Deathstroke last edited by Ljtillman on 08/07/18 10:30PM View full history


Slade Wilson
Slade Wilson








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Created by Marv Wolfman and George Perez, Deathstroke first appeared in The New Teen Titans (Vol. 1) #2. Deathstroke was originally known only as The Terminator. But with the making of the popular "Terminator" movie franchise starring Arnold Schwarzenegger (four years later), the name was abandoned to avoid the possible confusion.

Character Evolution

Modern Age: New Earth

Deathstroke (New Earth)
Deathstroke (New Earth)

Depending on the writer, Deathstroke can be a "violent gun-toting mercenary, unafraid to kill", a likeable anti-hero, or just another hired gun meant to fill in the pages. His character is molded by a certain Code of Ethics, that may change at any given time depending on the situation of his life. When his code is more strict, he can become one of the good guys, while other times he can almost completely throw his honor out the door, and do something as cold blooded and senseless as destroying an entire city, as in the destruction of Blüdhaven in the Infinite Crisis story arc or murdering a group of teenage mercenaries.

Post-Flashpoint: Earth-0

Deathstroke (Earth-0)
Deathstroke (Earth-0)


Deathstroke: Rebirth

Deathstroke: Rebirth
Deathstroke: Rebirth

As of DC: Rebirth, Slade has returned to his usual tricks. After rescuing Wintergreen from an African warlord's grip, investigating an attempt on the life of Rose, battling a conspiracy set up Adeline, a run-in with Superman, and incarceration in a black site, Slade has returned to taking contracts and killing anyone who gets in the way. Most recently, he attempted to try being something of a good guy and creating a team of young heroes. When one of them committed suicide, Slade deemed himself a failure at being good and went right back to being a killer for hire. Currently, Slade has been put at odds with Batman due to a plan cooked up by Wintergreen and Adeline, with help from Alfred.

Major Story Arcs

Modern Age: New Earth

Before The One-eyed Merc

Adeline shooting Slade
Adeline shooting Slade



Judas Contract

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Upon Grant's death, Slade bitterly swore to fulfill his son's contract and kill the Teen Titans in his stead. Soon however, Deathstroke found the task too much to fulfill on his own, and so employed Tara Markov, a young girl with dangerous earth-bending powers. She worked alongside Slade as a spy amongst the Teen Titans, learning all their secrets and weaknesses. Finally, Deathstroke made his move and one by one he delivered the Titans to the H.I.V.E. At the same time Adeline, who had been keeping tabs on Slade, along with Joseph approached Dick Grayson (a.k.a. Robin) and offered to help rescue his friends if he merely accepted Joseph into the team. This would mark the first appearance of Joseph Wilson as Jericho. Nightwing (the new persona of Dick Grayson) and Jericho successfully freed the Titans, and Slade was apprehended and put on trial for kidnapping. However Gar Logan, still mourning over the death of Tara (who tragically died at the hands of her own emotionally unstable powers) sabotaged the trial and went after Slade intent on killing him. Slade confronted Gar unmasked and unarmed, and the two men parted on a truce. Slade finally free of the burden of Grant's death, retired from life as a mercenary, and took up hunting again in Africa.

Titans Hunt


Full Cycle

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A new man, dressed as Ravager, attacks Addie and later Slade. Ravager, working with the leader of Qurac, is working to blow up the Capitol Building in Washington, D.C., and he means to take out Deathstroke along the way. When Slade confronts him Ravager reveals himself as Bill Walsh, who was Slade's partner in Camp Washington. He blames Slade for his failures in life, and was the one to attack Joseph, as the Jackal, and recruited Grant to H.I.V.E., which would eventually be the death of Grant, all in an effort to get to Slade. Slade kills Walsh, but following this he would begin to push everyone close to him away, as he feels that he is responsible for everyone close to him dying or getting hurt.

Deathstroke The Hunted


Titans: Immortal Coil



A Kid's Game




Identity Crisis


The Secret Society of Super Villains


Titans East


Final Crisis



Blackest Night


Batman and Robin


Titans - Villains for Hire

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Deathstroke then recruits Cheshire, the Tattooed Man, Cinder, and Osiris, while taking the name Titans. They ambush Ryan Choi (the new Atom) in his home and then kill him. Deathstroke takes the Atom's belt, and exchanges the body for an unknown object with Dwarfstar. Deathstroke has revealed the secret to life itself, and offered it up to the members of his team. Roy Harper and Cinder start a mutiny against the rest of the group. While a recently resurrected Jericho betrays his father, and prepares to destroy both him and the Methuselah device.

Post-Flashpoint: Earth-0

The Legacy


Hunt for Lobo


The Dark Knight - Knight Terrors


Deathstroke: Rebirth

In the past, Slade is camping with Grant and Joseph. While Joseph enjoyed himself, Grant refused to camp and slept in the car during the night, exhausting the car battery and stranding the three in the wilderness in the middle of winter. When Slade reprimands Grant, he snaps at Slade. Before he can disciplne him, Grant storms off while Slade and Joseph begin walking in a different direction to find a town. Grant eventually runs into a mother bear. Before the bear can reach him, Slade, having followed Grant, kills it, then scolds his son; partly for not knowing he was towards it in the first place, and partly for not being able to flee. Wintergreen then arrives to pick up Slade for a contract in Qurac. He admonishes Slade's parenting methods, but he still believes Grant should have been able to take care of himself. Before leaving, He goes to kill the bear cubs nearby, thinking it better than not having a mother.

Further ahead in time, Slade and Adeline are in the middle of a heated fistfight. Adeline is tired of Slade's adventuring while she stays home with the children. Slade rebuffs her, and when things calm down, Adeline asks for a divorce.

In the present, Slade is overseeing a dumping of dead bodies in a country run by his latest client; Matthew Bland, The Red Lion. Slade has agreed to keep American forces out of his country, in exchange for nine million dollars and the location of a target for another contract. Slade's computer expert, Hosun, transfers some of the contract money into a pro-intervention Senate candidate's superpac, splitting the Democratic vote and allowing the anti-intervention, Republican Senator to keep his seat. Once the deal is done, Red Lion goes back on his word to protect his target and gives Slade his location. Once he reaches his target's hideout, he has his escorts wait ten minutes before fleeing. Before he goes, the two beg for him to spare them, as Deathstroke would have to kill them and and Red Lion would have their sons killed. The former to hide the fact that Red Lion went back on his word, and the latter to ensure that the sons don't avenge their fathers' deaths. He simply rebuffs the two and goes for his target.

Once inside, his target, a sickly Clock King, welcomes him, having already known he was coming for him. Deathstroke tries to shoot him, but Clock King is unaffected because of his time manipulation abilities. Slade prepares a grenade, but Clock King offers him information about a loved one in exchange for his word he will spare him. He refuses, choosing to uphold his word to the victims who hired him and maintian his integrity. Clock King admits that he is already dying and that asks if the person he is talking about is less important then killing his target. When Slade asks for proof, Clock King replies with one word; Kenilworth. Slade then returns to his escorts, demanding all the money they have on him in exchange for protection from Bland.

Later, the two escorts head into the territory of a terrorist group. When stopped by the terrorists, they claim they want to join their group, and brought the body of Deathstroke as a gift. The guards are skeptical, but when the escorts uses the word Kenilworth, they are granted entry. That night, Slade - still alive - begins slaughtering the terrorists with the weapons he snuck in. Slade then breaks for a nearby cave. When he tears the door inside apart, he finds Wintergreen, who is upset that Slade took so long to come for him.

The Professional

While Wintergreen gathers his belongings, he recounts his kidnapping to Slade. He then dons his old Ikon suit, but it is out of power. Wintergreen charges it with few shots, then the two make their escape. Wintergreen gives Slade a rundown of his captors. They then return to Slade's escorts, who took the liberty of disposing the decoy body used to get in, along with his original uniform.

Later, Congressman Hasgrove is hosting a party in his celebrating his reelection. While there he receives a package. After stepping out onto a patio to open the package. Once he sees what's inside, he immediately kills himself by stepping over the railing. The package is revealed to have been scandalous photos delivered by Hosun. While Slade and Wintergreen have trouble navigating Kenilworth, New Jersey, they eventually locate the Congressman's body and move to the next phase of their plan.

The group returns to Clock King's compound, where Ja Zaki is being held captive. Once there, Wintergreen tries to negotiate a surrender, a Clock King responds by causing his age to fluctuate. However, Slade appears and reveals the Clock Kings abilities are actually just parlor tricks. He then reveals his weakness, due to his true condition, Clock King needed to be connected to an oxygen tank. Wintergreen shoots the tank, causing an explosion that disrupts all of the illusions. While Clock King is dying, he is shocked Slade abandoned his word, but because Wintergreen fired the shots, his honor is intact. Once free, Ja Zaki is upset that Slade killed Hasgrove. Slade simply warns him to leave his two escorts and their families alone and leaves.

