The Terminus Agenda Concludes in May

And it doesn't sound like it goes real well for our boy.

Written by CHRISTOPHER PRIEST and ADAM GLASS
Art and cover by CARLO PAGULAYAN and JASON PAZ
Variant cover by CLAYTON CRAIN 

“The Terminus Agenda” finale! 

It’s code red for the Teen Titans as their plan to capture and imprison Deathstroke has backfired in the worst possible way. Mercy Hall is on lockdown, and all the super-villains have escaped their cells! 

As the villains team up to take down their captors, Deathstroke makes one final attempt at “fixing” Damian—will Damian finally abandon Batman’s code to save his friends from certain death? 

ON SALE 05.01.19
$3.99 US | 32 PAGES
FC | RATED T+

Strangely enough, the regular cover for the book seems to be a little tricky to find among solicitation listed on the major comics sites. Bleeding Cool displayed the page from the Previews catalogue though so I share that here since it's as good a version of it as I've come across.

But get a closer look at Clayton Crain's variant for this book. Damn!

It's not clear whether Deathstroke show up in the epilogue that takes place in Teen Titans #30. It doesn't sound like it, as that issue appears to me more geared towards blow back to Damian's actions in the Deathstroke issue. The cover alone makes that quite clear.

If writer Christopher Priest continues as he has, I suspect we'll get another 5-6 part story following starting in June with Slade's world properly shaken up as a result of this one's conclusion. Dude doesn't mess around!

Deathstroke #33 Solicitation

Aside from the Beach Blanket Special mentioned a few days ago, Deathstroke's 33rd issue hits stores in July as the second half of the Deathstroke vs. Batman storyline begins.

Written by CHRISTOPHER PRIEST
Art by CARLO PAGULAYAN and JASON PAZ
Cover by ROBSON ROCHA and DANIEL HENRIQUES
Cariant cover by FRANCESCO MATTINA 

Forced to team with Deathstroke, a man he loathes, Damian Wayne must discover the truth of his lineage. Is he really Bruce Wayne’s son, or is Slade Wilson his true father? As Batman draws closer to finding them both, Deathstroke must complete a hit, while Robin shadows the killer for hire. 

ON SALE 07.04.18
$3.99 US | 32 PAGES

Despite getting terrific reviews, Deathstroke's sales totals were starting to tickle cancellation territory, based on March results on Comichron. I'm going to make a point to see how much of a bump the Batman guest-appearance gives him in April.

Good News / Bad News Delivered by Bleeding Cool

First the bad news: It should have struck me that a Batman/Deathstroke book to accompany Deathstroke's regular series was too good to be true, but I was blinded by hopeful optimism. Alas, it it instead a story-within-the-series.

It seems like a hell of a tale, though. Right-click the image below and open it in a new tab (and thanks again to BC for providing the information in this format, I love that).

“Deathstroke vs. Batman” part one! Beginning this month, a six-issue series-within-a-series featuring the ultimate showdown between DC’s fiercest rivals! 

When Batman discovers a mysterious package containing DNA test results proving that he is not Damian Wayne’s biological father, the Dark Knight sets his sights on his son’s true father — Deathstroke! But Damian Wayne can’t really be Slade Wilson’s son — can he? And who sent the package — and why? The ultimate custody battle ensues as the World’s Greatest Detective and the World’s Deadliest Assassin clash in this instant classic!

Rose and Damian as brother and sister. Hilarious. I can't wait for this.

The good news is that Deathstroke does make a guest appearance in another book in April. It was a matter of time, really.

Written by Dan Abnett, art by Viktor Bogdanovic, cover by John Romita Jr. and Sandra Hope. 

“Payback Time,” part one!

The Silencer has been targeted by every hit man, meta-mobster and weapons-depot dropout that the Leviathan organization has to offer — now it’s time for Honor Guest to take the fight back to them! Too bad Deathstroke has other plans. 

Silencer squares off against Slade Wilson as we kick off a brand-new epic! And this duo’s devastating past run-in will leave you speechless! 

32 pages, $2.99, in stores on April 25.

That cover makes it look like the barrel of her gun is nearly poking out of the back of his head!

There's potential there for Deathstroke to hang around for a few issues so let's keep an eye out for that. I'mcurious about this character anyway so if he showed up in the back end of a trade, I'd be all over that.

Our favourite mass murdered also see the fourth book of volume one reprints, called Crash Or Burn, released on May 9th.

Deathstroke returns in these 1990s tales to battle the Vigilante, Fire and Blood, and Janissary! 

Then, Slade Wilson must enter the Black Dome — and he might not make it out alive. 

Collects Deathstroke, The Terminator #21-25, plus Deathstroke, The Terminator Annual #2, featuring the origin of Gunfire!

