Secret Six #33

by Gail Simone (script), J. Calafiore (art), John Kalisz (colors), and Travis Lanham (letters)

The Story: The Six fight for their (after)lives against Prince Ragdoll and his legion of demons.

The Review: Secret Six has been on absolute fire lately, and the conclusion of this latest, and very strong, arc comes to a rousing conclusion without any letdowns whatsoever. Quite honestly, this is one of those issues where there’s just so much to rave about.

Perhaps the first and most crucial thing to touch upon, however, is how Simone once again taps not just the awesome team dynamic of the seeks, but the emotional ties that bind them together. Scandal’s decision between Knockout and her team as well as Ragdoll’s recognition of his having a new family are definite highlights that really hit home. It never ceases to amaze just how emotionally powerful Secret Six can really be.

Each character also has their moment. Catman, for instance, meets his mother again and it’s one of the best scenes of the series. Confronted with a grotesque and bloodthirsty torturer for a parent, the resulting scene is both repulsive and touching. It feels so, so wrong for this to be a feel-good moment for Catman and this comic, but that’s what it is, and the disturbing paradox is testament to Simone’s skill.

Or what about Deadshot? Once again, badassery looms in his whole-hearted dedication to almost anarchic violence. Simone again uses Deadshot’s complete ambivalence to matters of life and death as a means of showing that, at his heart, he does actually care about his team. Much like with Catman, it’s another paradox that works so, so well.

Hell, even King Shark gets his moment. In an issue like this, it’s hard to expect any real comedy, but King Shark still brings the laughs. There’s a segment where each character visits their own personal hell. For every character, it cuts to the core, but Shark’s hell is absolutely, laugh-out-loud hilarious, all the moreso because Simone managed to cram such a goofy scene into such a grave comic.

Calafiore also does really well this month. The comic is a veritable mosh-pit of demons, which is impressive as is with the amount of detail required. However, this month each of the Six gets a “demonic” form and Calafiore’s designs are really cool.

Really, my only very minor quibble this month has to do with King Shark. He brings the laughs, but his placement in such a personal arc for the Six is a little to soon. He’s too new to be considered one of the real components of this group of friends. Simone even has King Shark acknowledge this at one point. It’s a little weird but, thankfully, the sheer absurdity that is King Shark does a decent job of covering that up.

Conclusion: Absolutely fantastic and an issue that showcases everything that makes this comic great. It also leads really well into the next arc. The possibility of King Shark and Ragdoll on the same team is enough to make me buy this book forever.

Grade: A -

-Alex Evans