While on the way out Wintergreen reveals that Hasgrove's death will undo his political agenda, causing the U.S. to intervene and defend Ja Zaki's enemies, and saving thousands of lives. Slade brushes it off, but Wintergreen reveals that he thought the entire thing was a hallucination. He then punches him to convince him otherwise. When he catches on, he begins ranting about the capture, their distress code Kenilworth, and ends by asking Slade where he was all that time. He sarcastically responds that he was golfing.

During another flashback, Adeline leaves home to track down Slade, who has been missing for some time. Leaving food for Joseph and a promise to return in two days, she heads out, as Jospeh complains that his father will never return. Taking advantage of the freedom, Joseph decides to throw a party. After two days are up, Adeline's contact can't locate Slade anywhere. Upon returning home, she witnesses the mess left behind from the party. She the notices a message left for Deathstroke; a challenge to find the perpetrator written in blood and a picture if Joseph pinned to the wall with a knife. Believing Deathstroke to be the kidnapper, Adeline quickly leaves the house, and reaches out to her contact to discover who Deathstroke is. She then calls Slade, who answers only to brush her off as he is traveling to his latest mission.

The mission at hand is to pull Lillian Worth out of Cambodia, in an area controlled by Khmer Rouge holdouts. Her service to various intelligence agencies and the fact that Slade once used her place of work as a safe house earned her a ticket out of the country. As their plane crashes, Slade, Wintergreen, and their crew disembark to find Worth. Once the recon man enters, the rest of the team enters. Things go smoothly for the crew until the recon man gets shot. The shooter is revealed to be a young Rose. When Wintergreen arrives, he convinces Rose that she is safe. Followed in by Slade, Wintergreen repeatedly demands answers as to what is going on.

The Doctor Is In
The Doctor Is In

In the present, Wintergreen and Slade are approaching Fredric, the recon man from years earlier, to confirm that he was the one who sold Wintergreen out to his kidnappers. He tries to shift the blame to Rax, another former ally, but Slade already found him, dead in his apartment, along with two assailants who he promptly kills. Having been made, Fredric confesses and asks which of the two will do the deed. However, Slade pulled a disappearing act in order to get into a skirmish with Isherwood, a.k.a. the small time hero, Dr. Ikon. After getting into a skirmish, Isherwood, reveals that he had nothing to do with Wintergreen's kidnapping, but he was approached by the kidnappers, but he didn't talk. Slade then gets a call from Wintergreen, who just killed Fredric. He then reveals that Hosun has been checking Slade's Dark Web messages in order to track down a lead. One in particular gets both their attention; a contract on the Ravager.

Deciding to investigate the contract, he tracks Rose down and finds the apartment where she lives with her boyfriend. Watching over her as she sleeps, Slade leaves when she starts to wake up. He then catches her while she's on her job: stopping other hitmen from killing their targets. It turns out her latest job was a ruse to lure her into an ambush. Even though she holds her own, Slade took her swords in order to test her. She manages to dispatch all the hitmen and Slade steals a police car and the two escape. While on the move, Rose wants to know why he's here and he explains the bounty on her head. When they reach their destination, the club where Rose works a second job, Slade voices his disapproval of her choice to work as an anti-hitman. Rose then asks what Slade did to get a bounty put out on her. After rendezvousing with Wintergreen, the three head out to start searching for who put out the contract on her.

Later, Slade and Rose suit up and track a lead. On a rooftop the building, Rose is texting her boyfriend. However, Slade had Hosun intercept the messages and shoot back fake replies. He then tells Slade about someone who took the contract: Ricky, the man who hired Rose to lure her intoo the ambush. Once they finish talking, Rose takes a moment to tell him that she is not intimate with her boyfriend. Slade, however does not care, and that caring is weakness, and weakness means she isn't ready to tackle any problem she may face. Slade then flashes back to when Jericho had his throat cut by the Jackal. While he tries to resuscitate him, Adeline is blaming Slade for what happened. He tries to quiet her while they wait for paramedics, and in response, she shoots him in the back of the head. Back in the present, Rose is asking him why he thinks she isn't ready. He claims that all of the contradictions in her behavior prove that she is a stupid, immature teen. As he jumps in to take down Ricky and his crew, he tells his daughter he can't take her seriously because she doesn't believe in anything. He easily takes them out and finds Ricky. Slade has Ricky get his men to stand down, and Ricky asks if Slade will take revenge for taking out the contract. He decides to take some of Ricky's money as punishment and leaves.

Later, he is talking with Rose, and he reveals that he took the money to find out where it came from using the serial numbers. After giving Rose a meeting point, he gets into a car with Wintergreen, who chastises him for not finding an easier way to spend time with his child. He then chastises him for going to such extremes to sneak into Gotham City undetected, but Slade wants to avoid a certain someone.

Along the way, Slade trades cars, picks up Rose, and keeps on to Gotham. Along the way, Rose mentions that she is creeped out by his use of a glass eye as part of his disguise. Slade says it is only to avoid Batman. Rose still thinks they are uneccesary, but Slade dismisses her. When she tries to talk to her boyfriend, he tosses her phone out of the car, while she sulks, he chastises her for making a rookie mistake. When they reach a motel, Slade vets everyone there before settling down. He then flashes back to when Rose was training with Nightwing, revealing he was watching over her the entire time. In the present after they get back on the road, A biker pulls up alongside them. When Slade pulls over to talk them down, Rose begins fighting all of the bikers. Slade is confused, but realizes she had a vision that got her to act. Even though she saves him, Slade is upset, because she started the fight, possibly making her vision come true. However, one last biker leaps out from their hiding place and shoots Slade, forcing him to kill him. Upset about the turn of events, Slade takes one of the now stray motorcycles and the two continue on their way.

Once they reach Gotham, Slade stakes out a meeting point with Batman. After the local paper boy - later revealed to be Robin in disguise - goes by, Slade gets out of the trunk he was hiding in and into an SUV, apparently to leave. However, Batman appears in the back seat, demanding to know what Slade wants. However, Slade was ready for him. While Batman was with Slade, he had Rose distract Robin while the sedatives he was exposed to earlier take effect. He then elbows Batman and tells him he has a job for him in exchange for Robin's safe return. Then, the enhancements made to the SUV activate; rocket boosters to propel the car in the air and catch Robin as he falls, and explosives on the rear of the car to get Batman out as he and Rose escape.

Later, Slade is seen monitoring the trap set up to contain Robin; a room slowly filling with water. Once he comes to, Robin mocks him for being so dishonorable as to use drugs and restraints. Slade responds that honor is irrelevant and only commitment ; the most committed man loses. Robin then brings up their last encounter where Robin paid him to drop a contract. As Damian keeps joking, Slade tells him to shut up. Damian then calls him out on all of the wrong his done to his family; Adeline leaving him, Grant's death, and Jericho getting his throat cut. He then calls Rose his last chance to get it right, and starts taunting her. He then goes back to mocking Slade, and in response, he asks what the League of Assassins did to him to make him the way he is, and he responds with more sarcastic remarks. Slade, aware of what the League does to instill loyalty, repeats his question, but Robin makes a reference to Grant again in response.

Later as the water is about to submerge Damian, Slade tells him that he pities him, as Batman was too late to save him, but proved he was the most committed in this fight. However, Robin manages to escape on his own, and it is revealed that Batman was already there. Later, Slade is seen holding a knife to throat of the one who set Rose up for the ambush that started it all; her boyfriend Richard.

Escape from Buredunia
Escape from Buredunia

Slade is next seen with Wintergreen flying a damaged plane to exfiltrate the Red Lion, who been serving as president. Wintergreen complains about the situation,but he he ignores him and orders him to keep the plane in the air long enough for him to get Ja Zaki out. Once he reaches the ground he immediately begins killing rioters. Wintergreen informs him that Red Lion is holed up in the master bedroom of the presidential house. Slade promises to be in and out in five minutes, but Wintergreen is unsure he can keep the plane in the area that long. However, because he is wearing rocket boots made from schematics Hosun stole from Steel, he is moving slower than normal. Because there are no motors in this pair, Slade's enhanced strength can't move them as well as Steel's armor can, forcing him to change his estimate to six minutes.

Desptie the handicap, Slade reaches Ja Zaki, but he mistakes him for a rebel and not only shoots him, but sics his two pet lions on him. When he realizes the mistake, he complains about Slade being late. Slade threatens to off his pets, so he calls them off, and the two head to the roof to make their escape. Once their, Slade calls Wintergreen to bring the plane to his location. Billy tries to talk Slade out of using the rocket boots, as they only have enough fuel for one use, but he activates them anyway. However, Slade misses the plane, but blames Wintergreen, who in turn blames the damage done to the plane. He informs Slade that he can survive the fall, but Red Lion's suit, made from Slade's old Promethium suit, will crush him inside on impact. However, on their descent, Ja Zaki manages to grab onto the plane, saving them both.

