Suicide Squad: What Storm Reid casting says about Idris Elba’s character

Credit DC Comics

1. Black Spider

There’s a lot to like about Black Spider, but there’s not a lot of casual fans who know about him. Young Justice gave us a look at the character but it’s nothing compared to who he really is. The same goes for Attack on Arkham, which did actually feature Black Spider as member of Suicide Squad. Still, there’s more to his story.

In the pages of DC Comics there are multiple versions of the character. Black Spider’s best tale is that of a desperate broken man taking down criminals. His murderous ways caught the attention of Batman and, as a result, he ended up behind bars. Ultimately, Amanda Waller recruited him to the Suicide Squad.

Part of what makes Black Spider unique is his battle with drug addiction. After kicking his habit, he raged a war on drugs, adopting the Black Spider name. Like some of the other characters on the list, he too fathered children.

After marrying his long time friend, Linda, he fathered a son named Michael. Of course being a hero comes with its consequences, as a drug lord discovered the identity of Black Spider and murdered his wife and son.

Storm Reid’s casting could give fans a look inside the emotional story of Black Spider – similar to Deadshot in Suicide Squad, only showing how tragic his beginnings were instead. Of course, this would mean that his story would be re-written to include a daughter instead (perhaps changing Michael to Michelle).