'Suicide Squad' Villains Wreaked Havoc on Other DC Stuff

Pop quiz: Name all of the members of the Suicide Squad. If you can’t, you might be among the majority going in to see David Ayer’s Suicide Squad this weekend. But even if you can’t, you’ve definitely seen them all before.

The unique team, made up of super-villains from the DC Universe with an unofficial sanction by the U.S. government, are made up of comic book weirdos that have never before been on film, including Killer Croc (played by Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje ), El Diablo (Jay Hernandez), and even fan-favorite Harley Quinn, performed by Margot Robbie. But the plethora of TV shows and animated movies have meant these characters have been around for awhile, just not necessarily as the so-called Suicide Squad.

If you’ve seen Arrow or grew up on Justice League Unlimited after school, then these past appearances by the Suicide Squad members should ring a few bells.

Task Force X

As seen in: Arrow (2013), Justice League Unlimited (2005)

This Suicide Squad still had Deadshot (Michael Rowe), but also had Bronze Tiger (Michael Jai White), Shrapnel (Firefly alum Sean Maher), and show regulars Diggle (David Ramsey) and Lyla (Audrey Marie Anderson). Later in the season, Arrow villain Cupid (Amy Gumenick) joins the team, but her stint happens almost entirely off-screen.

But before Arrow, another Task Force X appeared in Justice League Unlimited in 2005. Deadshot, Rick Flagg, and Captain Boomerang, were still members, but they were also joined by Plastique and the Clock King.

Deadshot

As seen in: Smallville (2010), Justice League Unlimited, Batman: Gotham Knight (2008), and Batman: Assault on Arkham (2014), Arrow (2012-2015), The Flash (2016)

Since he was introduced as a villain in Batman comics, Deadshot has been a staple in most Batman media, ranging from the anime anthology Batman: Gotham Knight to Batman: Assault on Arkham, a prequel to the 2009 video game Batman: Arkham Asylum.

But Floyd was also in the final season of Smallville, the Superman prequel series played by Bradley Stryker, and of course Arrow, as previously mentioned. Rowe reprised his role, kinda, in the Arrow spin-off The Flash. But instead of being Deadshot, Frank Lawton was just a bumbling cop in Central City of Earth-2.

Rick Flag

As seen in: Smallville (2010), Justice League: The New Frontier (2008)

Rick Flag’s appearance in Justice League: The New Frontier is brief, seen only as a child in school. But in Smallville, Ted Whittall played a seasoned Rick Flag who interrogates Green Arrow and leads the Suicide Squad in the series.

Captain Boomerang

As seen in: The Flash, Arrow (2014), Justice League Unlimited (2005)

Captain Boomerang (Nick Tarabay) was the major villain that forced a team-up between the Arrow and the Flash in the first cross-over between the shows. But he’s also been in a handful of other DC animated movies and shows, like Justice League Unlimited, Batman/Superman: Public Enemies, and Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox.

El Diablo

As seen in: Justice League Unlimited (2005)

Appearing in the TV movie Justice League: The Once and Future Thing that acted as the show’s first season finale, El Diablo was a Zorro-like figure in the old west as opposed to his fiery gangbanger in David Ayer’s new movie.

Katana

As seen in: Arrow (2014), Batman/Superman: Public Enemies (2009), Justice League Crisis on Two Earths (2010)

Katana has also been in a handful of DC animated shows like Batman: The Brave and the Bold and Beware the Batman, but she was especially prominent in Season 3 of Arrow played by The Wolverine star Rila Fukushima.

Killer Croc

As seen in: Batman The Animated Series, Batman: Gotham Knight (2008), and Batman: Arkham Asylum (2009)

As a Batman staple, Killer Croc has popped up in a handful of Batman and other Justice League media. But topping his appearances in Batman: The Animated Series is his totally atmospheric boss fight in Batman: Arkham Asylum.

It’s not a hard boss fight at all, but it’s so rich with atmosphere and tension it remains one of my personal favorites to this day.

The Joker and Harley Quinn

Do you even have to ask?