When #13 Became Lucky

I mentioned before that I tuned out the post-Flashpoint Deathstroke series when Rob Liefeld was announced as the writer after the first few issues. I still wanted to record them on the Vol. 2 page above though and in doing so I realized how quickly DC Comics changed gears when it became obvious that handing the book over to Liefeld was the furthest thing from a solution.

The solicitations for that volume's books are still easily located online and of course I include the blurb when I copy them onto this blog. Here's how the 13th issue was promoted back in the summer of 2012 (typically hideous Liefield cover included).

DEATHSTROKE #13 

Written by ROB LIEFELD
Art and cover by ROB LIEFELD 

On sale OCTOBER 10 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T+ 

Deathstroke and Zealot learn the terrible fate of the planet Kheran and brace for the long-lasting repercussions it will have on the DC Universe.

And...None of that actually happened.

I didn't realize it right away because I intended to buy the book in trade paperback format following Liefeld's departure. When I saw Liefeld's name still attached to the book at this point, I guess I ignored it.

Liefeld is still credited in the issue #13 that actually hit shelves, but only for plot. And that plot has absolutely nothing to do with Zealot or the planet Kheran (thank the comic gods) so I'm not even sure that credit is warranted. The story is far more similar to what we saw in the first few issues of the series; a huge, flashy and loud fight against a big bastard named Deadborn. Zealot does appear, but only briefly and is essentially sent packing.

Here's the significantly-cooler cover that was used, which actually flows into the story. Page one is included below as well.

Deathstroke: The Terminator Vol. 1: Assassins

A mere 24 years after the release of Deathstroke's first series, its two initial story arcs are collected along with an issue of New Titans that, for all intents and purposes, served as a preview of the series. The story in New Titans did not lead into the series, but it gave us an idea as to what we were in for.

Both the digital and print versions were released a few days ago. For some reason, the solicitation on Comixology was totally butchered, but we'll try to patch it together.

Mercenary. Husband. Villain. Father. Killer. Friend.  

Slade Wilson has been all of these things. And and now his many past lives are finally catching up to him.  

After an attack at his home in Africa and a near fatal shooting that almost killed his ex-wife, Deathstroke is on the hunt for the man called the Ravager. After discovering what the link is between his family’s past and this masked super soldier’s vendetta, Slade must make it out alive against this dangerous new foe. However, the real trouble finds him in.

Then Deathstroke must travel to Gotham City, where someone is eliminating major crime bosses and smearing his reputation. There’s only one problem standing in his way: Batman. Even if he can somehow beat the Dark Knight there’s still the masked killer known only as the Vigilante waiting in the wings.  

Writer Marv Wolfman (NEW TEEN TITANS) is joined by artists Steve Erwin (CHECKMATE) and Will Blyberg (TEAM TITANS) in defining Slade Wilson as Deathstroke the Terminator, the breakout character from the hit TV show Arrow, in his first solo comic book series. Collects DEATHSTROKE: THE TERMINATOR #1-9 and the NEW TITANS #70.

Sample page below. I love the way 'Stroke so casually kicks the one guy out of the jeep.

That page is from the Titans issue mentioned above, basically a stand alone story which had nothing to do with the issues that preceded it (or, that I can recall, followed it).

But from there Deathstroke would come to be included in the Titans book for the next year and a half or so. First, he worked alongside a decimated Titans team and a handful of their allies to rescue teammates and friends from a group of armoured villains referring to themselves as The Wildebeests. That would lead into the three-part Jericho Gambit in which Slade Wilson would need to face a possessed version of his son Joseph.

All in all, the early 90's were a prolific period for Deathstroke as he frequently appeared in at least two books on a regular basis. He was also involved an a story called "Panic In The Sky" running through the various Superman books at the time. Not too shabby.

