The Deathstroke Files Celebrates the 134th Birthday of Crayola

Today marks the 134th birthday of a company that's launched the careers of millions of burgeoning young artists. Crayola has produced billions of the waxy little tools that facilitate artistic expression, whether inside or outside of the lines, since March 31, 1885. In honor of Crayola's contribution to everyone's inner child, posted below are some Deathstroke-related Adult Coloring Book variant covers by Emanuala Lupacchino, Scott McDaniel, Sanford Green, and Aaron Lopresti. So print out some images from below, grab a box of Crayolas, and enjoy.

Art by Emanuela Lupacchino

Art by Scott McDaniel

Art by Sanford Greene

Art by Aaron Lopresti

DEATHSTROKE COVERED: Neal Adams' Deathstroke (2014) #15 Variant Cover

Neal Adams
Image Source: ComicVine.com

Neal Adams role in the history of American comic books is without question. Beginning his career as a newspaper comic strip artist, Adams soon garnered a stellar reputation because of his realistic, mature artistic portrayals within the context of a supposedly "childish" medium. He soon enjoyed seminal runs providing dynamic and emotionally expressive artwork to such iconic characters as Deadman, Batman, Green Lantern, Green Arrow, the X-Men, and the Avengers. Adams also brilliantly penciled the now legendary, Superman vs. Muhammad Ali (1978) one-shot, which holds a special place for him personally. In 1984, Adams formed his own comic book company in Continuity Comics, which brought us the adventures of new heroes like Ms. Mystic, Megalith, Samuree, and Valeria the She-Bat.

Though Continuity Comics folded in 1994, Neal Adams contributions to the industry did not. Adams returned to DC in the 2010s to continue the adventures of some characters with which he is most closely associated. From 2010 to 2012, Adams wrote and penciled volumes one and two of Batman Odyssey, in 2016 he produced Superman: The Coming of the Supermen, and then he returned to his own co-creation for Deadman (2017).

For April of 2016, DC Comics commissioned Adams to create a series of variant covers for many of its current-running titles. These variants were homages to some of Adam's most famous covers of the Silver age. His cover for Deathstroke (2014) #15 was inspired by his own cover for Strange Adventures (1950) #207, featuring Deadman. The Deathstroke variant cover, the original cover that inspired it are posted below.

Art by Neal Adams

Neal Adams' cover for Strange Adventures (1950) #207

I don't know if the people in the Strange Adventures cover were based upon real people that Adams knew, but the people in the Deathstroke cover certainly were. Posted below is an image of the finished artwork for Deathstroke (2014) #15 without title graphics to obstruct any of the faces. A key to the faces is provided below the image. Oddly enough, though Deathstroke co-creator Marv Wolfman is included, missing from the background headshots is Deathstroke's other co-creator, the legendary George Pérez.

Finished art without title graphics.
Art by Neal Adams

Background Headshot Key:

Top Row: Bob Haney, E. Nelson Bridwell, Jenette Kahn, Joe Orlando, Joe Kubert, and Marv Wolfman
Second Row: Dan DiDio, Paul Levitz, and Julius Schwartz
Third Row: Bob Kane, Jim Lee, and Jack Adler
Fourth Row: Len Wein, Dick Giordano, Carmine Infantino, and Jerry Siegel
Bottom Row: Archie Goodwin, Karen Berger, Denny O’Neil, and Joe Shuster.

TOOLS OF THE TERMINATOR: The God Killer

Though popularized in the Wonder Woman (2017) film (looking much less bad-ass by the way) the God Killer sword actually began its existence within the pages of a Deathstroke story. As the DC Comics' Convergence event, the publisher released a series of 8-page DC Sneak Peek editions to preview all of the post-Convergence/DC You storylines. DC Sneak Peek: Deathstroke (2015) was published on its own digitally and in print as the backup story for Convergence: Shadow of the Bat (2015) #2. In that preview, Deathstroke was offered a contract by Hephaestus, divine blacksmith of Mt. Olympus, "to kill a god." Hephaestus put down a deposit in the form of gold coins falling from the sky and presented Slade with the only weapon capable of ending a god, the mystical God Killer sword. Long story short, Deathstroke took the job, fought alternately against and alongside Superman and Wonder Woman, and fulfilled the contract by killing the Greek Titan, Lapetus, with the God Killer. This post takes a closer look at the deadly blade and the destruction that comes with it.