They make it out, but the plane crashes mid-flight. Everyone survives, but Red Lion is upset because the rebels he was fighting now have the upper hand, and thinks that Slade is trying to making up for ruining everything. He corrects him, saying he would have left him to die if not for the money he paid him. He then goes to check on the fourth passenger; Richard, and tells him that if he wants to kill his child, don't fail. The group manages to get a private jet, and on the way, Wintergreen quits, complaining about his "death", the death of his stand-in, but the nail in the coffin is putting a contract out on his daughter in half-cocked plan to spend time with her. Slade blames Wintergreen for that, because it was his job to take the contract down, even though he was kidnapped before he could do so. While Slade and Wintergreen were hashing it out in the cockpit, Ja Zaki was trying to get Richard to explain why he went after Rose. He refuses to give up the details; but he remembers why; Slade was in a relationship with his adoptive mother.

Eventually, Slade returns to the US to visit Patricia Trayce in Los Angeles to talk about Luis. When she asks him if he is dead, Slade tells her he spared his life for her sake. As they talk, Luis reason for hating Slade is full revealed; Patricia had a stroke that left her confined to a wheelchair and he blamed Slade for it after he walked out on her. Pat reminds him that he wasn't responsible for any of it and Luis is just a boy.

Lover's Quarrel
Lover's Quarrel

He then heads off to talk to someone who lives in his old house. Once he gets past Barry, Adeline's bodyguard, who complains about his unannounced presence, he goes inside to see Adeline, who's also upset at the unscheduled visit. The two then go about their ritual of trying to kill each other while they talk; Adeline is still bitter over past events, and Slade believes that she has been orchestrating everything that's happened so far, including hiring Richard, who he recognized from the beginning as Luis Trayce. Once they stop fighting, Slade tells her she wasted her jealousy by letting Luis work for her, and she says that he wanted to work for her. Slade thinks that all of this was to get get him to join a cult like faction inside the government known as Core Policy, and that it was all a ploy to lure him yo her. As the two draw their weapons on each other, Adeline reasons that because Slade took a contract from them, he can work for them again. However, that was the only contract he has ever broken. She claims the group has changed, but Slade still refuses. She tries offering him a home, but he doesn't care about that either. Deciding to leave, Slade warns her to leave him be, but she vows to keep coming until everything he loves is gone. As he walks out, he tells that her problem is she failed to accept that she brought all her problems down on herself.

Later, Slade is seen hiding in a cooler being wheeled into a meat locker aboard an aircraft carrier. Once Hosun gives Slade an all-clear via comm link, he get out and heads for his objective; a hidden bunker where a drug cartel boss is hiding. Using the modifications to his staff, he cuts a hole through the meat locker and heads to his objective. While Hosun gives Slade the rundown of the opposition, he keeps moving, killing a few guards along the way. However, Hosun goes radio silent. Then, the ships infrastructure changes as on of his target's security measures. With the ship's structure changed and no one to guide him through it, Slade is forced to activates the Ikon suit's A.I., rigged to sound like Wintergreen. While A.I. makes sarcastic remarks, Slade keeps moving and reaches the outside of the ship. however, he finds an unexpected sight; Superman, ready to take him in.

Deathstroke vs. Superman
Deathstroke vs. Superman

Deathstroke and Superman stare each other down, and then Slade makes a surprising move; he disarms and and unmasks himself in surrender. As he cuffs Slade, he tells Superman that even he takes him in, his lawyers make Darkseid look like a local librarian. He says that while he wastes his time detaining him, he can kill Alisante, his target in prison. Superman dosen't know who he's talking to about, so he explains who Alisante is. Superman however, can only capture Slade. Slade responds that while he's been authorized to deal with him, he's been authorized to deal with Alisante. Superman refuses to allow him to get his man, and Slade asks him where he was when Aliante's gang did unspeakable things to the children of a D.E.A. team that capture, and where he was when when government officials where being killed by Alisante and his men. Superman tells him that righteous indignation doesn't suit him, right as Slade activates his energy staff and fires a blast into Superman's face. As he recovers, Slade breaks his cuffs and tells him that he will surrender only after he takes out Alisante. Once Superman covers, he punches Slade in the chest, but the Ikon armor's energy shield absorbs the punch, keeping him standing. By the third punch, Slade is still standing, but the A.I. warns Slade that the shield is at 9200% of its capabilities. Despite the danger, Slade keeps egging on Superman. The last punch pushes the shield too far and it releases the stored energy in a shockwave that disorients Superman long enough for Slade to escape.

Slade gets back to finding Alisante with the A.I. leading the way. While moving Slade complains about the fact that the A.I. sounds like Wintergreen. When he asks about Superman, it tells him that the ship's lead shielding hides them from him. As he's asking if he can hear them through all the noise on the ship, Superman punches through the ship, saying that he can. However, the A.I. was broadcasting its voice all over the ship, masking Slade's location. While the A.I. distracts Superman, Slade is seen pouring some bullets into a green liquid. When a group of mercenaries hired by Alisante to help him escape and kill all of his men, Slade deactivates the safety measures keeping the stolen nuclear warhead aboard stable. At that moment, Superman finds Slade vowing to end things. Slade responds that it ends when he says so, and shoots Superman with phony Kryptonite bullets. Unaware they were fake, Superman uses a piece of the hull to shield himself while Slade dives into the oceans and chases Alisante, who got off the ship via submarine. He manages to catch up to the submarine, and cut a hole in the side using his energy staff. Once inside, he shoots Alisante, as Superman lifts the submarine out of the water. He pulls Slade out and tosses him on the deck of the carrier. Slade, refusing to quit, fires an energy staff at Superman and asks why he is really after him. Superman responds that she should have come for him sooner, and melts his staff with his heat vision. He then fires another blast, which Slade blocked with his sword. He says that even though Alisante may have deserved to die, he still had an obligation to protect him despite his ex-wife's plans. Slade says that he avoids government work because it's a waste of lives and money. As he draws blood with his promethium blade, he tells Superman that even though he foolishly believes taking Slade in will change something, he may have admired him if he was a different person. He then tells Superman that he can't kill him,However, he brought someone along who can; his son Joseph, a.k.a Jericho. Armed with the master Ikon system, Jericho shut Slade's suit down while Superman knocks him out.

Four Rooms

Slade Wilson: Ward of the State
Slade Wilson: Ward of the State

Instead of delivering Slade to Adeline, Superman decided to let the Coast Guard take Slade into custody. Eventually he is sent to a supermax prison in Colorado awaiting trial. While inside, Slade is interrogated by a man named Dex, who considers himself to be Slade's Pontius Pilate. When asked about his profession, Slade calls it personal security consulting. he brings up the time he saved Grant from the bear, and Slade responds by asking him about his family. He then mentions a story he heard about a black ops soldier who was disciplined and forced to ride a desk for the rest of his career. He then tells Dex, the man from the story that his potential wasted wasted where he was.

Slade then flashes back to when he won his trademark sword in a game of cards in Srebrenica. As one of them recited the history of the blade, it is said that the antique weapon was named Deathstroke. When Slade shows his hand, one of the men, a talented swordsman, tries to kill Slade with it. However, Slade kills him with the blade instead. When another man asks him how he won, Wintergreen, just arriving, and tells him that Slade fenced in high school. Slade recognizes him as a British S.A.S agent who rescued him earlier in his career. Wintergreen then realizes that he is AWOL, and leaves him to discuss his mission with his crew. However, there is a snag; the man Slade killed was a member of Wintergreen's team. In response, Wintergreen has Slade take his place and explains the operation; they are to arrest Dragas, a Bosnian general, for ordering a massacre. Slade, however, knows that they are not officially allowed to be here, and the op is illegal. Wintergreen corrects him, saying that they aren't allowed to be there. Slade mentions a five million dollar bounty involved, and agrees to help them as far as getting their target to the border as long as they split the profit.

The group heads into Serbia and enacts their plan to capture Dragas. Two of the group ram a truck into the armored decoy truck to get the U.N. troops out of the way. Meanwhile, Slade, riding a horse and wearing a ski mask painted to look like the masks he would wear in the futre, scares the Humvee escort away, where it crashes into a bulldozer Wintergreen placed into the road. They then grab Dragas, who was in the Humvee. They all regroup on Dragas, where Wintergreen comments on the horse, before giving orders to get Dragas to the border. However, one of the crewmen was secretly a Bosnian, and he kills Dragas because he and his men raided his hometown. Slade doesn't care about vengeance, and reminds him that Dragas is worthless dead. He also reveal that the man he killed was a decoy, and that Dragas was actually the driver of the Hummer. When the man makes a move to take out the real Dragas, Slade refuses to let him interfere with his payday. In response, the man tells him that they will keep Slade's cut as his allies arrive, weapons at the ready.

The Birth of
The Birth of "Deathstroke."

Slade warns them to back off, but as they are outnumbered, the lead Bosnian gives he and Wintergreen a chance to walk away, before they are harmed. However, Slade actually wants to harm them. They call him out on protecting a mass murderer. When Wintergreen tries to defuse the situation, a sniper fires into the group, causing everyone to start shooting. Slade uses the shot as an excuse to start killing all of the Bosnians despite Wintergreen's protests. Eventually, the two get Dragas, their remaining crew, and escape.

