Secret Six #4 (spoilers)

[Aaron King]

I looked around for a topic but couldn't find one, so let's get started.

First of all, can I say that I'm a little tired of covers with people punching or running or ripping through previous covers? I mean, it was done in Villains United, and Giant Size X-Men has been "homaged" numerous times. I feel like it's a little lazy. I think part of it is that I've liked Karl Kerschl's previous covers a lot and so this one just seems like cheating me.

Anyway, we finally get some exposition from Vandal Savage, Dr. Psycho, and Cheshire, which is something I've been wanting. It went above and beyond its purpose in explaining previous issues in that it was also just plain fun to read. This is the way to satisfy monthly readers while not sticking out like a sore thumb in the inevitable trade.

The Doom Patrol/Six fight was... weird. I was really happy to see Cliff get beat up in odd ways since it was sort of his trademark in the original Doom Patrol. Then Mad Hatter is able to control everyone without making them wear hats! Mento calls him his "unquantifiable overseer." Or maybe it was just Mento's crazy way of saying, "Oh my god." I couldn't tell.

The Six come out of it alright after Scandal slaps the Hatter around a bit. Ragdoll even gets his finger back! "Oh, do hush and bring me my beloved stuffed Parademon, won't you?" There are some good Knockout moments and great Deadshot moments (for any fans of Suicide Squad or either Deadshot mini) as the two bond over lost family. Mad Hatter goes a little... mad with his hats. Then, as Scandal gets ready to seek out her father, she catches Deadshot and Knockout naked! Does anyone else think this is Hatter's revenge after Scandal stopped him from having the Doom Patrol kill each other?

Brad Walker is still spot-on with his renderings. The entire issue was suitably dark without being confusing. The facial expressions really tell the story and keep the characters unique. I'm excited for the final two issues. Any chance of this becoming an ongoing?

[Count Vertigo]

Knockout and Deadshot?! Jesus, I bet she doesn't take it well

[Jerry Kraut]

Gail Simone's best issue as far as i know, and the best of the week, funny, thrilling, scary....and i can't think of anything else so:
"now shut up and eat your grundy"

[Cassius6303]

I personally liked Knockout and Robotman's 'Now it's on' bit. That was a LOL moment for me.

And there's more to the cliffhanger ending going on than just the two of them. Remember Hatter's new mind control? Let's just say he wasn't happy with Knockout. And besides? What better way to drive Scandal into Catman's arms?

I think he's a plant for Savage somehow.

Jamie

[Count Vertigo]

I really hope this becomes a permanent series. It could be just as good as Ostrander's Suicide Squad (I'm also hoping the SS in Checkmate spins off as well)

[brundlefly]

Another great issue of Secret Six; real pity that it's not an ongoing. I'm still loving all these characters and the great team dynamic. I agree with Jerry on the hilariousness of the "shut up and eat your Grundy" line from Savage, and add Psycho's retort to Vandal's plans for Scandal, Catman and his future grandson: "seems a bit hillbilly to me." Doc Psycho's always good for the one-liners when Gail Simone's writing him.

Gar Logan snidely calling anyone else "d-list" is kind of the pot calling the kettle black, isn't it? Given how he's pretty much just the comic relief for any team he's on and was pretty ineffectual in the Doom Patrol's fight against the supposedly "d-list" Six. "Mom! Dad! HELP!" and so forth.

Hatter is proving to be far more combat-effective than I thought he would be when he joined. I wonder how he pulled off manipulating the Doom Patrol without them wearing any of his control hats. Does the hat that he wears provide him with some form of short-term broadcast mind-control ability? When it was knocked off by Scandal, the Patrol returned to normal, so I assume that's the answer. He got some good lines in this issue, too: "Ahhh, now that's good hat."

And regarding that closing scene: Floyd Lawton is my hero. :D

[DoctorDoom]

Hrmm when is this book taking place agai. It seems Mento is still having trouble with his helmut (which he rectified after a few issues of OYL Teen Titans) plus Robotman said they were still working the kinks out of his team. I'm guessing this is in between the Crisis ear and the OYL.

Great ish btw. I'm off to eat my Grundy.

[Jack Zodiac]

I loved the fight with the new Doom Patrol, even if it should've been severely one-sided. It was fun. Gar turning into a giant green lion and attacking Thomas, Knockout and Cliff duking it out, Rags sneaking up on Rita like that. It was a very fun and clever fight, until Captain Overbite turned into a god and plot-deviced his way through the issue. Didn't like that very much.

Since it's probably going to be a vital point in Vandal's plan to get his daughter to produce him an heir, it's understandable. Still, the fight was very fun while it lasted and totally made the issue for me.

[Jared_Humpherys]

I really hope this title turns into an ongoing. This issue was a blast.

[Count Vertigo]

I wonder if Hatter made a deal with Neron? Anyone remember if he did?

Incidentally, seeing as how Solomon Grundy is made of plant matter (in an issue of Green Arrow, Ollie used his bow wire as a garrote and noticed Grundy bled sap instead of blood) shouldnt have Psycho asked for salad dressing instead of worstershire (spelling?) sauce?

sorry sorry. bad joke, I know

[Jack Zodiac]

I wonder if Hatter made a deal with Neron? Anyone remember if he did?

Regardless, he's been seen plenty of times since Underworld Unleashed and never exhibited that much power. I think, maybe, Vandal might have something to do with it.

[Young Avenger]

Incidentally, seeing as how Solomon Grundy is made of plant matter (in an issue of Green Arrow, Ollie used his bow wire as a garrote and noticed Grundy bled sap instead of blood) shouldnt have Psycho asked for salad dressing instead of worstershire (spelling?) sauce?


LMAO!!!

The page with Mad Hatter naked in that room fill of hats disturbed me.

[Bloody Thumb]

Great issue filled with so many fun moments.

My favorites had to be "Shut up and Eat your Grundy" and ( paraphraseing ) "Parademon would have loved the View".



The last scene with Hatter left me feeling vaugley..... Dirty?

[Tequilamokinbrd]

I wonder if Hatter made a deal with Neron? Anyone remember if he did?

Incidentally, seeing as how Solomon Grundy is made of plant matter (in an issue of Green Arrow, Ollie used his bow wire as a garrote and noticed Grundy bled sap instead of blood) shouldnt have Psycho asked for salad dressing instead of worstershire (spelling?) sauce?

sorry sorry. bad joke, I know


I don't know what's worse, that joke, or the fact that I thought the EXACT same thing when reading the ish, I actually said outloud, "But he's made of plants"



Kinda off topic, but I remember that GA ish too, and whenever I think of it, I think of Ollie's line after he chokes out Grundy.

"Let's...see.....Alan Scott......do that."

[blackphoenix]

This book is awesome. I also want to see an ongoing with this team. But I miss Parademon!!! :( I hate when they make a lesbian character like Knockout schtup a man. It's all like she was only with women till the right man came along. UGH.

[Jack Zodiac]

Knockout's bisexual. In her earliest appearances, she was trying to nail Superboy. And I think she wound up sleeping with that immortal guy that lived in a volcano. So, mind control aside, it isn't like she couldn't have been attracted to Floyd.

[Count Vertigo]

Knockout's bisexual. In her earliest appearances, she was trying to nail Superboy. And I think she wound up sleeping with that immortal guy that lived in a volcano. So, mind control aside, it isn't like she couldn't have been attracted to Floyd.

I think it's his attitude to combat, killing and death that attracts her. Maybe people from Apokolips have odd sexual proclivities considering how Parademon described Chesire and Catman as having "fever of the loins."