Love it or leave it, Suicide Squad ushered a ton of DC Comics' zaniest characters onto
the big screen for the first time—and gave each one a makeover in the bargain.
While some stayed closer to their comic appearances than others, there were a few Squad members
who were left completely transformed.
Here's how the Suicide Squad should really look...
Captain Boomerang
Just like in the comics, Captain Boomerang is not really an upstanding guy.
Aesthetically, though, the Captain's live-action portrayal diverges significantly from his
original form.
Now there are probably no more ridiculous outfits than his original boomerang-print
tunic and tiny hat, so new Boomerang is a welcome departure.
The on-screen version is based more closely on Boomer’s modern costume, so they both
wear a similar grey-blue peacoat and both have a knack for throwing boomerangs...which,
for the record, are the worst weapons of all time.
I can't believe I said that as an Australian.
"Oh no!
It's coming back this way!"
"That throwing stick stunt of yours has boomeranged on us!"
But Jai Courtney's version has urbanized clothing and jewelry.
His hair is not the orange of his comics counterpart, but he does occasionally wear the knit cap.
Courtney also extended the character's usual sideburns into fuller facial hair and snuck
in a little eye makeup to boot.
El Diablo
The fiery essence of Chato Santana, or El Diablo, was definitely not lost in translation,
but there were still some noticeable style changes with his ink.
In the comics, he has the swirl designs that emphasize his flame theme.
With Jay Hernandez in the live-action role, the character’s skin art is changed to a
scattered slew of new symbols that paint him as a true tough guy.
Among his new markings are hash marks on his eyebrows and a skeletal teeth design featured
on his upper lip, as well as a grim reaper scythe on his forehead to show he's in the
business of death-dealing, even whilst on his journey of repentance.
Katana
Superheroine Katana has worn multiple costumes over her various TV appearances.
But when she first appeared in comics in 1983, she had a red-and-yellow costume with ridiculous,
pointed shoulders and fur-topped shoes.
You know, the least stealthy martial arts costume possible.
Over time, she toned it down into a red-and-gold armor deal with a domino mask, but it’s
Katana’s completely revamped New 52 look that appeared on screen.
Karen Fukuhara's rendition of Katana still changes things up in a few key ways.
Her screen costume is a bit more conservative than the skin-tight leotards Katana wears
in the comics, instead opting for a loose-fitting plain t-shirt and pants.
She also doesn’t have traditional samurai shoulder guards, instead wearing a varsity-style
jacket featuring floral tributes to her heritage.
Even with these changes, Katana is still pretty recognizable.
Slipknot
One of the most significant design departures in Suicide Squad can be found in Adam Beach's
version of Slipknot.
The movie's costumes crew almost totally dumped the character's comics appearance: a full,
muscle-hugging bodysuit with bizarre side windows, loose sleeves, and a mask.
In the movie, Slipknot got a much more militaristic suit.
Gone was the corny noose design on his chest.
Instead, he was decked out in useful utility gear and a built-in rappelling harness.
And his hair was tied back to look like—what else?—ropes.
Can’t say the guy doesn’t have a theme.
Too bad he was only on-screen for about three minutes.
Rick Flag
Joel Kinnaman's interpretation of Rick Flag is relatively faithful to the modern version
of the character, but there are still a handful of small style changes.
As a member of the U.S. Army's Special Forces, the comics version of Rick Flag keeps a close
shave most of the time, whereas the movie version has a little more going on under his
nose.
Kinnaman's also a living, breathing human, so he’s a little less beefy than the Flag
familiar to DC readers.
However, just like his paper-bound predecessor in the role, Kinnaman's take tended to wear
the same Army green jumpsuit and battlefield-grade arms.
And of course, the low-guard buzz cut that serves as a not-so-subtle salute to his military
service.
Amanda Waller
Just as in the comics, Amanda Waller is the tough assembler of Task Force X who, in actress
Viola Davis' words, is a "big powerful black woman, hard, ready to pick up a gun and shoot
anyone at will."
Unlike many of the other characters in Suicide Squad, Davis' version of Waller bypassed DC
Comics' rebooted New 52 rendition of her character and went all the way back to her earlier,
more business-oriented look, like in her 1980s Legends debut.
