Deathstroke DC Rebirth Era HeroClix

It's been well over two years since I've covered any WizKids HeroClix merchandise so I felt it was time to delve back in the little plastic warriors to see what was new. Needless to say, I was ecstatic when I found DC Rebirth era HeroClix derived from some of my favorite story arcs from Christopher Priest's critically-acclaimed  Deathstroke (2016) run. Imagine my joy as I discovered not one, but three versions of Deathstroke representing "The Professional," "The Lazarus Contract," and "Defiance" story arcs. In addition, there was a Rebirth design Ravager, Adeline Kane, Jericho, Kid Flash (Wallace West), Power Girl (Tanya Spears from the "Twilight" arc) and the inexplicably back-from-the-dead, Terra. Furthermore, all of the above characters, save for Adeline Kane, also had a separate HeroClix depicting their short-lived Defiance costumes. Images of the Rebirth era HeroClix and their accompanying stat cards are posted below. As always, for best viewing, open each image into its own tab.

TOOLS OF THE TERMINATOR: The Ikon Suit

When the character designs for the DC Rebirth Deathstroke series by ACO were released, it was assumed by many that the new, streamlined look was simply a cosmetic choice designed to differentiate the series' look from the heavily armored, Liefeldish motif used in prior series. But, in issue #2 of Deathroke (2016), the world was introduced to the "Ikon Suit."

The Ikon Suit was designed by Deathstroke's former special ops associate, David Isherwood. Once Isherwood presented the prototype suit to him, Slade casually dismissed using it, instead choosing just to store it in a footlocker. Isherwood would go one to perfect a version of the suit, which he used to fight crime in Canada as the hero Doctor Ikon. Isherwood's completed suit would find its way to Jericho, Isherwood's former lover, after Isherwood's apparent suicide. Jericho continues to use Isherwood's own suit for his own superhero activities. Slade would later be manipulated into donning his prototype Ikon Suit complete with an artificial intelligence system programmed with his old friend, Wintergreen's, voice and personality, which Isherwood included simply to irritate Slade. Deathstroke now wears an upgraded version of his Ikon Suit.

According to the encyclopedia entry on the DC Universe streaming service, the “'Ikon' suit absorbs kinetic energy and blocks it, making it impervious to bullets or the fist of a superhuman opponent."

The Ikon Suit in action against Superman

Art by Carlo Pagulayan

The FANDOM-hosted DC Database provides even more details:

The Ikon Suit is a gravity sheath, a point defense system which creates a gravitational tidal effect: the greater the surface area, the weaker the defense shield. The suit is virtually impenetrable against anything around the size of a human fist. It is controlled by gestures — along with the EEG (Electroencephalography) leads in the mask. By overclocking the system, one can even attain flight. The suit also has a sophisticated A.I. programmed into it. The Ikon suit also has a major drawback: each suits' programming can be manipulated by any other suit with the master programming. This allows one Ikon suit user to activate or deactivate other suits at their discretion.

Another fault point of the Ikon is it's [sic] Gravity Sheathe can be disrupted and penetrated by Inertron, a heat and light absorbent material that has anti-gravity properties which easily enable it to penetrate it's [sic] point defense shield. Dr. Isherwood developed the Ikon Suit for Deathstroke. He gave the prototype a glance and tossed it into his footlocker, not taking their work seriously at first. A more advanced version of the Ikon Suit is currently worn by Slade, while Jericho proceeded to use the model that Ikon wore.

In any event, Deathstroke's Ikon Suit is one of the cooler additions to the Terminator's mythos.


UPDATE: This post was originally titled "Ikonic: Deathstroke's Ikon Suit."

DC Essentials Deathstroke Figure by Entertainment Earth

Entertainment Earth has produced a new line of DC Essentials action figures, which includes pretty cool Deathstroke. This Deathstroke figure is notable because of its depiction of the Ikon Suit from Christopher Priest's DC Rebirth Deathstroke series. Also in the series is Batman, featuring the Greg Capullo designed bat-suit (pictured below), Superman, Brainiac, the Red Hood, Cyborg Superman, Supergirl, Aquaman, Black Manta, Nightwing, Batgirl, Wonder Woman, Cheetah, the Joker, Harley Quinn, Green Lantern, Shazam, and Black Adam.

The product description for the Deathstroke figure from the Entertainment Earth website reads as follows. "The DC Essentials line of 6 3/4-inch scale action figures based on DC characters with universal appeal, accessible to both long-time collectors and those just starting out. This DC Essentials Deathstroke Action Figure goes back to basics with amazing detail and designs based on the designs of Jason Fabok all with an impressive 19 points of articulation."

