Birds of Prey: The Killing Ground

Is that an appropriate title for a Deathstroke guest appearance or what? He gets solo cover treatment, no less. That slice of awesomeness at right is by Phil Noto.

This is the middle issue of a 3-part story in which Black Canary is looking for an antidote to a biological weapon on a weird, stuck-in-world-war-two island that blinks in and out of existence (it's hard to explain).

The Connor Hawke version of Green Arrow is part of a team doing the same. That team also includes a lady named Camorouge which, as the name implies, has camouflage abilities and questionable loyalties.

And since such a chemical would be worth quite a bit of coin, Deathstroke is also looking for it, although his employers are never named. Canary assumes that he was hired by a pharmaceutical company and Slade does not deny it.

Deathstroke appears a fair amount in all three parts. Chuck Dixon wrote the story and he's certainly reliable for this kind of character. This three-parter was stated as being the final story for Dixon on the title (at least at the time). Art chores were handled by Dave Ross (pencils), Andrew Pepoy and Nelson DeCastro (inks).

Upon reaching the island, Deathstroke and Black Canary take turns saving one another from dinosaurs, with Slade going first and making his grand entrance in the process.

Nice reference to an earliest Birds of Prey guest-appearance there by Canary. More on that one on another day.

The two form a truce and while they are not involved in the final conflict much (which is particularly odd for Canary, since this is her book, really), they do assist in getting all the other guest stars out of trouble and towards their way home.

This includes a nice touch by Dixon. During the adventure, some of the characters came across a group of soldiers who believed they were still fighting World War Two. Those soldiers decide to remain on the island, being that this is the existence that they know. So 'stroke gives them a parting gift and some words of encouragement.

Nice. Throughout the story, Deathstroke's cynical and financially-driven personality traits are displayed and Canary questions his morals as a result. This one panel near the conclusion of the story, shows a bit more depth to the character and is consistent with his history.

Well done, Mr. Dixon. Hope you get another run at writing this character at some point down the road.