Highlights
- Suicide Squad Isekai excited fans thanks to Wit Studio’s involvement, Tappei Nagatsuki’s writing, and just being a fun concept.
- The series boasts likable characters and decent action, but played things safe leading to a forgettable experience.
- While Re:Zero shares Nagatsuki as writer, it differs greatly from Suicide Squad Isekai, offering a darker, more dramatic tone.
Warner Bros’ Suicide Squad Isekai reveal was greeted by online bewilderment; however, that initial confusion eventually changed into excitement, a shift that was not unfounded. Firstly, the series was being handled by Wit Studio, a company with a stacked resume that includes Attack on Titan and Vinland Saga. Secondly, the writing duties were handed over to Tappei Nagatsuki, a creator with a very good reputation in the light novel sphere. Lastly, Suicide Squad Isekai just sounded like a fun take on the theme. Also, the show’s OP is fire.
At this point, the series is about halfway through, and it is shaping up to be one of the better new isekai anime of the Summer 2024 season. Suicide Squad Isekai is entertaining and features a likable cast of charismatic characters, specifically Harley Quinn, Deadshot, and Clayface. The action setpieces are generally decent, especially one fight against a dragon, and the same can be said for the animation. That said, the show has played things surprisingly safe, resulting in a more forgettable experience than many people might have initially anticipated.
Still, anyone enjoying Wit Studio’s strange DC romp should check out the following anime similar to Suicide Squad Isekai.
5 Re:Zero − Starting Life in Another World
Tappei Nagatsuki’s Isekai Masterpiece
Re:Zero is the reason many folks were hyped to learn Tappei Nagatsuki would be Suicide Squad Isekai‘s screenwriter. The author is behind one of the best isekai anime of all time, and that is not a remotely controversial opinion. Therefore, naturally, fans of Nagatsuki’s latest story should check out his masterwork.
However, it needs to be noted that Re:Zero and Suicide Squad Isekai share almost nothing in common beyond their writer. While the latter is a lighthearted action-driven romp that moves at a quick pace and revolves around larger-than-life personalities, Re:Zero is effectively a drama that shines the brightest when dissecting its characters’ shortcomings, prejudices, and obsessions. Although not devoid of hope or humor, the show is quite dark and depressing, even venturing into horror territory at times.
Re:Zero is a must-watch for anyone interested in isekai, but the anime is a unique beast.
4 The Wrong Way to Use Healing Magic
Dragged Into Another World’s War
One of 2024’s better isekai anime, The Wrong Way to Use Healing Magic has a lot of things going for it, including a great sense of humor and a likable protagonist. In desperate need of heroes, a fantasy world’s kingdom summons Suzune and Kazuki, only to accidentally pull their classmate, Ken, along for the ride.
While the latter characters slip into conventional classes, Ken shows an affinity for healing magic, a rare trait in this world. Before long, he finds himself under the tutelage of the strict Rose and, eventually, on the frontline in a war against demons. Putting aside the whole DC aspect, Suicide Squad Isekai stands out due to focusing on a party rather than a single character. The Wrong Way to Use Healing Magic touches upon similar ideas, showing that Ken, Suzune, and Kazuki all have parts to play in the overall war.
As fun as the show is overall,
The Wrong Way to Use Healing Magic
‘s action is infrequent and weak when compared to Wit Studio’s offerings in
Suicide Squad Isekai
, so that could be a dealbreaker for some people.
3 Ishura
Visitors Wage War
Before long, Suicide Squad Isekai sets the stage for a war between two kingdoms that both have a few DC personalities. As there simply are no superhero-themed alternatives, anyone craving isekai anime like Suicide Squad Isekai should primarily seek out stories that pit other worlders against each other. This concept defines Ishura, a somewhat convoluted series that takes about 5–6 episodes to get going.
Complicated lore aside, the plot boils down to a war between a kingdom and an independent state, each of which utilizes Visitors and Champions as their main chess pieces. The first half of the anime is essentially a long roll call that introduces all the key players, a creative decision that results in very little forward momentum. However, Ishura pays off this slow build by exploding into action during its second half, going from one exciting battle to another. Also, most of the characters are expendable, which should be a positive for Suicide Squad Isekai fans.
2 Re:Creators
Fictional Characters Brought To Life
In the universe of Suicide Squad Isekai, the characters are, obviously, not fictional; however, the show’s appeal comes entirely from watching iconic comic figures displaced from their usual circumstances, teleported to a world beyond their imaginations. Re:Creators achieves something similar, albeit by ripping in-universe fictional characters from their source material and dropping them onto Earth. Despite featuring only original characters, the series still feels like a celebration of otaku media, especially light novels and anime.
Beyond that, Re:Creators is just an all-around great reverse isekai anime, one that features well-written characters who regularly struggle with the knowledge that they are fictional. Troyca’s anime has great action, a brilliant antagonist, and some pretty good humor.
1 Drifters
A Historical Blood Bath
Drifters is unadulterated awesomeness. Similar to the Fate franchise, this anime takes a bunch of historical figures and just lets them massacre each other, with the added element of taking place in a dark fantasy world rather than on Earth. In this case, the roster includes the likes of Shimazu Toyohisa, Oda Nobunaga, Butch Cassidy, Joan of Arc, and Nasu no Yoichi, and they are split into two sides called Drifters and Ends.
While the adaptation is very incomplete, the anime is worth watching for its excellent fights, solid animation, and bizarre comedy. The characters are the definition of larger-than-life, arguably even exceeding Suicide Squad Isekai‘s big personalities. Furthermore, the show loves to get bloody and kill off characters.
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