Secret Six

• Title: Secret Six #34
• Comic Vine: link
• Writer: Gail Simone
• Artist: Jim Calafiore

Although the word “family” is never uttered, that’s what this issue is really about. After returning from Hell and saving another of Scandal‘s girlfriends (in a brutal opening sequence) the team returns home to lick their wounds and get back to live as usual (or as usual as it gets for these characters).

While Scandal tries to bury the hatchet with Ragdoll, and King Shark freaks out with how happy Catman is acting, Bane goes out on his first date. It’s unconventional (Bane tells the stripper his life story while atop a Ferris Wheel before severely wounding several would-be-robbers), but turns out to be a pleasant night for the couple (or as pleasant as things get for these characters).

There’s still plenty of fallout to come, including a difficult choice by Scandal and the reported return of a Bane on Venom, but this single character-driven issue (which has its share of bloody panels) is a nice change-of-pace after the trip to Hell and back. Worth a look.

[DC, $2.99]

• Title: Secret Six #31
• Comic Vine: link
• Writer: Gail Simone
• Artist: Jim Calafiore

Part 1 of “The Darkest House” brings everything full circle as Scandal Savage‘s nightmares become too much to bear and she decides to use the “Get Out of Hell Free Card” she’s been hording since this comic’s first story arc to retrieve Knockout from Hell.

The B-story involves Scandal’s current girlfriend who is kidnapped from the strip club by an over-zealous (and completely crazy) regular. You get the feeling no matter how things end in each story, for Scandal, they will end in tears.

Gail Simone gives us the disturbing dark humor we’ve come to expect which includes the team’s attempt to make a commercial and a look inside Ragdoll‘s room with his harem of monkeys (all dressed like his teammates) when Scandal attempts to retrieve the card from the thief (with bloody results). We also learn the entrance to Hell is inside a mall in Iowa (where else?), and why you never ask Catman for a pound of flesh.

A strong opening to a new arc that sends the team literally to Hell. Worth a look.

[DC $2.99]

• Title: Doom Patrol #19
• Comic Vine: link
• Writer: Keith Giffen
• Artist: Matthew Clark

I love Keith Giffen, but not everything he does is a winner. This second-half of the Secret Six crossover finds the Doom Patrol and Catman and company battling it out on an island while an active volcano turns everything to slag around them.

Although I liked the madcap action of the first-half of this crossover, this one’s a bit disappointing. There are some fun moments (including the crazed charge of the Science Squad), but the craziness ultimately never pays off. On the plus side, Catman and Scandal get off some good lines (reminding us of pre-Bane Secret Six days).

Although the Secret Six are present, they take a definite backseat to the Doom Patrol (who, to be honest, I’ve never really been that fond of).

It’s not a bad read, I was just hoping with all the insanity at his disposal Giffen would knock the second-half of this one out of the park. Hit-and-Miss.

[DC $2.99]