Rebirth Reduces Deathstroke's Bodycount

Whether it's referred to as a reboot or relaunch or what-not, the DC Universe Rebirth event book claims that "years" were removed from continuity when the New 52 took place in 2011.  And THAT was a reboot.

Somehow the "theft" of a decade or so from the DC Comics timeline means that Ryan Choi's death is no longer applicable even though it took place well before the New 52. Here he is in Rebirth, eyeing the Atom belt.

As a result of the Brighter Day event a few years ago, Deathstroke took over the Titans team of the time. As of issue 24 (August 2010), Slade Wilson became the leader of a collection off mostly-obscure villains for purposes that were not immediately clear as the book took a new directions.

That transition was brought forth by a special one-shot book the previous month (July 2010 then, obviously).

That dude that Deathstroke is pulling his sword out of (or perhaps in the process of impaling)? That would be Ryan Choi, the young man who wore the Atom suit at the time, enabling him to shrink to microscopic size.

The one-shot starts with a nasty surprise for him...

And doesn't end much better.

Actually...That's far worse.

But now...he's back!  I guess...

The whole thing seemed a little off anyway.  Not that Deathstroke is above killing heroes, of course. Just ask Phantom Lady after she met the best merc in the world in Infinite Crisis.

And this appears to be one of those rare deaths that actually stuck. There has been a Phantom Lady character in various books since, but I believe it was a different "lady" taking on that identity.

Atom's selection as the Titans' victim felt like an odd choice. Even the inexperienced Choi should have been able to get the hell away from the attack in no time by shrinking to a size that can not be seen by the human eye. That should have been the strategy, anyway, even if there's a chance that Deathstroke is fast enough to take him out with one well-aimed shot from the variety of weapons he carries on his person. Hell, a sniper rifle shot from across the street would have done the trick, no?

Instead, the Titans team members each take their turn trying to stop this one-trick pony, failing repeatedly, until the boss end up doing the job himself anyway.

So now I wonder if Deathstroke and Choi will meet again and if so, how that will be handled. Rebirth gave the impression that Choi never died so did the events from the Titans book never take place? With Deathstroke's second series being largely ignored already, I'm starting to wonder how much of Deathstroke's past material actually still "counts".