It’s a shame, but Deathstroke: Year One was an easy one for DC fans to miss. That’s nothing to do with the pages of the actual story, which is part of why I’m discussing this now — as well as on GWW Radio’s TLDR Comic Book Club Podcast.
Written by: Ed Brisson
Art by Dexter Soy
Colors by Veronica Gandini
Letters by: Steve Wands
This Deathstroke story was part of the Deathstroke Inc. title, which was originally set in the current DC landscape. Slade’s current path has since been explored more outside of this title, but that’s not the issue. The problem is the decision to start Deathstroke: Year One with Deathstroke Inc. #10.
There are certainly times people can hop in on an ongoing title despite not having read all of the previous arcs. But why do that here? There’s no reason this couldn’t have been its own miniseries — or something even more. Quite honestly, The team of Ed Brisson, Dexter Soy and Veronica Gandini earned something more.
Deathstroke hasn’t always been the easiest title character to write. Christopher Priest did a marvelous job with his opportunity a few years ago, exploring Slade’s view on the world after spending his life as a merc. But Brisson and company looked at the opposite end of his life, which is arguably more interesting.
That’s because this might be the most relatable period in Deathstroke’s life. He, like so many, is faced with the responsibility of a family when he’s not ready for that. Heck, we all know it’s something he probably doesn’t want.
His path toward this is certainly different than the average human, but there are quite a few components to his life readers can understand and appreciate. And while there’s this natural tendency now to have older characters look back on their lives and reflect on what could have been, this is a chance to learn more about his descent.
Hopefully, DC considers all that following the conclusion of Brisson, Soy and Gandini’s six issues together — especially because I can never have enough Dexter Soy artwork in my life. But whether or not they do, know that if you missed out, you can still read Deathstroke: Year One without any understanding of what happened in the first nine issues of Deathstroke Inc. I’d hate for any Deathstroke fan to miss out on this story.
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