Wait, When Did Deathstroke Become a Batman Villain?

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As a lifelong fan of DC comics, I have to say that the upcoming Deathstroke and Bane movie has me absolutely thrilled! Growing up, I was always fascinated by Deathstroke, but his connection to Batman wasn’t as clear-cut as it is now. But thanks to the brilliant storytelling in games like Arkham Origins and Knight, and the tantalizing teases we got from Zack Snyder’s Justice League, I can’t wait to see these two titans of villainy go head-to-head on the big screen.

DC Studios surprised fans with an unexpected twist when they revealed plans for a DC Universe movie centered around villains Deathstroke the Terminator and Bane. The combination of Slade Wilson/Deathstroke and Bane is not what one would typically anticipate in a significant DCU film, but there’s already buzz that Deathstroke/Bane could serve as a key prequel film, laying the groundwork for a larger storyline within the Batman Universe segment of the DCU.

There’s some reasoning behind that theory: many casual fans are familiar with Deathstroke and Bane as villains in Batman’s group of adversaries. Interestingly enough, this assertion is only partially accurate, as Deathstroke hasn’t actually ever been a true antagonist to Batman.

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So when did that change? When did Deathstroke get repositioned as a Batman villain?

As a die-hard gamer who’s always been partial to the Dark Knight, I’d say the answer to that question is undoubtedly the epic Batman: Arkham game series from the 2010s. In the third installment, Batman: Arkham Origins (2013), Deathstroke made a significant appearance and was even a formidable adversary in some nail-biting one-on-one battles against Batman. This prequel game set the stage for the ultimate Batman vs. Deathstroke showdown that was later materialized in the final game, Batman: Arkham Knight (2015). The encounters with Deathstroke in Arkham Origins demonstrated just how evenly matched these two titans are in terms of physical prowess. By the end of Arkham Origins, the idea of a Batman vs. Deathstroke battle had become an integral part of DC comics lore.

It’s quite ironic that DC and Warner Bros., who initially conceived Deathstroke as a significant adversary for Batman, never fully realized this concept. In the 2010s, during the demise of Zack Snyder’s ‘DC Extended Universe’, it was revealed that Snyder’s Justice League film was intended to be followed by a standalone Batman movie directed and written by Ben Affleck. This movie would have showcased Deathstroke pursuing Batman across Gotham, with the anticipation reaching its peak when leaked footage of Deathstroke surfaced before actor Joe Manganiello officially appeared as Slade Wilson in Justice League (2017). Even Snyder’s release of his cut of Justice League (2021) included a nod to this unused plot, with a post-credits scene revealing Deathstroke learning Batman’s identity from Lex Luthor, setting up what Affleck’s solo Batman movie might have been.

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Fans were given a glimpse of Deathstroke as a villain akin to Batman through DC’s TV universe. In the 2013-2014 season of the CW show Arrow, Manu Bennett portrayed Slade Wilson, serving as the primary antagonist. The confrontations between Oliver Queen/Green Arrow and Slade Wilson ignited excitement among fans about a potential Deathstroke versus Batman movie on the big screen. Meanwhile, in Season 2 of DC’s live-action Titans TV series (2018-2023), Esai Morales played a more traditional version of Slade/Deathstroke, who engaged in battles with Nightwing and the Titans. This show hinted at a connection between Bruce Wayne, Dick Grayson, and Slade Wilson, further solidifying Deathstroke’s status as a villain from the Batman universe.

Deathstroke’s Actual DC Comics History Explained

Back in the year 1980, I discovered Deathstroke, a formidable character who was brought to life by the brilliant minds of Marv Wolfman (writer) and George P?rez (artist) within the vast universe of DC Comics. Originally, this fearsome villain was pitted against Dick Grayson, also known as Nightwing, and his team, the Teen Titans, which was made up of sidekicks to some of the Justice League’s mightiest heroes. The titanic rivalry between Deathstroke and the Titans became a recurring theme throughout Slade’s family, including his mercenary children, and deepened over time into one of the most intense and brutal conflicts in DC Comics history.

As a gamer diving deep into DC comics, I didn’t witness Batman and Deathstroke squaring off until around the mid-2000s during the Infinite Crisis event. Fast forward to the 2010s, and these two foes started showing up together more often in games, movies, and eventually comics too. Then came the 2022 Dark Crisis event where Deathstroke turned into a significant adversary for Batman’s whole family, reaching its climax with Nightwing in an intense final showdown that served as a reminder to fans: Deathstroke and Dick Grayson are their longstanding rivals, not Slade Wilson and Bruce Wayne.

What Will Deathstroke’s DCU Role Be?

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The movie featuring Deathstroke and Bane is quite intriguing. The DC Universe that James Gunn and Peter Safran are constructing appears to be in the middle of a story, with the diverse superheroes and their backstories and mythology being well-established when the films and TV series debut. There’s talk that Batman may already have his own Bat Family, implying that Dick Grayson might have become Nightwing, and possibly hinting that the Titans are already active.

In essence, Deathstroke and Bane might be plotting to bring down Batman and his proteges on a larger scale. Given their extensive knowledge about Batman and Robin, it’s concerning that if they team up, they could potentially put Bruce Wayne and all his associates at risk.

As a gaming enthusiast, I’m buzzing with excitement! Over at DC Studios, they’ve got two awesome projects brewing – the upcoming Deathstroke and Bane adaptations, along with the continuation of Batman: The Brave and the Bold. Can’t wait to see these characters leap off the page and onto our screens!

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2024-10-01 22:41