Slade Wilson

**Slade Joseph Wilson** (スレイド・ジョゼフ・ウィルソン, *Sureido Josefu Wiruson*), or "**Deathstroke**" (デスストローク, *Desusutorōku*), is both a fictional character and antagonist of the *MDC's* series *Justice Avengers* series created by Gardner Fox and Jack Kirby.

He is the world's greatest assassin/mercenary. Of former military status, and test subject of a failed medical research experiment, he has since taken up work as a mercenary, armed with multiple weapons, and considered expert with edged weapons, firearms and explosives.

His augmentations, distinguishing characteristics, unique weapons and abilities, coupled with his mastery of hand-to-hand combat make him a formidable opponent. Serving as the most dangerous enemy of the Teen Titans, Autobots and the Justice Avengers.

Following his military service, Slade has worked for various private military contractors before striking out on his own – and allegedly becoming Deathstroke, one of the most highest paid contract killers in the world, specializing in high profile assassinations.

"*When a man earns my respect, that means I do not rest. I devote all my energy, everything I have, to killing him!*"

—Deathstroke to Batman.

## Appearance & Biography

*Voice actor:* Mark Rolston (English), Not Known (Japanese), Not Known (Arabic), Not Known (Basque), Not Known (Brazilian), Not Known (Cantonese), Not Known (Catalan), Not Known (Chinese), Not Known (Croatian), Not Known (Danish), Not Known (Dutch), Not Known (Finnish), Not Known (Filipino), Not Known (French), Not Known (Galician), Not Known (German), Not Known (Greek), Not Known (Hebrew), Not Known (Hong Kong), Not Known (Hungarian), Not Known (Indonesian), Not Known (Italian), Not Known (Korean), Not Known (Mandarin), Not Known (Norwegian), Not Known (Polish), Not Known (Portuguese), Not Known (Romanian), Not Known (Russian), Not Known (Serbian), Not Known (Spanish), Not Known (Swedish), Not Known (Tagalog), Not Known (Thai), Not Known (Valencian), Not Known (Ukrainian), Not Known (Brazilian Portuguese), Not Known (Canadian French), Not Known (European Spanish), Not Known (European Portuguese), Not Known (Latin American Spanish), Not Known (Latin Spanish), Not Known (Spain-Spanish)

### Biography

Originally a soldier in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War, Slade Wilson was part of an experimental super-soldier program where he gained enhanced strength, agility, healing factor and intelligence. Deathstroke became a mercenary soon after the experiment and rapidly gained a reputation as one of the world's greatest assassins.

### Appearance

#### As Slade Wilson

When his helmet was knocked off, Slade's features had gray hair, and gray facial hair. Because he got shot in the eye, Slade was forced to wear an eye patch.

#### As Deathstroke

As Deathstroke, his suit featured the classic orange/blue colors, but it was armored. Half of Slade's helmet was covered, and the other half revealed his left eye. His helmet also includes two long ribands jutting from the back, one black and one orange, matching the colors of the front side of the mask. Slade wore multiple packs on the top of his suit to store bullets, darts, and other things.

* Hair Color: Gray
* Skin Color: Not Known
* Eye Color: Blue
* Age: Not Known
* Birthday: Not Known
* Height: 6' 5" (1.96 m)
* Weight: 225 lbs. (102 kg)

### Attributes

* Wounded right eye.
* Assembled a fortune from contract killings
* Formerly in the military.
* Confirmed as an American Enhanced Super Soldier.

## Personality

"*So, **Deathstroke**, who's really behind the mask? A **boy** trying to prove his worth to his father or a **father** trying to prove his worth to his boy and girl?*"

—Black Mask on Deathstroke.
Known by reputation as "The World's Greatest Assassin", Slade Wilson is a consummate professional, jaded by the work he does and attracted towards a contract basis, especially jobs that regard Batman - whom after beating him once, is dedicated to a rematch and finally defeating his rival. He feels a personal obligation to complete a job, but is too pragmatic and professional to let a job become a personal matter. He fully admits that he only does his work if he is positive he will receive compensation and because of this did not attack Batman while imprisoned in Blackgate as the Joker had no means of paying him. Despite his assassin lifestyle, Slade does have a sense of honor and follows a warriors code, no matter how warped it is, specifically he will grant his opponents a quick death in battle.

