cam14147's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
tshepiso's review
3.5
I enjoyed Secret Six more than I thought I would. I rarely read team books and when I do I don't gravitate to villain teams. But Gail Simone really made this one work for me. It's a fast-paced action-centric story with fun banter from everyone around which made it incredibly digestible. While I did find our main pov Thomas Blake aka Catman a little bit of a cliche macho man anti-hero it didn't take much away from the story
Another surprise was how much I liked the art style. It's always a toss-up with mid-2000s comics especially when artist teams change but Eaglesham, Semeiks and Walker did a solid job and the art was consistent throughout. Sure there was a little too much fan service towards the end there but overall I loved their bold clean line work and clear panelling.
I'll definitely be continuing on with the series. If not immediately definitely in the near future.
Another surprise was how much I liked the art style. It's always a toss-up with mid-2000s comics especially when artist teams change but Eaglesham, Semeiks and Walker did a solid job and the art was consistent throughout. Sure there was a little too much fan service towards the end there but overall I loved their bold clean line work and clear panelling.
I'll definitely be continuing on with the series. If not immediately definitely in the near future.
snazel's review against another edition
Gail Simone is extraordinarily talented, and this series does an admirable job in adding new perspectives to the DC universe. These guys aren't moustache-twirling villains, but they're not good guys either, and you get their perspective on seemingly simple perspectives like "all women love the Amazons" and "betraying your team is bad" and "those nice brothers are nice guys". It's just not as FUN as my Marvel wheelhouse, so I'm not sure overall if I like it.
ivan_tw's review against another edition
3.0
Gail Simone's Secret Six is one of my favorite comic series', and it's great to see that the trade paperbacks are back in print so that it can get a well-deserved new batch of readers, but I have to question some of the decisions made in compiling both this volume and volume 2. Namely, the fact that they didn't include the Six's time spent with the Birds of Prey really hurt some of the characterization. In later stories, it's played up that Catman and Huntress have a relationship, but the new reader would have no idea this is the case without the Birds of prey arc. Even worse, a major character in Secret Six dies in an issue of Birds of Prey, which has serious repercussions throughout the entire rest of the Secret Six story, and since that issue isn't included, the new reader would be totally confused going into volume 2, where suddenly the makeup of the Six is changed without any explanation.
In exchange, Villains United includes a couple issues of the Lex Luthor storyline I hadn't read prior, but while interesting, they don't seem as essential as the Birds of Prey material. For the complete Secret Six experience, go hunt down the trade edition that includes Birds of Prey #104-109, and slot it in right between Secret Six volume 1 and volume 2.
Still wonderful, compelling writing, and an absolute recommendation, Secret Six is a Dirty Dozen style team that drips with black, madcap humor, by turns vicious and hilarious, and should be read by anyone who wants a little edge in their comics without succumbing to early '90s angst. But the fact that a new reader will have to jump around in order to get the full story means I had to dock a star.
In exchange, Villains United includes a couple issues of the Lex Luthor storyline I hadn't read prior, but while interesting, they don't seem as essential as the Birds of Prey material. For the complete Secret Six experience, go hunt down the trade edition that includes Birds of Prey #104-109, and slot it in right between Secret Six volume 1 and volume 2.
Still wonderful, compelling writing, and an absolute recommendation, Secret Six is a Dirty Dozen style team that drips with black, madcap humor, by turns vicious and hilarious, and should be read by anyone who wants a little edge in their comics without succumbing to early '90s angst. But the fact that a new reader will have to jump around in order to get the full story means I had to dock a star.
amck's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
captwinghead's review
5.0
I love this book. It's batshit insane and I definitely want to read the next one!
Gail Simone is one of my idols! I love the character work she puts into her books, I love her dedication to not shying away from complex situations and this book serves as a great preview of just how dark her stories can get in case you thought Clean Room came out of nowhere. I love so much what this book chose to be and I was pleasantly surprised by how many concepts felt giftwrapped for me. Honestly, I don't really have any complaints. The art was a bit too horny at times and I could've done without the T&A and upskirt shots, but the rest of the book is still worth a solid 5 stars.
This book starts with Lex Luthor sending Dr. Psycho and Talia al Ghul to recruit villains for the "Society". They're trying to sell the concept using the fear that the Justice League will just lobotomize anyone after what they did to Doctor Light a while back in Identity Crisis. Now, I personally don't get all this upset over what was done to a rapist- mostly the villains all joining to honor him - but whatever, villains join.
As a response, a clone of Lex Luthor (?) calling himself Mockingbird creates a team through blackmail and deceit to take the Society down. (At least, I think that was his goal?) Catman/Thomas Blake, Cheshire/Jade Nguyen, Scandal Savage, Parademon, Ragdoll and Deadshot/Floyd Lawton. Of the cast in this book, the only one I'd read at least a bit on previously was Catman, and he wasn't pleasant.
This book builds a team that works mostly because they can find common goals, even using very different methods. Catman becomes the leader and makes a ton of mistakes along the way. I liked seeing the strange but compelling bond between Parademon and Ragdoll. I liked the strange familial relationship between Scandal and Deadshot. Honestly, the dynamics work a lot better than you'd expect.
