Deathstroke
Back to Villains Main > Deathstroke
Real Identity: Slade Wilson
Affiliations: U.S. Army, Green Berets, and Team 7
Appearances: Part One, Part Two, and The Movie
Powers/Skills: Self-Regeneration, Enhanced Physical Attributes, Armed Combat, and Unarmed Combat
Voiced By: Michael Chiklis
Slade Wilson became a member of the Team 7, an elite squad in the Green Berets, and was trained by its leader Adeline Kane. They fell in love with each other. Slade Wilson volunteered for a drug trial even though he wasn't told what it was for. All he heard was he was needed and only a handful of men fit the profile. After taking the injection, Wilson shuddered in pain and cried out in agony. One of the Army doctors concluded the serum failed again. A nurse anesthetized him. She asked if he would live. The doctor coldly stated it didn't matter because they failed again. Wilson woke up in a hospital room. He told Kane they said it was miracle he was still alive. Kane reminded him she told him not to volunteer for the drug trial. Wilson stated it was his choice and he could have said no. She asked him why he didn't. He said they needed him. She noted he was always the good soldier and was maybe too good. Wilson told her he was being discharged and sent home in a few days. She told him she was going with him. Wilson asked about her duties. She felt she served her country and did a damn good job but he needed her. Wilson refused to accept her help. He stated she had 14 months left and she was doing what she signed on to do. He sat up and grimaced then asked her to let him try to build a life for himself then if she still wanted him, then they would settle down. Kane told him she loved him and they had plans and a whole life ahead of them. Wilson believed the Army was the only life he ever knew: being a good soldier, following orders, and killing the enemy. Kane told him there was more to him than that. Wilson hoped so.
Some time later, Wilson was stirred awake by intense pain. He made his way to the bathroom and saw veins popping all over his body. He grunted and groaned in pain as the effects of the serum finally activated. He decided to operate as a costumed mercenary named Deathstroke who sold his services to the highest bidder. He kept it a secret from Kane and pretended to be a traveling businessman. While in Cambodia, Slade Wilson had affair with a local woman while he was engaged to Adeline Kane. When Kane found out, she naturally became angry. After she threw a lamp into a wall, she asked Wilson how he could have done that to her. She trusted him. Kane started crying. They ultimately made amends and had a son named Joseph. The Jackal invited Deathstroke to join H.I.V.E., a terrorist organization, and was refused. Jackal's superiors would not take "no" for an answer.
Slade Wilson called home from his hotel room. He told Adeline Wilson if factories were built in San Miguel, the business would go through the roof. She replied she would rather have him than the money and thought he was away too much. She admitted when he was away, she would think about his affair years ago and how the scars never went away. He promised he never lied to her since and will never again. He asked her if she believed him. She replied she did. Joseph Wilson interrupted and asked if he could talk to his father. Wilson asked him if he brushed his teeth yet. He confirmed then asked him to read to him over the phone. Wilson tried to tell him he was late for a dinner meeting but he asked for just a little. Wilson knew what "A little, little" meant. Wilson opened his green suitcase and got out his copy of "Knights & Dragons" then started reading. Wilson stopped at "Into legend, into lore" and convinced his son to turn in. Adeline Wilson told him they both missed him. Wilson promised he would be on the last plane that night and told her he loved her. She replied she adored him. Wilson looked out his window.
Slade Wilson opened another case and suited up as Deathstroke. He made his way to General Suarez's fortified compound. A soldier posted at the guard tower did a sweep with his binoculars. Deathstroke threw a blade into his chest. He still managed to trigger an alarm before he collapsed. Soldiers armed themselves with rifles as Deathstroke zip lined from the tower. The soldiers opened fire on him. Deathstroke killed most with headshots then kicked one waiting at the other end. Despite being shot in the chest, Deathstroke turned and shot another. He leaped down and continued dodging and shooting. He threw a grenade to take out the rest then ran into a building amid the cover of smoke. Deathstroke kicked the doors open to Suarez's office, drenched in blood. Suarez aimed twin uzis at him and fired. Deathstroke dodged and sliced the guns. He held a sword to Suarez's neck from behind. Suarez assumed President Molina sent him. Deathstroke stated Molina didn't like his generals plotting against him and found revolution distasteful. Suarez implored him to cut his throat and declared he would never escape alive.
Deathstroke was amused by the claim. He took out Molina's head from his sack then told Suarez to note the look of surprise on Molina's face was similar to his. Four armed soldiers entered the doorway. Suarez held out his hand and told them to stop. Suarez admitted he didn't understand what was going on if Molina hired Deathstroke to kill him. Deathstroke told he may be a mercenary but he wasn't an idiot. He pointed out Molina was an oppressive fascist, who grounded his people into the dirt, and turned San Miguel into a cesspool of poverty, hunger, and disease while he became richer and fatter. Deathstroke gave the head to Suarez and told him to do better or he would share Molina's fate. He then brought up the matter of his fee. Suarez nodded. Before the soldiers could fire, Deathstroke shot all of them in the head. Suarez smiled and replied he was delighted to pay the fee.
