DC Comics' most famous mercenary is back in his own series, and Deathstroke #1 wastes no time in getting into the head of Slade Wilson, a.k.a. Deathstroke. While the violence on display in this first issue won't be for everybody, there is no denying it is setting up some compelling backstory for the character.
The issue kicks off by taking readers behind the scenes with Deathstroke prepping for his next mission. Writer Tony S. Daniel gives us a glimpse into Deathstroke's deadly thought process as he rationalizes his career path and shows us that Deathstroke doesn't work alone. He has contacts and friends around the world that help him complete his missions.
This particular mission takes him to Russia in search of a man named "Possum." Along the way Wilson hooks up with friend and contact Angelica before falling into a deadly set-up that hints at a mission previously wiped from Wilson's memory.
As Deathstroke scrambles to survive ambush after ambush, Daniel gets the opportunity to put the spotlight on what Deathstroke does best: kill people with extreme violence. The issue doesn't shy away from showing blood, and there is plenty of it. Wilson executes targets at point-blank range in an explosion of red. Heads fly from shoulders. Hands are sliced clean off. It's near non-stop, over-the-top action, made all the more explosive by Daniel's impressively detailed art.
But Deathstroke doesn't relish in the bloodshed. It's just his job, and, in this particular case, essential to his survival. While it might prove to be too much for some, Daniel is at least giving us some reasons to be sympathetic to the gun-for-hire and his purpose in life. The end of the issue will catch some readers off guard. It's a typical comic book cliffhanger that leaves readers clamoring for the next issue.
Overall if you are looking for action, you can't go wrong with Deathstroke #1. Unlike some comics that are all violence and no substance, Daniel's does at least give a small but telling glimpse behind the curtain of Deathstroke's day-to-day life before filling the rest of the issue with near non-stop action. While I can't help but wish this issue dove a little deeper into Wilson's head and his life of violence, there is still plenty of room to explore his character further in the issues to come. If you don't mind the blood spray and are a fan of Slade Wilson, there is plenty to enjoy here.
Story
★★★½☆☆
Art
★★★★☆
Overall
★★★½☆☆
