Fans of DC’s Task Force X have a lot to look forward to in the next few years, as both Suicide Squad: Kill The Justice League and James Gunn’s movie The Suicide Squad will be released. Considering that both the game and the film will be centered on the same faction, it makes sense that there is some overlap in characters. One of the characters that will be appearing in both projects is King Shark, though James Gunn and Rocksteady Studios clearly have some hugely different visions for the character.
With Suicide Squad: Kill The Justice League and The Suicide Squad both offering similar takes on Harley Quinn and Captain Boomerang, this is a bit surprising. However, the differences are hard to miss, and it should only become more apparent once players see more of the two King Sharks in action. Thus far, though, everything from their appearances to their personalities makes them seem like two entirely different characters.
Suicide Squad: Kill The Justice League’s King Shark
When it comes to Rocksteady’s take on the character, comic accuracy is the name of the game. King Shark’s character design is much like it is in the recent comics and animated films, as he looks like a humanoid Great White. Larger than the rest of the group but not oversized by any means, the character can be seen firing off a minigun. While he will likely be able to bite enemies and use his claws, it does not seem to be the focus of his moveset. Much like in the books, he will likely have increased durability and a healing factor.
King Shark’s realistic appearance is not the only thing that sets him apart, however, as he has a distinguishable attitude that helps him stand out from the other members in the group. While he is goofy, he is also intelligent, able to speak clearly and function like more than a big mindless creature. Voiced by WWE superstar Samoa Joe, this take on King Shark seems like someone that could be the son of the Shark God. A good mix between imposing and silly, this is the King Shark fans have come to expect from DC content in recent years.
The Suicide Squad’s King Shark
James Gunn’s version of King Shark, on the other hand, has an intentionally silly design. Taking on an appearance more like the version of King Shark from the Harley Quinn animated series, this version of the creature is something like what someone would get if they asked a middle-schooler to draw a human and shark hybrid. Having a silly face, rocking a pair of jean shorts, and on the husky side in terms of his weight, it is hard not to laugh when seeing this take on the villain — and this is exactly what should be happening.
As shown in the red band trailer for The Suicide Squad, James Gunn’s King Shark is being played for laughs. Eating a person in a ridiculous way while also saying “nom nom” prior to the feast, Gunn is clearly having some fun with the character. Another ridiculous scene from the trailer shows King Shark pointing to his hand while saying “hand” out loud, confirming that he is anything but the intelligent creature that is seen in Suicide Squad: Kill The Justice League. With the director having plenty of serious characters that can be used to further the story in the sequel, dumbing down King Shark so that he can serve as some cute comedic relief is hardly a bad thing. After all, with Sylvester Stallone voicing King Shark, his movie debut should prove to be plenty of fun.
The Suicide Squad’s new trailer has made it clear what exactly viewers will be getting from King Shark in the film, and that is basically a more brutal Groot from Guardians of the Galaxy. With Suicide Squad: Kill The Justice League giving DC fans another version of the comic accurate character, there is no reason to be disappointed by the jokey version that will be in the movie, though. Fans are getting the best of both worlds when it comes to King Shark, as both a traditional and unique take on the villain are set to arrive over the next few years.
Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League releases in 2022 for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S. The Suicide Squad will premiere on HBO Max on August 6, 2021.