A Deathstroke Appearance on DC's Legends Of Tomorrow! (Or is it?)

The Arrow and Flash TV shows never really hooked me, even after I found out that Deathstroke would appear in the former.

I watched one episode of Arrow in which Slade was shown in a flashback scene on an island. If I recall correctly, he had no dialogue and I thought his uniform seemed a little on the "low budget" side.

Bottom line, I wasn't particularly taken in. It just didn't seem like he was particularly important. As I understand it, his role grew as the season continued but I've read feedback to the effect that he was beaten far too easily when the time for the final confrontation came. None of it seemed particularly compelling.

I gave Legends of Tomorrow a try because it featured a larger segment of the DC Universe. In truth, I find the show kind of stupid but did get a hell of a surprise during this past Thursday's episode.

Season One, Episode Six : When a malfunction sends the Waverider crashing into 2046 Star City, our heroes face a startling version of their own future where they never stop Savage and never return home. The city is in ruins and overrun by criminals, which thrills Rory. Sara is despondent over the destruction of her home and stunned when she learns what happened to her old friend, Oliver Queen.

There's a different Green Arrow in town and he's fighting a different Deathstroke.

The outfit seen from a shadowed distance initially caused me to believe that we were getting the real deal. Depending on how old Slade was in the Arrow series, the comics version has some years on his, so it wouldn't be outrageous that he'd still be kicking asses 30 years hence, in his mid-50s or so.

It wasn't Slade Wilson, however, but his son Grant, as portrayed by Jamie Andrew Cutler.

His screen time was limited but he displayed a bit of crazy and had a good scrap against the Arrows. The time-travelling nature of Legends, and its tendency to unravel potential future timelines, makes it unlikely that we'll see the character again, but it was a good jolt to see the least-used Wilson kid take the spotlight for a change.

Got to love Grant. Aside from a brief appearance in New Teen Titans #1, released on Halloween 1980, the guy died in his first ever "full' appearance the following month.

And yet he still manages to maintain a presence 35 years later. His identity has been copied several times, not only by his sister but also by a number of even less exemplary characters. He's been included in numerous flashbacks and was even suddenly alive in more recent Deathstroke books. Hell, he was even a zombie during Blackest Night. That's a lot of longevity milked out of one issue.

He hasn't been talked about much here yet...but maybe he should be. I'll figure out how I want to approach that. In the meantime, nice to see you again, Grant, no matter how brief it was.

Triple 'Stroke This Fall!

DC has been teasing a "Rebirth" even for what seems like weeks and weeks.  Naturally, that raised some question as how another relaunch, reboot, or whatever other "re" word you want to use, would affect our favourite badass. It was revealed today.

First things first though. Let's  check out the May solicitations.

DEATHSTROKE #18
Written by JAMES BONNY
Art by TYLER KIRKHAM
Cover by TYLER KIRKHAM
On sale MAY 25 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T+ 

After a bitter betrayal by a trusted comrade, Slade Wilson finds reluctant allies in his estranged children, Rose and Jericho. But as an all out battle looms, he must also join forces with the one and only Ra’s al Ghul…who may have his own hidden agenda. Could this uneasy family reunion spell doom for Deathstroke?

Love seeing Rose on the cover, even if it's in that odd Captain Harlock style outfit.

I'm as tired of "fresh starts" as anyone but may find myself welcoming this one. Deathstroke's origin and family life was already inconsistent within the New 52 books themselves, never mind all the material that took place beforehand. And Rose was unrecognizable.

Now Rebirth begins the following month, in June, with the following books:

AQUAMAN REBIRTH #1
BATMAN REBIRTH #1
THE FLASH REBIRTH #1
GREEN ARROW REBIRTH #1
GREEN LANTERNS REBIRTH #1
SUPERMAN REBIRTH #1
TITANS REBIRTH #1
WONDER WOMAN REBIRTH #1 

New #1 Issues (Shipping twice monthly):
AQUAMAN #1
BATMAN #1
THE FLASH #1
GREEN ARROW #1
GREEN LANTERNS #1
SUPERMAN #1
WONDER WOMAN #1 

New Issues (Shipping twice monthly):
ACTION COMICS #957
DETECTIVE COMICS #934

So...No 'stroke, unless volume three continues while these books are published. You wouldn't think so, but that only would account for 26 issues that month. Seems low.

