After a long, excruciating wait, Suicide Squad is finally coming to the big screen.
Suicide Squad appears to have all the makings of a smash hit. The film follows a group of troubled, imprisoned villains who get a second chance to fight even more dangerous forces than themselves, under the extreme supervision of the super strict Task Force X head Amanda Waller. It features a wide-array of DC’s best baddies, including Deadshot, Harley Quinn, The Joker and Killer Croc. But through the nearly 30 years that DC Comics has been publishing Suicide Squad comic books, there have been many, many iterations of the team.
Here are the four best characters who have appeared as Suicide Squad members, and likely won’t be making an appearance in the film, but I’d like to see in future sequels.
King Shark
King Shark is a sort of half-human, half-shark hybrid. His origin, like most comic characters, has been varied.
King Shark has been the son of a shark god and a metahuman changed from a particle accelerator explosion. The ultra-violent villain has super strength and endurance, while maintaining abilities from the vicious sea creature he spawned from. There have been multiple versions of the character, such as the one seen in season two of The Flash TV show. But King Shark has been a Task Force X member on multiple occasions, most recently in DC’s New 52 Suicide Squad arc.
King Shark almost made an appearance in the upcoming film, but director David Ayer decided a full CG character wasn’t worth the effort, instead opting to include Killer Croc.
Reverse-Flash
Reverse-Flash’s absence makes sense, considering his adversary hasn’t yet had his own feature film. It might be a stretch to even consider Reverse-Flash a Suicide Squad member, as he’s only made one, prolonged appearance in a Suicide Squad story arc (New Suicide Squad). But adding a speedster to the team would be a hell of a lot of fun, similar to Quicksilver’s role in X-Men: Days of Future Past.
The Daniel West version of Reverse-Flash, not the most popular Eobard Thawne version, would be a nice pull for the film. West, the formerly prison-bound brother of Iris West, takes the mantle after absorbing speed force powers from Mirror Master’s Mirror World. With new powers, West attempts to drain the power of those also affected by the speed force, in order to go back in time and kill his abusive father. It’s a complicated, but fun storyline.
Thawne’s Reverse-Flash will reportedly be in The Flash film, but if West is introduced, he should be a part of a potential Suicide Squad 2.
Deathstroke
Including Deathstroke is sort of cheating on my part, as he’s only made a couple appearances as a member of the Suicide Squad, in New Suicide Squad and the upcoming Suicide Squad: Rebirth. But the iconic character might be the most fan-coveted film villain right now. Deathstroke has been a popular character in DC Comics since his 1980 debut. The mercenary, a take-no-names assassin, is among the most badass villains ever created. His motivations, like other squad members, would be wavering. In his brief Suicide Squad arc, he betrays the team almost immediately.
Deathstroke’s mask is atop my list of best ever for DC characters. His popularity skyrocketed when he was included in The CW’s Arrow, but was eventually dropped from the show with rumors that DC wanted to use him in future films.
Adding Deathstroke gives the Squad a killing machine antihero. It would be entertaining to see him spar with fellow baddies, such as Deadshot. How about a sword fight with Katana? It would also appease fanboys clamoring to see the character return to live action. There has been speculation that Scott Eastwood’s mysterious soldier character might be Slade Wilson. But at this point, it’s unsubstantiated. As Jalen Rose would say, GIVE THE PEOPLE WHAT THEY WANT.
Black Manta
Black Manta, a villain hell-bent on killing Aquaman, appeared in New Suicide Squad in a Rick Flagg-type role. He was a leader to the unpredictable squad and had become a reliable ally to Waller, amidst a chaotic team. Although Black Manta is almost enticed to fully betray the team to join the League of Assassins.
The character is a valuable fighter on land, as much as he is undersea. Black Manta can shoot lasers out of his bulky helmet and is skilled at fighting. He is also very smart and tactical. He’d even out some of the unpredictability of the task force.
Black Manta appearing in a Suicide Squad film doesn’t fit DC’s overall narrative now. But once James Wan’s Aquaman hits the big screen, the character should be fair game for a sequel, assuming Aquaman doesn’t has other plans for him.
Other villains who could be intriguing and have shown up in other DC Comics TV shows or animated films include Killer Frost, Parasite, Mirror Master and Doctor Light. But here’s hoping DC would never put The Joker’s Daughter in a film.