Wilson retired to his hotel bathroom and picked bullets out of his wounds while he had a video chat with William Wintergreen. Wintergreen noted he took a few hits. Wilson downplayed it. Wintergreen asked him if he ever considered what would happen to his family if he died on a job. He recalled he was Deathstroke for eight or nine years and suggested it was time to retire. Wilson cut him off and told him he needed transport as soon as possible. Wintergreen replied he would have it. Wilson dug a bullet out of his knee and the would healed instantaneously. Wintergreen admitted the older he got, the more he envied his healing ability. He mused the Army got what they paid for. Wilson contended they got more than what they paid for. Wilson was dropped off at his home. He walked in and things in disarray. He ran up to Joseph's bedroom and found Adeline. She stated "he" said if she called the police, their son was dead. Wilson asked who did it. She continued and said "he" wanted him. Wilson took the note she had. She stated he called himself the Jackal.
Wilson feigned ignorance. She slapped him and asked him if it was nothing but lies. He still acted like he had no idea what was going on. She stated Jackal told her Wilson was a mercenary named Deathstroke. Wilson promised he would bring their son back along with Jackal's carcass. She stated they didn't need him. She could not stand and was angry it was broken. Wilson added it was broken in several places. He held out his hand. She told him to leave. Wilson was but paused and promised they would talk after. She wanted him not to even try to lie to her again then ordered him to just bring Joseph home and God help him if he failed. Wilson stated he never failed. Deathstroke entered a dark building. From somewhere in the dark, Jackal mockingly asked how his wife was. Deathstroke demanded he show himself. Jackal stepped forward. Deathstroke wanted his son. Jackal promised he was fine and just a bargaining chip. He told him to accept the bargain and Joseph would not get hurt. Deathstroke stated he would not work with H.I.V.E., the same answer he gave before. Jackal respected his answer but he pointed out his superiors didn't.
Bronze Tiger and another operative appeared. Jackal shared his superiors thought Deathstroke's skills would be of great value to the organization. Deathstroke called them terrorists. Jackal preferred equal opportunity murderers who sold their services to the highest bidder. He felt they were just like Deathstroke except they thought globally. Deathstroke wondered how many innocent people, women, and children died at his hands. Jackal admitted he lost count but declared they were all murderers under the skin, it was just a matter of scale. He found morality to be a delusion that fools wear like a comforting cloak. He didn't think Deathstroke was a fool. A monster, but not a fool. Deathstroke agreed he was a monster but he only killed if the cause was right. He claimed there were lines he wouldn't cross. Jackal countered the widows and children of the soldiers he murdered in San Miguel would not agree. He stated men like them pretended to have hearts and souls but underneath that was only darkness.
Deathstroke still declined to join. Jackal implored him to reconsider. Tiger and the operative charged him. Deathstroke parried her sword, blocked Tiger's claws, then rolled. She blocked his strikes and flip kicked him. They started to fight in tandem. She went for a sweep. Deathstroke backed off. They charged. At the last second, Deathstroke flipped his swords and stabbed the operative through her chest and through Tiger's right arm. Jackal saw enough. The lights came on and a giant H.I.V.E. console was revealed. The operative reached for Jackal then died. Deathstroke threw her to his feet. Jackal knelt down then stood up. He told Deathstroke he just proved his point. He revealed she was an extraordinary operative but clearly not extraordinary enough and Bronze Tiger's skills were legendary. Deathstroke demanded his son. Jackal demanded an answer. A part of the floor opened and a glass enclosure rose up. Joseph Wilson was held at knife point by a H.I.V.E. Soldier. Deathstroke severed Tiger's arm and threw out a flash bomb. He stabbed Jackal through his gut and threw him aside.
Deathstroke told Joseph not to be afraid and charged. Deathstroke broke through but he wasn't fast enough. The soldier slit his throat then was killed. Deathstroke picked Joseph up then leveled the building with three grenades. A fire engulfed the building. Joseph Wilson survived but he was could never talk again. At the hospital, Adeline Wilson's glare said enough. Slade Wilson left them. He wrote one letter to Joseph explaining he agreed with his mother that it was for the best that he stay away for awhile. He claimed he was a knight like him his book and slayed dragons so they would never hurt him or his mother. He never tried to communicate with or see Joseph. Deathstroke spent years destroying H.I.V.E. once and for all. 10 years later, Deathstroke returned to his condo a bleeding mess. With little care, he stripped his suit off and laid down. Suddenly, all his phones rang at once. It was an unknown number. A woman's voice was on the other end and she knew Wilson was Deathstroke. She appeared on the screens in his condo and called herself H.I.V.E. Queen.
