DC Comics introduced several different, intriguing Suicide Squads—and then promptly forgot about them. In 2014’s Suicide Squad #25, part of the Forever Evil crossover event, Amanda Waller dropped a serious bombshell: that not only is there a Task Force X (the official name for the Suicide Squad) but other Task Forces as well, each with its own purpose. However, these Task Forces have never been seen again, making them one of DC’s greatest mysteries.
There have been two incarnations of Task Force X, the Suicide Squad, in DC Comics. The first operated in the mid-20th century, running secret missions for the United States government. The second, and more popular version, debuted during 1986’s Legends crossover. This team, headed up by the iron-willed Amanda Waller, consisted of villains who were given the option to serve on Task Force X, in exchange for years off their sentences. Knowing that she was working with some of the worst characters in the DC Universe, Waller had each member implanted with bombs in their neck, to be activated if anyone got out of line. For years, fans wondered if there were any other Task Forces, with other letters and in Suicide Squad #25, readers learn there actually was—but never learned anything about them. The issue was written by Matt Kindt and illustrated by Patrick Zircher.
During the course of the issue, Amanda Waller reveals to James Gordon Jr. (Commissioner Gordon’s son) the existence of previous Task Forces. Waller tells him that in her time with the agency, they have had a Task Force U, a Task Force V and a Task Force W. Waller does not reveal the nature of these teams, and readers are only given tantalizing glimpses of them. Task Force U seems to consist of primates and Task Force V is simply a mysterious, floating orb with tentacles, being examined by a scientist. Task Force W may be the most eerie of them all, with people in armor linked together into what appears to be hive mind. Gordon tries to pry information about these Task Forces from Waller, but she changes the subject.
The scene only lasts a page before moving on with the rest of the story, leaving Gordon, and readers, with many questions. First and foremost: what was the exact mission of each Task Force? Task Force U consisted of cybernetically-enhanced primates—was this Task Force an attempt to weaponize animals? The other Task Forces seen are even more mysterious. Is Task Force V some sort of sentient alien weapon? Do the individual members of Task Force W exist as a hive? What are their powers? Furthermore, these letters are some of the last in the alphabet—and Waller implied there were even more Task Forces. Is there a Task Force B? D? E? Suicide Squad #25 took place during the New 52 era, potentially rendering these other Task Forces out of continuity, but DC did recently introduce Task Force Z, consisting of zombie-fied villains, with a premise very similar to Task Force X, bringing the count up to five different teams.
DC never revisited any of the Task Forces glimpsed in Suicide Squad #25, leaving it up to readers to fill in the gaps. These lost Task Forces are a fascinating part of Suicide Squad lore but have been forgotten.