Comics / Comic Reviews / DC Comics

Deathstroke #2

By Hervé St-Louis
September 24, 2016 - 13:19

Deathstroke and Wintergreen investigate their close circle of friends to determine who sold them out to Chronos. While the investigation draws to a close, Slade stumbles upon a young woman from his past for whom he has a lot of affinities.

I am not enjoying Deathstroke. I am going to go against established thought where anything that Christopĥer Priest does is deemed worthy and insightful. I am mostly perplexed about the continuity. Is the Ravager a new addition to Deathstroke’s past? Has everything been rewritten? Is Slade Wilson starting with a clean slate? If that is the case, then the current story does make sense but if it is not, then I am confused.

The flashback from Slade’s early family life put more meat in the story woven by Marv Wolman and George Pérez 30 years ago. Sure, the kids are a bit older but it all makes sense. What does not make sense is how it all fits in the present. I admit that continuity is the biggest hang up that I have with this comic, after the cavalier way Priest used flashbacks in the first two issues. Using time jumps as a device was within the theme of the story since he was playing with a time traveller. However, it may have been too confusing for new readers who were told that they could read this comic as if it were a new start.

I want to like this series because of Priest’s reputation but it is difficult. What makes this comic easier to fathom is the beautiful and solid artwork by Carlo Pagulayan. He has this classic comic rendering, inspired by Pérez and Neal Adams where the characters’ forms are well-defined and pleasing. This is classic DC Comics rendering, enhanced by Jason Paz’s inks. At least that part of the comic offered a pleasant experience.

Last Updated: August 31, 2023 - 08:12