Not Getting Older, Just Getting Better…Right? – Review Of Deathstroke #4

Ed. Note – This review is in no way influenced by the fact that I’m turning 40 tomorrow. Condolences, whiskey and Lipitor can be sent to the usual place.

Being Slade Wilson has never been easy. Given super strength, agility and healing factors through military experiments, you’d think Wilson would’ve had a bright future ahead of him as a metahuman super soldier. But, as so often happens, government bestowed super powers only come with more headaches than they’re worth. Am I right, Captain Atom? That guy knows what I’m talking about. In Slade’s case he ended up going mercenary to protect a friend, getting one of his sons kidnapped and grievously injured, getting shot at and partially blinded by his wife, and going on to become the punching bag for a group of teen superheroes, the Teen Titans. Oh, and engage in what can best be described as an “inappropriate” relationship with a 15 year old girl in the process. Slade Wilson – making the good choices! Serious, it’s all in The New Teen Titans: The Judas Contract. Go on. Read it and come back. I’ll wait.

Ok, so, now that the DC Universe has been rebooted, where does Slade Wilson find himself? Still a sad adversary to meta-powered children or did The Powers That Be give him a shot at a better life this time around?

Spoilery goodness and knife play after the jump!

Eh, not so much.

In this new continuity, Slade Wilson is still a mercenary for hire. However, he’s a bit of a lion in winter. Constantly, Wilson must continue to prove he’s still the best in the game in a field that keeps seeing younger, hipper, more technologically enhanced and savvy players challenge his spot at the top. What’s a guy to do?

Well, in issue one, he blew up the kiddies that would threaten his position of dominance – and that’s pretty much set the tone for this new series. Wilson’s biggest adversaries are his advancing age and the youth of those who would challenge him. All he can do is keep doing his job the best he can. It’s not like he can sue a potential client who needs a big time assassination for old age discrimination if he gets passed over for some younger, shinier wet work guy.

But, as hard as Deathstroke can deal out the harshness, is it indeed possible that he is losing his edge?

I, too, often spend nights alone, drinking and throwing knifves into the wall, wondering why my hands won't stop shaking. The neighbors are pissed.

To complicate matters, someone is targeting members of Wilson’s team for extermination. Oh, and it’s possible his son, who followed in his mercenary dad’s footsteps and has been presumed dead, might be alive. Has he been kidnapped instead? Are these two matters related somehow?

This series, written by Kyle Higgins, has been a big, fun action adventure read since the reboot. Slade Wilson’s job problems are actually pretty relatable for anybody who’s been working hard in their chosen field, only to find themselves suddenly being passed by as the young kids infiltrate their office and get promoted over them. Where did these guys come from, anyway? Planet Abercrombie and Fitch? The fight to stay relevant may only be in your own head, but it sure doesn’t feel like it sometimes.

Joe Bennett’s pencils bring the aging, but still powerful, Slade Wilson to vivid, bone cracking life. He knows his way around an action panel, but is just as effective portraying Wilson in the quieter moments, home alone with with doubts.

Deathstroke is the underrated sleeper of this DCnU reboot. It’s enjoyable to read him in a, at least for the moment, Teen Titans free storyline. I raise my whiskey glass in solidarity. We older ass-kickers need to stick together.