After 46 Years, DC Just Set Up Deathstroke for a Major Change

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Deathstroke is returning to action after a period of inactivity, and this time, things are going to be different for the notorious assassin. If you haven’t been following his story, Slade Wilson has faced some tough times recently. He went into hiding after being blamed for the death of Ra’s al Ghul during the “Shadow War” event, and was later manipulated and used as a villain in Dark Crisis on Infinite Earths. After being defeated, he was imprisoned at the Bureau of Sovereignty run by Amanda Waller for several months.

As expected, Deathstroke didn’t stay imprisoned for long. His former student, Terra, helped him escape, and he immediately tried to defeat his longtime rivals, the Titans, using a new version of the Crime Syndicate. Though his plan failed, he escaped, leaving Terra to deal with the consequences. After disappearing for a while, Deathstroke is now headlining his own comic book series again, following the end of Deathstroke Inc. This new series puts Slade back in his familiar territory and hints at significant developments in his story.

Deathstroke Loses His Closest Allies and is Robbed Blind

The first issue of Deathstroke: The Terminator, created by Tony Fleecs, Carmine Di Giandomenico, Ivan Plascencia, and Wes Abbott, jumps right into the action. Slade Wilson (Deathstroke) is in the middle of a mission, constantly communicating with his ally, Wintergreen. Wintergreen tries to get Slade to think about his daughter, Rose, but Slade avoids the conversation, determined to eliminate a witness who is set to testify against Cale Industries.

Okay, so the setup is intense – this guy’s got to get through armored trucks and a whole team of ex-special forces. But honestly, for Deathstroke, it’s just another Tuesday. He literally drives a bus into the trucks to start things off! Then it’s a total free-for-all, using whatever weapons he can grab, taking down the guards one by one. He does hit a snag with these ‘Body Doubles’ – seriously skilled fighters who can also heal, which is a pain. But he pushes through, finds the room where the target should be… and that’s where it gets messed up. It’s not the target in there, it’s Wintergreen, tied up and… well, let’s just say he’s in bad shape, throat cut and everything. Talk about a twist!

While assisting Wintergreen, Slade finds a message on his friend’s body warning him that someone is stealing everything he owns. He quickly discovers all of his bank accounts have been emptied. Before he can process what’s happening, he’s attacked by the remaining mercenaries. Then, an explosion destroys the area around him. Though he survives, Slade is left surrounded by enemies, completely baffled about who robbed him and murdered his closest friend.

This is An Inflection Point For Deathstroke

Deathstroke is undeniably a villain, known for his ruthless actions and manipulation, like how he influenced Terra. This issue explores whether he’s capable of redemption. The story actually begins with Wintergreen and Rose Wilson debating this very question. Rose believes Slade will never change, but Wintergreen is cautiously optimistic, hoping Slade will focus on repairing his relationship with his daughter instead of just focusing on his mercenary work.

Slade is now completely stripped of his wealth and has lost Wintergreen. He’ll undoubtedly seek revenge on those responsible for the theft and Wintergreen’s death. However, this could be a turning point for him. For the first time in a long time, he has nothing left regarding his mercenary work. While Slade isn’t known for being warm and affectionate, this seems like the perfect chance for him to reconnect with family and start making positive changes in his life.

This comic is Deathstroke: The Terminator, and it’s not realistic to expect Slade Wilson to suddenly become a loving family man and give up his life as an assassin. However, I believe the writers made these dramatic changes intentionally. This represents a new direction for DC Comics, an opportunity to evolve characters like Deathstroke and improve upon their existing stories. Whether Slade can genuinely change for the better remains to be seen, but losing everything he cares about might give him a fresh outlook, especially if he considers Wintergreen’s final thoughts on the importance of family.

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2026-03-20 16:46