Deathstroke is really getting his due these days. The popular villain – and sometimes anti-hero- has appeared in various forms of media these days. Most people likely know him from the hit TV series Arrow, played by the awesome Manu Bennett, or from recent video games like Injustice: Gods Among Us and Batman: Arkham Origins. The character also had a significant role, though radically reinterpreted, in the animated film Son of Batman.
Today DC Comics announced, via MTV, that Deathstroke is getting his second solo series since the launch of The New 52 beginning this October. I’ve really taken to Slade Wilson lately, but what also excites me is that the book will be written and illustrated by Tony Daniel (Batman, Detective Comics, Superman/ Wonder Woman). Daniel is currently one of my favorite artists in the industry, so you can count me in to read this.
Here’s what Daniel had to say about his affinity for the Deathstroke character:
I’ve always been a big Deathstroke fan, dating back to my teenage years and he’s only gotten more bad-ass with time. He’s an incredible character, whether you’re playing him in a video game or watching him on TV or reading him in a comic book. People love Deathstroke now more than ever due to all the avenues he’s available in, myself included.
I tell people he’s sort of like a tricked out Batman, but he’ll kill you. Of course he’s not anything like Bruce Wayne, but he is a man with money and the means to pay for the gadgets and weaponry he’ll need to accomplish any goal. I’ve always been drawn to characters with a dark side and I think that makes him complex and compelling.
What I find interesting and why I wanted to write (and draw) Deathstroke, is the opportunity I have to make people give a damn about his missions and motivations. Giving readers a reason to invest emotionally in this guy’s missions and stories is what I think will make a difference for this new title and is key for me and one of my main goals.
As for the character’s status quo in a post Forever Evil world:
He’s still a mercenary and assassin, so there’s no way he’ll ever be welcomed into a room full of heroes. I’m writing him in a way where he is still pretty much a bad guy but because of his methods, and that whole killing his enemies thing, you know.
But the people he’s up against here are clearly evil bastards. If anyone deserves to be disemboweled, it’s this group. Deathstroke is a murderer by all definitions, for the most part, he’s going after his targets.
In my first arc he’s also the hunted, so I guess there is a little self defense in there somewhere. But make no mistake, he won’t be palling around with Superman. His only friends or lovers are others who are deeply rooted in the world of crime.
Below you can check out the cover and solicit for Deathstroke #1. As an added bonus, you can get a glimpse of a bust based on a Jim Lee design that can be purchased in January 2015.
DEATHSTROKE #1
Written by TONY S. DANIEL
Art by TONY S. DANIEL and SANDU FLOREA
Cover by TONY S. DANIEL
1:25 Variant cover by ANDREA SORRENTINO
On sale OCTOBER 22 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T+
The DCU’s deadliest assassin stars in his own ongoing series by writer/artist Tony S. Daniel! See him as never before in this explosive new series, with one surprise after another as we see Slade Wilson in the fight of his life!
The 6″ tall figure features a custom base, and is made of resin. It’s the first bust of Deathstroke in his DC Comics – New 52 costume, designed by Jim Lee, sculpted by Joe Menna and painted by Jason Wires. Price is TBD, but you’ll be able to pick this literal bad boy up in January, 2015.
Source: MTV
