WARNING: The following article contains spoilers for "Leverage," Episode 15 of Young Justice: Outsiders, streaming now on DC Universe.
When Young Justice's "Gamma Squad" of Artemis, Beast Boy, Geo-Force, Tara, Halo and Forager undertake a covert mission to spy on Russia's government-sponsored metahuman program, it puts the heroes against one of the DC Universe's most dangerous, unpredictable teams: the Suicide Squad.
Task Force X makes its first appearance on Young Justice, although we've seen some of its team members in previous episodes. Black Manta and Monsieur Mallah are joined by Captain Boomerang, who also makes his debut on the DC Universe series.
Because the Justice League is forbidden from stepping foot in Russia, Aquaman (Kaldur'ahm) sends Gamma Squad in to find out if this new super soldier program is friend or foe. Geo-Force immediately compares it to Bedlam, which ran a metahuman-trafficking ring out of his home country of Markovia, while Aquaman reminds him it could be on par with the Justice League's metahuman youth center in Taos.
After eavesdropping on Russia's Rocket Red Brigade, Gamma Squad discovers they aren't the only party interested in what the country is working on. The young heroes step in when the Suicide Squad attempts an attack on the metahuman facility, which leads to a battle between the two teams. This is Geo-Force, Tara, Halo and Forager's first fight together since officially joining the team.
Black Manta has a personal score to settle with Artemis after she helped his son, Kaldur, infiltrate the Light and betray him in Season 2. However, Black Manta and the rest of the Suicide Squad retreat when the Rocket Red Brigade steps in. We then hear the voice of Amanda Waller, the former warden at Belle Reve Penitentiary, explain the real reason she sent the Suicide Squad to Russia -- Waller wants to eliminate the Rocket Red Brigade and steal their technology. Though we don't see him on screen, Black Manta name drops Task Force X's field leader, Rick Flagg, when he demands Waller extract the team.
However, with their mission still not complete, Waller threatens Captain Boomerang by reminding him of the brain implant in his head containing a bomb she can detonate at a moment's notice. Of course, these brain bombs are how Waller gets some of DC's most dangerous villains to go on these suicide missions. Even with the added motivation, the Suicide Squad is still outnumbered and is defeated by Young Justice's Gamma Squad.
Their return to Belle Reve leads to a confrontation between Aquaman and Amanda Waller, with the latter revealing she now works for the United States government. Aquaman is actually the one who comes up with the "Suicide Squad" name, with Waller referring to her expendable metahumans as "Task Force X." Since the unit is comprised of convicted criminals, their actions can be disavowed by the government if they are ever discovered.
The Suicide Squad has appeared in various animated projects from Warner Bros. Animation, from Justice League Unlimited to 2014's Batman: Assault on Arkham and 2018's Suicide Squad: Hell to Pay. The characters also starred in a live-action Suicide Squad feature film in 2016, with James Gunn tapped to direct and write The Suicide Squad, scheduled to hit theaters on Aug. 6, 2021.
New episodes of Young Justice: Outsiders premiere Tuesdays throughout the summer on DC Universe.