Deathstroke the Terminator #2 – Tony Fleecs, Writer; Carmine Di Giandomenico, Artist; Ivan Plascencia, Colorist
Ray – 9/10
Ray: Last issue kicked off with a bang, as we were introduced to an older Slade Wilson, still doing his thing – taking contracts, killing anyone in his way, and battling with other DC mercs like the Body Doubles. But behind the scenes, his daughter, and his loyal attache Wintergreen were discussing his future – and if there’s ever a possibility for Slade to be anything but a killer as he gets older. Well, it seems like the answer is a resounding no. Things have gone to hell for Slade, as his contract turned out to be a trap, Wintergreen was murdered, and Slade was framed for the killing. His money is gone, the authorities are hot on his trail, and every hitman in the DCU has been notified that the biggest bounty in history is on his head. And naturally, there’s only one thing left for Slade to do – kill everyone who gets in his way until he gets to the bottom of who’s placed a massive target on his head.
This entire issue takes place over a very short period of time, with Slade fighting his way through all comers, along with some flashbacks to his past. There’s a great segment with Wintergreen set right when Slade lost his eye to Adeline, on the heels of another tragic loss. It’s a fascinating look at the fatalistic way Slade views life, which is actually an asset to him here. He wastes no time getting back on his feet and reacting to what’s happened – as well as planning to kill whoever is in his ear, manipulating him now. The flashbacks are almost like breathing room before the next wave of attackers comes, as Slade tries to get information out of them before silencing them for good. The ending brings in two more elite enemies – one of which was pretty easy to predict, the other one is a big surprise and I wasn’t expecting to see any time soon. A very fun read, perfect for adrenaline junkies.
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GeekDad received this comic for review purposes
