DC Comics reviews for 6/5/19 – Justice League #25, Batman #72

Deathstroke #44

It’s basically a written law now that no comic book deaths stick. Eventually the hero/villain gets resurrected by a writer with a better idea on how to use said character.

Whether is for a few months or a few years, Slade Wilson will be back as Deathstroke. In the interim, Priest is crafting a new direction that looks to keep this title every bit as interesting.

To start though it’s time to say farewell. The supervillain and assassin communities gather to pay their respects (and disrespect) to the man nicknamed The Terminator all under the watchful glare of Superman and the late arriving Legion of Doom.

Priest is dialed in with the events affecting the larger DCU and this marks an unofficial Year of the Villain tie-in. Satisfied that their original agenda was fulfilled, the LOD look to expand its roster. Their nominee might prove surprising to some extent, but makes sense in the evolution of this particular character.

Fernando Pasarin’s artwork is stellar. For a time, Deathstroke suffered through some inconsistent art, but Pasarin has righted that ship with highly detailed panels and expressive characters as if he received his artist masters at George Perez and Phil Jimenez’s school of storytelling. Jeromy Cox’s colors are spectacular with so many striking reds and yellows.

This issue also serves as another epilogue for The Terminus Agenda complete with a cameo from the Teen Titans.

The villain slant to Funeral for a Friend marked another outstanding issue for Deathstroke. Next issue teases the kickoff of a new arc similar to one that played out in Batman. I’m interested to see where Priest takes it, but it certainly won’t be boring.

Rating: 9.5 out of 10