Assassins is not the first compilation of the early issues of Deathstroke's first series, it just includes more of them. Titans 70 and issues 1-5 of the Deathstroke series were collected in a graphic Novel called Full Cycle (the name of the first storyline) early in 1992.  The cover for that, by Mike Zeck, is copied below. The book has been out of print for some time now.

If you're a relatively new fan of the character, a collection of 10 issues from that era for about $20 (print) is a pretty sweet deal.

There is one downside; some elements of the Full Cycle storyline resurfaced later in the series, in issues 17-20 or so. That story, called "The Nuclear Winter", explains a number of things in greater depth. I'm not sure if there are plans to collect those issues as well, since some of it is told in Titans books (the Total Chaos crossover), but DC should really try to find a way to make it work.

Jim Parrack to play Deathstroke in Suicide Squad movie? Or...

I know this news is already a few days old now, but I wasn't sure if we were still at the rumour stage.

Parrack's name came about from being seen in this Suicide Squad cast photo (second from right)...

I think a few people speculated at what Parrack's role would be and that perception was assumed to be reality. But his girlfriend is denying it in pretty straightforward fashion. Do we even really know that Deathstroke is in the Suicide Squad movie? I'm not even sure that much has been confirmed.

So before getting too wrapped up in it, let's maybe see what's fact and what's jumping to conclusions. I hope there's fire where that smoke's coming from though.

Future's End May Erase Even More Recent Past

A few posts ago, it was mentioned that the second volume of Deathstroke solo title erased, or adjusted, a significant amount of his pre-Flashpoint history and that of his daughter, Rose Wilson.

DC Comics relaunched their entire line in September 2011 so some of that revision was to be expected. Except that they may now be ignoring some of those revisions already.

While I very much enjoy DC's characters for the most part, I get tired of the multiple alternate versions that they have. The Future's End series, as a result, was of no interest to me. A story that takes place in a near future "that may not happen" (it won't, and we all know it) isn't much of a draw.

But they had a sale on Comixology recently during which individual issues could be bought digitally for about $1 each. I took advantage of that opportunity to sample the product, knowing that Deathstroke was included.

Note: While I only have about the first 10 or so issues, I know what happens later in the series between Barda and Slade. If this future never comes to pass, I think I need to be grateful as a Deathstroke fan.

In any event...In the few issues I've read, I've only seen Slade Wilson without the mask and not involved in any action whatsoever. He's working for an organization that is attempting to recruit one Cole Cash (ugh...), otherwise known as Grifter, due to the latter's ability to see through all manners of deception. The organization is hunting down super-powered characters and wish to use Grifter's abilities to facilitate locating targets.

Fair enough, and a good evolution of Grifter's abilities. The puzzling thing is that when Slade and Grifter meet, they don't seem to know one another.

And they really should. They worked together in Team 7. That team did not last long, granted, but long enough that the two characters should recognize one another about ten years later.

Perhaps it's just a matter of the writing style of the dialogue clouding the issue a bit. At left, 'Stroke seems to say the name "Grifter" as though he has never used it before. And maybe he hasn't. I don't recall if Cash used it while with Team 7 but I don't believe any of the characters in that book used their present codenames at the time.

Still, Slade calls their recruit "Mr. Cash" which is inconsistent with how he talked to him in Team 7 anyway. They were certainly on a first name basis.

There may a part of a story somewhere that I have yet to read which explains this lack of recognition between the two characters. Or something that happened in the five-year gap leading up to Future's End that had the same effect. Or both characters are faking for the benefit of that little girl character that I didn't really get (or enjoy).

Because while Team 7 was hardly a classic, it's story meshed with the final few issues of Deathstroke's second volume, its zero issue, and the end of Ravagers series. That would be an awful lot of continuity to scuttle after rebooting your entire line in order to clarify your continuity.

It should be pointed out that some of the solicitations and covers for Team 7 don't actually reveal what goes on inside the book, so perhaps there was editorial involvement that caused the story to change.

Let's close things out with a sharp variant cover to the third issue of Team 7, by Ivan Reis, Rod Reis and Joe Prado.