Deathstroke with the God Killer
Art by Tony S. Daniel

Though he didn't have it for long, Deathstroke wielded the God Killer with devastating results. The sword itself was forged by Hephaestus at the behest of Apollo and was to be used to eliminate the Titan Lapetus in the event of Apollo's death. The sword was made of the mysterious super element known as Eighth Metal, which was used to forge weapons and armor for the gods, including Apollo's Sunblade and Wonder Woman's mystic bracelets. The God Killer is capable of discharging a blast of destructive energy causing an extreme amount of damage. It is also capable of absorbing any type of force and then redirecting it at twice its original magnitude. In addition, the Eighth Metal composition allows the God Killer to reconstruct itself were it to ever be damaged or destroyed. 

The God Killer is semi-sentient as was evident when Deathstroke first used it. Slade described the experience as being guided by the blade to accomplish its goals rather than being a just a weapon. The God Killer actively compels its wielder toward their intended target. The blade is also capable of reading its wielder and then altering its form to best suit them. The God Killer once even became two smaller swords allowing Deathstroke to take on multiple opponents simultaneously. The sword can also act as a conduit for the thoughts and memories of any divine being (god or Titan) that has touched it. Once these thoughts have been absorbed into the God Killer, they can then be accessed by the next wielder of the sword whether they are god or mortal.

Deathstroke with the God Killer. This doesn't end well
for Lapetus.
Art by Tony S. Daniel

Regardless of who wields it, the God Killer sword is one of the most dangerous weapons that has ever been created in the DC Universe. It becomes even more dangerous in the deadly hands of someone like Deathstroke the Terminator. But if you think about it, any weapon created specifically to kill a god shouldn't be anything less.

DEATHSTROKE COVERED: DC Bombshells Ravager Variant Cover by Emanuela Lupacchino

In August of 2015, DC Comics released a series of variant covers featuring their DC Bombshells characters. For Deathstroke (2014) #9, Emanuela Lupacchino penciled a stunning movie poster-inspired Bombshell version of a pirate Ravager. This outstanding cover is pictured below both with and without title graphics.

Two Eyes? Deathstroke Don't Need No Stinking Two Eyes!

Throughout Deathstroke's many incarnations one signature design element is almost always present: His half-dark mask. But the reason that the left side of the mask is dark is that underneath that side he has lost an eye. Over the course of the years readers have been shown the fatal fate of his right (our left) eye, which like most things in the DC Universe is a multiple choice affair. Below, we take a look at Slade's missing eye(s). (Ha! See what I did there?)

The original, and in my opinion best story of Deathstroke losing his eye was told in Tales of the Teen Titans (1980) #44 as the third chapter of the now legendary Judas Contract storyline. Adeline Kane accuses Terra of working with the Terminator to bring down the Teen Titans. Adeline is joined by her son Joseph and tells the origin of both Deathstroke, and her son Jericho. Slade has been acting as a mercenary and assassin for years without ever telling his wife, Adeline. A rival mercenary, known as the Jackal, arranged for an armed attack on Slade and Adeline's home resulting in the abduction of their son Joseph. Once they track down the Jackal, he wants Slade to give up information regarding his clients. Slade refuses this request citing his own professional ethics. Slade trusts that his enhanced reflexes and training will allow him to rescue Joseph without betraying his professional ethics. Slade did rescue Joseph, but not before one of the Jackal's men had begun to slit his throat, rendering poor Joseph unable to ever speak again. These events are depicted below.

Adeline was furious to the point of hate with Slade as he valued his professional ethics and reputation far more than the life of his own son. Adeline tried to take Slade's life shooting him at close range, but his enhanced reflexes saved his life as Adeline's bullet only took Slade's eye.

Jumping to the New 52 continuity, Teen Titans (2011) # 23.2 depicts Slade taking a job to sabotage a North Korean nuclear facility with his son Grant , the Ravager, as his partner. After completing the job, Slade and Grant hole up in the home of one of Slade's old friends. Long story short, the North Koreans find their hiding place and attack it with extreme prejudice. The onslaught of the house resulted in the both "death" of Grant and the loss of Slade's eye as depicted below.

The last tale of Slade's missing eye took place in Deathstroke (2014) #s 1-2. Deathstroke was hired to take out an old associate named Possum.

But it turns out that the Possum job was a set up and that Possum was hired by Odysseus to kill Deathstroke. Possum speaks a codeword that triggers Slade to reveal coded information via a post-hypnotic suggestion. Once Slade reveals the information he is mentally incapacitated. Possum takes Slade's swords and begins slicing him to shreds. Slade turns the tide and apparently kills Possum, but just for the moment. As Slade escapes he is met with a ninja-like hit squad also sent by Odysseus. Between the mental trauma of the hypnosis and the physical attacks of Possum and Odysseus' hit squad, Slade's healing factor was pushed beyond its limits. In dire straits, he manages to make his way to a safe house run by the mysterious I-Ching.

