Recent Updates: Showcase '93

Earlier this week, six issues of Showcase '93 were added to the guest appearances page above.

Deathstroke, technically, is not a guest in this book but it was the most appropriate page in which to include this series. Showcase, for those who may not remember, was an anthology book that ran monthly from 1993 to 1996. 'Stroke appeared in one of the regular stories in issues 6 to 11 during the first year of publication.

That story was called "The Kobra Kronicles" and included several other characters such as Peacemaker, Deadshot and Katana (Huntress is on the cover at right, but appears in one of the other stories). It was written by Mike Baron and continuity buffs would have to assume that it took place between issues 20 and 21 of Deathstroke's own book (volume 1) based on the uniform he wore.

I am struggling to find my copies of this book, but I admit I don't have found memories of it. My lasting impression is that Deathstroke was often out of character. He seemed a little too jovial and more like a wise-cracking type. It's been many years though so perhaps my opinion would change if I read it now.

And that suit sucked. The funny thing about it is that it was only used in Deathstroke's own book for about four issues, during the Nuclear Winter storyline (issues 17 to 20), yet he wore it in six issues of Showcase and several issues of another book called Chain Gang War. That outfit was featured more outside Deathstroke's own series than in it!

The Chain Gang War book only lasted one year but Deathstroke was involved a fair bit.  I only own the issue at left so I'm still trying to determine if all the issues are worthwhile to own but that one certainly was.

The Chain Gang was a group of vigilantes that kidnapped criminals and jailed them in a place they referred to as a the House of Correction. Essentially, they sought to clean up the city and weren't above killing to do it.

Deathstroke's appearance originally looks to be based around a war crime committed many years before for which Slade wants to dish out punishment. Well...that, and the family of one of the people held captive by the Chain Gang hires 'stroke to break him out. Money matters to our boy too! He tracks the gang down then gets to knocking heads.

This is a pretty solid, and probably often overlooked, guest spot by Deathstroke. The only criticism is that after kicking the members of the gang around for a few pages, he gets captured far too easily.

In all, he shows up in eight issues but I believe that in a number of them, it's only for one page or so. Once I determine which issues "matter", I'll list them on the guest-appearances as well.