Content Warning: This article contains references to violence and abuse
DC's latest big-screen iteration of The Suicide Squad allowed the human side of these criminal characters to come to the forefront of their portrayals. A crucial piece of any villain's narrative is their origin, and the film certainly boasts some emotionally significant backstories.
But which ones would fans say is the best? As most people know by now, all the characters had compelling arcs and had great development. However, there were a few characters whose stories received a bit more screentime than others, which meant they were far more memorable and had a greater impact on the story too.
The Thinker
The Thinker's backstory isn't anything revolutionary. The scientist is obsessed with improving himself and was born with a high level of intelligence. His work for the United States government was definitely controversial and fuelled his perception that there really aren't any 'good guys.'
While his terrible plan to experiment on Starro was always going to end in disaster, his origins definitely explain his mindset further. This is a man who was willing to tamper with his own brain to elevate his own genius; it shouldn't be surprising that he's capable of experimenting on innocents without remorse.
Amanda Waller
Amanda Waller's backstory links to the previous Suicide Squad. Spending most of her life in service of the United States, it's heavily implied that she has made a number of morally corrupt decisions and yet sleeps easy at night knowing she supposedly did the right thing.
Her origins are heavily linked to ARGUS, with the character earning the nickname of 'The Wall' because of how unmoving she really was. This relentless leader is just as villainous in nature as The Thinker, but it's her past in government that appears to have given her current ideological values.
Rick Flag
Rick Flag's own backstory sees the leader of Task Force X participate in a number of questionable military operations, all of which were for the good of everyday civilians. His past has seen him pick up a number of notable skills in the field, and allowed him to work alongside notorious warriors like Bloodsport.
His hands aren't exactly clean, therefore, which is so important for his involvement with The Suicide Squad. His leadership abilities were defined in battle, but his lifetime of following orders without so much as a question forces him to make a tough decision in regards to his future and how he serves his country. His military origins, therefore, come to impact his arc.
King Shark
King Shark's origins aren't fully confirmed in the film, although Amanda Waller does mention a rumor which would line up with the comic books. The character is supposedly a descendent of an aquatic God. In the case of the source material, his father is Kamo, a Hawaiin Deity.
This mythical origin is certainly cool and goes a long way to explain how the beast both exists and appears to be invulnerable. However, this origin also paints King Shark as somewhat of an outsider, far from home and different from humanity in every way. His need for friendship is consequently a reflection of this story, making him one of the most beloved and best characters in The Suicide Squad.
Bloodsport
Bloodsport is very much one of the central characters of the film and his backstory informs his relationships with the other members of Task Force X, especially Ratcatcher 2. Bloodsport was abused as a child, with his father even locking him in a confined space with rats, leading to his phobia.
He now has a daughter with who he has a fraught relationship, influenced largely by his own connection to his father. His origins, therefore, impact the actions of Bloodsport throughout the film, whether it's looking out for Ratcatcher 2, his fear of her pets, or the reason he joins The Suicide Squad in the first place.
Starro
Starro's backstory is actually very informative to the actions of the character as the film progresses. The alien starfish was happily floating around in space, mesmerized by the universe. However, The United States captured the beast, giving him to The Thinker to start experimenting on.
The violent rage that Starro demonstrates, when he attempts to conquer Earth is all linked to that origin story. His murder of The Thinker was directly due to his heinous actions, but Starro is almost given a sympathetic send-off as his full point of view is revealed to the audience.
Polka-Dot Man
Polka-Dot Man was given a horrible intergalactic disease by his mother, as she was obsessed with creating her own superheroes. His time throughout the film is hugely influenced by his hatred of his mom, who he sees almost everywhere he goes.
He has a kind heart though, perhaps largely because of the hatred he has experienced in his own life. His death is one of the most shocking in The Suicide Squad but brings about the end of his arc as he finally becomes a superhero.
Peacemaker
Peacemaker's story is pretty run-of-the-mill in the land of DC Comics. He was trained to be a fighter from an early age, with his father imbuing him with all of the patriotic ideology he now fights with. But, the origin is so vital to the character's actions in the picture.
It's in his DNA to follow orders and fight for the peace of his nation, and when the time comes he does what is necessary. Despite all of the brainwashing, there's a hesitancy there that may come into play further in the HBO Max spin-off series about Peacemaker.
Harley Quinn
Harley Quinn is one of the most skilled combatants on the Suicide Squad due to her past as a gymnast as well as her history working with Mr. J. Indeed, it's her relationship with The Joker and how she has moved past this is what defines her origin story (and has been explored in previous DCEU installments, including Birds Of Prey).
This origin story is also underlaid in The Suicide Squad when she is faced with a marriage proposal. Her choice to kill her future husband, Silvio Luna, because of the red flags he showed and the pain he inflicts on the innocent people of Corto Maltese, serves to emphasizes Harley's evolution as a character and anti-hero.
Ratcatcher 2
Ratcatcher 2 perhaps has the most compelling origin story of the team. She had a very close relationship with her father, who was incredibly kind and caring, with many of his best qualities come from him.
He was a genius and created the technology to control rats. He taught his daughter how these rats could be her friends. These values and lessons not only allowed Ractacther 2 to become the heart of the film, but also led to the grand finale that saw an army of rats finally rise up to stop the big bad.