Comic Title: Doom Patrol and Suicide Squad #1
Publisher: DC
Imprint: Vertigo
Cover Date: 1988
On Sale Date: December 8, 1987 Shipping Date December 8, 1987
Source: DC Releases, #46

Shipping Date December 8, 1987
Source: Amazing Heroes, #130

Newsstand Date December 31, 1987
Source: Amazing Heroes, #130

Cover Price: $1.50
Page Count: 48
Editor: Mike Gold

Title: "Red Pawn"
Pages: 45

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

Plotter: John Ostrander
Scripter: Paul Kupperberg
Penciller: Erik J. Larsen
Inker: Robert Lewis
Letterer: Steve Haynie
Colorist: Carl Gafford

Reprinted In:
Suicide Squad:The Nightshade Odyssey TPB (2016)
Doom Patrol:The Bronze Age Omnibus HC (2020)

Feature Character(s)

• Doom Patrol (last appearance in Doom Patrol #6; next appearance in Doom Patrol #7)
• Robotman (last appearance in Doom Patrol #6; next appearance in Doom Patrol #7)
• Celsius (last appearance in Doom Patrol #6; next appearance in Doom Patrol #7)
• Tempest (last appearance in Doom Patrol #6; next appearance in Doom Patrol #7)
• Negative Woman (last appearance in Doom Patrol #6; next appearance in Doom Patrol #7)
• Suicide Squad (last appearance in Suicide Squad #10; next appearance in Suicide Squad #11)
• Rick Flag (last appearance in Suicide Squad #10; next appearance in Suicide Squad #12)
• Mister 104 (dies in this story; last appearance in Teen Titans Spotlight #9; no further appearances)
• Weasel (first post-Crisis appearance; dies in this story; no further appearances)
• Psi (Gayle Marsh; first post-Crisis appearance; dies in this story; no further appearances)
• Thinker (first post-Crisis appearance; see comments; last appearance in Secret Origins #50; next appearance in Flash #134)

Guest Star(s)

• Hawk (last appearance in Booster Gold #17; next appearance in Hawk and Dove #1)

Supporting Character(s)

• Amanda Waller (last appearance in Suicide Squad #10; next appearance in Suicide Squad #11)

Villain(s)

• Zastrow (last appearance in Firestorm, the Nuclear Man #67; next appearance in Firestorm, the Nuclear Man #69)
• Stalnoivolk (last appearance in Firestorm, the Nuclear Man #67; next appearance in Firestorm, the Nuclear Man #69)
• Rocket Red Brigade (last appearance in Justice League International #9; next appearance in Justice League International #13)
• The Sandinistas (no further appearances)
• An unnamed Soviet major (dies in this story; no further appearances)

Guest Appearance(s)

• Ronald Reagan (last appearance in Batman #420; next appearance in Captain Atom #14)
• Mikhail Gorbachev (last appearance in Peacemaker #4; next appearance in Action Comics Weekly #609)

Other Character(s)

• A group of weapons smugglers (no further appearances)
• Matt and Jack (presidential advisors; no further appearances)

Comments:
This story takes place concurrently with Suicide Squad #11 and after Doom Patrol #6.

This is the first post-Crisis appearance of Weasel, Psi, and Thinker. The pre-Crisis Weasel was last seen in Fury of Firestorm #39. The pre-Crisis Psi was last seen in the first story of Daring New Adventures of Supergirl #3. The pre-Crisis Thinker was last seen in the second story of Wonder Woman #276.

Although the Thinker is apparently killed in this story, he is later revealed to be alive in Flash #134. No explanation is given for how he survived the lethal injuries he sustained in this story.

Synopsis:
While escorting a shipment of weapons to the contras in Nicaragua, Hawk's plane is shot down, and he is taken captive. The President orders Amanda Waller to send in the Suicide Squad to rescue Hawk or ensure that he is killed. Advisors opposed to Waller's Task Force X being given the job decide to send in their own unit. They contact Val Vostok and get her to bring the Doom Patrol.

Both groups arrive in Nicaragua. Rick Flag leads the Squad consisting of Psi, Weasel, Thinker, and Mr. 104. When the two groups meet one another, the villains attack. Thinker tries to restrain them, but Weasel slashes his throat. Flag grabs Thinker's helmet and uses it against Arani.

The fight between the two groups is interrupted by the arrival of the Rocket Red Brigade. The Soviets have sent their own unit to retrieve Hawk and bring him back to their country. The Squad and Doom Patrol are both outnumbered and outgunned so they join forces against the Rocket Reds. Psi and Mr. 104 are both killed in the fight. Flag, having temporarily lost his mind from using the Thinker's helmet, kills the Weasel.

While the fight rages on Stalnoivolk, another Soviet agent, breaks into the prison and releases Hawk. He is under orders not to kill the Titan. Instead, his handler Zastrow uses the incident to embarrass the Rocket Reds. After Flag has removed the Thinker's helmet and regained his mind, he takes Hawk and the Doom Patrol back to America.