Justice League's Jarro Dreams of Deathstroke

Move over (Insert the name of a flash in the pan character here), the newest comic book sensation is here and he's adorable...in a way. During Justice League: No Justice (2018), one of the villains that Brainiac recruited for his grand plan was Starro the Conqueror, an immense, telepathic starfish-like alien that had been a menace to the Justice League from its earliest days. Starro was seemingly killed in an act of apparent self-sacrifice when it was literally ripped apart by one of the Omega Titans. Flash forward to Justice League (2018) #10, Batman reveals that he has a literally new crime-fighting assistant in the form of a fragment of the original Starro, which had grown a miniature body of its own. Batman cleverly named this new partner "Jarro," as he was kept in a jar, and was using the newly independent alien telepath for some completely necessary psychic probing.

Batman and...son?
Art by Francis Manipul

But a funny thing happened between Batman and his new assistant, Jarro. Thought Jarro was capable of the same cosmic-level telepathy as Starro, he was basically an infant from a developmental standpoint. As Batman was the first individual with whom the "newborn" Jarro had seen, it imprinted upon Batman, much the way newly hatched goslings and ducklings do with the first animal that they see that is larger than themselves. As a result, Jarro thinks of himself as human (at least so far) and sees Batman as his "Dad." As a result, Jarro has displayed a rather adorable tendency want to please Batman and actively seeks his approval in everything he does.

Another of Jarro's lovable attributes is that he wants more than anything to not just become a Robin for Batman, but he wants to be the best Robin that Batman could ever have. This desire is wonderfully illustrated in Justice League #20 in the form of a dream sequence that begins with Batman giving chase to none other than Deathstroke. Deathstroke is on the verge of escaping an exhausted Batman when he calls for an assist from Robin. Jarro, clad in full Robin regalia, gleefully responds to Batman request with "On it, Dad!" Robin the Star Wonder then affixed himself to Deathstroke's face and subdued the world's greatest assassin with little effort. Batman is so pleased with his son's performance that he tells Jarro that he is his "favorite Robin ever" just as Jarro awakens.

Jarro dreamed that Batman needs his help to take down the dastardly
Deathstroke thus cementing, in his imagination, his place as Batman's
favorite Robin from JusticeLeague (2018) #20.
Art by Jorge Jimenez

It's unknown if Jarro will ever attain his heart's desire of full-fledged Robinhood, but it is worth noting that even in the idealized world of Jarro's dreams, Deathstroke is recognized as a challenge too big for even Batman to handle alone.

The Deathstroke Files Celebrates the 5th Anniversary of Norm Breyfogle's Last Comic Book Work

Norman Breyfogle
Art by Michael Netzer

While Tim Burton's 1989, Batman, film got me into Batman as a character, it was definitely the dynamic and dazzling art of Norm Breyfogle that got me into Batman comics. Breyfogle was well into his breakout run on Detective Comics (1937) when stumbled across issue #605 (part-two of the famed multiple Clayface-centric "The Mud Pack" story) in a local convenience store. I bought the comic book and found myself thoroughly mesmerized by Breyfogle's kinetic and energetic style as well as his ability to convey emotion through facial expression. I bought the Batman (1940) title to simply follow the character, even though Jim Aparo's art at the time didn't exactly wow me, but I devoured Detective for monthly servings of Breyfogle's visual feast for my eyes.

I followed Breyfogle when he jumped to Batman in 1990 and then again when he helped to launched Batman: Shadow of the Bat (1992). When he left DC, I even went so far as to travel an hour away from my home town to get his first two issues of Malibu's Ultraverse title, Prime (1993), from an honest-to-goodness comic shop, though this endeavor proved to be financially unsustainable for me at the time. As with a lot of books, publishers, retailers, and fans I exited the comic book scene during the market collapse of the mid-90s and lost track of Breyfogle and his work for many years. 

