Rick Flag Jr. is one of the most notable protagonists in the DC Extended Universe. I was never familiar with him before watching Suicide Squad, so he was basically a completely new character for me. But I think he’s generally likable overall, despite not having any superpowers.

He’s a government agent working for Amanda Waller, putting himself much closer to danger than she ever does. The assassin Katana is assigned as his personal bodyguard while he leads the newly created team on a mission to free his girlfriend from the evil witch-demon possessing her body.

Luckily for him, at the end of the 2016 film Suicide Squad, they manage to complete their mission. His girlfriend is freed from the curse, and they presumably live happily ever after.

He returns in the sequel, The Suicide Squad, leading another group of villains to carry out Waller’s orders. I can’t remember if they ever confirmed that he was still in a relationship with his girlfriend, but it would be pretty sad if they broke up after everything he went through for her.

I never saw his death coming. He discovers that the giant starfish, Starro, was secretly being experimented on by the American government, and he’s determined to expose the truth. That’s when Peacemaker (who is secretly acting on Waller’s orders to keep the mission’s secrets buried) confronts him. The two fight, and Peacemaker ultimately kills Rick Flag. Honestly, he should have known better. It doesn’t take long to realize that Amanda Waller is not someone you try to double-cross.