But Slade got much more than even he bargained for as I-Ching's methods seems to have caused Slade's healing factor to restore his body not only to health, but to youth as well as pictured below.

Slade apparently required more proof than
a restored and functioning eye to prove that
he had indeed been rejuvenated. Why this
was that proof is beyond me.

Fast-forwarding to the end of the Godkiller storyline in Deathstroke (2014) #10, after Deathstroke kills the (Greek not Teen) Titan Lapetus, Hephaestus informs Slade that the killing of a gods comes with a blood sacrifice that must be made by the killer. To not make the blood sacrifice would bring the wrath of the remaining members of the Greek pantheon down upon Deathstroke himself. After refusing to sacrifice either of his children, Slade sacrifices the one thing he knows he can live without as seen below.

They apparently took it.

Deathstroke in the House...Ad: Part 2

Deathstroke was featured prominently in house ads for upcoming titles under the New 52 and DCYou publishing initiatives. Pictured below is the house ad that ran to promote the relaunched Suicide Squad title, New Suicide Squad (2014).

DC ran this next house ad to promote the Godkiller arc in Deathstroke (2014) as part of the DCYou publishing campaign following their Convergence event of 2015.

DEATHSTROKE COVERED: John Romita, Jr.'s Deathstroke (2016) #17

Today's featured cover is for Deathstroke (2014) #17 by John Romita, Jr.

THE TAKEAWAY: Deathstroke (2014) Annual #2

I don't generally like to comment too much about individual stories because of a few reasons. One reason is that my opinion of a book is no better that yours, so who really cares about my critiques on plot or art execution or my reviews of the final product. Secondly, I don't want to be a "spoiler guy" that is constantly publishing key plot points or story elements before many people even get the opportunity to read the books for themselves. However Deathstroke (2014) Annual #2, written by Phil Hester, is such a great book that I do wish to comment on it to a certain degree and I feel that enough time has elapsed since its release to safely do so without ruining any fan's reading experience.

In a story set after the conclusion of Deathstroke (2014) #20, "The Balkan" takes place in the fictional middle-eastern country of Rhapastan, in a region ruled for generations by the rival opium families; the Rhaqqani and the Wudesh. The action opens with an attack on the Rhaqqani by a savage mercenary called "the Balkan," who made it clear that he was hired by the Wudesh. In response, the Rhaqqani acquire the lethal services of Deathstroke for their retaliation. I won't comment further about how the main plot unfolds, but let's just say that the way it plays out hearkens back to such legendary rival families tales as Akira Kurasawa's Yojimbo.

Hester's writing along with Mirko Colak, Roberto Viacava, and Mike Spicer's gritty art appropriately capture a story set in one of the world's most violent and unstable regions. The story comments on several real world issues such as Western intervention in the middle-east, the cycle of retaliatory violence, and the effect of violence on youth. In regards to the last topic, he character of Adi, in particular, a young man introduced as being surrounded by violence, but not yet a participant as depicted by his hesitation to fire a gun when he had the opportunity. But as events unfold, Adi not only witnesses violent acts, but by the end finds himself starkly in the middle of events that change him in a way that will allow him to pull the trigger when the next opportunity is presented.

This issue feels different than Deathstroke's recent adventures. While situations are still tense, and Slade still does what he does, it was grounded in a real-lifelike way, feeling as real as fantasy fiction can. There was no mega-villain like Odysseus, no fantasy trappings like with the God-Killer arc, no over-the-top, super-gauntlet-styled revenge conspiracy like the recent Lawman/Dead Bastards/Ra's al Ghul arc. This was Deathstroke wreaking havoc in a place resembling the real world. There were no real heroes or villains, just actors on a geo-cultural stage and it worked. Christopher Priest has stated that wants to take the Deathstroke character and story back to their roots, and Hester and company have just shown us all that that approach works.

DEATHSTROKE COVERED: Slappin' Leather with Yosemite Sam

Here it is folks! The showdown you've been waiting for between "the World's Greatest Assassin," and "the Hootinest, Tootinest, Shootinest Wild-Tailed Bobcat in the West!" Deathstroke the Teminator has his hands full when he "slaps leather" with Yosemite Sam: The Fastest Gun North, South, East, aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand West of the Pecos in this Looney Tunes Variant Cover for Deathstroke (2014) #12 by Ryan Benjamin and Spike Brandt.

