SHADES OF SLADE: Batman Ninja's Deathstroke

Image Source: Warner Bros.

When I first heard about this anime, I was thrilled to find out that Deathstroke would be one of the featured villains and it is this version of him that will be the focus of SHADES OF SLADE.

In recent years DC live-action films have been of inconsistent quality. For every Wonder Woman (2017) or Aquaman (2018), there was a Man of Steel (2013) or a Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016). But for well over a decade, animated films based on DC properties have experienced far more hits than misses. One of the more intriguing and original animated films released is Batman Ninja (2018).

Batman Ninja was made in Japan but was produced by Warner Bros. Animation and DC Entertainment in conjunction with Kamikaze Douga, Yamatoworks, and Barnum Studio. The anime was directed by Junpei Mizusaki (Zoo, Jojo's Bizare Adventure the series), from an original script by Kazuki Nakashima (Gurren Lagann, Oh! Edo Rocket, Kill la Lill), and character designs by Afro Samurai creator, Takashi Okazaki. 

The film's premise is that while in Arkham Asylum, Gorilla Grodd invented "a Quake Engine." As Batman, Catwoman and the extended Bat-family arrived to foil Grodd's experiment, the Quakes Engine activated sending them and several of Gotham's super-criminals to feudal (pre-Edo period) Japan. For unknown reasons, the criminals and Batman's allies arrive about two years before Batman does. In that time the villains established themselves as feudal warlords leading warring factions. It's up to Batman and his allies to stop the Joker and the other villains and return them all to the present. 

Deathstroke in his Masamune Date-inspired
traditional armor.

One of the villains transported to medieval Japan was none other than Deathstroke the Terminator. The first thing that jumped out at me was the outstanding character redesign by Takashi Okazaki. Keeping the dual-color motif of his mask, Okazaki incorporated it into a nusubito-style half-mask leaving exposed his remaining baby-blue eye as well as his black-with-yellow highlights eyepatch. The remainder of his attire also sported the signature blue-with-orange accents scheme into a traditional samurai armor. Another design element, which was a clever nod to Japanese history, is Deathstroke's helmet, which had mounted upon it a large crescent moon symbol, which was synonymous with another legendary, one-eyed feudal lord, Masamune Date, aka the "One-Eyed Dragon of Ōshu."

While I really liked the film itself, Deathstroke's part in it is a bit of a mixed bag. While I am pleased Mizusaki and Nakashima thought enough of the character to include him in the film, his role wasn't much more than an extended cameo. Though introduced early in the film via a dramatic, stylized identification graphic (seen below), he didn't actually appear in earnest until the third act.  By that point in the film, his role felt more like fan service and not the addition of a genuine plot-contributing antagonist. Once the heroes turned the tide, Deathstroke, one of the most dangerous and highly-skilled fighters in all the DC Universe, was bested in a gun battle quickly and quite easily and by the Red Hood. In my opinion, this film was a perfect opportunity to showcase Deathstroke's preternatural skill as a swordsman, but that opportunity was completely wasted here.

Deathstroke introduction graphic

Batman Ninja was a gamble for Warner Bros. and DC Comics, that in my opinion paid off in spades. It was equal parts period anime, time travel head trip, and experimental filmmaking that works on many levels. I very much liked the film and do recommend it, but just don't expect Deathstroke to be one of its big-time players. I think my biggest disappointment is that Deathstroke comes off as a weak, incompetant, non-factor in the film's overall plot. Deathstroke, when used correctly, is a blue-chip badass, not the window dressing he is made to be in this film. All things considered, the film is a solid B+, but its use of Deathstroke should be a D- at best.