Random Happenstance

Somehow I managed to schedule posts for next week but not this one; but I guess that gives us the chance to check out a trade I didn't think had even been collected: Suicide Squad: Casualties of War, reprinting the 2002 series. Written by Keith Giffen, art by Paco Medina, John Severin, and others. 

We checked out #10 some time back, but this run was post-Our Worlds at War and featured Frank Rock and Bulldozer--somewhat improbably still pretty active for WWII vets--running the Squad, as Amanda Waller was working for President Luthor. The Injustice League/Justice League Antarctica guys are largely killed off in the first issue: Cluemaster 'dies' but returns pretty quickly since the Batman books used him, and Major Disaster becomes a mainstay of the team. (I strongly suspect Cluemaster returned with little, if any, explanation other than "I'm Cluemaster, bitch!") Oddly, Giffen also seems to take out another "bwah-ha-ha" era JL reference out, as the island Kooey Kooey Kooey is apparently wiped out in a tidal wave! 

Somewhat infamously, in the last issue "Rock" disappears, leaving behind a rubber mask. I had suspected him of being Nemesis, but the Unknown Soldier had also appeared in one of the Rock flashback issues, so who knows? The wheelchair-bound "Bulldozer" isn't allowed to see more, but does get up and walk away. And Havana, who appeared to be in-line to take over the Squad someday, is killed by the Jihad, while saving the mom that put her up for adoption--Amanda Waller! That was a bit of a surprise, and there isn't a lot of space given to her reaction or dwelling upon it. Instead, Amanda closes the series by saying "Frank Rock and Bulldozer died in 1945." If that was true, even the flashback issues were lies, so what did you just read? Your guess is as good as anyone's! Seems like maybe the cancellation crept up on Giffen, or editorial mandated some changes. Even pre-New 52, nothing in this run is referenced, ever, ever again. 

So it's an interesting, but frustrating read; since you're left wondering where they were originally going with this. I swear we had some discussion about this somewhere; but the text itself doesn't really offer any answers.  BTW, I bought this and got a Showcase Presents: Legion of Super Heroes volume 4 free, so frustration aside it was a good deal.