Comic Title: Secret Origins #14
Publisher: DC (DC Comics Inc.)
Address: 666 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY
Cover Date: May 1987
On Sale Date: February 12, 1987 Newsstand Date February 12, 1987
Source: DC Releases, #36

Newsstand Date February 12, 1987
Source: Amazing Heroes, #109

Newsstand Date February 12, 1987
Source: Comics Buyers Guide, #690

Shipping Date January 20, 1987
Source: DC Releases, #36

Shipping Date January 20, 1987
Source: Amazing Heroes, #109

Shipping Date January 20, 1987
Source: Comics Buyers Guide, #690

Copyright Date January 20, 1987
Source: Library of Congress, Copyright Office 1987
DC publication dates beyond April 1981 listed by the LoC
represent shipping dates NOT newsstand sale dates

Shipping Date November 18, 1986
Source: Comics Journal, #113
Listing erroneously uses the date for #12

Frequency: Monthly
Cover Price: $1.25
Page Count: 48
Editor: Robert Greenberger

Title: "The Secret Origin of the Suicide Squad"
Pages: 38

Feature(s):
Suicide Squad (Post-Crisis)

Crossover Event:
Legends

Writer: John Ostrander
Penciller: Luke McDonnell
Inker: David Hunt
Letterer: Albert Tobias De Guzman
Colorist: Carl Gafford

Reprinted In:
Suicide Squad:Trial by Fire TPB (2011)
Suicide Squad Case Files Vol. 2 TPB (2021)

Feature Character(s)

• Suicide Squad (last appearance in Legends #6; next appearance in Suicide Squad #1)
• Rick Flag (last appearance in Legends #6; next appearance in Suicide Squad #1)
• Richard Montgomery Flag (dies in flashback; last appearance in Secret Origins #14; no further appearances)
• Karin Grace (in flashback; first post-Crisis appearance; next appearance in Suicide Squad #1)
• Jess Bright (dies in flashback; first post-Crisis appearance; no further appearances)
• Dr. Hugh Evans (dies in flashback; first post-Crisis appearance; no further appearances)

Guest Star(s)

• Sarge Steel (last appearance in Legends #3; next appearance in Superman Annual #1)

Supporting Character(s)

• Amanda Waller (last appearance in Legends #5; next appearance in Suicide Squad #1)

Guest Appearance(s)

• Jeb Stuart (in flashback; first post-Crisis appearance; last appearance in Secret Origins #14; no further appearances)
• Ace Morgan (earliest chronological appearance; in flashback as a military pilot; next appearance in Secret Origins #12)

Other Character(s)

• Ronald Reagan (last appearance in Captain Atom #2; next appearance in Flash #4)
• Sharon Race (Rick Flag's mother; in flashback; no further appearances)
• Harry S. Truman (in flashback; last appearance in Action Comics Weekly #631; no further appearances)
• Control (in flashback; head of O.S.S.; next appearance in Blackhawk Special #1)
• Joseph Waller, Joe Jr., Damita, Martin, Jesse, and Coretta (in flashback; Amanda's husband and children; no further appearances)
• Marvin Collins (a congressman; in flashback; no further appearances)

Flashback Appearance(s)

• Suicide Squad (origin and earliest chronological appearance; Carson and Bashful Benjy named; next appearance in Secret Origins #14)
• Rick Flag (as a boy; earliest chronological appearance; next appearance in Secret Origins #14)
• Amanda Waller (earliest chronological appearance; in flashback; next appearance in Secret Origins #28)
• Richard Montgomery Flag (during World War II; earliest chronological appearance; next appearance in Secret Origins #14)
• Richard Montgomery Flag (in the early 1950s; last appearance in Secret Origins #14; next appearance in Secret Origins #14)
• Rick Flag (as leader of the second Suicide Squad; last appearance in Secret Origins #14; next appearance in Suicide Squad #38)
• Suicide Squad (the second team; last appearance in Secret Origins #14; next appearance in Legends #3)
• Jeb Stuart (earliest chronological appearance; following World War II; next appearance in Secret Origins #14)

Cameo Appearance(s)

• Justice Society of America (in flashback to disbanding)
• Hawkman (in flashback to the JSA disbanding)
• Green Lantern (in flashback to the JSA disbanding)
• Atom (in flashback to the JSA disbanding)
• Flash (in flashback to the JSA disbanding)
• Doctor Mid-Nite (in flashback to the JSA disbanding)
• Black Canary (in flashback to the JSA disbanding)
• Joseph McCarthy (not named; in flashback to the JSA disbanding)
• Sportsmaster (in flashback)
• Forgotten Heroes (in flashback)
• Immortal Man (in flashback)
• Animal Man (in flashback)
• Dolphin (in flashback)
• Cave Carson (in flashback)
• Dane Dorrance (in flashback)
• Deadshot (in flashback)
• Bronze Tiger (in flashback)
• Enchantress (in flashback)
• Blockbuster (in flashback)
• Captain Boomerang (in flashback)
• Brimstone (in flashback)
• The Warhounds (in flashback)

Comments:
This issue is labeled: "Legends Spin-Off Chapter 22".

Wonder Woman is inaccurately depicted at the disbanding of the JSA. In the post-Crisis reality, Wonder Woman did not travel into the Man's World until much later. Continuity would later be revised inserting Hippolyta as a World War II, Wonder Woman. However, this story takes place before that change, making her appearance here an error.

Synopsis:
Amanda Waller petitions President Reagan to continue the Suicide Squad. Sarge Steel argues that possible exposure makes the unit a high risk. Waller provides Reagan with files detailing the history of Task Force X.

The unit was formed during World War II as Rick Montgomery Flag was enlisted to lead a group of misfit soldiers in battle on Dinosaur Island. After the war Flag married Sharon Race, while Truman approved the Squad for continued action in the absence of the disbanded JSA. The Suicide Squad was effective, but Flag and Race both suffered early deaths.

Flag's son, Rick Rogers Flag joined the military and became a pilot alongside Ace Morgan. He was recruited to form a new Suicide Squad with Karin Grace, Jess Bright, and Dr. Hugh Evans. After the latter two men died, Karin suffered a breakdown. Rick was then covertly inserted as a member of the Forgotten Heroes to solve a mystery involving several golden temples.

Waller also provides Reagan with a file concerning her own background. She raised a large family in a poverty stricken neighborhood. When two of her children met violent deaths, she entered college, then helped Marvin Collins earn a congressional seat. Her work as his aide earned her the political influence to reform the Suicide Squad.

Reagan agrees to allow Waller to continue using super-villains as members of the new Suicide Squad. Waller leaves the meeting to inform Flag that their work will continue.