“Teen Titans” Vol.4 issue 23.2 and “Deathstroke” Vol.2 issue 6

“Teen Titans” written by Corey Mays and Dooma Wendschuh; “Deathstroke” written by Kyle Higgins

Wildstorm concepts:  

These two issues fill the gaps between what happened after Team 7 and the present of the new DCU, involving Deathstroke. “Deathstroke” issue 6 actually takes place in the present, but we’re only interested in the flashback page which takes place in the past.

“Teen Titans” is a bit of a mess of an issue. The pacing and dialogue are all over the place – but it does introduce Deathblow to this continuity. He’s featured as a run of the mill mercenary who may or may not have powers. (“You can’t kill me”, he says – is this a hint of his gen-active abilities?)

The issue is a study of Deathstroke and his personality through different time periods. We see him fighting in Bosnia before his Team 7 days, where he meets Michael Cray, Deathblow. We see him when his son Grant is born, and when he teaches him to be a mercenary like his daddy – After Team 7 Deathstroke only trusts his family. Sadly, a mission goes wrong and gets Grant killed, which prompts Slade to take revenge. This causes him to come to blows with Deathblow, an old ally, but nothing will stop him in his mission. The comic ends with Deathstroke killing his victim and then coming home to his new daughter, Rose. She will appear again in the pages of “Superboy”, where she’ll be involved with the Gen13.

“Deathstroke”, issue #6 introduces Midnighter, who is seen killing Deathstroke’s son. Wait, didn’t Grant die in the Teen Titans issue? I guess he died twice. While normally this issue would be considered more important, it’s a single-page flashback in which it’s merely hinted at that Midnighter is the killer.

Next: “Superman” Vol.3 issue 1 and “StormWatch” Vol.3 issues 1 – 6, by George Perez and Paul Cornell