Her pearls and hairdo, for example, were pretty close replicas of some of her earliest appearances.
The Joker
While Jared Leto's version of the Joker adopted some of the comics' version’s physical characteristics,
it was also a new take on the character in several noticeable ways.
While Leto did keep the Joker's bright green 'do, he slicked it down, instead of the more
unkempt approach often favored by the classic Joker.
Leto's Joker ushered in the era of the character with grilled teeth and threatening tattoos.
And while we don’t get to see Joker’s bare back, set photos and statues based on
the movie revealed a dragon tattoo that looks pretty similar to the one Joker has in All-Star
Batman and Robin.
Even his signature purple coat got a biker-friendly update.
Rather than the playful suit styling of old, he had a shiny alligator skin number and went
shirtless beneath, just in case people wanted to see that he wrote his own name on his stomach.
You know...just in case he forgot, or got lost at the mall.
Harley Quinn
Margot Robbie hit a home run as the bat-wielding Harley Quinn, but the character is hardly
recognizable as the one that debuted in Batman: The Animated Series.
The old Harley Quinn looks like a straight-up jester, which we got to see onscreen during
the Suicide Squad for one hot second, but it's the later versions of the character that
lent a great deal to Harley’s movie look.
Robbie is a postmodern punk complete with colorful pigtails, messy makeup, tattoos,
and a get-up that should appeal to cheerleaders and biker chicks alike.
The pigtails are borrowed specifically from Harley’s appearance in the video game Batman:
Arkham City, and the tattered t-shirt is pure Injustice: Gods Among Us.
And we can thank her New 52 solo title for those shorts.
Killer Croc
The appearance and origin story of Killer Croc have changed so many times over the years
that there’s really not one “true” Croc.
But the guy we see in Suicide Squad is surprisingly true to his very first full appearance in
Batman #358, where he’s just a guy with a skin condition.
During his first appearance, he showed up in a standard mobster trenchcoat-and-hat ensemble.
In Suicide Squad, he’s wearing a hoodie, which is pretty much the modern equivalent.
As time goes by in the comics, Croc slowly devolves into a more brutish, animalistic
villain, sprouting a tail and long reptilian snout, so while the cinematic counterpart
seems to be a relatively regular guy now, the future isn’t looking too bright.
Sorry, dude.
Deadshot
It's hard to hide a face as marketable as Will Smith's, so it's no wonder the Suicide
Squad version of Deadshot doesn't often wear his trademark mask.
When he does put it on, the on-screen version flips the script and places his fancy sight
over Will’s left eye, whereas comics Deadshot favors the right.
It’s a relatively small difference compared to the big picture, however.
On screen, he wears a uniform that looks like riot gear, and his usual red-and-silver costume
is nowhere to be seen.
Also, Floyd Lawton has traditionally been a white guy with a doofy little mustache.
Honestly, we prefer the Fresh Prince in this instance.
(rad Fresh Prince snap)
All of this, however, is light years away from Deadshot’s first appearance in 1950,
where he looked like a stage magician, top hat and all.
He tangled with Batman once and disappeared until 1977, when he took on his more modern
look...which is still nothing like what we see on screen.
Enchantress
In the comics, Enchantress receives her powers after wandering off into a creepy room at
a mansion party and talking to a fat magic head in a giant chair, because why not?
After blonde, bob-haired June Moone transforms into Enchantress, she looks like a standard
sexy Halloween witch: green pointed hat, long cape, miniskirt, and thigh-high boots.
Later, as she loses control of her powers and turns a little evil, she dons an emerald
green halter top and gold band fitted around her head, with occasional returns to her old-school
look.
In Suicide Squad, Enchantress is an archaeologist who gets her powers from an ancient relic.
Whatever got under her skin in that creepy old temple also gave her a complete, gross
makeover, making her far more dark and grungy than her comics counterpart, only cleaning
up a bit when her powers are at full force.
The onscreen Enchantress, played by Cara Delevingne, wears a hunter green swimsuit and crescent
headdress, a weird shadow of her comics counterpart.
And, for some reason, the filmmakers decided to make her look kinda like Pigpen from Charlie
Brown.
Good grief.
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