Comic Title: Suicide Squad #5
Publisher: DC
Cover Date: September 1987
On Sale Date: June 23, 1987 Newsstand Date June 23, 1987
Source: DC Releases, #40

Newsstand Date June 23, 1987
Source: Amazing Heroes, #119

Shipping Date June 2, 1987
Source: Amazing Heroes, #119

Copyright Date June 2, 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

Cover Price: $0.75
Page Count: 32
Editor: Robert Greenberger

Title: "The Flight of the Firebird"
Pages: 22

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

Writer: John Ostrander
Penciller: Luke McDonnell
Inker: Robert Lewis
Letterer: Todd Klein
Colorist: Carl Gafford

Reprinted In:
Suicide Squad:Trial by Fire TPB (2011)

Feature Character(s)

• Suicide Squad (last appearance in Suicide Squad #4; next appearance in Suicide Squad #6)
• Rick Flag (last appearance in Suicide Squad #4; next appearance in Suicide Squad #6)
• Bronze Tiger (last appearance in Suicide Squad #4; next appearance in Suicide Squad #6)
• Deadshot (last appearance in Suicide Squad #4; next appearance in Suicide Squad #6)
• Enchantress (last appearance in Suicide Squad #4; next appearance in Suicide Squad #6)
• Nemesis (last appearance in Suicide Squad #3; next appearance in Suicide Squad #6)
• Nightshade (last appearance in Suicide Squad #4; next appearance in Suicide Squad #6)
• Penguin (last appearance in Suicide Squad #3; next appearance in Suicide Squad #6)
• Captain Boomerang (last appearance in Suicide Squad #4; next appearance in Suicide Squad #7)

Supporting Character(s)

• Amanda Waller (last appearance in Suicide Squad #4; next appearance in Suicide Squad #8)
• Simon LaGrieve (last appearance in Suicide Squad #1; next appearance in Suicide Squad #8)

Villain(s)

• Zastrow (last appearance in Firestorm, the Nuclear Man #65; next appearance in Suicide Squad #7)

Other Character(s)

• Zoya Trigorin (a political prisoner; next appearance in Suicide Squad #6)
• Mikhail Gorbachev (last appearance in Adventures of Superman #431; next appearance in Suicide Squad #7)
• Two of Gorbachev's advisors (no further appearances)
• Spassky (a Soviet doctor; no further appearances)

Cameo Appearance(s)

• Forgotten Villians (in flashback)

Comments:
This story continues in Suicide Squad #6.

Synopsis:
The Soviet government is divided over the fate of political prisoner Zoya Trigorin. While some want to execute her, Gorbachev agrees to use her in a trade with the West. Zastrow is tasked with the responsibility for the exchange.

The Suicide Squad is given the mission to break Trigorin out of Soviet prison. Rick Flag leads a team including Nightshade, Deadshot, and the Enchantress into Russia. The Penguin, who planned the escape, also joins them. With the help of Nemesis who has already infiltrated the prison, the Squad is able to reach Trigorin. They discover that she does not want to go with them because her imprisonment helps her political cause. While debating the issue, the Squad is uncovered, and the alarm is sounded.