Deathstroke does not reappear until the fall (month unspecified).

BATMAN BEYOND REBIRTH #1
BLUE BEETLE REBIRTH #1
CYBORG REBIRTH #1
DEATHSTROKE REBIRTH #1
EARTH 2 REBIRTH #1
SUICIDE SQUAD REBIRTH #1
SUPERGIRL REBIRTH #1
TEEN TITANS REBIRTH #1
TRINITY REBIRTH #1 

New #1 Issues (Shipping twice monthly):
CYBORG #1
DEATHSTROKE #1
HARLEY QUINN #1
JUSTICE LEAGUE AMERICA #1
SUICIDE SQUAD #1 

New #1 Issues (Shipping monthly):
BATMAN BEYOND #1
BLUE BEETLE #1
EARTH 2 #1
GOTHAM ACADEMY: NEXT SEMESTER #1
SUPERGIRL #1
SUPERWOMAN #1
SUPER SONS #1
TEEN TITANS #1
TRINITY #1

So not only does Slade warrant a rebirth special, his ongoing book will be published twice a month. That's pretty good news for fans of the world's best mercenary.

Also can't help but notice that there's a Titans book and a Teen Titans book. Slade once led a Titans team and he certainly has plenty of history with the various versions of that group over the years. Could he be involved there as well?

For that matter, he's spent some time on The Suicide Squad as well so perhaps he'll have a presence with that bunch.

Tired as hell of reboots, relaunches, etc, but this one may prove to be worthwhile.

Deathstroke, the Terminator Vol. 3: Nuclear Winter

Even though DC's solicitations are only released to April, I came across the following on Amazon.ca this weekend.

Deathstroke, the break-out villain from the 1980s sensation The New Teen Titans and current star of the hit TV series Arrow stars in his own graphic novel series!

In these stories, hunted by the CIA and the Teen Titans, Deathstroke is in trouble--he may be dying. But his chances for survival lie with a figure from his past, half a world away in Cambodia. 

While his pursuers believe him to be dead, Deathstroke takes refuge on Titans island--and when he regains his strength, he's shocked to learn that the island has been taken over by the forces of the evil Lord Chaos. How will he escape with his life?  

Collects Deathstroke, The Terminator #14-20.

Christ, I own these books and that still seems confusing as hell.

I initially doubted that the cover displayed with the solicitation would be the one that will actually appear on this compilation. But options may be limited. Half of the issues included in the book have covers on which 'stroke is wearing a short-lived "new" uniform. Check out that ode to "generic" over at right.

Terrible. Thankfully he was back in his real suit by issue #21.

While the cover to 18 might be more appropriate for a compilation of issues originally sold 24 years ago, it seems unlikely that they would use a "look" that barely resembles the character that they're trying to promote on TV, video games, perhaps movies, etc.

So if DC continues their tendency of using a slightly-updated version of one of the issues contained in the compilation, their best option may be #15, displayed at the bottom of this post. And the issue in which Rose first appears, no less.

Amazon lists a release date of June 28th.

Deathstroke April 2016 Solicitations

The regular series, and Deathstroke's chase after Rose, continues but Slade also appears in Green Arrow this month. Let's have a look:

DEATHSTROKE #17
Written by JAMES BONNY
Art and cover by TYLER KIRKHAM
Variant cover by JOHN ROMITA, JR. and SCOTT HANNA 

On sale APRIL 27 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T+

Deathstroke has reached the end of the gauntlet on the road to save his daughter, but after battling everyone from the Suicide Squad to Red Hood, will he be able to save himself? 

As Ra’s al Ghul and Lawman enter the fray, Slade Wilson’s life will never be the same…

Deathstroke is include in the "theme" variant covers this month. The image below is by John Romita JR.

This "Lawman" character is new to me and seems like a strange fit for The League of Assassins but maybe the story explains things. We'll see.

Meanwhile, in a setting very familiar to one Slade Wilson....

GREEN ARROW #51
Written by BENJAMIN PERCY
Art by SZYMON KUDRANSKI
Cover by PATRICK ZIRCHER 

On sale APRIL 6 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T

In war-torn Africa, Green Arrow and Deathstroke are both hunting for the same man—Doctor Miracle—whose blood cures any disease. They’re battling not only each other, but also a militant group known as The Whites. There is no deadlier foe than the world’s greatest assassin, and against his blade Green Arrow may have met his end.

