"Go on a mission, survive, keep your trap shut, and you go free." That was the deal that began the Suicide Squad. Spearheaded by Belle Reve Penitentiary Director Amanda Waller, the Suicide Squad was activated during the Reagan Administration to execute missions the US Government deemed "too risky" to be left to normal means. Each member was expendable and the group was completely deniable. With a roster drawn from supervillains and reluctant heroes, the Suicide Squad was an imperfect but effective weapon. During the (George H.W.) Bush Administration, events caused the US government to restructure the metahuman organization and remove power from Waller, who had been deemed a wild cannon. Shortly thereafter, the Squad was exposed to public attention and officially disbanded. Waller was placed in jail.
One year later, the government needed the Squad. The government gave Waller her freedom, one million dollars and any villain she wanted. The Suicide Squad was reborn, this time as a freelance group of mercenaries paid to do whatever missions Waller accepted. Once she had enough money, Waller retired to a small South American island, and the Suicide Squad was once again disbanded. During the Clinton Administration, the Suicide Squad was legally activated for a variety of small missions "As Needed", but without Waller's guidance it was never a cohesive unit. Not until a battle with the villain Eclipso was Waller asked back into active status, and her Squad soon returned with her.
When he was President, Lex Luthor recognized Waller's abilities and named her his Secretary of Meta-Human Affairs. During the Imperiex War, the Suicide Squad was officially reactivated and placed under Waller, who gave field control to (the presumed deceased) Sgt. Rock. Rock's Squad was captured or killed off within a year. The Squad has currently been placed, once again, in an "As-Needed" basis.
Leader:
Amanda Waller
Current Members:
King Faraday
Colonel Rick Flag
Bronze Tiger
Count Vertigo
Nightshade
Virtuoso
Multiplex
Former Members:
Black Orchid
Captain Boomerang I
Mirror Master
Doctor Light
Lashina
The Enchantress
Killer Frost
Major Disaster
Plasmus
Shrapnel
Chemo
Nemesis
Oracle
The Atom II
Poison Ivy
Slipknot
Vixen
Captain Cold
Chronos
Mister 104
Parasite
The Penguin
Black Adam
Bolt
Firehawk
Silver Swan
Icicle
Punch and Jewelee
Javelin
Tattooed Man I
Plastique
Captain Boomerang II
Bane
The General