A heavy flaw he did possess was that Slade could be too arrogant and overconfident regarding his own abilities. Having killed all of the men he fought, he believed Batman would simply be an easy target. It was likely this hubris that was a factor of his defeat and he seemed to have learnt his lesson in Arkham Knight as he appears less arrogant but still rather boastful about his war stories which he told Batman repeatedly. It was likely that these many past victories which caused his arrogance. As a result of being defeated a second time by Batman, Slade appears to have hypocritically forgotten his own code of not becoming personally involved in a job and becomes obsessive of finally killing Batman, claiming he would not need payment and would "do it for free".

## Relationships

### Friends/Allies

* TYGER
	+ Hugo Strange
	+ Robin/Arkham Knight
* Taskmaster - Partner.
* Ubu

### Family

* unnamed father
* Lillian Worth (first wife)
* Adeline Kane (estranged wife)
* unnamed son
* Ravager (daughter)
* Jericho (son)
* Grant Wilson (son)
* Wade DeFarge (younger half-brother)
* Jade Wilson

### Neutral

* League of Assassins
	+ Rā's al Ghūl - Former master.
	+ Talia al Ghūl
	+ Sandra Wu-San/Lady Shiva
* Joker - Employer.
* Brother Blood - Employer; deceased.
* Mother Mayhem - Deceased.
* Scarecrow
* Lex Luthor - Employer.
* Amanda Waller - Boss.
* Suicide Squad
	+ Rick Flag - Field commander.
	+ Deadshot - Leader.
	+ Killer Frost - Teammate turned enemy
	+ Captain Boomerang
	+ Enchantress
	+ Killer Croc
	+ King Shark - Teammate.
	+ Harley Quinn
	+ Katana
	+ El Diablo
	+ Slipknot
* Monster T
* Terra

### Rivals

* Bronze Tiger
* Winter Soldier

### Enemies

* Justice Avengers
	+ Team Superman
		- Superman
		- Superboy
		- Supergirl
		- Power Girl
		- Krypto
	+ Captain America
	+ Bat Family
		- Batman
		- Alfred Pennyworth
		- Batgirl/Oracle
		- Red Robin
	+ Team Iron Man
		- Iron Man
		- War Machine
		- Rescue
	+ Wonder Woman
	+ Thor
	+ Flash
	+ Hawkeye
	+ Atom
	+ Ant-Man/Giant-Man
	+ Booster Gold
	+ Wasp
	+ Aquaman
	+ Black Panther
	+ Martian Manhunter
	+ Vision
	+ Red Tornado
	+ Hawkman
	+ Falcon
	+ Team Arrow
		- Green Arrow
		- Tigress
	+ Black Canary
	+ Black Widow
	+ Dr. Fate
	+ Dr. Strange
	+ Green Lantern Corps
		- Green Lantern (1)
		- Green Lantern (2)
		- Green Lantern (3)
		- Kilowog
		- Tomar-Re
	+ Shazam
	+ Captain Marvel
	+ Zatanna
	+ Scarlet Witch
	+ Plastic Man
	+ Ant-Man/Giant-Man/Yellowjacket
	+ Black Lightning
	+ Hulk
	+ Spectre
	+ Nebula
	+ Elongated Man
	+ Valkyrie
	+ Jonah Hex
	+ Metamorpho
* Teen Titans
	+ Robin/Nightwing - Worst adversary.
	+ Cyborg
	+ Beast Boy
	+ Blue Beetle
	+ Starfire
	+ Raven
	+ Robin
* Titans East
	+ Bumblebee
	+ Aqualad
	+ Speedy/Red Arrow/Arsenal
* Spider-Man
* Detective Chimp
* Gotham Police
	+ Commissioner Gordon
* Incubus
* Trigon - Former master and enemy; deceased.
* Vandal Savage - Enemy; deceased.
* Deadman
* Wildcat
* Amethyst

