Who (Supposedly) Killed Grant Wilson First?: Post Flashpoint Edition

Grant Wilson died, but not really, in
two entirely different ways, both of
which were witnessed by his father
Slade Wilson. Totally makes sense.

Story editing at DC Comics after the launch of the New 52 had developed a reputation for being rather iron-fisted. Many comics professionals, including Rob Liefeld and George Pérez, left gigs at DC allegedly due to too much story and art interference on the part of editors. It seems strange that an editorial staff that garnered a reputation as notorious micromanagers would be so lax in their treatment of Deathstroke's continuity. I've already discussed the curious case regarding Slade Wilson's multiples fathers in an earlier post, but it seems that DC allowed multiple versions of Grant Wilson's apparent death, a seminal event in Slade Wilson's life and career, in less than two short years. Let's explore the "first" deaths of Grant wilson below.

Version one of Grant's death was shown in 2012's Deathstroke (2011) #6. Slade was hired to recover a briefcase that he was told contained nuclear technology documents. A few contact betrayals later, Slade opened the case to find Grant's old Ravager mask covered in fresh bloodstains. Slade believed that the mask was meant to be bait for him, but found it hard to believe that Grant could be alive. In a flashback, we see Grant tied to a chair being savagely beaten by the Midnighter, with Deathstroke on his way to save his son. Midnighter appears to has some vendetta against Slade as his comments seem to suggest something personal is motivating his actions as Midnighter is next shown to place a time-bomb, with 57 seconds remaining, near Grant telling him, "Like your dad always says...it's about the statements.'" As Slade closed in on his son's location, the bomb detonates, apparently killing Grant. These events are pictured below.

Version two of Grant's death was depicted in the 2013 Villain's Month issue, Teen Titans (2011) #23.2: Featuring Deathstroke. As relayed via a flashback, Slade took a job to stop a North Korean missile launch and brought Grant with him as his partner. After the rather cacophonous operation at the missile installation was complete, Slade and Grant hid out in home of an old acquaintance of Slade's. The North Koreans not only managed to figure out where Slade and Grant were laying low (Duh!), but also somehow managed to send in a military hit squad replete with two, count them, two military helicopters without the scientifically enhanced and battle-wise Deathstroke being aware of them until it was too late (Um...OK). As the North Koreans bust through the front door with all guns blazing, Grant was cut down in a hail of bullets. Grant's death distracted Slade to the point that some random North Korean soldier shot him in the head, putting out his now-famously missing eye. Slade goes into berserker mode and takes out the whole squad, but Grant was lost to him forever, or at least as far as Slade believed. These events are pictured below.

So which is it, blown up by the Midnighter, or gunned down by a North Korean military hit squad? Grant's apparent death, while not as final as Slade first believed, greatly influenced Slade Wilson's family life and career, which in turn shaped the character we all know him to be today. As such, there should be some degree of continuity stability for such a foundational event from Deathstroke's past. I wrote in the post regarding Slade's father(s) that I understand the need for retcons at times, but these conflicting versions of Grant's supposed death were published a little more than a year-and-a-half apart (February 2012 to September 2013) with no explanation, or even acknowledgement, as to why the past had apparently changed. Grant's multiple choice death scenario is either a case of absolutely ludicrous staff editing, or the newly-returned original Wally West (Wow, talk about a retcon.) is right and Dr. Manhattan truly is playing with us all.