Deathstroke Officially Returns to DC Continuity, Forming a New Team Equal to the Justice League

Warning: Spoilers for Titans #17

DC’s Deathstroke is back in the land of the living, and his vengeful sights are set squarely on the Titans. Death is never permanent in comics, but Slade Wilson’s has lasted longer than most would have anticipated, so his sudden return comes as a surprise. Sporting an updated version of his original design, this Titans villain is finally making a comeback – and making moves against his enemies.

Titans #17 – written by John Layman, with art by Pete Woods – concludes the opening story of this new era for the classic super-team as they battle a newly powered-up Clock King. He comes close to beating them by manipulating their memories and trapping them in their deepest traumas, but the Titans manage to circumvent his trickery by working together.

After his defeat, Clock King retreats to a bar and sulks. There, he gets paid a visit by none other than Deathstroke, who has his own words of wisdom about how to overpower the heroes.

Deathstroke Is Back From The Dead, And He Wants Revenge Against The Titans

Titans #17 – Written By John Layman; Art By Pete Woods & Wes Abbot

Years after his presumed death in DC’s Dark Crisis, Deathstroke has made his long-awaited return to DC continuity, and he’s forming his own team to combat the Titans and declare victory once and for all. Deathstroke has become the Titans’ arch-nemesis over the years, and one of DC’s most recognizable villains – meaning his return is not something done lightly, or without careful planning, by DC Comics. What this suggests to readers is that this volume of Titans has reached a pivotal point, and this latest conflict with Deathstroke is likely to have a profound impact on them.

Deathstroke was introduced in The New Teen Titans #2, and he has since evolved into the Titans’ nemesis. In his very first appearance, his son Grant Wilson, the Ravage, battles against the Teen Titans and dies during combat, due to his cybernetic enhancements burning his body from the inside. However, Slade blames the Titans for his son’s death, so he seeks to avenge him by vanquishing the Titans. While Deathstroke has alternated between being a villain and an antihero, his hatred for the Titans and the lengths he goes to exact revenge prove he’s a villain at his core.

Deathstroke Remains The Greatest Adversary In Titans History, Despite His Complicated Relationship With The Team

Slade Wilson, First Appearance: The New Teen Titans #2 – Written By Marv Wolfman; Art By George Pérez; Latest Appearance: Dark Crisis On Infinite Earths #7 – Written By Joshua Williamson; Art By Rafa Sandoval

From the iconic “Judas Contract” storyline to his destruction of Blüdhaven, many moments from Deathstroke’s history in the decades since his debut have demonstrated the lengths he will go to destroy the Titans. Now that he’s returned, Slade is wasting no time in plotting his next move against them. Throughout his frequent clashes with them, he has come to recognize their strength, informing Clock King that “they need to be respected as the formidable adversaries they are…if there is any chance to defeat them.” If anyone can stop the Titans, it’s Deathstroke, and he’s especially motivated after his last attempt fell through.

Deathstroke has long been an adversary to the Titans, and he reached the peak of his power during DC’s Dark Crisis on Infinite Earths event. In this story, he leads the Secret Society after the death of the Justice League in order to destroy the remaining heroes. Deathstroke even tries to kill Beast Boy by shooting him at point-blank range, though the Titan survives, albeit in a comatose state. His dark desires are ultimately revealed to be caused by Pariah’s control warping his mind, though his actions are still his own despite the Great Darkness’ influence over him.

Deathstroke Is Forming His Own Evil Justice League to Take Down The Titans

Who Will Deathstroke Recruit to Join His Villainous Team?

Deathstroke’s death comes after the dust has settled from this tumultuous Crisis. As the multiverse is stabilized and Slade loses his power from the Great Darkness, his cosmic battle with Nightwing comes to an end. Now powerless, Slade is preserved by the Titans’ life support machines as the heroes regroup – that is, until someone disables the life support and leaves Deathstroke to die. Now, over two years since his death, he has been revived somehow. Alive and more determined than ever, Deathstroke is ready to slay the Titans, and he will need his fellow villains’ help in order to succeed.

Now that Deathstroke has made his comeback to the DC Universe, it looks like he’s forming a coalition of villains in order to defeat the Titans at last. He has already recruited Clock King to his cause, as evidenced during their conversation. Because Deathstroke acknowledges that the Titans are officially a Justice League level team, it stands to reason that his own team will be of a similar power level. Confirmed in DC’s solicitations for future issues, Killer Frost and Mammoth will soon appear, and Deathstroke’s dark roster will only continue to grow as the resurrected villain conspires against the Titans.

Titans #17 is available now from DC Comics.