Secret Six #12 - A Review

The League of Assassins is dying to recruit a Talon. Well, technically other people are dying so they can recruit a Talon but the organization is quite anxious to enlist one of the shock troops for The Court of Owls. And they've sent Lady Shiva to enlist Strix... one way or the other.


There's so much in this issue that I love. I love seeing Barbara Gordon written as a smart, competent crime-fighter. I love seeing Scandal and her two wives. But I think I love the final page of this issue most of all.

No, I'm not going to show you or tell you what it is. But I will say that there's no small amount of irony that one of DC Comics most dark and generally twisted comics should be responsible for the return of one of the DCU's most happy and cheerful heroes... though he could be pretty twisted in his own way. In any case, I commend Gail Simone for this issue.

Dale Eaglesham and Tom Derenick were two of my favorite artists before this series started. Their work on Secret Six has only increased my regard for their talents. Their styles are not exactly similar but unlike many series with multiple artists, there is no obvious visual discontinuity between their pages. The book's artwork is as great as its writing and I'll be sad to see it go post-Rebirth.

Secret Six #11 - A Review

Batgirl doesn't go into the Gotham suburbs often. But she has little choice when she learns that some bad people are looking for her former Birds of Prey teammate Strix. Now if only she can get past Strix's new friends.  Meanwhile, a phone call from a special someone is about to make Big Shot's jaw drop - an impressive sight given his powers.

This proved a bittersweet issue in several regards. I've missed Gail Simone writing Batgirl and seeing her subtly satirize the new Batgirl of Burnside (well, it's sort of subtle) is a real treat. And Big Shot's enthusiasm is infectious, leaving you really hoping that things are going to work out for Sue and Ralph after all this time.


The artwork is also up to its usual standard. Dale Eaglesham and Tom Derenick are both talented artists and while their styles are quite different, the differences are not so drastic as to be noticeable. Colorist Jason Wright may deserve some of the credit for this, insuring a uniform look to the issue.

Secret Six #10 - A Review

With Black Alice leaching away all the world's magic at an accelerated rate and the magical pillars holding back terrors beyond imagining close to destruction, Earth needs a hero. THE hero, in fact. But can even the might of Superman thwart the sheer moxie and insanity of The Secret Six? And will Black Alice save the day herself by making the ultimate sacrifice?


There is little I can say about this issue's story without giving away the game completely. So I will say only two things. Gail Simone does a grand job of both balancing several subplots and surprising even a jaded reader like me. And her introductory text, in which Zatanna watches Superman in action before approaching him for help, is one of the best bits of writing about Superman I've read anywhere.


The artists for this issue continue to perform at their usual level of high quality. Dale Eaglesham and Tom Derenick are two of my favorite artists and it's a relief  that I don't have to choose between them this month. And Jason Wright does a masterful job finishing things up with his coloring.

Secret Six #8 - A Review

Black Alice's powers are out of control. And the only thing that may save her life (and the world) is the destruction of four magical columns. At least, that's what the ancient Atlanteans in the robes who just showed up claim. But can they be trusted? Or are the magical super-villains who were trying to kill Alice telling the truth when they say the pillars must be protected if the world is to survive? And can the rest of The Six really entrust Alice to the care of the assassins who were trying to kill them several weeks ago while they deal with sorting all this out?

The only real flaw to Gail Simone's script for this issue is that you have to have read the previous Secret Six series to get the most out of it. Granted, that's a minor concern as most of the people reading this series are probably devout Simonephiles. And a little confusion is a small price to pay for the return of Ragdoll, Jeanette the Banshee and Scandal Savage... though this runs the risk of making the book's title even more inaccurate. But that's all part of the fun.

The artwork proves equally fine.  Tom Derenick and Dale Eaglesham are at the height of their power here. And Jason Wright makes everything pop on the page with his color art.

Secret Six #7 - A Review

There is a kinship between magicians that goes beyond simple matters of Good and Evil. For there are things beyond imagination that seek entrance into our reality and it is the responsibility of all those who draw upon mystic powers to fight such beings and those who might aid them. To that end, an enclave was called to deal with a matter most pressing - a drain upon the force of magic itself that, if not dealt with, could lead to the destruction of all reality!

This drain, it turns out, is Lori Zechlin - a.k.a. the magical parasite known as Black Alice. And as most of her allies in The Secret Six work at Catman's attempt at a team-building exercise (i.e. basketball and mini-golf), a group of magical heroes and villains are converging on the hospital where Black Alice is near death. But The Six do not stand alone, for The Demon Etrigan seeks to aid them...though for what reasons no one can begin to guess!


There almost seem to be two comics in this issue and I love them both. The bits with Catman trying to get the team to bond are vintage Simone, with sufficient slapstick and ribaldry to satisfy most appetites. The other half of the book seems like something from a lost issue of Shadowpact. Yet there is some subtle humor here, with Klarion The Witch Boy and Cheetah attempting to sneak into a hospital unnoticed yet still bothering to bring a plant and a balloon to blend in. 


The artwork is as fine as ever. Both Dale Eaglesham and Tom Derenick do their usual stellar jobs on the pencils and inks in their respective sections. And the colors by Jason Wright leave the finished artwork jumping off the page.

Secret Six #3 - A Review

Freed from Mockingbird's clutches, The Secret Six need to lay low.  Luckily, Big Shot has a place out in the suburbs. Unluckily, with the exception of Black Alice, none of the rest of the group have the first idea how to blend into The 'Burbs!

Worse yet, there's a traitor in their midst. And someone had weird sex on the couch.


Much as I enjoyed Ken Lashley and Drew Geraci's work on the first two issues of this book, I'm glad to see Dale Eaglesham teamed up with Gail Simone again. The two were partners on the Villains United mini-series that started Simone's original Secret Six and the two creators play off of one another quite well. Dalesham's style is flexible enough that it can portray the more typically proportioned comic book characters as well as the more cartoonishly distorted members of The Secret Six. The whole book looks freakishly perfect... or is that perfectly freakish?


It should come as no surprise that Gail Simone packs this issue with loads of inappropriate humor, wacky fun and oddly touching character moments. The final page, however, came as a total surprise. I shan't spoil the implications of what that page might mean but a second reading of the issue and some fancy detective work might give you some clues.