Thanks. Many good ideas in this thread already, following paths such as Nemesis that are really intriguing, and ought to go somewhere. I'm significantly more excited about the series after issue #3 and reading people's thoughts here.
I took it as a deconstruction of the 'massacre' issue type, like what happens in Titans East Special #1 or Stormwatch/Aliens, a serious look at the sort of survivor guilt would ensue.
His positioning on the last page really cements it. He's the wham panel, the moment it all fits together, even if imperfectly at the moment.
Anyone suspect that the dead heroes are actually on some kind of VERY deep cover mission that requires them to fake their deaths, even to their closest loved ones? Maybe the whole thing is a shell game to draw out and capture a dangerous enemy, requiring the specific skills and experiences of the chosen heroes and that their friends and allies must NOT interfere with, lest they mess up carefully laid plans that do not include them.
Buried Alien (The Fastest Post Alive!)
Buried Alien - THE FASTEST POST ALIVE!
First CBR Appearance (Historical): November, 1996
First CBR Appearance (Modern): April, 2014
I hadn't thought of that particular scenario, though with Nemesis being included, it makes some sense. Remember, he was an important member of the early John Ostrander Suicide Squad...
If it was somewhere else than maybe, but I don’t think faking a massacre at a secret hero mental health facility is the best place to launch a deep covert operation.
It might in this specific circumstance: EVERYBODY, friend and foe alike, might need to believe that those heroes are actually dead until the operation is successfully executed. This is especially difficult to pull off because they need to be able to fool Batman, among others.
Buried Alien (The Fastest Post Alive!)
Buried Alien - THE FASTEST POST ALIVE!
First CBR Appearance (Historical): November, 1996
First CBR Appearance (Modern): April, 2014
Let alone that there was a rumor that a certain someone from this series will wind up in a relaunch of Suicide Squad.
It feels like it's either something like what Buried Alien mentioned, or that character might have in accidentally killed everyone here.
Might even explain Harley having to be a part of the title.
Yeah, I think that Suicide rumor is looking more and more plausible by the moment...
Pull List:
DC: Batman, Nightwing, Red Hood: Outlaw, Detective Comics, Superman, Action Comics, Young Justice, Legion of Superheroes, John Constantine: Hellblazer, Batman Beyond, Dark Nights: Death Metal
MARVEL: Fantastic Four, Daredevil, The Immortal Hulk, Venom, Web of Venom, Dawn of X
BOOM STUDIOS: Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Willow, Angel and Spike
DARK HORSE: Bill and Ted are doomed.
IMAGE: The Walking Dead: Deluxe
I always love the positivity you have torwards the comics you're reading. Sometimes, often i would say, I'm not in the same mood as you, but reading your posts push me to try not to abandon me to easy complaints and look forward with renewed enthusiasm. So thank you BatmanJones