Harley Quinn
You arguably can’t have a Suicide Squad incarnation without Harley Quinn, especially after the 2016 film adaptation introduced audiences to Margot Robbie’s take on the character. Harley has become a fixture in certain DC games as of late, making appearances throughout the Arkham franchise, and becoming a wild card antihero of sorts in the Injustice games. But even then, we have yet to see Harley truly be at the center of a game (outside of her slightly having a driving role in the narrative of LEGO DC Super-Villains).
Harley is the kind of unpredictable, but lovable character that feels perfect for the world of a video game, both narratively and aesthetically. While she doesn’t have super-powers, she certainly has a lot of creative weapons she could use at her disposal (just imagine getting to use her Birds of Prey bean-bag gun in combat), and the gymnast training to match. Plus, there would be an almost infinite number of possibilities when it comes to her cosmetics, with outfits inspired by her looks in the movies, the Harley Quinn animated series, and more.
Deadshot
Another character who we could safely expect in a Suicide Squad game is Deadshot, an expert marksman who has been dubbed one of the deadliest assassins in the DCU. Similarly to Harley, Deadshot has made appearances in multiple Batman games and Injustice 2, but he certainly is an interesting enough character to help anchor a Suicide Squad game.
Between his tragic backstory and relationship with his daughter, and his stoic approach to missions, Deadshot feels like the kind of grizzled action hero that video game players crave. Plus, he’s basically a guaranteed straight man in nearly every situation, regardless of whatever characters you put him up against.
Captain Boomerang
After appearing on The CW’s Arrowverse and in Suicide Squad, Captain Boomerang has quickly become a more mainstream character. Also known as George “Digger” Harkness, Boomerang is an antagonist of multiple iterations of The Flash, and is able to use his arsenal of boomerangs in surprising detail. Outside of the MMO game DC Universe Online, Boomerang has largely been regulated to being a name-drop in other video games.
Boomerang’s bombastic and outlandish qualities would translate to the world of a video game incredibly well, complete with the potential for some ridiculous quips. Plus, his boomerang skills would be a fun thing to see fans master, and could do damage in ways not unlike Captain America’s shield or Thor’s hammer in the upcoming Avengers game.
Katana
Katana has been a bit of a dark horse in DC Comics since the 1980s, serving as a member of the Justice League, Birds of Prey, and The Outsiders. A samurai warrior armed with the Soultaker blade, Katana is probably best associated on a mainstream level with the Suicide Squad, thanks to her appearance in the 2016 movie.
Katana’s sword skills would be a great outlet for up-close combat within a Suicide Squad game, and her visual design and tragic backstory would weave into the narrative in a pretty poignant way.
Giganta
Traditionally regarded as a Wonder Woman villain, Giganta has had a nearly 80-year run in DC Comics. A few decades in, stories began to introduce her ability to change her size, allowing her to transform into someone who is stories tall. In recent years, Giganta has become a bit more closely associated with the Suicide Squad, even appearing in the tie-in comic for Suicide Squad: Hell to Pay.
Giganta would not only bring more underrated female characters into a Suicide Squad game, but her superpowers would allow for some fun variations of combat, especially depending on the setting. It also would provide an unexpected tie to Wonder Woman’s corner of the DCU.
King Shark
King Shark’s popularity has grown pretty profoundly in recent years, thanks to a string of standout appearances on The Flash, and a regular role on the Harley Quinn animated series. As the name would suggest, King Shark is a man-shark hybrid who is armed with invulnerability, super-strength, and all of the skills of an actual shark.
King Shark would absolutely fit the traditional role of a “tank” character that often exists in ensemble fighting games, while also being an eye-catching character. Plus, there are multiple ways his characterization could be interpreted — either as a sort of stoic straight man, or as a more humorous character.
Rag Doll
Three different iterations of Rag Doll, an assassin and thief with the gift of extreme contortionism, have existed across the comics over the years, and he’s evolved from a harmless-looking foe into something truly terrifying. The third version of Rag Doll, Peter Merkel, Jr., briefly joined forces with the Suicide Squad in 2018, in a mission that ultimately led to his death.
Anyone who has seen The Flash‘s live-action Rag Doll will probably attest to how genuinely terrifying his contortions look outside of a comic panel. While he could make some a little squeamish, having his skills as a part of a Suicide Squad game would be fascinating to see and play.
Killer Frost
Various versions of Killer Frost have existed across the DC canon, portraying her as a sort of foil – either professionally or romantically – with Firestorm. The second and third iterations of the ice-harnessing character, Louise Lincoln and Caitlin Snow, have both been associated with the Suicide Squad in one way or another.
While fans might best know Killer Frost from her more heroic turn on The Flash TV show, her appearance in a Suicide Squad game would allow for a creative chance to explore her bad side. Plus, her cold powers could render into a video game in a really dynamic and cool way — less like more mainstream villains Mr. Freeze and Captain Cold just shooting from freeze guns, and more like a twisted version of Elsa from Frozen.
Chemo
One of the more underrated villains to serve among the Suicide Squad, Chemo might seem like a bit of an unexpected choice to throw into the game — but that’s what would make it so fun. In nearly every iteration, Chemo is depicted as a sentient, man-shaped plastic vessel, which is filled with the chemical byproducts of an evil scientist’s various experiments. Chemo also largely doesn’t communicate (outside of a recent comic appearance) beyond a series of sound effects and “oop”-s.
Chemo is definitely not a conventional DC character, which is why it would be awesome to see them get their chance to shine amongst the Suicide Squad. The character would provide a bit of an unconventional and oddly satisfying tank experience for players (who wouldn’t want to vomit toxic waste on a bunch of NPCs?), something that fans of the mobile game DC Legends have already seen.
Barbara Gordon
It seems pretty likely that a Suicide Squad game roster would be led by Amanda Waller, the director of ARGUS who has been associated with the group in nearly every iteration. But if the game needed an extra “guy in the chair”, Barbara Gordon would be an unexpected and awesome choice. After being attacked and wheelchair-bound by The Joker, Barbara decided to rebrand as Oracle, and began to anonymously offer her services to the Suicide Squad. After her true identity was later revealed, Waller officially invited her into the team, and she continued to serve them for quite some time.
Barbara’s eidetic memory and computer skills are basically perfectly-suited for the mechanics of a video game (as DC Universe Online already proves), and her appearing in her wheelchair would be a huge leap for representation among the disabled community. Her role in the game could also help get casual gamers’ perceptions of her – and the game itself – out of the shadow of Batman.
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Which characters would you like to see in a Suicide Squad game? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!
Justin Morgan helped bring TeslaBel from a weekly newsletter to a full-fledged news site by creating a new website and branding. He continues to assist in keeping the site responsive and well organized for the readers. As a contributor to TeslaBel, Justin mainly covers mobile news and gadgets.