After fleeing, Slade and Wintergreen meet again when Slade returns to the service, having been promoted for his actions. Wintergreen calls Slade out wanting Dragas alive so he could stand trial, not just for the money. Slade denies it, but Wintergreen sees through his facade and calls him a true believer; someone who is nearly heroic. He then asks what happened to make him change. He responds that it was a woman, and he remembers first meeting her, when he refused to salute her as a superior officer. Wintergreen reminds him that the operation was illegal, and Slade tells him to get to the point. Wintergreen tells him that his promotion was the reward for keeping quit, and mocks him taking a bribe. Slade then threatens him and leaves, passin an unknown soldier

In the present, the solider he passed that day turned out to be Dex, who is surprised he remember him. Slade remembers him by the fact that he earned the Black Star, an award that doesn't officially exist. Slade argues that it does, and he traded one for a truck once, but Dex denies the award exists again. Slade asks what Dex wants, because he has no case against him. However, Hosun and Ja Zaki have testified against him. Adeline refused to cooperate, wanting to take Slade down herself, but she gave Dex the idea to charge Slade with campaign finance violations, but none of it matter unless he can prove in court that Slade really is Deathstroke. Dex feels that it is right and easier to simply kill him, and he agrees.

Slade is sent back to his cell, and to pass the time he reads up on gravity sheaths, the theoretical quantum mechanic that powers the Ikon suits' abilities. As he's reading, he hears screams from outside his cell. When he sees the cause of the racket, he reprimands them. The cause was Red Lion, who came to break him out.

Deathstroke in Chicago

When a Deathstroke impostor appears in Chicago, Slade goes to investigate. Eventually, he catches up to the phony; a Reverend who posed as Deathstroke in hopes of doing something about the gun violence in the city. Slade eventually track him down and kills him inside of a church. Before leaving, Jack Ryder, who was also tracking the Reverend, wants to talk to him. Slade asks if he will be a threat. Ryder tells him he won't but the being inside him may be a threat, but not a serious one. He then asks slade if he would have actually taken the contract if the women who set it up could afford him, and he says he wouldn't. Ryder asks one last question; what he thinks the solution to Chicago's gun problem is. Slade says that the solution is better aim.


Slade returns to Los Angeles to talk to Luis' mother Patricia about whether or not he will kill him. He tells her that he will spare him because of the relationship they had. He has one condition; Luis never goes near Rose again. Pat reminds him that Luis hatred for him is because he left them. Slade agrees, and tells her that sparing Luis means he will come for him again, at which point, he will kill him. On the way out, Slade walks into the door. Patricia realizes something is wrong. When she asks about it, Slade takes his glasses off revealing that he is blind in his one good eye. She is shocked and asks what happened.

Prison Break
Prison Break

In the present, Slade and Red Lion are escaping the supermax prison where Slade was being detained. as they fight their way out, Slade is upset that Matthew came to rescue him. Slade points out that Ja Zaki would never come for him if he didn't want something. Matthew wants Slade's help as payback for causing him to lose his country, but Slade reminds him that he set him up to be killed, a fact he plays off to be bad business. Slade points out that he could have escaped on his own, but he stayed to get a chance to rest. Matthew doesn't care, though, and tells him about the Deathstroke impostor in Chicago as the get on board his private helicopter. As they fly away, Slade asks what he's up to, he tells him he only wants his country back Slade sees the breakout as an odd form of revenge, and points out that his rebels would have slaughtered him without his help, but he argues that his genocide would have done the trick. Slade agrees to investigate the happenings in Chicago, but vows to return for answers.

After taking care of the fake Deathstroke, Slade, now using an older suit because the Ikon suit was left behind during his escape, checks in on Jericho while he and Étienne are asleep. Étienne opens her eyes long enough to catch a glimpse of them, but is gone in literally the blink of an eye. He then goes to Dex's home in Colorado, and catches him while he's grabbing a late-night snack. Dex thinks he is there to kill, but he only wants to know why his escape didn't make the news. After Superman made a spectacle of his capture, combined with the fact that a man in a lion costume broke him out of a supermax prison, and fifteen guards are in the hospital, something should have reached the media. Dex refuses to talk, but Slade him that Matthew Bland freed Slade to distract everyone so he could release someone else.

Deathstroke asks who else escaped, but Dex refuses to talk. To sweeten the deal, but Slade vows to turn himself in if he tells him. Dex is skeptical, but knowing Slade to be a man of his word, complies. It turns out that Raptor, a mater thief, also escaped. Slade wonder what Red Lion wants to steal, and Dex asks him what Matthew wants the most. Slade knows it to be his dictatorship. When Dex asks what he would need to get his country back, and Slade answers that he needs corrupt politicians and an army. However, Slade realizes that he wants a navy, and realizes what Matthew plans to steal. Before leaving to head off Red Lion, he hands Dex a notice; Deathstroke is suing the Colorado State Government for twenty-two million dollars, claiming they violated his civil rights. Their weak case hinged on them proving that Slade Wilson is Deathstroke. Because Deathstroke was killing people across Chicago while Slade Wilson was locked up, they now have no case, and no right to detain Slade. As he leaves, Dex argues that Deathstroke con't sue if he's not Slade. He shoots back that they have to pay him unless they prove Slade and Deathstroke are the same person, which they can't. He then leaves for his target; the aircraft carrier that belonged to the drug cartel, now being converted into a oceanside casino.

Back In Blue
Back In Blue

When Raptor and Red Lion begin their plan to steal the carrier. Slade follows Raptor. Hiding in the shadows, he mocks Raptor's sob-story past and hints that it's a lie. Revealing himself, Slade tells Raptor he has something he is after. Raptor congartulates him for beating them to the ship, even though he was a day behind them. He then tells Slade he believes he can change the world, and asks Slade what he believes. His reply is that he believes in Smith and Wesson, and demands the Ikon Suit back. Because he left it behind in his escape, Raptor calls salvage rights on the suit. In response, Deathstroke vows to bury him in it.

As the two begin fighting, Red Lion shows up to witness the fighting and mock Slade for his choice of attire. While Slade keeps the upper hand thanks to his metahuman abilities, Raptor manages to hold his own. Unexpectedly, the Wintergreen A.I. begins giving Slade advice, having hacked into his suit's comm system to help him defeat Raptor. too busy to be fazed by the development, Slade orders the AI to shut the suit down, but Raptor has locked the AI out of the suit's programming. Slade then orders the suit to do the next best thing; call someone who can access the suit, that someone being Jericho, who is surprised to hear that Slade is out of prison. Jericho asks if he is still upset about the role he played in him getting arrested, but Slade responds that he has no hard feelings, before Slade can ask him for a favor, Jericho cuts him off, as he is busy. Slade then asks how much he is getting paid to do so, and he responds that not everything is about money, a philosophy Slade disagrees with. Getting back to business, Slade asks him if he can help him get in touch with Isherwood. Since he had an Ikon suit and he liked Isherwood, Slade assumes he knows where he is. He instructs Jericho to patch him through to Slade's comms and then call Adeline. Clearly distraught (Unbeknownst to Slade, Jericho put Isherwood in the hospital recently), Jericho agrees to do what he asks.

As Slade and Raptor keep fighting, they are thrown off balance and realize the carrier is moving. Red Lion inserts himself between them and explains the situation. Red Lion had several hundred sleeper agents enter the United States posing as refugees seeking asylum from his genocide. He called them to service, and instructed them to attach turbojet submersibles to tow the ship into international waters. He then asks the two to stop, but Slade only cares about getting his Ikon suit back. Slade informs Bland that he realizes his plan; break him out of prison to cover Raptor's escape, and have him steal the Ikon suit to lure Slade to the carrier. The last thing Slade wants to know is what Matthew wants from all of this, and what he stands to gain from it. Impressed that Slade put all the pieces together, he offers Slade his ex-wife Adeline, and all he wants is control of his country and people back, which he blames the US for losing.

Matthew explains that Alisante, the previous owner of the carrier, was allowed to roam the seas freely thanks to the intelligence team Adeline runs protecting him in exchange for information. Because the carrier was bought and set to become a casino, it is an ideal target for Raptor, who prefers to target the wealthy. Between Jericho and the government, most of the intelligence Adeline was getting was found, except for the most sensitive intel, capable of putting Adeline away, hidden in the ship's nuclear reactor chamber. Matthew then tells Slade what he is offering; he needs the reactor turned back on to steal the carrier and use it to reclaim his country, but the chamber is still radioactive. Thanks to his healing factor, Slade is best equipped to put the fuel rods back into the reactor. In exchange for helping, Slade gets the intel, and Raptor gets to strike at the people who bought the ship. Deciding the risk is worth it, the two agree to set aside their grievances and help Red Lion.

Once they reach the reactor, the two don radiation protections suits and enter the chamber. While they reinsert the fuel rods, Raptor asks why Slade is friends with Red Lion even though he will probably kill them both. Slade responds that they are not friends, but they tolerate each others' existence. Raptor cannot understand how he can tolerate a genocidal despot, but Slade retorts that the tribes he was killing are now killing their formers oppressors, and that Matthew may save more lives than he takes. He then offers to let Raptor keep the Ikon suit if he can make sense of the situations. Raptors cites several occasions as insight into how despots think.

