The Suicide Squad might just be one of the most complex antihero assemblies in the DC universe. Although the members are primarily violent prisoners in Belle Reve, sometimes they put the "human" in metahuman with their antics.
When a bunch of criminals are forced to work together for the greater good of a country, both the best and the worst can happen. Although most of the members joined the squad for the selfish gain of a reduced prison sentence, their actions oftentimes portray a human side to them that's not always apparent.
10 Good Guys: Deadshot Saves The Life Of His Sworn Enemy
In season two, episode 16 of the Arrow TV series, Amanda Waller sends Task Force X on their first-ever assignment. Along with Bronze Tiger and Shrapnel, Deadshot is assigned to A.R.G.U.S agents, Lyla Michaels and John Diggle on a mission to retrieve a dangerous nerve agent from Gholem Qadir, a terrorist, and former drug lord.
Prior to the assignment, Deadshot assassinated Diggle's brother, Andrew, causing a bitter feud between both men. However, while fighting off Gholem's men, Deadshot eventually saves John Diggle's life by taking out a gunman aiming at him from behind.
9 Bad Guys: King Shark Eats Yo-Yo
King Shark isn't the most likable character on this team of supervillains. Beyond his terrifying appearance, there isn't much left to admire. On top of that, he's infamous for cannibalism and devouring people whole. In the Suicide Squad comics, King Shark ate fellow team-mate Yo-Yo, during a prison riot in Belle Reve.
What makes King Shark's act more villainous is that Yo-Yo was ordered to retrieve King Shark from his holding cell during the riot when he got eaten. This proved that no matter how much they save the world, many of the squadmates will remain villains at their core.
8 Good Guys: Deadshot Gives Bronze Tiger The "Get Out Of Hell Free" Card
In Suicide Squad: Hell To Pay, fans were treated to a depiction of Task Force X at their best and worst. For instance, Deadshot's work as an assassin cost him the custody of his daughter, Zoe. On the other hand, Bronze Tiger was an ex-CIA agent turned vigilante following the death of his wife Miyoshi.
When Amanda Waller got diagnosed with a terminal illness, her next call of action was to send the team on a deadly mission to retrieve the "Get Out Of Hell Free" card. The card's power enables the carrier to bypass hell and secure a spot in heaven. Bronze Tiger and Deadshot had a few disagreements while at work, but they had mutual respect for each other to an extent. After defeating Zoom at the film's climax, Deadshot gave the card to the mortally wounded Bronze Tiger who ascended to heaven immediately.
7 Bad Guys: Vertigo And Jewelee Double Cross The Team
Before defeating Zoom and retrieving the card, the team lost two members on their first task in the film. Amanda recruited Jewelee, Punch, Vertigo, and Deadshot to recover a flash drive containing leaked intelligence secrets from Tobias Whale.
In a twist of events Jewelee and Punch shockingly turn on the team, eliminating Punch and seeking to sell the drive to the highest bidder. They didn't get away with this betrayal because Amanda activated the explosives in their heads immediately after.
6 Good Guys: The Squad Save Rick Flag Twice
For hardcore DC fans, the Taskforce X crew in the Suicide Squad live-action movie were not the bad guys they expected to see. Despite coping with the self-righteous Rick Flag during their mission, the team somehow managed to save his life twice. When the Enchantress threatened to take over the world with the help of her alien soldiers, Rick Flag was placed in charge of the squad.
Although Harley Quinn and Captain Boomerang were tempted to abandon him when he was almost captured by their enemies, they rallied together to save him more than once. At first, they had to keep him alive for their own selfish reasons. The second time, they didn't think twice before forming a barrier between him and the opposition.
5 Bad Guys: Boomerang Tricked Slipknot Into Escaping
DC comics and movie fans may argue about a lot of things, but one thing they come together on is that Captain Boomerang makes a very annoying villain. Starting out as the Flash's nemesis, Captain Boomerang continues to be impulsive and rash in every outing. When he's not eating his own children, he's playing mind games on other squadmates. Loyalty is not his strongest suit.
In Suicide Squad Vol. 4 #2 as well as in the live-action film, Captain Boomerang tricked Slipknot into deserting the team. Unfortunately for Slipknot, Amanda Waller activated the explosive in his head as soon as he tried to escape. Knowing Boomerang's treacherous nature, he probably manipulated Slipknot into doing something that reckless to determine if the bomb implants worked.
4 Good Guys: The Squad Shared Their Life Force With Killer Frost To Take Down Eclipso
The squad's existence goes against everything the Justice League stands for since they dedicate their lives to saving the world and maintaining justice. In Justice League Vs. Suicide Squad, however, this script is flipped on its head. In the series, the Suicide Squad, in collaboration with Batman and Maxwell Lord, teamed up to face off with the Justice League who had all been corrupted by Eclipso.
Using her powers to subdue Eclipso's influence on the world, Killer Frost had to create a prism strong enough to reflect Superman's heat vision. To help fulfill this draining task, the squad members offered to share their life forces with her, a symbol of the team's surprising selflessness.
3 Bad Guys: Deadshot Kills Light
At his best, Deadshot might be a complex man who wants to do right by his daughter. Still, he remains a brutal killer for hire who never misses a shot. After Amanda Waller blows up Lime, Light's twin sister, she vows to avenge her sister's death. This was until Deadshot ruins her plan with his own selfish motives. After Light captured Amanda, Deadshot kills her because he wanted the satisfaction of eliminating her.
Amanda Waller is no doubt ruthless in her methods since she basically blows up the squad members for the slightest reason. However, Deadshot going this far makes him a true villain at heart.
2 Good Guys: The Team Take Down The Crime Syndicate
In the New 52 timeline, the Crime Syndicate from Earth-3 takes over the world after the disappearance of the Justice League. As such, Deadshot, Harley Quin, and Captain Boomerang team form once again to retrieve the OMAC, the weapon required to defeat the syndicate once and for all.
Thanks to a smart move from Captain Boomerang who dropped the OMAC into a new space dimension, things return to normal and they save the day.
1 Bad Guys: Stealing The US Government’s Nuclear Warheads
At the beginning of Suicide Squad Vol 6, the team embarked on surprising missions different from what they were used to. After Amanda Waller stepped down from her position at A.R.G.U.S, Ted Kord appointed Lok as the leader of Task Force X. With this new leadership, the squad was tasked with unconventional assignments, such as stealing the US Government's nuclear head. Blindly carrying out this duty points at how the morality that drives the motives of a group of antiheroes can be subjective.