Deathstroke: The Supervillain’s Comeback into Mainstream

Deathstroke

Will the real Deathstroke please stand up? It appears that the villain, the assassin is making his return not only in Arrow but in Young Justice television series and the new video game Injustice: Gods Among Us as well.

In Young Justice, he is now the replacement for Sportsmaster after Sportsmaster and Cheshire Cat betrayed the Light for family’s sake. His skills as a marksman has been demonstrated, and his tenacity as an assassin even more. He makes Sportsmaster look like child’s play and will be an inherent threat to the Justice League. But first they have the deal with the multitude of Beetles — the Blue Beetle, the Black Beetle and the Green Beetle — and the Reach — and the Light.

On the other hand, in the more realistic world of Arrow, Deathstroke’s appearance has been in cameos recently. However, Manu Bannett of Crixus fame in Spartacus has already bore the swords and guns of Deathstroke in the most recent episode of Arrow “Betrayal” finally. How he will play out will be interesting indeed as he appeared to assist the growth of Arrow — at least in this episode. With both the Dark Archer and Deathstroke in play, Arrow will have his hands full in Starling City. Speedy, his sister, may come to fruition to lend a hand (hopefully) either this season or early next season with Deathstroke and the Dark Archer on their doorsteps literally.

Lastly, Deathstroke will make an appearance in Injustice: Gods Among Us, the video game. But enough about Deathstroke’s present and future, let’s rewind to Deathstroke’s past — how he came to be…

Slade Wilson originally enlisted in the United States Army at the age of 16, having lied about his age. In the 1960s, Major Slade Wilson met Captain Adeline Kane where she became enamored. Slade Wilson not only possessed the skills but the prowess to adapt to different styles of warfare — whether conventional or guerrilla Later, the U.S. Army chose him to become a metahuman supersoldier, much like Captain America or Wolverine. Deathstroke became a mercenary soon after as he defied orders and rescued his friend Wintergreen.

Deathstroke is one mercenary not to be trifled with in the DC Universe. His homecoming in the mainstream may do him some justice.