Fifteen minutes into the process, the Wintergreen AI informs Slade that the radiation suits were only meant to last eight minutes. Unconcerned, Slade continues with the mission. Raptor asks if he intends to misalign the fuel rods and stop Red Lion from claiming the ship knowing how many people he will kill with it. Slade claims he doesn't care about that, believing that Red Lion will restore order in his country, then avoid doing anything that could justify US intervention. He then notices that Raptor's radiation suit has fumes building up inside of it. Raptor is confused, but Slade knows exactly what is happening. Because Slade is the only one with the ability to generate enough kinetic energy to power, the Ikon suit, Raptor rigged lithium ion cells to the suit to power it. The fume problem is the cells overheating due to radiation exposure, melting the raditation suit, disabling the Ikon suit underneath, and leaving Raptor completely exposed and covered in radioactive clothing. Raptor doesn't buy it, but Slade tells him his best chance at survival is to take off all his clothes and run.

Slade then radios Red Lion to tell him the fuel rods have been inserted, but he radios back that they are too late; Adeline and her team have already boarded. Before Adeline can arrest Matthew, Slade appears, back in the Ikon suit, and reminds her that the ship has already reached international waters. Adeline threatens to tow the ship back to shore and arrest them both, and Slade threatens to kill all of her men if she tries. She complies, and professes her hate for Slade, to which he responds that she never should have married him. Before leaving, she declares that she has made it her life's mission to kill Slade.

Slade then frees Matthew from his restraints, and tells him that Raptor had fled the ship by the time Slade exited the decontamination shower. He then instructs him to make sure Raptor didn't sabotage anything. Now free, Matthew asks Slade what he will do with the dirt he has on Adeline. Once alone, Slade ponders what to do while holding the hard drives in his had. After a moment, Slade tosses the drive into the air and blasts them all with his energy staff. After leaving Red Lion to his devices, Slade is later seen in the most shocking of places; sleeping next to Étienne, Jericho's fiancée. She is wide awake, nervous because she is set to marry Joseph in a week, but when she realizes she woke Slade, he tell to stop obsessing, as everything will eventually work itself out.

The next morning, as the two get dressed, Slade insists Étienne break off her engagement with Joseph, as he believes she doesn't love him and is only trying to get at him. Originally, he thought she was working for Adeline, but he knows she loves Joseph too much to let someone capable of a relationship with Slade near him. Étienne claims she really does love him, and he admonishes her for falling for her target. Before leaving on business, he reminds her he will kill her if she tells anyone, and kisses her.

Dead Eye
Dead Eye

The business he set out to do was returning to Colorado to surrender to Dex, as he agreed to turn himself in after finding Raptor. However, Dex offers to drop the government's case against him if he drops his lawsuit against the state. He also offers Slade his sword back in exchange for a favor. Slade agrees and travels to The Bronx to capture a data thief working as a cab driver to avoid detection. When he finds his target, he manages to slip away. However, Earth 0's Power Girl happened to be nearby, and tries to catch his quarry herself. Avoiding her, he tries to run, but runs into Slade, who used the opportunity to change into his suit. In the scuffle, Slade is injected with , but manages to corner him behind a dumpster. The thief offers to double what he's being paid to leave, but he refuses, and kick the dumpster into him. Once he changes back into his civilian clothes, the drugs start to take effect, causing him to pass out. When he comes to, he finds that Tanya took him back to lab/apartment and cleaned him up. She also explains that his suit was still radioactive, so she cleaned that too. She marvels at his abilities and the tech in his suit, but he tells her he has to leave, and to turn on some lights. Tanya then explains that she believed he already knew, but he was blind in his eye.

Seeking answers, Slade takes Tanya with him to see Dr. Villain, his on-call doctor, in Jersey City. As his eye is being scanned, Villain and Tanya trade theories to explain the blindness. When Slade tells them to use simpler terms, Tanya, explains that he is just blind; no known medical diagnosis explains it. Upset at the lack of results despite the effort, Slade leads. Tanya tries to get "Raptor" to stay longer, but he refuses. As Tanya leaves for a break. Villain, points out the fact Tanya thinks the he is Raptor and a superhero. He replies that he is simply taking advantage of the fact that the real Raptor painted his logo on his suit. When Slade asks for the facts - revealing he has been slowly losing his vision for some time - Villain explains that his time in a nuclear reactor accelerated his vision loss. He also explains that there is a 75% chance the blindness will be permanent.

Unable to cure his blindness, Tanya gives Slade Roscoe, a retired police dog, so serve as his eyes and a companion. Slade refuses to keep any type of companion around, but Tanya tries to sway him by offering high tech glasses that allow him to see using sound waves and connect to the Wintergreen A.I. Once online, the A.I. admonishes Slade for still being with Tanya. When he asks if she can hear the A.I., she says she kept it quet to avoid eavesdropping in a fellow hero. Slade admonishes her for not taking their line of work seriously. At the same time, "Wintergreen" pulls up data on Tanya, revealing her status as a Teen Titan. She claims that she was a Titan, but quit after her leader died, and went on to graduate from M.I.T. and took a job at Star Labs, and only acts as a superhero "part-time." Currently working a case, she asks Slade for help. When he asks how much it pays, he stops and stares at Roscoe.


That evening, the two attend a party in Westchester Village. However, he is recognized by a mercenary trying to pull a hit at the party a hit at the party at the party. A few minutes later, a woman orders him to meet her employer in the men's restroom or her people shoot Power Girl. Complying, Slade recognizes the hitman running the operation as Kyle Rogers a.k.a. Deadline. He tells Slade that he has the contract to kill a Congresswoman (Ironically, the widow of the Congressman Slade drove to suicide a while back), and demands he walk away. Slade counters by offering him double his pay to let him take the kill. When he refuses and leaves, Wintergreen sabotages their comms, giving Slade an opening to kill the mercenaries guarding him. While Tanya is forced to engage Deadline, Slade used the opportunity to change into his suit. As Deadline's men go in for the kill, Slade arrives on the scene and uses his energy staff to incapacitate them. Having found a use for Roscoe, Slade prepares to fight as the new vigilante Twilight.

As Twilight and Roscoe dispatch Deadline's thugs, Slade has his A.I., now dubbed Billy, to hack into Deadline's comms, and asks him to back. He refuses and asks why Slade is pretending to be a hero. He replies that he lost a bet and retorts that he was foolish to ignore his previous offer. When Deadline realizes that Slade actually cares about Tanya, he leaps out of the window and blasts a hole in her gut. He then kidnaps the real Wintergreen, who had just arrived, and gives him an hour to give up his target in exchange for Wintergreen.

Deathstroke vs. Deadline
Deathstroke vs. Deadline

An hour later, Deadline prepares to kill Wintergreen because Slade was late, just as he finishes taking out his men. Tossing one of his men's bodies into Deadline, Slade declares that he is officially angry. Deadline calls him out for interfering for his job, but Slade only cares about the fact that he killed a child whose heroism saved his life, moving him to pretend to be a hero for her. Deadline reveals that he filed a complaint with the "Society," but Slade plans to kill him before that happens. Slade shoots Deadline's hover discs out and gets in close, even though Billy advises him against a metahuman armed with alien technology in close combat without his eyesight. Despite not wanting to, Deadline phases his hand into Slade's chest to try to kill him. However, Slade planned for that, because he knew that Deadline's phasing power would have an unknown reaction to the power of the Ikon suit. In this case, Deadline's hand solidifies inside of Slade, severing it completely. As the two collapse, the glasses Tanya designed fall off, leaving him completely blind. Against Billy's advice, Slade tries to finish the job. Siccing Roscoe onto Deadline. Slade uses the opening to get the glasses back and tails Roscoe. However, Before he can kill him, Tanya, whose powers let her heal, arrives. Unwilling to kill in front of Tanya, Slade knocks him out and lies about planning to kill him.

The two head back to Tanya's apartment and while he is alone, Slade and the real Wintergreen talk about what to do with Deadline's alien rifle. In the end, Slade tells him to keep it for him in case he ever needs it,even though it's rigged to work only for Deadline. Slade decides to have Isherwood try to unlock it, but Billy reminds him that he won't help. In a lapse of memory he considers using Hosun, and has to be reminded that he disappeared. Unfortunately, Beast Boy, having arrived to hang out with Tanya, arrives. When he sees Slade, he reveals the truth about him to her.

The Truth Hurts
The Truth Hurts

When she confronts him, rather than be angry at him, she is upset at herself for helping him. Rather than kill like she expected, Slade tells that despite the lies, he respected her work. She then begins fretting about being an accessory to all of the people he killed, but he tells her she isn't responsible. When she tries to get him to turn himself in, he refuses, but decides to tell her his real name. As she prepares to use force to take him down, he kills Roscoe to get her worked up. Enraged, Tanya attacks him, but despite not being able to see, he manages to escape.

