Don't Call Me Superboy, a fan webcomic that re-imagines the origin story of Kon El Superboy.
I wanted to group all the pages I have so far again! This project has come a long way from when I started it, and it's still got a ways to go. Thanks for your patience as I casually work on this between my demanding jobs. I hope you're as excited to go on this journey with Kon as I am!
It shouldn't have to be said, but disclaimer: this is a re-imagining of Kon's origin. Not a direct or faithful adaptation of the source material. It is not a retelling either. It pulls influence from much of Kon's classic and modern lore but isn't beholden to canon's narrative. It is a completely new story.
With the new Secret Six (2025) comic coming around, many people have grown interested in the veteran members of the Six that transferred over to the new run: Catman, Deadshot and Black Alice. For that I have decided to make a reading guide for my favourite team of misfit villains!
Optional prequels:
These are completely optional but help in giving context to the characterizations of the characters who existed previously to the Secret Six.
Suicide Squad (1987)
Green Arrow (2001) #16-#21*
Deadshot (1988)
Deadshot (2005)*
Helmet of fate: Black Alice
* Green Arrow and Deadshot (2005) are less necessary because their roles in the characters's lives get explained in Secret Six itself.
Villains United and Secret Six proper
Now we start getting into Gail Simone's work on Infinite Crisis and how that changed into an entire team book that she grew to love! For some of the history and the behind the scenes for the creation of the Six, I recommend this thread by her!
Villains United
Villains United: Infinite Crisis special
Secret Six (2006)
Birds of Prey (1999) #104-#109
Salvation Run #3
Secret Six (2008)
In Secret Six (2008) there are a few tie ins with other comics and events, notably with Action Comics and Blackest Night with Suicide Squad (1987). I don't find it necessary to put those issues here since the comic itself will tell you when to go find them.
Optional Sequel (the New 52):
Secret Six was rebooted for the New 52, deaging its former members and retconning some of their backstories and relationships. I personally love this run but I don't recommend reading this if you haven't previously read Secret Six (2008) since it doesn't give you a lot of context on its own. It canonized Catman as bisexual too.
Thoughts on Nicole Maine's Secret Six (Organized [kinda])
Now that I've done some preliminary information gathering from stalking the appropriate tags and wiki articles, here are my thoughts on each member of the new Secret Six lineup! Keep in mind that I barely read the greater DC comics whatsoever.
Jay Nakamura (Gossamer)
Positive Asian representation in the Secret Six!? FUCKING FINALLY--Mostly with him and the other new members I'm anticipating some sort of soap opera style drama happening alongside the main plot-- and that isn't a detriment, it would be an active bonus.
Jon Kent
From what I've seen, much in the style of Dick Grayson temporarily taking on the Batman mantle, Jon *was* Superman for a while. Does he have a hero name specific to him or is he Superboy again? How many Superboys are there actually? (From what I've seen it seems to be just as complicated at the Batfamily-- but GOD am I SICK of the batfamily--) Anyway. I doubt they're going to have any continuity with the 2011 timeline but just imagining the interactions he could have with Black Alice or Catman if so--"Hey weren't you guys teammates with that guy that shattered my Dad's bones?!"
Dreamer (Nia Nal)
Read a part of that scene she has with Waller (I believe it was from Dream Team but not sure on that), but the fact that she actively scrambled Waller's memories and now this new series is in the aftermath of that ? Whoo boy is going to be fun! Especially becausefrom what I've gathered--Nicole Maines *is* Nia Nal, and probably has a clear direction with where she wants to take the character, right?
Black Alice (Lori Zechlin)
I love Lori! She's always been one of my favorites, especially because she is always accidently pushing the found family agenda with other members of the six. I know she'd made a few appearances around in other series like Suicide Squad and Night Force, and that's where her newer design comes from. But there are so many directions her characterization might go in this series that I'm just praying she doesn't get shoehorned into 'annoying kid member of team' because she's so much more than that! More of that "I feel tremendous guilt about possibly giving my dad cancer and purposely joined a team of mercenaries".
Catman (Thomas Blake)
Gotta love the Tomcat. I love how his design skews him back into "batman impersonator" but gets rid of that stupid hole in his cowl for a bang they gave him in DC Pride. I liked that story with him and Ghostmaker but I couldn't get over that stupid bang!! Addtionaly because he has so much internal conflict about what the hell he wants to do with his career as a mercenary/anti-hero/vigilante. His underlying attempts to be *good* to be *better* makes me glad to follow what he does. But honestly, I'd be even more glad if he was more of a supporting role in this mini-series, because his presence as a father/older brother figure (mainly seen in the 2011 run) are just incredible. Also I hope they don't make him the butt of too many eg(g)regious jokes.
Deadshot (Floyd Lawton)
Twenty bucks says they'll be at least 3 panels with him and Thomas in the hit or kiss zone. Wouldn't have it any other way.
Honorable mention section for that one issue cover that shows some of the previous members of the Six.
Bane
HOLY SHIT IT'S BANE!!! I literally almost cried in joy when that one Christmas special issue came out at the very moment I was like "I need to calm down with my Secret Six obsession it's not like there's ever going to be any new official material with them" and now boom. making this post. Super excited to see the big guy on a team again.
Scandal & Knockout
RETURN OF THE POLYCULE??? Not much to say here, I'll lament Scandal once again not being on the team proper, but I guess they've ditched that "all eight of us in this commercial are apart of the Secret Six" idea and are keeping the team to actually Six.
Jeanette
So happy to have you back queen, wish it was you on the front lines instead of your crusty little bf but understandable. I hope it's brought up again that she's like a majorly successful entrepreneur because it's so funny that she chooses to associate with these weirdos.
Chesire
I hugely disliked how Cheshire was treated in the OG Villains United Run. I'm fine with her being an antagonist, Jade could be a great antagonist!-- but I sincerely hope they avoid the stereotypes used to previously characterize her.
Ragdoll
I love this little freak! I am one of the (2.5)frequenters of the peter merkel jr tag. As long as A) the stupid little clown ruff remains and B) they let her be as much of a weirdo as possible, I will probably not have *too* many complaints.
Mad Hatter
peter merkel jr for the second time in your life you have the opportunity to do the funniest thing ever.