## Abilities and Powers

### Powers

* **Medically Enhanced Physiology**:
	+ **Accelerated Healing**: The militia can be heard talking about him. Apparently, he took some decent beatings when training with them, but was just as fine the next day.
	+ **Enhanced Agility**: Deathstroke's agility, balance, and bodily coordination are enhanced to superhuman levels. He is capable of maneuvering with grace and speed. Mere moments after using a smoke bomb to escape, he easily hides himself for sneak attacks. He is also capable of jumping between vantage points without much noise or effort.
	+ **Enhanced Intellect**: Deathstroke has an incredible memory, being able to remember years worth of his military exploits and strategies. He is capable of making a situation work to his advantage, although an equally smart person such as Batman can turn the tables on him.
	+ **Enhanced Reflexes**: Due to his enhanced sight, Deathstroke is able to dodge attack with relative ease. However, if his guard is down, he can easily be taken down.
	+ **Enhanced Speed**: Another benefit of his enhanced physisology is that Deathsroke can run faster than a normal person. Although he is nowhere as fast as someone with a connection to the Speed Force.
	+ **Enhanced Stamina**: Thanks to the experiments done to him, Slade has more energy that a man in his 50s should. He is able to exert himself for hours while wearing a heavy body armor, without tiring easily..
	+ **Enhanced Strength**: Another benefit to his altered physiology is improved muscle tone. Due to this he is more than capable of grappling with a younger man in prime condition like Batman. In fact, Batman considered his fight with Deathstroke to be the hardest he ever had.

### Abilities

* **Acrobatics**: Deathstroke is a master acrobat. He is highly agile and is capable of performing skillful acrobatic maneuvers in combat.
* **Hand-to-Hand Combat** (Advanced):
	+ **Martial Arts**: Deathstroke is a master martial artist of multiple combat forms and techniques. He possesses combat skills on par with Batman himself. Deathstroke can counter Batman's attacks, and even keep attacking to attack after Batman counters, and chains together attacks--also like Batman does. Batman must fight at the height of his skill to overcome Deathstroke.
* **Military Protocol**: Deathstroke is a highly trained soldier who has years of mercenary experience in the military. Deathstroke has fought for the special ops section of the US Army.
* **Stealth**: Deathstroke is a master of stealth and is able to silently assassinate people without making a sound. He was able to infiltrate *The Final Offer* and attack Batman while the Dark Knight was in the middle of an interrogation.
* **Tactical Analysis**: Deathstroke managed to lure Batman to his location so that he could fight the Dark Knight himself.
* **Weaponry**: Deathstroke is highly skilled in the use of many different types of weapons.
	+ **Stick Fighting**: Deathstroke has a bo staff, which he uses if he wishes to have a prolonged fight with his prey. He was shown to take out Black Mask's men with a few swipes.
	+ **Swordsmanship**: Deathstroke is an accomplished swordsman, able to rapidly attack his target. However, he has only been parried by Batman, whose arm-guards were thick enough to block the blade.
	+ **Firearms**: Deathstroke is a master marksman. He makes use of his dual-pistols.
	+ **Gadgetry**: Deathstroke is skilled in the use of multiple gadgets. The Remote Claw was a device of his, which was used to suspend his targets upsidedown. It could also be used to make tightrope bridges for gaps. Batman confiscated this from him to make his Line Launcher.

### Weaknesses

* **Wounded Right Eye**: Deathstroke is half-blind. If something were to cover the left eye hole on his mask, Slade would be left blinded.

### Equipment

* **Radio**
* **Promethium Body Armor**
* **Remote Claw** (Formerly): Deathstroke has a remote-controlled detachable line shooter which he will use on Batman. Batman takes it for his own after the battle.
* **Flash Grenades**: Deathstroke uses small flashbangs to disorient his enemies.
* **Grapple Gun**:
* **Neural Pellet**: Deathstroke can attach pellets to his enemies that, when remotely detonate, temporarily incapacitate them.
* **Proximity Bomb**: Wilson has a collection of non-lethal mines he can place and detonate.
* **Mines**: When leaping from interactable objects, Deathstroke can plant a small mine on it to blow the object up.

### Weapons

* **Swords**: Deathstroke keeps only two swords on his back for close quarter combat.
* **Ballistic Staff**: If Deathstroke drops his sword, he will draw his staff and attack with that instead. The staff has a built in launcher that can shoot projectiles or actual rounds.
* **Dual Pistols**: Deathstroke does not commonly use his pistol. He only used it to kill his last henchmen.
* **Assault Rifle**
* **Dual Submachine Guns**: Although he tends not to use them in battle, Deathstroke will pull two submachine guns out when using his super move.

## External links

* Deathstroke *Wikipedia*
* Deathstroke *DC Database*
* Deathstroke *Batman Wiki*

## Notes & Trivia

* Deathstroke first appeared in Batman: The New Teen Titans #2 (December, 1980).