Task Force X, sometimes derisively called the Suicide Squad,[2] is a covert operations team for the United States government, run by Amanda Waller. The team presses convicts from Belle Reve Penitentiary into service; if they are killed, no one will care and if they are captured, they'll be disavowed. The convicts are coerced by means of a brain implant capable of inflicting pain[1]or exploding.[3]
A squad consisting of Black Manta, Monsieur Mallah and Captain Boomerang was sent to eliminate the Rocket Red Brigade and retrieve their technology. A contingent of the Team who also happened to be investigating the Brigade, interfered, leading to the failure of the squad's mission and their capture, but not before bringing the existence of the Team to Amanda Waller's attention.[1]
Mini explosives are implanted into each members's head—Waller's "insurance policy" against turncoats and liabilities
Aquaman returned the captured members of Task Force X to prison. He was granted a meeting with Waller, who made it clear that she would publicly reveal the Team were the Justice League to uncover her own operation.[1]
Manta, Mallah, Boomerang, Tuppence Terror and Brick were assigned to kidnap Harlan Matthews a.k.a. Clayface, who was working for Bowhunter Security. Waller thought him too dangerous to be free, and wanted him for the Task Force. The squad successfully abducted him from the warehouse he was guarding, and took him on the Manta-Flyer.[2]
The Flyer was shot down a few miles short of Belle Reve. Manta called Waller for evacuation, but Flagg and all other transports were busy. Bowhunter Security, discreetly reinforced by the Team, attacked the squad, defeating them and saving Clayface. The captured squad members were once again returned to Belle Reve, to Warden Economos's chagrin.[2]
As a concept, the Suicide Squad was introduced as a group of Cold War-era military specialists whose death-defying exploits involved dog-fights with dinosaurs, duels with giants, and trips to parallel Earths. In the "Post-Crisis" canon, the familiar espionage trappings and rotating roster of ex-cons became a mainstay.
Young Justice marks the fourth animated depiction of the group. Task Force X previously appeared in a self-titled episode of Justice League Unlimited and in the direct-to-video films Batman: Assault on Arkham and Suicide Squad: Hell to Pay.