When Teaser Cameos Go Nowhere

The graphic below is a scan of a page from Red Hood and The Outlaws #16.

At the time (the book came out in January 2013), the Batman line of books were all drawn into the Joker-fueled "Death Of The Family" storyline. That story bled into RHATO issues 15 to 17 and while Deathstroke was not otherwise involved, the second-to-last page of #16 offered up this treat:

Hey, there's something to look forward to!

Unfortunately, unless I've missed it, nothing ever came of it. James Tynion IV took over writing duties from Scott Lobdell so it appears as though that story was dropped. That I know of, Deathstroke has yet to appear in the title again. I've only read up to #21, mind you, but even searching comic book wikis and and the like for Deathstroke appearances reveal nothing. If I'm wrong about that, by all means someone let me know.

The Time(s) Deathstroke Beat the Entire Justice League

Ah, this was fun. And it still is for a totally different reason.

I don't know if other shared my experience, but I recall the buzz for this showdown between Deathstroke and the Justice League being high when the previews came out. Comments were to the effect that Deathstroke is such a bad ass, the fight looked awesome, etc.

In fact, people seemed to be into Identity Crisis in a big way at first. This was reflected in its sales at the time. According to comichron.com, the second and third issues were the third best-selling books in their respective months of release (July and August 2004).

But the whodunnit's big reveal fell flat and it seemed like everyone suddenly decided that the entire seven-issue mini series was crap. And nowadays if I see a mention of Deathstroke's fight against the Justice League in the third issue, it's usually in reference to how improbable it is that Slade would have won like he did. The back-pedaling cracks me up.

Even setting aside the whole bit about how Deathstroke is supposed to be the best of the best anyway, it must be taken into account that Deathstroke was completely prepared for this battle, whereas the league was caught with their pants down. The league was expecting to go whup on a long-time loser in Dr. Light. They had no idea he had hired Deathstroke for protection. And Deathstroke had planned ahead.

The narration is by Green Arrow, who doesn't fare much better. 'Stroke removes him from the equation by rendering his weapons useless.

Love that.

Now it isn't all gold. Deathstroke takes Hawkman out by cutting the strap to his wing harness, as if that character is incapable of fighting without them. And for some reason Green Lantern decides the best way to contribute is not to use the most powerful personal weapon in the universe but rather to throw a punch, which is completely illogical, not at all true to form, and of course backfires.

But the disdain over this fight is still a bit overblown because Deathstroke doesn't win. He doesn't actually beat the league. He is eventually overwhelmed after blowing his top when Arrow stabs him in the right eye socket (though he does manage to escape them).

The notion that he would cause the league fits shouldn't be so ludicrous anyway because there actually is some precedent to Slade Wilson dispatching several of that team's members.

In the 13th issue of the first volume of his own book, Deathstroke is on the run from the law (hardly cause for surprise) and the league tries to locate him. He handles several members, including Flash and Green Lantern.

The cover to that issue (at right) kills me, by the way. You have a bunch of Justice League members guest-starring in a book and what do you do? Spotlight a battle against some nobody called "Hemp". What's his power? To make really strong rope??

Anyway...In facing the league that time, Deathstroke uses much the same method as in the Identity Crisis fight. Applying a basic understanding of his opponents' strengths, weaknesses and personalities against them. He can't "out-power" The Flash or Green Lantern but he can outsmart and out-think them. Sometimes, all you need is to drive a stick in their spokes.

    

Fun stuff. I'm no Flash expert but I believe it's always been said that while his speed is enhanced, his reflexes are not. So the gut shot is actually entirely plausible.

On to Lantern.

So Identity Crisis was not the first time that Deathstroke made members of the league look foolish. It's not surprising that a character that walks both sides of the morality line would face off against the "good guys" numerous times and as this blog continues to grow it'll be fun to go over some of those battles. I might even keep a win-loss record!