Deathstroke's Post-Flashpoint/New 52 Daddy Issues

Originally, I planned to do some silly geneology-styled family tree for this post, but the affairs of the Wilson family are seldom simple. It seems at one point or another everyone tries to kill everyone else (Or at least Slade) due to one unforgivable transgression or another. While Slade manages to reconnect time-to-time with his two youngest children at some level, his relationship with his father is never as repairable. Complicating matters even further is the fact that after the Flashpoint event remade the DC Universe, Slade seems to have more than one father. So let's delve into the issues of Slade's two dads (Yep, I just referenced that crappy sitcom).

Nathaniel Wilson

In Deathstroke (2011) issue #8 (the final issue of Kyle Higgins' run), Slade's father, Nathaniel Wilson, was formally introduced. Nathaniel fancied himself a hardened street-level criminal and con man who always had things going on. In reality, he was a life-long loser who, during Slade's childhood, regularly moved he and Slade from town to town because he owed everyone who was a criminal anyone large sums of money due to the frequent failures of his own criminal enterprises.

When desperate, Nathaniel would stoop to common street muggings just to raise enough cash to keep his illegal "creditors" at bay, though he would still get roughed up as a continual reminder that his debts were far from being paid in full. These violent events often played out in front of a young Slade who would normally then himself pay a physical price as his father's proxy victim after the humiliation of getting beaten up by the mob debt collectors.

Eventually, Nathaniel's debts became more than he could ever pay. To settle a $10,000 debt to the criminal, Rossi, Nathaniel took Slade to secluded area of the Grand Canyon. When Rossi arrived, Nathaniel handed over his own son to him as payment for the debt. It was this particular event that built the fire in Slade to not only begin his own dark business pursuits, but to be the best in the world at them, if for no other reason than to show his father that he was far better at them than Nathaniel could ever have been. To further drive this point home, once Nathaniel became old and feeble, from time to time, Slade would visit his bed-ridden father's home in Gary, Indiana to place cutouts of newspaper articles chronicling his various exploits on a bulletin board facing his bed. As Nathaniel could neither speak, nor could physically remove the articles from the wall, he had little choice but to confront the facts that Slade had indeed far surpassed anything he ever accomplished in his life.

OR...

Charles Henry Wilson,
A.K.A. Odysseus

In Deathstroke (2014) #1-6, Tony S. Daniel introduced us to Slade's father, Charles Henry Wilson, also know as the super-villain, Odysseus. Charles Wilson was a former CIA. operative that went missing after an assignment in Russia went bad. It is revealed that Charles had a metagene that allowed him great physical and psionic abilities and that this gene was passed down to his grandson, Joseph, (A.K.A. Jericho). Somehow Charles' body was recovered by the League of Assassins who in turn abducted Jericho to use his power to bring Charles back to life as Odysseus. Upon his resurrection, Odysseus had the ability to control the minds of large groups of people, as he demonstrated on a groups of fighters in Syria. It is also revealed that it was Charles' metagene DNA that was used to bring about the enhancements of Slade's physical and mental abilities, turning him into the Deathstroke that we all know and love.

Some online Wikis claim that after the Russia debacle, that Charles actually survived and went into hiding by adopting the Nathaniel identity. The problem with this theory is that Nathaniel and Charles simply can't be the same person because, as Slade claimed in Deathstroke (2014) #3, "I haven't seen my father since I was twelve." If that were the case, then who exactly was the Nathaniel Wilson that Slade visited in Gary, Indiana since Slade was clearly an adult in Deathstroke (2011) #8? Furthermore, in Deathstroke (2014) #4, Slade seems a bit taken aback when he realizes that Victor Ruiz and his Dead Bastards group want him to take Odysseus out. Slade states that, "...you want me to kill my own father," and further claimed that if Ruiz hadn't, "monkeyed with my brain. I would have never agreed to it." It seems to me that he might not have been as hesitant to kill Nathaniel as he is to kill Charles, especially after the whole being sold to a mobster to settle Nathaniel's debt bit.

This multiple fathers conundrum may just be a simple case of a retcon, or even just poor title editing. Regardless of which father is the real father, it's safe to say that Slade's father completely sucked. Not that Slade of father of the year material, but then again, he hardly had a descent role-model in in that department. I'm going to continue trying to sort this Nathaniel vs. Charles business out and I will post an update if I am finally able to crack this mystery in the future.

Deathstroke (2014) Goes Out with a Bang!

Deathstroke (2014) #20 is now available digitally and in print marking the end for the third ongoing series to feature Deathstroke. But, this volume goes out with a bang as James Bonny, Paolo Pantelena, and Arif Prianto bring to you The Ravager, Jericho, Victor Ruiz, the Dead Bastards, the League of Assassins, and a cover teasing a Deathstroke vs. Ra's al Ghul clash to the death. This may be the end for this series, but remember that Deathstroke (2016) Rebirth #1 hits digital outlets and comic shops on August 10, 2016.