If there's one character more forgettable than Gunfire, it's certainly Janissary. That was his one and only appearance.

And on top of all that, he will appear in a Titans trade paperback reprinting the dismal Total Chaos storyline that crossed over the Titans family of books at the time.0

A threat from the future has come to the present to destroy the Titans: Donna Troy’s son, Lord Chaos! Bringing with him a futuristic army, the would-be hero turned despot faces Titans past and present in the heroes’ greatest conflict to date. However, when the battle becomes too much for even these super-teams, will they be able to turn to their greatest foe, Deathstroke, for assistance?

This timeless crossover from one of the greatest creative teams of all time is finally here! Collects New Titans #90-92, Deathstroke, the Terminator #14-16 and Team Titans #1-3.

Get it for Nightwing's mullet. I'm pretty sure he was still rocking that thing at that point.

And finally, he has significant involvement in the New Teen Titans Omnibus hardcover third volume.

In this third massive collection of the hit 1980s series, now back in print, the team battles the villainy of H.I.V.E., faces the evil Dr. Light, witnesses the trial of Deathstroke, and tries to rescue the dark hero known as Raven from her own father, Trigon. 

Collects Tales of The Teen Titans #42-68, The New Teen Titans (second series) #1-9 and Tales of The Teen Titans Annual #3.

336 pages! If you're buying specifically for Slade, you might want to track down a trade of The Judas Contract and leave it that. The trial is entirely forgettable. Almost as forgettable as Gunfire. Most of the rest of the material doesn't include Deathstroke at all.

Still, a pretty high-profile month for him. That's always comforting.

Deathstroke October 2016 Soliciations

The cover displayed between the two solicitations is for issue #5. I think it's hilarious! Unfortunately, I can't seem to locate the one for #4. I suspect that's by design so as to avoid spoilers.

DEATHSTROKE #4 

(W) Priest (A) Joe Bennett, Mark Morales (CA) Aco (CA) Shane Davis 

“The Professional” part four! After an attempt on The Ravager’s life, Slade Wilson and his daughter head to Gotham City in an attempt to track down Rose’s would-be assassin. 

In Shops: Oct 12, 2016
SRP: $2.99 

DEATHSTROKE #5 

(W) Priest (A) Joe Bennett, Mark Morales (CA) Aco (CA) Shane Davis 

“The Professional” part five! After Slade kidnaps Damian and leaves Rose in the care of Batman, the World’s Greatest Assassin and the World’s Greatest Detective trade partners in a battle of wills! 

In Shops: Oct 26, 2016
SRP: $2.99

Loving this twice-a-month schedule. I don't know if the plan is to maintain it "permanently" or if it's a temporary plan, but I'll enjoy it as long as I can. Hopefully sales justify the strategy for DC.

The downside so far is that there doesn't appear to be any guest-appearances in other books scheduled any time soon while the "rebirthed" universe settles in.

Deathstroke to Guest Star in "Robin, Son of Batman" #4 in September

The 10th issue of Deathstroke's own series, in which the Godkiller storyline concludes, is released in September. But our (anti) hero also makes an appearance in Robin, Son of Batman #4. Here's what we have to look forward to:

ROBIN, SON OF BATMAN #4
Written by PATRICK GLEASON
Art and cover by PATRICK GLEASON and MICK GRAY 

On sale SEPTEMBER 16 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T 

It’s Robin vs. Deathstroke! The troubles in Maya’s past come back to haunt her. Will Damian and Goliath be forced to leave her to fend for herself, or can they find a way to help their new ally?

The best assassin in the world against a kid raised within a league of assassins. Should be spectacular!

Regardless of that similarity in their backgrounds, Deathstroke and the Damian Wayne version of Robin have had little interaction. The most prominent, to my recollection, was in the 11th and 12th issues of the Batman and Robin series that began in 2009.

At some point, Damian had had a chip implanted in his spine which, unbeknownst to him, enabled his mother (Talia Al Ghul) to control his actions remotely. Mom recruited another highly shitty parent to control Damian from a distance and attempt to beat Batman (who, at the time, was Dick Grayson).

Slade wanted Grayson to know who was pulling the strings and this caused him to reveal a little too much information (see below). Knowing who the enemy was, and understanding that their nervous systems were electronically linked, Grayson used electric shocks to Damian's heart to incapacitate Slade from afar.

Not too sure about the science behind that, but...it worked! And later, while Deathstroke was recovering in a hospital bed, Grayson dropped by and punked him out. But we won't dwell on that ugliness.

The episode also caused Damian to swear to kill Slade one day. With the September 2010 reboot of DC's comics line, it's often a little unclear as to what is still in continuity and what isn't. Most, if not all, of that series appears to still be in play though, so it'll be interesting to see if that scene is referenced.