Missed Solicitations

How the hell did I not see this?

The following book was very much included in the September solicitations for DC but perhaps the cover was not included at the time and I overlooked Deathstroke's name. In any event, Deathstroke will be a major player in the Superman book that comes out on September 20th.

SUPERMAN #31
Written by
James Bonny 

Pencils and Inks
Tyler Kirkham 

Colours
Arif Prianto 

Cover by
Ian Churchill 

"BREAKING POINT" part one. 

Lois Lane is after the interview of a lifetime. The subject of her Daily Planet article... Deathstroke the Terminator. 

Determined to get "inside the mind of a killer", Lois follows a trail of bodies across the globe and comes face to face with the ultimate assassin. But the encounter turns deadly and, with Superman half a world away, the interview of a lifetime could cost Lois Lane her life!

Deathstroke will apparently also be in issue 32, the variant cover to which was revealed on Bleeding Cool recently.

It is said to be by Ian Churchill, but I believe that is incorrect. It looks like Tyler Kirkham, who worked on Deathstroke a fair amount towards the end of Volume Three.

Now evidently plans changed along the way as the solicitation text makes reference to a story called "Imperius Lex". Unless Breaking Point is actually a one-off, but then the cover above wouldn't be for #32 but rather for #31. I guess we'll just wait it out.

That done, let's throw down DC's November offering for the Deathstroke series.

DEATHSTROKE #25
Written by
Christopher Priest  

Pencils and Inks
Carlo Pagulayan, Jason Paz 

Cover by
Ryan Sook 

“The Society”! After betraying another assassin and violating an unwritten code of conduct, Deathstroke is kidnapped and brought to stand trial before the Secret Society of Super Villains!

Will Deathstroke pay for his crime? And what of Slade Wilson’s recent turn toward heroism? Don’t miss this special bonus-size landmark issue guest-starring The Riddler, Black Manta, Reverse-Flash and more!

Deathstroke vs Deadshot: Round 1

Yesterday, Bleeding Cool was kind enough to make us aware that Deathstroke and Deadshot have themselves a good scrap in Batman #28, released earlier today. Here's their description of it.

...in Batman #28 by Tom King, Mikel Janin and June Chung, published tomorrow by DC Comics, fans will get what they have wanted for ages. With Deadshot and Deathstroke divided by allegiances to the Joker and the Riddler as the War Of Jokes And Riddles — and Batman’s post-coital-and-proposal conversation with Catwoman — continues after the previous Peanuts-inspired interlude. 

And a full-blown, knock-down battle between the two across the streets of Gotham with a longevity more like a cricket game than a baseball match. And a little on the Miracleman #15 side, too…

The article in question mentions that they've been in conflict before but that it's not a regular occurrence. By my quick count, this would be the fourth and they're fairly well spread out.

For kicks, we're going to go over each one, starting with Deathstroke: The Hunted #41. But first, if you're somehow less familiar with Deadshot, here's some abbreviated background from the DC Comics website.

An assassin (and) expert marksman, Floyd Lawton lives by a simple code: do the job that you're hired for with the least amount of casualties possible—after all, you're not being paid to waste bullets. 

...Deadshot is obsessed with precision, firmly believing that the target who’s been paid for should be the only one taken down. In the midst of a successful career, Lawton was taken down by the Dark Knight and sentenced to life in prison...Deadshot joined the Suicide Squad—a team of villains recruited by Amanda Waller to carry out covert (and highly illegal) missions. Often the de facto leader of the team, Deadshot always aims to complete the mission at hand... even if it kills him.

Along with his ability to "never miss" his target, Deadshot possesses an unfulfilled death wish...His reasons for this are unknown—many speculating family upbringing, loss of a loved one or simply not having anything left to live for. However, this complete disregard for his own life, along with his commitment to the job, make Deadshot one of the most dangerous assassins in the world.

One of them. Deathstroke can lay claim to that title too. But in the first meeting, Deadshot got a clear upper hand.

In 1994, Deathstroke's solo book took on the sub-title "The Hunted". Slade was being framed for an attempt on the president's life so the government was hell-bent on bringing him in. They first sent Deadshot's Suicide Squad teammate Bronze Tiger after him, but when the man in charge of the operation (Sarge Steel) lost faith in Tiger, Deadshot was sent in as well. Deadshot showed up while Tiger and 'stroke were grappling.

During that era, Deathstroke had a habit of returning to life in a berzerker frenzy. As a result, he popped back to life in the next issue and would live on to encounter Deadshot again, several years later. But there's little question that Deadshot got the first solid punch in.

Before moving on, I want to point out that Deathstroke also appears on the cover to #30 of Batman, something I'd missed earlier.

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.