The Deathstroke figure (Item Number: DC05009) is currently in stock and priced at $22.95.

Image Source: Toyark.com

Christopher Priest's Out With The New and in With The Old Continuity.

DC's Rebirth initiative is attempting to keep the things about the New 52 that worked, while at the same time returning certain bits of traditional continuity to the DCU that fans had vehemently voiced displeasure with their alteration or outright elimination following Flashpoint. Having returned Wintergreen to the fold in an earlier issue, this week's release of Deathstroke (2016) #3, writer Christopher Priest returned three more classic elements of the pre-Flashpoint continuity to Deathstroke's post Rebirth title by way of a simple, yet powerful two page flashback which is pictured at the end of this post. The three returns to previous continuity are as follows.

1. Joseph Wilson's throat was once again slashed in retaliation for Slade's assassination of a Quraci army colonel. This retcon seems to eliminate the New 52 version of Jericho, who could speak because his throat was never cut.

2. As eluded to in issue #2, issue #3 confirmed that Rose Wilson is once again Slade's daughter with Lilli Worth, not his wife Adeline as had been depicted in numerous issues within the New 52 continuity.

3. Adeline Wilson was again the one that took Slade's eye in a failed attempt to kill him for allowing his secret life as an assassin being responsible for the abduction and attempted murder of Joseph. This effectively negates the North Korea explanation for his missing eye as detailed in Teen Titans (2011) #23.2.

Deathstroke's Man, Wintergreen

Deathstroke's right hand,
Wintergreen

Marv Wolfman stated said on multiple occasions that Deathstroke was envisioned as an evil version of Batman. Given this, it was only appropriate that Slade Wilson should have his version of Alfred in the form of William Randolph Wintergreen. Wintergreen debuted alongside Deathstroke the Terminator in New Teen Titans (1980) #2 as Slade Wilson's butler, though in subsequent appearances his role would expand beyond that of a mere manservant.

In his past, Wintergreen worked both with Britain's MI-5 and in the British Army's Special Air Service (SAS). It was during his time with the British army that he met and befriended a young Slade Wilson. Once, when General Sampson sent Slade on a suicide mission, an angry Wintergreen defied Sampson's orders not to interfere with the mission, going after his friend rescuing Slade from a bomb in the process. Years later, when a vindictive General Sampson sent Wintergreen on a suicide mission resulting in his capture as a prisoner of war in Viet Nam, it was a newly super-powered Slade Wilson that disobeyed orders to rescue his old friend. It was this act of defiance that cost Slade his military career, but gained him a lifelong business partner and friend with Wintergreen even serving as Slade's best man in his wedding to Adeline Kane.

Not the way he wanted to go out,
but not entirely unexpected either.

Over the years, Wintergreen would act as Slade's manservant, client contact, weapon's procurer, intelligence collector, sounding board, confidant, and more. Wintergreen was by Deathstroke's side through Grant's death, and the terrible events of the Judas Contract, and the apparent deaths of both Joseph and Adeline. When Slade seemingly walked away from the Deathstroke role, it was Wintergreen that ran the search and rescue organization Vigilance, Inc. on Slade's behalf. Wintergreen remained a faithful and devoted friend to Slade up until he was killed by Jericho, who was controlling Slade's body at the time. His last words while looking at Slade's face were, "I suppose it was only a matter of time." Jericho, in an act designed to inflict further psychological damage to his father, decapitated Wintergreen and had his head mounted like many of the hunting trophies Slade had collected from his days as a big game hunter. Wintergreen would not rest entirely in peace as he was temporarily resurrected by a black ring as one of the Black Lanterns sent, along with both Grant and Adeline Wilson and Wade DeFarge to attack both Slade and Rose Wilson during the Blackest Night storyline.

After the Flashpoint event, Wintergreen was alive and well and serving alongside Deathstroke as his right-hand man. But, like so many other people in the New 52 reality, he was a bit different than before as he was now a black man and Slade's defiant mission rescued him was from Somalia instead of Viet Nam. How this version of Wintergreen supposedly died was never shown to readers, but to honor his fallen friend, Slade took on Wintergreen's son, Alex Peabody, as his new partner and arms dealer.