However, having planned for Tanya discovering the truth, he had "Billy" hack into her network days ago. Billy then activates Tanya's defenses to keep her at bay, while he flees into the base she had built into the apartment block. Reaching his suit, he puts it on, and Billy informs him that she made modifications to it. "Wintergreen" then prepares a plan to kill Tanya, but Slade intends to spare her. As he finishes gathering his gear, Tanya catches up to him and demands his surrender. In response he tells her that being a hero comes at a price and attacks. As Slade blasts her in the ear, she asks him what his price was, but he refuses to burden with that much horror. As the shot to the ear distorted Tanya's sense of balance, Slade uses the opening to steal her jet. As he takes off, he tells Tanya that she needs to take being a hero more seriously. To prove him wrong, she destroys the jet before it can leave. When she checks the wreckage, she finds that Slade escaped. As he removes the sleeve Tanya sewed onto his suit to get rid of any failsafes, Billy talks about Roscoe, and explains that he killed him to make Tanya hate him. Because he cared about her, he needed to push her away. Slade silences Billy and demands directions to the airport so he can make it to Jericho's wedding.

On the day of the wedding, Jericho attacks Slade in the church where the wedding is taking place, believing that he murdered Étienne. Slade tells him he wasn't the killer, but Joe refuses to let up. When Slade calls him son, he loses it and flies them both outside, right into the path of an oncoming truck. Joe pins Slade and vows to end him.

Boiling Point
Boiling Point

Flashing back to the previous day, Slade arrives in L.A. to talk to the bride. However, he came in while she was talking to her boss. While she is being chewed out for going off the reserves, Slade takes the phone from her to talk to the person charge: Amanda Waller. Amanda voices surprise that he is no longer in New York, and Slade offer to have one of his private jets fly him to her to take out her team. He warns her to his kid be, but she demands that he bring her person back to square things away. Slade reminds Waller who she is talking to, and that he will keep her spy around until he gets tired of her or kill her on the spot. At that moment, Wintergreen shows up to talk.

Wilson Family Gathering
Wilson Family Gathering

Billy recounts all of the wrongs Slade has done to his children, his ex-wife, Tanya, and his blindness, and that it all has to end somewhere. Slade replies it doesn't have to, but Billy disagrees. He tells him that not even Deathstroke can escape the consequences of his actions, and the cost is everything and everyone in his life. He warns that Slade needs to make things right, and to change Wintergreen's voice before leaving. Taking Billy's words to heart, he starts by going to tell Patricia the terms upon which he would let Luis live. He then removes tape from a restrained Luis' mouth. He tells him that he's not really helping him, because he knows he won't listen to him or his mother and change his path. Because he won't change, he tells him he is a dead man walking and leaves.

The day of the wedding, Rose, Slade, Adeline, and Barry sit together as they wait for the proceedings to start. Rose takes a moment to explain to tell Slade off for the contract and the fake family. He responds that he was trying to help her learn about her heritage and drive her to decide who she wants to be. At that moment, Joseph storms in wearing the Ikon suit and possesses the minister, to everyone's confusion. The possessed minister grabs the gun Adeline had on her and shoots Slade in the head. The shot only grazes him, and Slade suits up in response. Billy warns him that Joe is trying to shut down his Ikon suit.

Returning to the present, Joseph uses his Ikon Suit to stop the truck, destroying it. Joe tries to hit Slade, but he dodges and again tells him he did not kill Étienne. As Billy reminds him that Tanya's glasses can't truly replace his lost sight, he reveals that she was Waller's spy. However, Joe still won't let up, and Slade gets distracted as he remembers the instance where he saved grant from the bear, allowing Joe to land a blow. As Slade plays defense, Billy studies Joe's suit to find a weakness. It then tells him that Slade can use the gravity field of his suit to expose a flaw in his son's armor that he can use to kill him. As Billy count's down to his opening to act, he remembers the day Joseph had his throat cut, and how he secretly cried that day. He then shuts down the Ikon suit, and allows Joseph to hammer him. Before he can kill him, Rose tries to calm him down, but he knocks her out too.

The Plan Begins
The Plan Begins

While Slade is out, he has a flashback to a memory he had forgotten: the death of Grant. When he comes to, he is in the hospital, and is surprised that he can see again. Wintergreen, who is there checking on him, explains that Dr. Villain got his hands on an eye and had it transplanted. He also explains that he was talking about Grant and a "new Flash" while out. Seemingly ignoring Wintergreen, he gets dressed and tells him to prep his jet.

Slade then begins investigating what he remembered by capturing the new Flash: the original Wally West, who had been trapped outside of existence until recently. Hiring thugs to lure out Wally and the Titans, he knocks out Wally with a combination of tranquilizers and truth serum. He then takes Wally to his hideout and traps him on a treadmill to keep him from escaping. He then interrogates Wally about his friends, his disappearance and reappearance, and history being altered. When he is satisfied, he shuts the treadmill off. He then asks Wally about the day Grant died, and he explains that he was killed by the powers H.I.V.E gave him. He also apologizes for not being able to save Grant despite his best efforts. Slade then restrains Wally again and asks him about speedsters and time travel. Wally then realizes Slade's plan; to travel back in time and save Grant. Wally tries to talk him out of it to no avail. He then breaks free and pins Slade to a wall. He then makes Wally an offer; help him save Grant, and he will bury Deathstroke. Wally is tempted, but he refuses, knowing better than most the consequences of messing with time. However, Slade anticipated Wally would refuse and secured a contingency. By posing as civilian having car trouble, he was able to capture the second Wally West, Kid Flash.

The older Wally tries to warn the younger about Slade, but he knocks him out and asks Kid Flash to help him out. Surprisingly, Slade releases him and appeals to the grief Wally carries over his dead father to convince him to help him bring Grant back to life. To get his point, he has Wally take them both to see a still comatose Rose, Jericho in a psychiatric ward, and Grant's grave. When he returns them to Slade's base, Slade asks Wally to help him change who he is, then walks off. Wally agrees, but it turns out Slade already got what he wanted. By running him to the places the visited, he got a sample of Wally's Speed Force energy. The two teams of Titans arrive later to find their friends only to find that Slade accomplished his goal. Using stolen technology grafted onto the Ikon Suit, Slade has used the energy he gathered from Wally to connect to the Speed Force. Slade tests out his new powers by running, but the older Wally, who had recovered by then, tries to chase him down. Slade tries to get Wally off his back, but he stays on his tail. When he mentions a deal in place, Wally gets confused. Slade then explains the nature of the deal.

A year after the original Teen Titans' battle with Grant, Slade broke into their HQ. Robin arrived to try to bring him down, but is cornered before he can make a move. Slade explains that he is their kill them, having taken up Grant's contract with H.I.V.E his death. However, Robin knows that he has a different reason for being there. Slade then offers Dick a choice; take the offer he makes or die. Slade explains that his daughter Rose is going to move in with him because Lillian has died. However, Slade doesn't want her around him for fear of corrupting her. Though he's arranged to have her taken care of, he wants Dick to teach her his values in hope that it will keep her from turning out like him. In exchange for this, Slade will convert his contract with H.I.V.E into a Lazarus Contract. He will abandon the contract and leave the Titans alone, but should either man fail to uphold their end of the bargain, the contract will be back on.

Deathstroke-Fastest Killer Alive
Deathstroke-Fastest Killer Alive

Back in the present, Slade acknowledges Nightwing for keeping his word, and ponders how he was made to forget about Grant. He then stops running and tells Wally that the as they now both have super-speed, the playing field is even, However, because Slade is a trained mercenary, he now has the upper hand. Unnerved, Wally retreats. As Slade runs, he remembers his past with Grant: the time he saved him from a bear, and the night Adeline asked for a divorce. It turns out that was also the night Grant ran away. Before he can get far, Slade gets ahead of him and gives him an offer; he will let him leave if he hits him and proves he has some capacity to handle the outside world. Angered, Grant punches him in the chest, but Slade is unfazed. Though he agrees to let him leave, Slade intends to beat Grant before he goes. However, Grant is hit by a passing car. As Grant gets them to give him a lift, Slade watches in the shadows as his son leaves.

"And They Said I'd Burst Into Flames"

In the present Slade goes on an international killing spree, before stopping to check on Rose. Wintergreen also arrives to tell Slade that Jericho has been released, and encourages him to visit him. Slade refuses, as he plans to go on a mission. When Billy asks how long he will be, Slade simply tells him he is going to fix all the wrongs he done in the past of die trying. He takes time to try to find Isherwood again, to no avail. He then decides to do what he set out to do. By running at top speed towards the place where Grant died, he manages to time-travel to the Grant's location not long before he made his move on the Titans. Grant is confused at Slade's sudden appearance, so he unmasks himself. He then does the one thing no one who knows Slade personally ever thought was possible...he hugs his son.

