing in Batman #1. (1940)”

Harley Quinn (Margot Robbie)

“Harley Quinn is a flamboyant super-villain and an adversary of Batmanusually recognized as the Joker‘s girlfriend, although she has had her own strong solo career. Born Harleen Quinzel, she had been working as a psychiatrist at Arkham Asylum where she was assigned to the Joker and fell in love with him. This led to her adopting her own costumed persona, adapting the word harlequin, to assist him escape and cause further mayhem. Their relationship is passionate and continuously off-on, with Harley’s best friend Poison Ivy constantly encouraging her to break up with for good. However, Harley’s love for the Joker eventually brings her back to his side with the Joker himself demonstrating a keen need for her despite himself. When not with the Joker, she has been working mostly on her own in Gotham City, sometimes teaming up with her other friends. Her special abilities include an enhanced physiology due to chemical experimentation, giving her increased strength, agility and durability. She has been a member of the Secret Society of Super-Villains, the Secret Six, the Gotham City Sirens, and the Suicide Squad. Harley Quinn was originally created by Paul Dini and Bruce Timm as a character in the DCAU. Her first appearance was in the Batman: The Animated Series episode “Joker’s Favor.” (1992) Several years later, her first appearance in regular continuity took place in the graphic novel Batman: Harley Quinn. (1999)”

Deadshot (Will Smith)

“Deadshot is a hired assassin and the world’s greatest marksman. Having been a super-villain and anti-hero, he’ll commit any murder for the right price because of a notorious suicidal death wish. Despite this, he works very hard to protect his estranged ex-wife Susan Lawton and his daughter Zoe Lawton. He has been a member of Checkmate, theKiller Elite, the Secret Six and the Suicide Squad. Deadshot was created by Bob Kane, David Vern Reed and Lew Sayre Schwartz, first appearing in Batman #59. (1950)”

Rick Flagg (Tom Hardy)

Rick Flag, Jr. is an elite soldier working for Task Force X, and the leader of the Suicide Squad. Beginning his career as a fighter pilot, he started going on suicide missions after a tragedy wiped out his entire unit. The original team lead by Flag included Hugh Evans, Jess Bright, andKarin Grace. Flag would later go to work under Amanda Waller, leading missions in the field. Flag had a child with Karin Grace named Rick Flag III. His father Rick Flag, Sr. was also a member of the Suicide Squadron during World War II. Rick Flag was created by Robert Kanigher and Ross Andru, first appearing in Brave and the Bold #25. (1959)

Boomerang (Jai Courtney)

George “Digger” Harkness is a violent thug from Australia who uses a variety of high-tech boomerangs to commit crimes and fight theFlash. This has made him a member of the violent Rogues gallery. He has also been a member of the Suicide Squad, the Injustice Gang, theSecret Society of Super-Villains and the Black Lantern Corps. Harkness was killed during Identity Crisis although he was later resurrected during Blackest Night. His son is Owen Mercer, a character of conflicted morality with limited super-speed who’s been a hero and a villain. Captain Boomerang was created by John Broomeand Carmine Infantino, first appearing in Flash #117. (1960) Owen Mercer was created by Brad Meltzer and Rags Morales, first appearing in Identity Crisis #3. (2004)

Enchantress (Cara Delvigne)

Enchantress is a powerful but mentally unstable witch who has fought as hero and villain. Her true identity is the kind-hearted June Moone, although she becomes evil when possessed by the Enchantress entity. She has been a member of the Forgotten Villains, Justice League Dark, the Sentinels of Magic, Shadowpact and the Suicide Squad.Enchantress was created by Bob Haney and Howard Purcell, first appearing in Strange Adventures #187. (1966)

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