My gateway to Norm Breyfogle, Detective Comics (1937) #605

By the time I rediscovered my passion for comics in the mid-2000s, Breyfogle had fallen out of the spotlight as a new crop of talented artists had since burst on to the scene. I didn't run across his work again until 2014 when he contributed to three issues of Trinity of Sin: The Phantom Stranger (2012). I had kept my eyes open for more of his work, but unfortunately Phantom Stranger #20 would mark his final professional work in the industry. In December of 2014, he suffered a stroke that robbed him of the use of the left side of his body (he was left-handed), ending his art career. Just under four years later, Breyfogle succumbed to heart failure at the age of 58.

In remembrance of Norm Breyfogle on the fifth anniversary of his final professional comic book job (June 4, 2014), I have posted below a special commissioned pencil and ink piece featuring Deathstroke battling the Tim Drake Robin and Wonder Girl by Breyfogle. This piece represents one of the only times that I am aware that Breyfogle ever drew Deathstroke for the public. From the Deathstroke Files, here's to the life and legacy of Norm Breyfogle; one hell of a comic book artist!

Pencils and inks by the late, great Norm Breyfogle.

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 Trades the Ikon Suit For Pink Bunny Slippers, And It's AWESOME!!!

This post will be short and (too) sweet. Deadpool comics get lauded for their (supposed) humor, but the image posted below from Deathstroke (2016) #42, (the second part of the Terminus Agenda) written by Christopher Priest and penciled by Carlo Pagulayan, made me laugh so hard that my eyes watered when I first saw it. I'm not going to give any story details for fear of spoiling an arc in-progress but given Priest's penchant for multi-level storytelling, the overall tone of the issue, and the characters involved in the scene below, this panel hit the target hard as both irony-laden sight gag and sinister, next-level mind-game. I mean, pink bunny slippers? But hey, Slade can make almost anything work.

Not your typical slumber party guest making himself feel a little too
at home.
Art by Carlo Pagulayan

Deathstroke in Lego's DC Comics Super Heroes: The Batboat Harbor Pursuit Playset

In Legoland, everything is awesome because Deathstroke is the featured villain in the Lego DC Comics Super Heroes: The Batboat Harbor Pursuit playset. This set retails for around $29.00  and features three figures, two vehicles, and one heck of a good time. All photos and product details and descriptions below are from Lego.com.

Divide the Batboat to ambush Deathstroke!

Deathstroke has stolen diamonds from the bank and is escaping with the loot on his heavily-armored jetboat. Place Batman™ and Robin in the cockpits of the Batboat at Gotham City harbor and set off in high-speed pursuit. Open up the secret radar tower and examine the control screens to track the jetboat. Evade the jetboat’s flick missiles and swerve to avoid Deathstroke’s super-jumping attempts to knock down the radar. Then activate the split function to launch the super heroes’ hoverboats, ambush the villain and reclaim the safe with the jewels. Includes 3 minifigures with accessories: Batman, Deathstroke and Robin.

• Batboat features 2 split-function hoverboats each with opening cockpits and a stud shooter, 2 flick missiles, secret radar tower with explode function, minifigure seat and control screens, giant batwings, Batman emblem logo and translucent elements
• Deathstroke’s jetboat features a saddle, integrated Super Jumper, 2 flick torpedo missiles, 2 weapon holders with a gun and sword, and a safe with a chain and 2 diamond elements
• Accessories include capes for Batman and Robin
• Fold out the secret radar tower to track Deathstroke
• Evade the jetboat’s flick torpedo missiles!
• Stop super-jumping Deathstroke taking out the radar tower
• Launch Batman and Robin in the split-function hover boats!
• Reclaim the stolen diamonds from the safe!
• Batboat (with hover boats attached) measures over 6” (16cm) high, 9” (23cm) long and 5” (13cm) wide
• Deathstroke’s jetboat measures over 1” (3cm) high, 3” (10cm) long and 2”(7cm) wide
• Hover boats each measure over 1” (4cm) high, 3” (9cm) long and 1” (5cm) wide