Deathstroke

The world's deadliest mercenary who never misses a shot or breaks a contract.

Deathstroke is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics, created by writer Marv Wolfman and artist George Pérez. He first appeared in The New Teen Titans #2 in December 1980 as Deathstroke the Terminator. His alias is Slade Joseph Wilson, a former U.S. Army soldier turned mercenary who gained enhanced physical and mental abilities from an experimental super-soldier serum. Regarded as the greatest and deadliest assassin in the DC Universe, he serves as the archenemy of Dick Grayson and the Teen Titans. A bicolored black-and-orange mask covering his missing right eye serves as his visual motif.

Quick Facts

Real name: Major Slade Joseph Wilson
Publisher: DC Comics
Debut: The New Teen Titans #2 (December 1980)
Creators: Marv Wolfman (writer); George Pérez (artist)
Species: Metahuman
Also known as: Deathstroke the Terminator

Lore & Background

Slade Wilson enlisted in the U.S. Army at age 16, lying about his age. After the Korean War, he was promoted to major at Camp Washington and trained by Captain Adeline Kane in guerrilla warfare within less than a year, reaching the rank of lieutenant colonel. During the Vietnam War, he met William Wintergreen and received a drug allowing him to utilize 90% of his brain's capacity, granting enhanced strength, an accelerated healing factor, and heightened senses.

His life fractured when Jackal took his son Joseph hostage; Slade refused to break his code, leading to Joseph having his throat slit, rendering him mute. Adeline, enraged by the danger her husband placed their family in, shot at Slade but only destroyed his right eye. Later, after gaining physical regeneration, Slade saved Adeline's life via blood transfusion, inadvertently driving her insane with a similar healing factor until Starfire was forced to kill her.

Reader's Guide

Deathstroke is a master tactician who can utilize up to 90% of his brain's capacity, allowing him to analyze opponents and formulate strategies instantly. He possesses superhuman strength, speed, durability, and an accelerated healing factor that keeps him alive as long as his brain remains intact. His visual identity includes a bicolored black-and-orange mask covering his missing right eye. He has manipulated his daughter Rose Wilson into becoming the new Ravager with a serum that heightened her hostility; she cut out her own left eye to prove her loyalty. Despite being an enemy, Slade occasionally acts as an ally when mutual threats arise, such as during the Titans Hunt storyline where he helped defeat the Wildebeest Society and was forced to kill his possessed son Jericho. His popularity led Rob Liefeld to create Marvel's Deadpool, originally patterned on Deathstroke.

Did You Know?

Rob Liefeld created Marvel's Deadpool (Wade Wilson) with a name, powers, and costume originally patterned on Deathstroke.
Deathstroke received his own series in 1991 which ran for 65 issues total before being cancelled.
A new ongoing series for the character is scheduled to launch in March 2026 as part of 'DC Next Level'.