Fast-forward to the days of DC Comics Rebirth. On a mission to Africa to kill the Clock King on behalf of a group of family members of his supposed victims, Slade learns that his associate, Jazaki, means to betray him and has someone that he holds dear as a captive. Wanting proof to back up these claims, the Clock King only responds with the word, "Kenilworth." Slade immediately recognizes the word as an emergency codeword he created for his closest family and friends to use if they are in grave danger. Slade, as instructed by the Clock King, makes his way to the compound of Al Lajna, Jazaki's rivals who are willing to do side jobs like guarding Jazaki's prisoners, thinking that his son Grant must be the one being held there. A few "BANGS," and "BATABATABATAs" later, and Deathstroke has saved not a captured Grant, but a captured...Wintergreen! It has yet to be explained how Wintergreen is once again a white guy from Great Britain, but hey, Dr. Manhattan works in mysterious ways. It turns out that Wintergreen wasn't dead, but that Slade had faked his death as a way for Wintergreen to retire. Suffice it to say that Wintergreen is back and that is a good thing for both Deathstroke (Jackass!!) and Deathstroke fans.

Even during a good scolding, there is alway time to teach a lesson.

Deathstroke (2016) Rebirth #1 Out Today!

Deathstroke Rebirth #1 cover art
by ACO

I don't generally like to promote products for companies that are capable of doing it themselves, but today I'll make an exception. Deathstroke (2016) Rebirth #1 is available now. This issue marks the long-awaited writing debut of Christopher Priest on Deathstroke. Priest has vowed to rebuild the Deathstroke mythos and it all starts here as the solicitation copy teases...

"A thousand enemies, a thousand kills-Deathstroke is the world’s greatest assassin. Stalked by an unseen foe, Slade Wilson is confronted by his own troubled past and challenged to reinvent himself before he loses everything and everyone in his life. Can Deathstroke be redeemed? Or will his addiction to violence destroy him?"

Deathstroke (2016) Rebirth #1 lays the groundwork for the new series that begins with Deathstroke (2016) #1 available on August 24th, and continues twice monthly thereafter. This looks to be the start of a special run for the world's greatest mercenary/assassin.

THE TERMINATOR TAKEAWAY: Christopher Priest's DC Comics.com Deathstroke Rebirth Interview

Deathstroke Rebirth #1 cover art by ACO

Recently DC Comics. com conducted an interview with new Deathstroke scribe, Christopher Priest, called, "Blood Bonded: Christopher Priest Sets His Sights on Deathstroke," in order to give fans a sneak peek at what to expect from the world's greatest assassin going forward. If you wish to read the interview for yourself, you may do so by clicking/tapping here. Here are my takeaways from the interview broken down for blog consumption.

• Priest is writing Deathstroke as a villain, not as an anti-hero. So think Golgo 13, not Wolverine.
• Priest is giving Deathstroke a supporting cast again. Wintergreen returns in Deathstroke #1 after the Rebirth issue with others cast members to follow.
• Priest looks to bring Deathstroke's character more in line with the "evil version of Batman" approach used in the Marv Wolfman and George Pérez days. Less mysticism and more real world action and intrigue.
• Priest is embracing Slade's sociopathic nature and the difficulty it brings to his personal relationships with his children. As the series progresses both Rose (issue #3) and Joseph (later in the series) are mentioned specifically as appearing. Even Slade's long-time right-hand-man, Wintergreen, starts to question Slade's actions at some point.
• Priest will explore the ideas of heroism vs. villainy as well as super-heroism vs. vigilante justice.
• Priest also looks at Slade's relationship with all of the blood-money he has earned over the years as the world's greatest assassin.

I can't wait for Priest's take on Deathstroke to unfold beginning with Deathstroke: Rebirth #1, scheduled to go on sale on August 10, 2016.

Deathstroke and Ravager's DC Rebirth Redesigns

The artist ACO has redesigned the looks of both Slade and Rose/Ravager for the DC Rebirth relaunch of Deathstroke's title. As one can see below, ACO has ditched Leifeld's bulky 90s Youngblood-style armored look for Slade in favor of a sleeker, more modern look. Darker blues with dashes of orange are the idea here featuring streamlined gear and weaponry with the trademark half-black mask/helmet is still intact. Yet with the mask/helmet removed from the new attire, Slade looks less like a middle-aged super-merc and more like a surfer dude in a wetsuit looking to catch a wave. I kid, but I really am digging these redesigns.

This says, "I am modern warfare!"

This says, "Cowabunga, dudes!"

ACO's take on Ravager's new look is clearly inspired by 2016 fitness fashion as Rose is sporting a racerback top, workout shoes, and...wait for it...YOGA PANTS! This is easily my favorite Rebirth redesign and the best one since Batgirl of Burnside. This is exactly what my teenage daughter would wear if she were a trained killer.

Fashionable, functional, fatal.

She just finished a workout and didn't have time to put on her mask before killing you.

This time she went with the mask, but not the upper body armor. A great choice for showing off abs, but not for mortal combat.