This week has been a particularly newsworthy one for DC Comics' two popular teams of villains and misfit anti-heroes, the Suicide Squad and Secret Six. The sequel to the 2016 ensemble film took a major step forward in development with Guardians of the Galaxy filmmaker James Gunn in talks to both write and direct the follow-up, while the Secret Six has a received a live-action pilot commitment from CBS for a potential new series developed by Bill Lawrence (Scrubs) and written by Rick Muirragui (Suits).

With both teams comprised of various villains from across the DC Universe, they share more than a handful of similarities; at least at first glance. However, each team is distinct in its own way from rotating rosters to guiding mission statements. Interestingly, both the Suicide Squad and the Secret Six originally started as Silver Age government black ops teams undertaking high-risk missions, and were both reimagined into something decidedly more villainous.

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Suicide Squad #1 Cover

The modern incarnation of the Suicide Squad was created in the pages of 1987's Legends #3 by writer John Ostrander and artist John Byrne as a Dirty Dozen-esque team created by the Reagan Administration to take on the forces of Darkseid in the DC crossover event. Recruited by government official Amanda Waller, several notorious supervillains were fitted with explosive devices to ensure their obedience and led on the field by agent Rick Flag, Jr. The ensemble received its own ongoing series, which ran until 1992.

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The modern version of the Secret Six was reimagined by writer Gail Simone and artist Dale Eaglesham in 2005's Villains United #1, itself a tie-in miniseries to another DC crossover event, Infinite Crisis. Organized by a mysterious benefactor named Mockingbird, to take on Alexander Luthor, Jr.'s Secret Society of Super Villains, the sextet was also composed of various villains who were largely regarded as misfits and failures by the greater criminal community in the DCU. Led by a revamped Catman, the group rejected overtures from both the villains and heroes, instead deciding to go their own way following the crossover event.

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The biggest difference between the modern versions of both teams is that the Suicide Squad has largely been an extension of the federal government. Monitored and escorted by operatives like Rick Flag, the team definitely has an outlaw spirit and sense of rebellion, but its members are always confined to lethal compliance by their overseers and have no say in their missions.

Members of the Secret Six -- while certainly boasting criminal origins, questionable morals and unscrupulous activities -- have never really identified themselves as clear-cut villains, and certainly not as heroes. A misfit sensibility and general naughtiness has always surrounded the Six, largely informed by Simone's own sharp wit and darkly irreverent sense of humor.

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While Catman has his own code of honor, the team's freewheeling, renegade nature has put them on collision courses with everyone from Deathstroke and the forces of Hell to iconic superheroes such as the Justice League and Teen Titans. The Suicide Squad ultimately serves the American government; the Secret Six exist only to serve the interests of its members.

Other than their shared villainous origins, the biggest link between the Suicide Squad and the Secret Six comes down to one man: Floyd Lawson, better known to fans as Deadshot. The crack-shot assassin is one of the most visible members on both teams at various points in their history. Often portrayed as the de facto voice of the villains within the Squad, which puts him at odds with Waller and Flag, Deadshot is tied more closely with the Squad than the Six. This association is thanks mostly to his longer history with the former team, including appearances in various adaptations, like Will Smith's portrayal in the 2016 Suicide Squad film.

That being said, Deadshot was certainly not a peripheral character during his time with the Secret Six, often depicted as Catman's closest friend and confidant, as well as one of the most reliable members of the team. The most recognizable member of the original lineup, Deadshot was not included in the team's roster during the New 52 era.

After that reboot, he was seen exclusively as a member of the Suicide Squad, while the Secret Six at the time was comprised of a nearly entirely new lineup, save for returning members Catman and Black Alice.

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Boasting one of the most robust catalogues of villains in the industry, DC Comics has not one, but two teams of anti-heroes, ostensibly saving the day throughout the DCU. With both teams poised for their respective moments in the spotlight on-screen, it is important to note that, despite the commonalities, they are not duplicates.

With the Secret Six in development for the small screen instead of the cinema like their counterparts on the Suicide Squad, somehow the relatively smaller scale seems perfect for DC's premier ensemble of misfit criminals.