Deathstroke October 2017 Solicitation

This info has been available for a few days now but I've been in the middle of a move with spotty internet connection. I get that I'm well behind on "announcing" it, but I do so regardless for the sake of completism, a word I just now totally invented.

DEATHSTROKE #23
Written by CHRISTOPHER PRIEST
Art by DIOGENES NEVES
Cover by RYAN SOOK
Variant cover by SHANE DAVIS and MICHELLE DELECKI 

“DEFIANCE” part three! As Kid Flash gets to know his new teammates, he soon discovers that Defiance is a team built on secrets and lies…but Kid Flash might be keeping the biggest secret of all!

Meanwhile, a dangerous new threat emerges from the Far East and threatens to destroy Defiance before they even begin! 

On sale OCTOBER 4 • 32 pg, FC, $3.99 US • RATED T+

I believe that's actually part four of Defiance...

In any event, I've finally been able to order the second trade from volume four. I should get it in the mail tomorrow. It'll be awesome to finally catch up a bit. I read the first half dozen issues again recently to refresh my own memory and they're so great, I can wait to move forward again!

Diamond Comic Distributors and Icon Heroes present a new Rebirth Deathstroke Figurine!

Follow this link for more information about this pretty thing.

Fans of the DC Comics mercenary will be delighted at the details put into this 8” tall statue. This high quality polystone statue is expertly crafted with texturized armor based off his newest Rebirth-era uniform. Deathstroke comes with both his pistol and sword at the ready to fight off anybody that stands in the way of getting his job done.

$55 suggested retail price.

Deathstroke September 2017 Solicitations

DC Comics' September solicitations were released yesterday and while we're now only getting one issue of Deathstroke a month, it does look as though he might show up in a high profile book again that month.

BATMAN #30
Written by TOM KING
Art by CLAY MANN
Cover by MIKEL JANIN
Variant cover by OLIVIER COIPEL 

“THE BALLAD OF KITE MAN” part two! 

In our second “War of Jokes and Riddles” interlude, it’s the making of a super-villain! He’s been pushed by Batman to snitch on The Joker, and cajoled by The Joker to betray Batman—now, the flunky who would be Kite Man finally snaps. He’s lost everything, and a life of crime is the only way to go. 

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

Not sure how he fits in exactly, but over in his own book, it looks like the father/daughter relationship is as strong as it's ever been.

DEATHSTROKE #23
Written by CHRISTOPHER PRIEST
Art by DIOGENES NEVES and JASON PAZ
Cover by RYAN SOOK
Variant cover by SHANE DAVIS and MICHELLE DELECKI 

“Defiance” part three! 

As the team begins to crack under Slade’s harsh leadership tactics, Defiance is called into action after a cruise ship gets hijacked on the open seas! It’s sink or swim for Deathstroke’s new squad when they’re put to the test against impossible odds! 

On sale SEPTEMBER 6 • 32 pg, FC, $3.99 US • RATED T+

Bah. I'm way behind on this series, but let's face it, he probably had it coming.  "Harsh leadership tactics" indeed...

Deathstroke August 2017 Solicitation

Let's take a look at what genius Christopher Priest has in store for us in August!

DEATHSTROKE #22
Written by CHRISTOPHER PRIEST
Art by DIOGENES NEVES and JASON PAZ
Cover by RYAN SOOK
Variant cover by SHANE DAVIS and MICHELLE DELECKI 

“DEFIANCE” part two! With his new team assembled, Deathstroke takes Team Defiance on their first mission to retake control of a U.S. Embassy held hostage in a small foreign country. But while the team fights for their lives against a mysterious new villain known as the Radiant Man, Slade abandons his team to address some unfinished business with an old friend: Dr. Light! 

On sale AUGUST 2 • 32 pg, FC, $3.99 US • RATED T+

Team Defiance. It was a shock to see at first, and no doubt will be very temporary, but I could get used to that team. They have an interesting blend of abilities and various awkward backgrounds with our favourite merc.

As for Dr. Light., he has no friends, but anyone who's been reading comics since the early 2000s or so will know that he hired Deathstroke in Identity Crisis, leading to 'stroke kicking the Justice League around.

Good times. Never gets old.

Issue #20 Variant Cover

As shared by Bleeding Cool, art by Shane Davis.

May Covers

Bleeding Cool gave us a look at some covers for the May books last week. They are not necessarily all variants, some are for books that did not a include a cover image with its promotional text.

The first that they showed was, oddly enough, very much revealed when The Lazarus Contract was announced. It is the regular Mike McKone cover for Deathstroke #19 (though BC seems to indicate it is for #18, but I believe that is an error on their past) so I've ignored it.

But what I believe is the "real" cover to #19 was displayed as well. That's it below, by Ivan Reis.

Hard to top Ivan Reis but goddamn if Phil Jiminez doesn't do exactly that in his cover for Teen Titans #8.

Naturally, I became a Deathstroke fan as a result of being a New Teen Titans fans first during the Marv Wolfman / George Perez years. I liked the new characters just fine (well, except for Changeling, he's a pain in the ass) but even at the time there was just something about the original characters that I found more compelling. I was always more interested in stories that featured those guys than Cyborg, Starfire, etc. I'm glad that they have their own book, though I admit I don't think it's quite hit the mark.

Variant Cover To Titans #11

The four books that combine to tell the Lazarus Contract story all have similar covers by Mike McKone but three of them have variants as well (the Teen Titans annual apparently does not).

Today, Bleeding Cool had the variant for Titans #11 on display. It is the work of Norm Rapmund. The story gets underway with that book's release on May 10th.

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.