Slade takes Grant to a safe house in Vermont. When he stops, he tells Grant he needs to stop working for H.I.V.E. However, Grant is too caught up in meeting his idol. Slade then takes off his helmet, and Grant - still hating his father - stops listening and lashes out, forcing Slade to knock him out. Upset that he failed to get through to Grant, he decides to go back further in time and try again. On try number four, Slade tries telling him the serum H.I.V.E. gave him will kill him, but he refuses to listen. At that moment, Grant begins to fade out of existence. Thanks to the two teams of Titans, Slade was cut off from the Speed Force, undoing all of his attempts and pulling him back into the present.

Deathstroke is Dead
Deathstroke is Dead

As Slade reappears in the present at the spot where the Titans first HQ was, he spots the combined Titans nearby. However, despite the Titans cutting off his speed, it turns out Slade managed to tap into the Speed Force trough his body rather than his suit. Enraged that they stole his chance to change the past, he decides to use his power to try to save Grant again. Intending to stop Grant from ever running away and kill them all when he returns, he speeds off. Jericho travels in Slade's wake and tries to get him to stop. Too concerned about saving his first son, he runs so fast that he and Jericho get trapped in the Speed Force.

Despite being betrayed, the young Wally West desires to save Slade and runs into the Speed Force after him. Because he doesn't know how to leave the Speed Force, the teams combine there efforts to pull them all out. Robin immediately wants to take him down, but Slade is too caught up on what happened in the Speed Force. Slade iss able to temporarily perceive multiples planes of existence simultaneously, but is cut off from the Speed Force. Rather than kill them all, Slade decides to end by quitting being Deathstroke forever.


Slade Wilson has a very complicated personality. He is a trustworthy and honorable man who operates under a strict code of ethics, yet his sense of morality is flawed. Slade is a man who believes in using deadly force, and at times has acted as judge, jury, and executioner for those he deems without honor or worth. However, Slade is particular about the jobs he chooses, often turning down jobs that would compromise his personal moral compass, such as it is. In some occasions, Slade has fought on the side of angels merely because he believed in the cause. Other times, he has taken cases and committed acts other heroes would be disgusted by.

However, Slade is capable of extreme devotion, whether it is to his family, friends or ex-lovers. He has always sought to protect those who have been close to them, and would not hesitate to lay down his life in exchange for theirs. His greatest tragedies have been his inability to prevent the destruction of those who have loved him. The death of his sons and ex-wife continue to haunt Slade. He is tortured by his helplessness to have saved them.

Slade also has a hard time expressing his feelings. His lack of expression made him neither a good father or husband. At times, he has distanced himself from those he loved for their own protection. On separate occasions, he curtly cut ties with Rose Wilson, his daughter, and Pat Trayce, his lover, in an effort to "save" them from his way of life.

Despite his recent changes, Slade remains a man of mystery. Whether he will walk the side of angels or take the path to hell remains to be seen. You never know quite what to expect from him, and he would have it no other way.

Personal Data


Slade Wilson
Slade Wilson
  • Height: 6'4"
  • Weight: 225 lbs.
  • Eye Color: Blue
  • Hair Color: White/Blonde (New 52)


  • Citizenship: American
  • Identity: Secret identity
  • Marital Status: Divorced
  • Occupation: Assassin, Mercenary, Bounty Hunter, Gun for Hire, Soldier, Warrior

Powers & Abilities

Super Strength / Speed / Endurance / Intellect




He is fast and agile enough to engage entire teams of metahumans such as the Teen Titans alone and even tag characters such as Kid Flash in combat, which he has done on multiple occasions. He has been shown to even side-step Starfire's blast. Other characters (such as Hawkman) have often commented on how impressive Slade's speed, reflexes and agility are.


In DCnU, Slade appears to have a great degree of enhanced strength. In Deathstroke #1, he was shown ripping the door off an airplane at 40,000 feet above sea level with one arm. Indicating physical strength in the multi-ton range. In Deathstroke #14, Hawkman stated that Deathstroke's Nth Metal armor increases his strength and natural abilities even further. In reality Slade, over the years has shown strength, speed, endurance and reflexes above even peak human levels, that could be classified as low level metahuman.

In DC: Rebirth, It is stated that Slade's powers are a result of the super soldier serum triggering his metagene, officially making him a metahuman.

Healing Factor

Slade has also been granted a modestly accelerated healing factor which enables him to recover from physical injuries much faster than most humans, which supplies him with great longevity. This ability has limitations, as he can not regenerate lost eyes or limbs, although he can heal from fatal injuries such as being shot multiple times, stabbed with a sword through his vital organs or great impacts such as falls from great heights and hits from super-strong metahumans (such as direct hits from Donna Troy). He has recovered from otherwise fatal injuries, but the experience is traumatic.


While Slade's healing factor is formidable, it still has limits. It's been shown that if he receives too many injuries in too short a period of time, or becomes too exhausted from fighting too much, his healing rates will slow down until he rests himself.

High Body Temperature

Slades' constant body temperature is about 110° degrees to withstand severe cold weather. This high body heat also allows him to survive in very hot weather, making it hard for his body to overheat. This temperature also prevents frequent illness, by killing any potential pathogens he comes into contact with before he can become ill.

Enhanced Senses / Reflexes / Agility


Expert Combatant / Soldier / Marksman

Slade, even before he had his physical attributes enhanced, was considered one of the world's top (and most decorated) soldiers (considered the best even among the members of the elite Team 7 that included characters like Grifter and Black Canary).



Missing Right Eye

Slade lost his right eye due to a gunshot wound. His ex-wife Adeline Kane was enraged after finding out that her son Joseph became mute. She became enraged at Slade, arguing that he betrayed her and risked her sons life. She then fired a gun at Slade, and he managed to evade the bullet but his right eye was lost. Though so far, his fighting ability has yet to be hindered by his blindness. In fact, when Slade lost his eye after having it restored, he claimed that he was able to fight better with one eye. This is likely due to him having fought with only one eye for so long.


Recently, Slade's eyesight has begun to deteriorate for reasons beyond that of any known medical explanation for it. After spending too much time exposed to a nuclear reactor, his one remaining eye went blind. However, Tanya Spears equipped him with special glasses that allowed him to see, and her pet dog as a seeing eye dog. Eventually, Slade's on-call doctor finds him a new eye and transplants it into him, eliminating the issue.

Weapons & Equipment

Ikon Suit: After his rebirth, Slade came across a prototype of one of his older suits of armor during a rescue mission. Created by Dr. Ikon, in addition to being bulletproof, this armor is able to absorb kinetic energy to power itself. Once activated, the kinetic energy generated by Slade's superhuman movement speed and reflexes can maintain the suit's energy levels. Because it requires enhanced reflexes to run, only Slade can generate the kinetic energy needed to keep the suit charged. It can be powered by alternative energy sources, such as a lithium fuel cell, but should such a source run out stop working for any reason, the suit's functions will shut down.

The durability of the suit combined with its energy-absorbing properties enable Slade to withstand incredible force, so much so that that Slade can take repeated punches from Superman without going down. Also, if the suit absorbs too much kinetic energy, it will release a shockwave proportionate to the amount of excess energy in the suit. The suit is also equipped with a sophisticated AI system with the voice of Wintergreen, but Slade swore never to use it, breaking that oath only under exigent circumstances.

The suit has four flaws revealed to date. First, It can be shut down by anyone wearing an Ikon suit with the master program in it. Second, the suit's defense shield does not work against abilities or materials that disrupt gravity fields. Against such forces, the suit becomes nearly useless. Third, while the Ikon Shield is durable, there are limits to how much kinetic energy the suit cans absorb. If hit with enough force, the shield can collapse, as shown in another battle with Superman. Lastly, if communications with the suit's AI are jammed while it is online, the defense shield cannot be activated.

Broad Sword: Slade carries a promethium broad sword that is more durable than Titanium. The durability of the sword mixed with his metahuman abilities are extremely formidable. He has been known to cut through a jet wing in a single strike with his sword. Also, the promethium in the blade allows it to absorb large amounts of energy.


Energy Staff: One of Deathstroke's signature weapons, a near indestructible bo staff (sometimes made out of promethium) that can also discharge an energy blast (strong enough to destroy aircraft and even injure or stun powerful SPB's like Superman). Lately, he has been shown to be able to separate his staff into two nightsticks, similar to Nightwing.



Former Attire

Promethium Wear & Arsenal: Deathstroke in previous continuum used an arsenal consisting of Volatile Promethium spliced within his mesh-woven, kevlar, chainlink mail body armor and a couple bits of weaponry, particularly his own swords and ballistic munitions. Because of his regenerative abilities Slade is largely immune to the mutative effects that irradiate promethium possesses, possibly even enhancing his own metahuman attributes. Recently, Slade was forced to discard this suit on a mission. It was found and redesigned, and is now being used by The Red Lion.

Nth Metal Armor: In the Post-Flashpoint Universe, Slade wears a special armor made partially from Nth Metal which is stronger than titanium. It's more durable than regular armors and further enhances Deathstroke's natural abilities. His armor allows him to take heavy blasts, and gives him added protection against piercing weapons. His Nth metal armor is incredibly durable, to the point he is able to take direct hits from Lobo.

