Squid Game and the DC Extended Universe have attained such universal acclaim that the former's creator, Hwang Dong-hyuck, has officially confirmed a second season while Henry Cavil, according to THR, is stating that "the cape is still in his closet." These immensely popular properties, both unafraid of embracing their dark side, are showing no signs of leaving the cultural zeitgeist. So it should come as no surprise that these two phenomenons have a few interesting parallels between them.
Audiences are drawn to how both series explore characters within life-or-death situations, and not just in a "good versus evil" manner, but in ways that seek to understand the morally grey areas in between. It wouldn't be difficult to imagine the ethically ambiguous characters of The Suicide Squad playing a children's game for their lives. While the DCEU's growing multiverse may not extend its reach to incorporate Squid Game, contestants from the South Korean survival thriller happen to have commonalities with members of the Justice League and Task Force X.
Abdul Ali: Wonder Woman/Diana Prince
Abdul Ali and Diana Prince are both outsiders driven by compassion. Ali is an immigrant from Pakistan who accepts the harsh consequences of the game to help his family. Diana Prince leaves her home on Themiyscira and vows to protect humanity after the loss of her friends and loved ones. They are kind-hearted, selfless, and emanate a warmth that is both welcoming and trustworthy. However, their altruistic natures are susceptible to being taken advantage of. Ali is eventually tricked in a game of marbles by his supposed ally, Cho Sang-woo, resulting in his tragic demise, while Diana's well-intended wish in WW84 causes her to lose power among other things. Their strong level of trust is met with naivety.
Han Mi-nyeo: Harley Quinn
Impulsive, boisterous, and unpredictable, Harley Quinn and Han Mi-nyeo are the lovably unhinged anti-heroes of the DC Extended Universe and the Squid-verse, respectively. However, their particular traits tend to overcompensate for insecurity deeply rooted in being alone. This leads to both characters forming unhealthy relationships with abusive partners (who just happen to be crime bosses). Han Mi-nyeo initially sides with the aggressive bully, Jang Deok-su, and begins to develop intimate feelings for him. Harley Quinn has a seemingly perfect relationship with Joker predicated on delusion. However, Mi-nyeo and Harley are not to be crossed and eventually see through the toxic masculinity, taking matters into their own hands.
Jang Deok-su: Black Mask/Roman Sionis
There is a clear distinction in class when comparing Jang Deok-su and Roman Sioris, with the latter's aesthetic more closely resembling that of the mysterious Front Man from Squid Game. However, at their core, they are both sadistic crime lords who use violence and intimidation to manipulate others. Their cold, heartless demeanors are masked by an egotistical facade as they flourish in high-risk situations, leading their pack with a cruel sense of gusto. Solidifying their villainhood, Jang Deok-su and Roman Sioris are raging misogynists who are shown constantly mistreating women. It only makes sense that this pair of nasty misanthropes get their due comeuppance from women they shouldn't have crossed.
Oh Il-nam: Lex Luthor
It isn't difficult to be charmed by a philanthropist who knows how to game. In hindsight, Oh Il-nam's knowledge of the games played in Squid Game should have been a red flag while Lex Luthor shooting three-pointers may have also been suspect. Competitive, cold, and calculated, their humanitarian efforts are underpinned with nefarious ulterior motives.
Il-nam and Lex are corrupted by power, believing themselves to be superior to the rest of society. Whether it's starting rivalries with Kryptonians or starting a death-defying competition out of boredom, these antagonists are impelled by a god complex.
The VIPs: Staff Members Of ARGUS
Squid Game and The Suicide Squad have more in common than they appear to at first. Both are conceptually about shadow organizations that offer the less fortunate a grand reward if they manage to make it out alive. The VIPs of Squid Game are wealthy individuals who are invited by the Front Man to spectate the deadly contest. Members of ARGUS (The Advanced Research Group Uniting Superhumans) are tasked with getting Task Force X approved but are more concerned with who will or won't survive missions. The VIPs and the staff members of ARGUS hold a similar "dead pool", betting on the life expectancy of contestants or members of Task Force X. Arguably, these two sets of characters reflect the cynicism of the audience, reveling in their morbid curiosity and desire for instant gratification.
Ji-yeong: Cassandra Cain
Ji-yeong and Cassandra Cain (featured in Birds of Prey) have an infectious youthfulness to them that is both fun and relatable. Yet, underneath the surface lies a dark past of domestic abuse. Living under poor conditions has crafted these free-spirits into unconventionally intelligent individuals. Still, due to their mistreatment as children, Ji-yeong and Cassandra both yearn for some sort of mentor figure to confide in. Ji-Yeong finds solace in Squid Games when building a relationship with Kang Sae-byeok while Cassandra Cain puts aside her defiant independence as her admiration for Harley Quinn grows fonder.
Cho Sang-woo: Amanda Waller
Cho Sang-woo and Amanda Waller are hard to place in terms of their alignment. The line between hero and villain is blurred, resulting in two quite complex characters. Both use their intelligence and masterful manipulation skills to leverage an outcome in their favor. Yet, in spite of being devious and cunning, they are resourceful survivors who will do no matter what in order to win. Ultimately, Amanda Waller strives for a safer nation, while Cho Sang-woo just wants his mother to be financially stable. They are well-intended, yet, undeniably cutthroat forces to be reckoned with.
Kang Sae-byeok: Bloodsport/Robert DuBois
Kang Sae-byeok and Robert DuBois approach their situations with straightforwardness. They have a clear understanding of the task at hand, and their rigid veneers are hard to penetrate as they prefer to work alone and avoid relationships. Still, though, as easily frustrated as they can get, they are surprisingly empathetic.
Sae-byeok eventually opens up to Gi-hun about her personal life, revealing that the games could help reunite her with her brother. Bloodsport eventually opens up to Ratcatcher about his relationship with his father and how it affected his "musophobia". Hidden behind their uninviting appearance is a surprising tenderness.
Seong Gi-hun: Shazam/Billy Batson
Gi-hun and Billy begin their respective journies troubled and directionless before connecting with a group of individuals living under similar circumstances. When Gi-hun rejoins the competition after initially voting against it, he teams up with fellow contestants to who he becomes so attached that he is willing to sacrifice the prize in order to save them. Billy begrudgingly accepts his foster family, the Vazquezes, as his own until coming to the realization that his new siblings share a relatable plight. Gi-hun, like Billy, exhibits true character development. Despite both of them having dysfunctional relationships with their mother, they thrive in a familial setting, bringing a needed dose of light-hearted optimism when things take a turn for the worse. While neither of them is a "pure soul", as one wizard might suggest, they are inherently good people with a fundamental understanding of right versus wrong.
Hwang Jun-ho: Rick Flag
Love and family are strong incentives that can drive a good person to operate outside of the law. Hwang Jun-ho is a police officer who infiltrates the games in order to find his missing brother. Rick Flag, former U.S. Army colonel, reluctantly accepts the position to lead Amanda Waller's black-ops unit, Task Force X, comprised of criminals and supervillains, in order to save the woman he loves from being possessed by a supernatural force known as The Enchantress. Beneath their tough-exteriors exists a softer, ethical side. These two lawmen are willing to go against the grain in the name of justice.