Some things I loved:
- the relationship between Knockout and Scandal was wonderful to see! Not only were they very clearly defined as a couple, it wasn't sexualized, there was real love there and they were actually allowed to kiss (which is something comics sometimes forbid for some reason). Knockout literally yeeting her girlfriend to protect her was amazing!
- also, I got a kinda scary amount of joy watching Scandal torture Pistolera for hurting Knockout. Like I was a little too into it.
- I loved Deadshot killing Pistolera because he knew the guilt would hurt Scandal if she did it herself. I like that kind of villain/grey area morality.
- I love that each villain had a CODE! It's something that often gets thrown out when writers want to generate conflict. I love when we give villains backstories and their own moral codes. They don't exactly align with a hero's moral compass, but they don't just commit crimes indiscriminately. That's my favorite type of writing.
- Catman had 4 different outfits. What a drama queen!
- The Mad Hatter was bloody terrifying here. It really worked for me - especially with the art. Honestly, Gail managed everyone's different vibes so well. Ragdoll was creepy (and honestly my second favorite), Scandal and Knockout were gorgeous, fierce warriors, Catman was Mr. Code/straight man (compared to everyone else), Deadshot was the wise cracking assassin and (when he was there) Parademon was the fish out of water. Together, it all just worked.
So, it's totally a recommend from me. Honestly, I'm sad I only have volume 1 with me right now. I'll have to buy the next volumes when I go to my local comic book store again.
Gail Simone is one of my idols! I love the character work she puts into her books, I love her dedication to not shying away from complex situations and this book serves as a great preview of just how dark her stories can get in case you thought Clean Room came out of nowhere. I love so much what this book chose to be and I was pleasantly surprised by how many concepts felt giftwrapped for me. Honestly, I don't really have any complaints. The art was a bit too horny at times and I could've done without the T&A and upskirt shots, but the rest of the book is still worth a solid 5 stars.
This book starts with Lex Luthor sending Dr. Psycho and Talia al Ghul to recruit villains for the "Society". They're trying to sell the concept using the fear that the Justice League will just lobotomize anyone after what they did to Doctor Light a while back in Identity Crisis. Now, I personally don't get all this upset over what was done to a rapist- mostly the villains all joining to honor him - but whatever, villains join.
As a response, a clone of Lex Luthor (?) calling himself Mockingbird creates a team through blackmail and deceit to take the Society down. (At least, I think that was his goal?) Catman/Thomas Blake, Cheshire/Jade Nguyen, Scandal Savage, Parademon, Ragdoll and Deadshot/Floyd Lawton. Of the cast in this book, the only one I'd read at least a bit on previously was Catman, and he wasn't pleasant.
This book builds a team that works mostly because they can find common goals, even using very different methods. Catman becomes the leader and makes a ton of mistakes along the way. I liked seeing the strange but compelling bond between Parademon and Ragdoll. I liked the strange familial relationship between Scandal and Deadshot. Honestly, the dynamics work a lot better than you'd expect.
Some things I loved:
Spoiler
- the plots felt reasonably big. Luthor's big plan is to stage simultaneously break outs from meta human prisons around the world and Oracle works with Martian Manhunter to summon every single hero they can to fight. Literally you see the Outsiders working with Young Justice and former Titans and retired heroes and who's left of the League. It's amazing! It felt like such a large scale battle and it was drawn beautifully!- the relationship between Knockout and Scandal was wonderful to see! Not only were they very clearly defined as a couple, it wasn't sexualized, there was real love there and they were actually allowed to kiss (which is something comics sometimes forbid for some reason). Knockout literally yeeting her girlfriend to protect her was amazing!
- also, I got a kinda scary amount of joy watching Scandal torture Pistolera for hurting Knockout. Like I was a little too into it.
- I loved Deadshot killing Pistolera because he knew the guilt would hurt Scandal if she did it herself. I like that kind of villain/grey area morality.
- I love that each villain had a CODE! It's something that often gets thrown out when writers want to generate conflict. I love when we give villains backstories and their own moral codes. They don't exactly align with a hero's moral compass, but they don't just commit crimes indiscriminately. That's my favorite type of writing.
- Catman had 4 different outfits. What a drama queen!
- The Mad Hatter was bloody terrifying here. It really worked for me - especially with the art. Honestly, Gail managed everyone's different vibes so well. Ragdoll was creepy (and honestly my second favorite), Scandal and Knockout were gorgeous, fierce warriors, Catman was Mr. Code/straight man (compared to everyone else), Deadshot was the wise cracking assassin and (when he was there) Parademon was the fish out of water. Together, it all just worked.
So, it's totally a recommend from me. Honestly, I'm sad I only have volume 1 with me right now. I'll have to buy the next volumes when I go to my local comic book store again.
jamberg's review
3.0
3 stars only because it was a bit hard to enjoy as a standalone series without being immersed in other DC stories. Secret Six is much more enjoyable.
booknooknoggin's review
3.0
Villains vs villains. A very confusing story, and twin Luthers???? I liked seein the different DC villains as I'm not too familiar with DC, but this story didn't make a lot of sense to me. Maybe I had to read something before this. I don't know.
makz_marie's review
2.0
I have more thoughts about this than I expected, and I will come back and edit this review to reflect that. stay tuned. for now all I'll say is that these poor women deserve better costumes.
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