DC’s top assassin is back in his own ongoing title.
General Information
Title: Deathstroke #1
Author: Kyle Higgins
Illustrator(s): Joe Bennett (pencils), Art Thibert (inks) and Jason Wright (colours)
Cover Date: November 2011
Cover Price: $2.99
Buy the digital edition.
Premise
Deathstroke has been hired for a very difficult hit, taking a man out while he’s in midair. He’s also forced to do it with a support team. As capable as he is, there’s a surprise waiting for him at the end of the mission.
High Point
Deathstoke’s opening speech sets the tone by the end of the second panel: “To everyone that’s not Elsey Kopnek, do the smart thing and head to whatever whorehouse you spend your nights. Before I cut off your reason to go there.”
Low Point
When the characters have information that they learn during the story that they find shocking, but that information is denied to the reader, it feels like a cheap and artificial way to build reader interest.
The Scores
This is an original title in the lineup, as the main character is neither hero nor antihero, but instead is an outright villain. It’s also got a darker tone than much of the other product out there. I give it 5 out of 6.
The artwork is well done, with shifting colour palettes and appropriate detail levels in consistently on model art. I give it 5 out of 6.
The story is well done. We get a complete adventure in the first issue, and get a tease of more to come. I give it 5 out of 6.
The characterization is very well done. Deathstroke is the focus, of course, but his support team gets a surprising amount of back story for a first issue as well. I give it 5 out of 6.
The emotional response is great. There are a number of genuine surprises here. I give it 6 out of 6.
The flow is smooth and the pace is fast. Deathstroke is introduced at the tail end of a current job, then he gets hired and briefed for the next job, and introduced to his support team. Then he completes the new job, and returns to base for a conclusion. Definitely a worthwhile 20 pages. I give it 6 out of 6.
Overall, this was the first of three very pleasant surprises this week. Keep an eye out for the other two. I give it 5 out of 6.
The New 52
Here are handy links for the reviews of all 52 new #1 issues:
- Action Comics
- All-Star Western
- Animal Man
- Aquaman
- Batgirl
- Batman
- Batman and Robin
- Batman: The Dark Knight
- Batwing
- Batwoman
- Birds of Prey
- Blackhawks
- Blue Beetle
- Captain Atom
- Catwoman
- DC Universe Presents
- Deathstroke
- Demon Knights
- Detective Comics
- The Flash
- Frankenstein, Agent of S.H.A.D.E.
- The Fury of Firestorm
- Green Arrow
- Green Lantern
- Green Lantern Corps
- Green Lantern: New Guardians
- Grifter
- Hawk and Dove
- I, Vampire
- Justice League
- Justice League Dark
- Justice League International
- Legion Lost
- Legion of Super-Heroes
- Men of War
- Mister Terrific
- Nightwing
- O.M.A.C.
- Red Hood and the Outlaws
- Red Lanterns
- Resurrection Man
- The Savage Hawkman
- Static Shock
- Stormwatch
- Suicide Squad
- Superboy
- Supergirl
- Superman
- Swamp Thing
- Teen Titans
- Voodoo
- Wonder Woman