Hopefully that team-up (or battle) continues for a few more issues.

What Do You Get The Merc Who Has Everything?

Why, for Christmas next year, you could get him Deathstroke's Arsenal!

My God, look at this thing.

Deathstroke, as anyone visiting this blog knows, currently has his own series with DC Comics. I have yet to read beyond the first volume, but thus far I am not crazy about making the character young and the various changes that have taken place in his background.

As such, I am becoming far more interested in the "Arkhamverse" version, the Slade Wilson that appears in the Batman video game series. I love the armour design, how true they are staying to his origin and the attention he is getting in terms of merchandising. If rumours of a Suicide Squad video game are true (and with a movie involving that team coming out next year, it would make complete sense) then we are likely to see more of Arkham-stroke. Hope so.

In any event, while the 30" figurine posted earlier cost nearly a grand to acquire, this jolly little display comes in at an only slightly more affordable $850 or so. But you have time to save, it will only be available in the third quarter of next year.

For more details and photography, check out the Project Triforce website.

March 2016 Deathstroke Solicitations

First things first: The regular series.

DEATHSTROKE #16
Written by JAMES BONNY
Art and cover by TYLER KIRKHAM
Variant cover by CHRIS BURNHAM  

On sale MARCH 23 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T+ 

Retailers: This issue will ship with two covers. Please see the order form for details. 

Aww yeah—it’s Deathstroke versus Red Hood! If Slade Wilson wants to find his missing daughter, he’ll need to escape the sights of the deadliest Bat-family member of them all. Who’s behind all the firepower being thrown at Deathstroke? Stay tuned for the answer!

Didn't see that coming, though it may not have been so hard to anticipate. A past issue of Red Hood and the Outlaws seemed to hint that Rose and Jason Todd had a relationship. It might be a whole lot of fun to see how dad deals with his little girl's boyfriends.

It also appears that we have a pretty intense guest-appearance to look forward to.

GREEN ARROW #50
Written by BENJAMIN PERCY
Art by SZYMON KUDRANSKI
Cover by SHANE DAVIS and MICHELLE DELECKI DAVIS
Variant cover by AARON KUDER 

On sale MARCH 16 • 48 pg, FC, $4.99 US • RATED T 

Retailers: This issue will ship with two covers. Please see the order form for more information. 

In our anniversary 50th issue, Green Arrow and Deathstroke race across the globe to find the Miracle Man, whose blood can cure any disease! And the Tarantula returns—but even with her assistance, she and Green Arrow are no match for the perfect assassin!

I'm going to try to find the variant covers mentioned above. I know that there is a Dawn of Justice theme to some of the books in March in preparation for the movie's release, but I didn't think Deathstroke was among them this time. We'll see what we find.

Arkham Knight #5 Solicitation

Just as I mention that I want to provide more detail about the Arkhamverse version of Deathtroke, he shows up in Arkham Knight Genesis #5, set to be released on December 16th. Get a load of this cover:

How did the Arkham Knight, once a penniless criminal, amass hundreds of tanks and a veritable army of mercenaries to take down the Caped Crusader? With the help of the world’s most dangerous assassin: Deathstroke the Terminator!

But of course!

The game will probably be a Christmas present for me so I'm avoiding any and all material related to it for the time being but I can't wait to dive in face first.

It doesn't appear as though 'stroke is involved in the sixth (and final) issue of the mini-series. DC's March solicitations should be available next week so we'll see where else he pops up.

So...Can I borrow $929?

Great Caesar's Ghost! Would you look at this thing??!

I don't play a lot of video games, but I did get the first three of the Arkham series. I was very much looking forward to seeing Deathstroke in Arkham Origins and thought they did a good job introducing him (and hinting at a larger role down the road in the "post-credit scene").

The blog so far has been about the character's comic book appearances, for the most part, but I have begun building pages specific to action figures and his various video game appearances too. That will include comic book versions of the Arkham games.

But this guy is so awesome, he can't wait for my slow ass to be done page-building. Feast your eyes on this 30-inch bad boy.  

Downside: He'll cost you a cool grand and the interchangeable arm holding the Batman cowl is only included with an "exclusive" edition, limited to 750 pieces. There will be 1500 of the regular edition.

More details, and photography, on this page (which, mind you, gets the standard edition count wrong at the top of the page).