Maybe I’m getting ahead of myself, but I think that theDC Universe’smost underrated team, theSecret Six, is coming back. They haven’t headlined a series since the New 52, but some tantalizing artwork makes me believe that we’rethisclose to seeing the team return to the DCU.
Over the last couple of weeks, writer Nicole Maines (Suicide Squad: Dream Team,Absolute Power: Super Son) has been posting some intriguing artwork onBluesky. Maines began a series of six posts, the first three of which featured new costume designs for Dreamer, Jay Nakamura, andSuperman’s son Jonathan Kent.
After those three, Maines followed up with new designs for a few other surprising characters, the first being the powerful magic teen, Black Alice. But the final two were the most surprising, as Maines revealednew designs for Suicide Squad veteran Deadshot and the Secret Six’s fan-favorite member, Catman.
Nicole Maines Hints at a Secret Six Revival
I Would Love to See This Team Finally Come Back
The Secret Six wasoriginally a team of secret agents who went on covert missions under the direction of a mysterious figure named Mockingbird. However, the team was reinvented by Gail Simon, Dale Eaglesham, Brad Walker, and Nicola Scott duringInfinite Crisisas a band of mercenaries who refused to join Alexander Luthor’s Secret Society.The Secret Six were later given their own title, which lasted for 36 issuesbefore being canceled during the New 52 initiative. The team did experience a revival under Simone’s direction, but the second volume only made it to 14 issues before ending again.
The Secret Six holdsa special place in my heart as it was one of the first series I read from start to finish. I was sorely disappointed thatFlashpointput an untimely end toSecret Sixand equally disheartened when its revival didn’t pan out. But for the first time in years, I have hope that DC Comics is actually bringing the team back. Not that the publisher has said anything, but I can’t imagine putting these six together,particularly Deadshot and Catman, for any reason other than aSecret Sixrevival.
Nicole Maines Can Bring New Life into the Secret Six
Jon Kent and Dreamer’s Drama Can Blend Well with the Six
Maines hasn’t written the Secret Six before, but as her Suicide Squad miniseries showed, she has demonstrated her ability to handle team books that veer into heavier subjects.Secret Sixwasn’t just about dangerous adventures and action. It was about the consequences of bad personal choices and the relationships that can be forged in the worst of circumstances. Dreamer, Jay, and Jon, have a lot of drama to deal with after Dreamer killed Jay’s mother, andthat’s the kind of drama that would be perfect for aSecret Sixbook.
Sure, there’s no confirmation that aSecret Sixrevival is coming down the pipeline. But I think that the DC Comics would be better with the team back in action, especially with a writer like Nicole Maines spearheading them. Between getting to see how the newer half of the Six deals with the more seasoned members and seeing Catman and Deadshot rekindle their frenemy dynamic, I love the idea of theDC Universegetting a newSecret Sixseries.
