DEATHSTROKE BY: ColourOnly85

There are times that I am in awe of the kind of work that can be found on DeviantArt, and the pieces I have posted below qualify as some of that work. A UK artist identified only as ColourOnly85 has produced a large, and I mean a large collection of vector abstracts depicting a plethora of DC Comics characters both heroes and villains. I have posted seven of these inspired pieces below that are in some way related to Deathstroke the Terminator. Be sure to check out ColourOnly85's DeviantArt Gallery at this link for more examples of his work.

84 Deathstroke

169 Ravager

101 Damian Wayne

48 Cheshire

20 Nightwing

12 Green Arrow

15 Deadshot

DEATHSTROKE'S DIRTY DEEDS: The Contract on the Atom, Ryan Choi

Following the Blackest Night event in 2009-2010, DC launched its Brightest Day initiative, which was meant to an optimistic counterbalance to the death-centric mood of Blackest Night. As many fan favorite characters returned from the dead, there was a sense rebirth and renewal to the whole line in general, with the notable exception of the Titans: Villains for Hire Special (2010) #1. The only thing reinvigorated here was Deathstroke's role as a stone cold killer.

In a non-linear style featuring numerous flashbacks, the Titans: Villains for Hire Special told the story of how Slade recruited a new team of assassins with whom he would go into the killer-for-hire business. With his new partners, Cheshire, the Tattooed Man, Cinder, and Osiris in place, it was time to take care of their first target; the new Atom, Ryan Choi. 

After defeating the Floronic Man, Choi returned to his home and found that he had unexpected guests as pictured below.

A battle between Choi and the Titans ensued but was interrupted by the unexpected arrival of Choi's girlfriend, Amanda. Deathstroke orders his team to stand down, much to there confusion. Choi, from behind a barely opened door convinces Amanda to leave and thanks Slade for not harming her. Slade's sense of professional honor is at play here as he refuses to harm Amanda because she is not part of the contract on Choi.

The fight resumed, but after a valiant struggle against the entire team, Choi met his end.

With the job done, Slade delivered Choi's body to the client, Dwarfstar, inside a unique container.

Choi's death proved controversial as many comic fans were upset at the time that one of the few prominent Asian-American characters in comics had been killed off. Choi, however, would be resurrected as part of the Convergence event in the Convergence: The Atom (2015) mini series. Choi and Ray Palmer would work together to take down Deathstroke, and then to get a measure of revenge against him by way of shrinking Slade's hands down to about the size of Donald Trump's hands... I just couldn't resist.

UPDATE: Ryan Choi's Atom has just been announced along with the Ray, Vixen, and Killer Frost as part of the new Steve Orlando penned Justice League of America series. Choi will first appear in a Justice League of America: The Atom (2017) #1 one shot on January 4, 2017 before the February JLA Premier.

Cheshire's Who's Who 1985 Entry

Cheshire had worked with, against, and with Deathstroke several times prior to Flashpoint. From Slade's first "blue period" to the Titans: Villains for Hire phase, Deathstroke and the deadly Cheshire were well-acquainted with one another. Here is Cheshire's 1985 Who's Who entry from issue IV (4) with art by legendary Deathstroke co-creator, George Pérez and Romeo Tanghal.

Deathstroke and the Titans: Villains for Hire HeroClix

More HeroClix action is in store from the DC HeroClix: Teen Titans set in the form of the Titans: Villains for Hire team base set. This team set features Deathstroke, Cheshire, Cinder, the Tattooed Man, and Osiris. When playing against this team, it might be wise to sit the Ryan Choi Atom out for this one. Ouch.

Deathstroke's Blue Period(s)

The great Spanish artist Pablo Picasso was known for his "Blue Period" in which most of his work was dominated by the color blue. Oddly enough, Deathstroke the Terminator also had his "Blue Period." In fact, he's had several of them. On multiple occasions, Slade dropped the familiar blue and orange getup and switched to blue and silver gear. So, let's take a short trip through Deathstroke's Blue Period(s).

The "Nuclear Winter" storyline in Deathstroke the Terminator (1991) #s 17-20 is our first stop. Deathstroke was dead (for the nth time) and his body was recovered by the Cheshire-led Brotherhood of Evil. Cheshire and company nurse him back to health and in payment for such a service, he has to join them. For whatever reason, Cheshire dresses Slade up in the costume you see below. He wasn't in this costume long, but it was long enough to be the look used for his DC Cosmic Teams trading cards.

Then, toward the end of "The Borgia Plague" storyline, Slade is caught in an explosion that all but destroyed his body. He somehow survived this, but lost his memories in the process. However his metahuman healing ability, pushed to the extreme (90s reference) to rebuild his broken body worked so hard that in addition to healing his injuries, it de-age him about 20 or so years worth. As part of his new start in life, as shown in the "Night of the Karrion" storyline, Slade adopted the blue costume pictured below. Notice the armor is absent from his chest and abdomen regions, but his shoulders, knees, shins, and crotch (Priorities, man!) are ready for combat. Deathstroke held onto this look for about three years.

The blue and silver look even made an appearance in the New 52 as Rob Liefeld revived it for an origin tale in Deathstroke (2011) #0, which is pictured below. Thankfully for us, Slade came to his senses and adopted the familiar blue and orange look we've all come to know.