Secret Origins #44

Secret Origins #44 was published by DC Comics in September 1989. This series was conceptualized to provide updated, modern backstories for various characters within the DC Universe following the continuity shifts established by the 1985 event Crisis on Infinite Earths. This specific issue features the origin of the Suicide Squad, written by John Ostrander, who was the primary architect of the team's modern incarnation during the late 1980s.

The issue was illustrated by Luke McDonnell, whose grounded and gritty aesthetic became synonymous with the Suicide Squad during this era. The story serves to consolidate the team's historical roots while establishing the tactical, high-stakes tone that defined Ostrander’s run. It was well-received by fans of the series for providing necessary narrative context to the team's ongoing missions and was noted for its adherence to the noir-inflected espionage style that set the book apart from mainstream superhero titles of the time.