Speed Force Battery Cells: Deathstroke once incorporated Speedforce extrapolation technologies devised by Prof. Darwin Elias. Using these power cores Slade was able to utilize the speed force he would siphon from other Speedsters, implanting these devices into his Ikon Suit Equipment enabled Wilson a pseudo link to the Speed Force in which he could utilize all of a runners special powers. These abilities combined with his uniforms ability to compress space via it's gravity sheath gave him the ability to breach time and dimensions at will.

Godkiller Sword: Deathstroke was temporarily allowed to wield the Godkiller, a powerful blade forged by Hephaestus. As the name implies, the weapon has enough power to kill both gods and titans. Because the sword is magic based, Slade was able to trade blows with Superman while holding it. The Godkiller has the ability to take the shape of any weapon Slade needs such as a staff, twin swords, binding coils, etc. The weapon has a mind of its own, allowing it to fly to the wielder when separated. Also, in battle, it controls the user almost as much as they control it, guiding their movements and influencing their decisions. Once Slade completed his mission, Hephaestus reclaimed the Godkiller.

Rocket Boots: Copied from designs of an old version of Steel's armor, Slade put these to use on a recent mission. Because Slade's version lacked motors, they hindered his ability to move, even with his enhanced strength. Also, the boot jets allowed him to fly. Though they allowed him to reach great heights at high speed, they only had enough fuel for one use.

Other Versions






Deathstroke & the Curse of the Ravager
Deathstroke & the Curse of the Ravager






Other Media


Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman

Deathstroke (played by Antonio Sabàto, Jr.) appeared in the eight episode of the fourth season of Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman.

Deathstroke in Lois & Clark
Deathstroke in Lois & Clark

In the show he is a former scientist exposed to magnetic particles by an accident, giving him magnetic powers. After this, he becomes an assassin, killing with his powers. He and his wife take the name Bob Stanton and Carol Stanton when they arrive to Metropolis. They become friends with Clark and Lois, when they discover that Lois is going to interview a billionaire. They plan to assassinate the billionaire before he goes public, taking his identity and his fortune. Superman finds out and frustrate their plan, leaving Deathstroke to the police.

Teen Titans

Slade in the Teen Titans.
Slade in the Teen Titans.

Deathstroke appeared as the most recurrent villain in the animated series of the Teen Titans, voiced by Ron Perlman. However, since neither of the names "Deathstroke" or "The Terminator" were accepted as suitable for a cartoon aimed for kids, he was called by his birth name of "Slade". Though this is never stated to be his real name in the cartoon, it is used as if it is an alias. Slade's appearances and motives are unknown at first, and seem to vary with the show's seasons with the first season having him driving Robin to a point where he could control him and eventually turn him into his apprentice which eventually fails when Slade underestimates Robin and the relationship he shares with his fellow Titans.

Together against the Titans.
Together against the Titans.

Season Two is broadly based on the "Judas Contract" story where he encounters Terra after she leaves the Titans and lures her in with promises to help her control her powers, while manipulating her to make her hate the Titans before sending her back to them as a sleeper agent to gather information. She would then let Slade's robots into the tower. Slade further augmented Terra's powers by grafting a suit onto her body to ease her control, while making him able to control her body should she one day rebel. However, Slade again suffered defeat as Terra eventually turned on him when he tried to force her to kill Beast Boy. She knocks Slade into a pool of lava, killing him.

Slade appears as an hallucination.
Slade appears as an hallucination.

On account of him being dead, Slade didn't make any actual appearances in Season Three. Though he made an appearance as a drug-induced hallucination on Robin's part when he inadvertently inhaled some dust found on Slade's old mask. However, Cyborg noted that the dust was triggered from outside the tower which led to further speculation about whether Slade was truly dead or not.

Season Four would see Slade return from the dead as an empowered henchman to Trigon, possessing a vast array of demonic powers such as pyrokinetic control and flight while also being indestructible. Slade would later explain to Robin that he had agreed to serve Trigon and prepare Raven for his arrival in return for his own flesh and blood, which Robin had realized was missing when Slade was shown to be nothing but his suit and a walking skeleton. During his time as a mere henchman, Slade revealed new sides of himself such as a dark sense of humor while obviously enjoying himself when tormenting the Titans, and Raven in particular whom he apparently didn't think much of before until Trigon revealed what she really was and what she was meant to do. Because of Raven's choices or Trigon's cruel nature, Slade was usurped by Raven as commander of Trigon's army and cheated out of his reward when Trigon claimed it was him and not Slade who made Raven embrace her destiny. Slade didn't take kindly to this and, while his new powers were taken away from him, he survived to ally himself with the Teen Titans against Trigon after leading Robin to where Raven was being kept in Trigon's realm.

Slade returns as Trigon's henchman.
Slade returns as Trigon's henchman.

After Trigon's defeat, Slade disappeared. However, Slade would be featured once more in the Season Five series finale where Beast Boy encountered and fought one of his robots after finding a girl that looked just like Terra attending a school. Beast Boy was convinced it was Slade who had made her forget him. Slade claimed to have had no part in it, rather it was Terra who had wished to forget what she had once been and that Beast Boy had no right to remind her of it. Slade is the only villain not accounted for by the end of the series.



Slade In Smallville
Slade In Smallville



Deathstroke in Arrow
Deathstroke in Arrow



Years later when Oliver Queen is back in Starling City, he finds that Slade Wilson (now called Deathstroke) is in Starling City, threatening to destroy his family and everything Oliver has even valued. After a long fight with Oliver, Slade was eventually incarcerated in an ARGUS prison on Lian Yu.

Deathstroke is played by Manu Bennett.

Young Justice: Invasion

Deathstroke in YJ: Invasion
Deathstroke in YJ: Invasion


Beware The Batman

Deathstroke in Beware The Batman
Deathstroke in Beware The Batman

Deathstroke (voiced by Robin Atkin Downes) appears in the episode "Hero". He is recruited Anarky to target Batman and was first seen under the alias of Dane Lisslow. In "Twist", is revealed that he is both Slade Wilson (a former CIA agent and protege of Alfred Pennyworth) and Dane Lisslow. After Alfred witnessed how ruthless Slade Wilson was, he had him terminated from the CIA. Losing his life and family, Wilson is driven to work as top class assassin and mercenary Deathstroke. Years later, Alfred wants to mend their relationship, which causes Deathstroke to be fired and left for dead. He feels betrayed and wants revenge. Deathstroke confronts Batman and Katana, leaving them for dead. In "Alone", Deathstoke's memory is wiped with a chemical compound rending Deathstroke amnesiac.


Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths

Slade in JL: Crisis on Two Earths
Slade in JL: Crisis on Two Earths


Justice League: Flashpoint Paradox

Deathstroke in JL: Flaspoint Paradox
Deathstroke in JL: Flaspoint Paradox


In this distorted timeline, he and Lex Luthor were looking for Aquaman's Doomsday device, until his ship was found and attacked by an Atlantean army, Lex Luthor was killed and Slade managed to survive and kill some of them until he was attacked and presumably killed by Black Manta.

Son of Batman

Deathstroke in Son of Batman
Deathstroke in Son of Batman

In Son of Batman, Deathstroke (voiced by Thomas Gibson) is the main antagonist of the film.

He used to be a member of The League of Shadows and future successor of Ra's Al Ghul until his actions made Ra's thought he was unworthy. Feeling betrayed, Slade planned to overthrow Ra's. After Deathstroke defeated him, Ra's grandson, Damian, appeared to protect him, stabbing

Deathstroke's right eye. After escaping, Deathstroke works on a Ra's Al Ghul project to use Langstrom's Man-Bat gene splicing formulas on members of the League.

Deathstroke shoots Talia and fights Batman briefly untill he resuscitates her in a Lazarus Pit. Deathstroke and Damian start fighting which ends with Deathstroke defeated.

DC Extended Universe

Deathstroke will appear in the currently untitled Batman film of the DCEU, where he will be portrayed by Joe Manganiello.

Video Game

Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe

Deathstroke in MK vs DCU
Deathstroke in MK vs DCU



DC Universe Online

Deathstroke in DC Universe Online
Deathstroke in DC Universe Online


Batman: Arkham City Lockdown

Deathstroke in Arkham City Lockdown
Deathstroke in Arkham City Lockdown


Injustice: Gods Among Us

Deathstroke in Injustice
Deathstroke in Injustice




Batman: Arkham Origins

Deathstroke in Arkham Origins
Deathstroke in Arkham Origins



Lego Batman 2: DC Super Heroes


  • Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe
  • DC Universe Online
  • Injustice: Gods Among Us
  • Injustice Gods Among Us Ultimate Edition
  • Batman: Arkham City Lockdown
  • Batman: Arkham Origins
  • Lego Batman 2: DC Super Heroes

Secret Relationship

It all started when when Deathstroke was looking for Batman and found Cassie. They fought long and hard but Deathstroke won the battle. When Deathstroke made real eye contact, Deathstroke and Cassie fell in love and now they're dating.

Creators on Deathstroke



George Pérez:


Jonathan Peterson, Titans/Deathstroke editor:



Creators on Slade’s development






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