Oh my...Deathstroke #21 solicitation

I have a feeling this will get a negative reaction because it will be taken a little too literally and/or seriously.

DEATHSTROKE #21
Written by CHRISTOPHER PRIEST
Art by DIOGENES NEVES
Cover by RYAN SOOK
Variant cover by SHANE DAVIS

*Includes a code for a free digital download of this issue. 

“DEFIANCE” part one! A new day has dawned for Deathstroke. Having emerged from the Speed Force a changed man, Slade Wilson takes aim at living a better life—a life in service of justice. But when the world refuses to accept the new Deathstroke, Slade recruits a group of young heroes to join him including including former Teen Titans Kid Flash and Power Girl, his children, Rose and Jericho, and the bombastic Terra! 

But has Slade truly shed his villainous past? And what other shadowy forces are working against him? Find out as Deathstroke’s bold new direction begins here! 

On sale JULY 5 • 32 pg, FC, $3.99 US • RATED T+#

The resemblance to the oft-copied cover Justice League International #1 can hardly be a coincidence.

And like very other time he has led a team, this will be short-lived, if he even truly "leads" them. Even the solicitation text questions Deathstroke's sincerity. It wouldn't be the first time he's had an agenda.

The thing of it is though...That's a pretty cool looking bunch right there. I'd buy the hell out of that book. Since Deathstroke's own title is being reduced from being published twice a month to only once, maybe that team could complement it. Unlikely, since most of the characters are unknown but perhaps if the premise is good...

Dreaming, I know. But while the image does pack a jolt at first sight for a long-time Deathstroke fan, with a few minutes to take it in, it certainly has me curious.

Cover image and solicitation text first spotted on bleedingcool.

Issue 17 Variant Cover by Shane Davis!

I was so preoccupied with looking for Deathstroke in other DC Comics that it escaped my notice that only one issue of the man's own title is schedule in June. It would seem that he title is no longer being released twice a month but hey, what I've read if the current series is so damn good that I'm grateful for getting that much material for most of the past year.

And those awesome Shane Davis variant covers! Here's the man's work for #17, for which he channels his inner Liefeld with the sword reflection trick.

The image was first found on Bleeding Cool.

Deathstroke #18 solicitation

The solicitation previews included the nineteenth issue of Deathstroke due to its inclusion in the Lazarus Contract storyline and crossover with the Titans book. The hype text for issue #18 was released with the full solicitations earlier this week, and there it is below.

DEATHSTROKE #18
Written by CHRISTOPHER PRIEST
Art by JOE BENNETT and NORM RAPMUND
Cover by BILL SIENKIEWICZ
Variant cover by SHANE DAVIS

“Twilight” finale! In the wake of his fiancé’s death, Jericho seeks revenge against the suspected murderer—his own father!

But was Deathstroke truly responsible for Etienne’s demise? And if not, who could have committed such a nefarious crime? 

It’s a Wilson family affair as Slade, Joseph and Rose clash in the blood-soaked finale to “Twilight!” 

On sale MAY 3 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T+

Always good to see Rose remains involved.

Also, Bleeding Cool revealed some covers that had not been widely publicized including this rather dashing Shane Davis (as usual) variant for issue #15.

Somewhat Tardy Deathstroke April 2017 Solicitations

Standard operating procedure here. Still two issues a month, still only one cover revealed, still no obvious guest-appearances by our not-hero in any other books that I could locate.

DEATHSTROKE #16
Written by CHRISTOPHER PRIEST • Art by CARLO PAGULAYAN and JASON PAZ • Cover by BILL SIENKIEWICZ • Variant cover by SHANE DAVIS 

“Twilight” part five! In what could be his final battle, Deathstroke, wounded and blind, confronts Deadline, the Human Weapon, to avenge the murder of someone close to him. 

On sale APRIL 5 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T+

DEATHSTROKE #17
Written by CHRISTOPHER PRIEST • Art by JOE BENNETT and NORM RAPMUND • Cover by BILL SIENKIEWICZ • Variant cover by SHANE DAVIS 

“Twilight” part six! All the chips fall as dark secrets within Deathstroke’s world are revealed, including Power Girl—who learns her houseguest’s true identity. Determined to atone for her mistake, the 16-year-old takes on the World’s Deadliest Assassin on her own. Will she bring Deathstroke to justice…or die trying? 

On sale APRIL 19 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T+

Meanwhile, the recently-released issue #11 drew a fair bit more attention than usual. Guest-starring the Creeper, it's a one-and-done story about gun violence in Chicago.

Such stories can easily feel heavy-handed and preachy, but judging from the feedback I'm reading, it seems like writer Christopher Priest nailed it. And no one should be surprised by that, he's as good as anyone at what he does.

Early look at Deathstroke March 2017 solicitations

As DC Comics teases its teases, Deathstroke seems to find himself included frequently. That is the case again for March 2017 material as we're given a peek at one of the Deathstroke books that month. And it will feature an unexpected guest-star.

DEATHSTROKE #15 

Written by CHRISTOPHER PRIEST
Art by CARLO PAGULAYAN and JASON PAZ
Cover by BILL SIENKIEWICZ
Variant cover by SHANE DAVIS 

“TWILIGHT” part four! 

Faced with a career-ending diagnosis, Deathstroke is coached by Power Girl to reinvent himself—and comes face to face with a rival assassin known as Deadline!

It occurs to me that the last time I posted a solicitation preview offered exclusively to a comics news website, it also only included one of the issues to be released that month. I posted the solicitations for #12 and while it's been out available for a few weeks now, here's #13's sales pitch, for the sake of being thorough.

“Twilight” part two!  

In order to obtain criminal evidence against his ex-wife, Adeline, Deathstroke helps Raptor and the Red Lion steal an aircraft carrier! But, will Slade use the evidence to convict Adeline or to save her?  

Meanwhile, haunted by a terrible decision, Deathstroke’s son Jericho is losing his grip on his own sanity. 

And while we're filling gaps, the cover to #9 was recently revealed. Feast your peepers on this.

So we're still missing the solicitation text for #14, the third part of four. It should be available early next week, along with the rest of DC's books to come in March.