Wilson stated H.I.V.E. was gone. She revealed H.I.V.E. went underground and reformed itself as independent cells. She revealed her cell was interested in the Wilson family. Wilson reiterated he wasn't joining them. She told him not to flatter himself, and intimated they had the son. She showed him a feed of Joseph lying down on a floor then compared Deathstroke to a hand gun and Joseph to a nuclear bomb. Joseph suddenly started to power up. Queen declared Joseph belonged to her. Wilson demanded to know what she did to him. She chuckled in surprise and stated he did it. She scoffed upon realizing Wilson didn't know he was the source of his son's powers. Slade and Adeline Wilson agreed to meet at a park. Wilson returned a lost ball to two children then sat, back to back. After a silence, she stated she chose that school in Switzerland for the security. Wilson answered she chose poorly and asked if she knew. She didn't know Joseph inherited whatever the serum did to Wilson.
Wilston revealed the Queen told him Joseph's powers were psychic. She visibly reacted and admitted there were times she felt like he was in the room with her. Wilson stated he should have been with her. She reiterated she sent him away to keep him safe. Wilson claimed he would have kept him safe. She asked him if he meant like last time. He felt she punished him enough already and locked him out of Joseph's life. He walked away. She followed and told him he never once questioned it and never once tried to see him. All he did was write one pathetic letter. Wilson turned to her. She wondered why all she asked him was "Why?" Wilson stated the past was dead and nothing could change that. She disagreed and stated it was happening all over again. She asked what they were going to do about it. Wilson didn't understand "we." She stated she was going with him. Wilson asked her if she remembered what the Jackal did to her. She revealed Jackal may have broke and humiliated her but it was her own fault because she put her energy into being a mother and lost her center. He dodged and stopped her arm then recalled she hadn't been on a combat mission in years. She threw him. He told her to stay out of it. She tip toed and kissed him to his surprise.
Deathstroke went to Kasnia in search of Bronze Tiger. After blowing up two jets, Tiger noticed Deathstroke slow clapping him. He proclaimed Tiger was the hero of the Kasnian Revolution. Tiger noted he knew how it went, he works both sides. One takes the capital, one takes it in a few years, and it repeats. He noted the Kasnians were generous. Deathstroke countered children starved and innocents died. Tiger was annoyed he still clung to his conscience and everyone else was beneath him. He sent Deathstroke rolling with an uppercut. Deathstroke stated he didn't come to debate then elbowed a rebel behind him. Deathstroke claimed he wanted information. Tiger assumed he wanted intel on H.I.V.E. and fired his bazooka. Deathstroke dodged and a wall was taken out. Tiger dodged a flying knee then locked up Deathstroke's right arm. Tiger revealed he knew H.I.V.E. survived and helped Jackal take it over. Deathstroke was surprised. Tiger taunted him he should have made sure Jackal was dead and now Jackal has a serious hatred of him. He took a tiger stance and pinned Deathstroke to the ground then revealed how H.I.V.E. was culled by him.
Deathstroke shoved Tiger off then jump kicked him. They continued to fight. Deathstroke hit him with a knee before he could connect with an overhead strike. Tiger got out his claws. Deathstroke dodged but was hit by a spin kick. Deathstroke got out a sword and did the same move to Tiger's arm. He activated an electrical surge and popped the prosthetic arm off. Tiger sighed at his predicament. Deathstroke pointed his sword to Tiger's head and asked where the H.I.V.E. Queen was. He shot rebels running towards him. Tiger's forehead bled. He sighed and told him to go to the Kerguelen Islands. Deathstroke thanked him and sheathed the sword. An advanced aircraft arrived and picked up Deathstroke. A rebel aimed. Tiger called it off. He believed Deathstroke was going on a suicide mission. The jet fired missiles at the rebel base and blew it up. Wintergreen wondered out loud how Deathstroke got such an aircraft. Deathstroke only said someone owed him a favor. Wintergreen presumed it was big one then pointed out there was every chance H.I.V.E. knew he was coming. Deathstroke stated he was counting on it. Wintergreen was amused and knew he would never change.
Deathstroke asked him if he was having second thoughts. Wintergreen revealed the only fun he ever had after retiring from MI6 was when he invited him along on his jaunts. He knew he was already too old but he was still Joseph's godfather. He sighted the Kerguelens and recalled its other name, Desolation Islands. Wintergreen wished him the best of luck. Deathstroke stated he didn't believe in luck but accepted it anyway. The hatch opened and he dove into the ocean. He was greeted by drones and Lady Shiva, the deadliest hand-to-hand combat in the world. To Shiva's surprise, Deathstroke dropped to his knees with his hands up. She asked what he was doing. Deathstroke surrendered. Shiva refused to accept it. H.I.V.E. Queen came up on comms and told Shiva to bring him in alive. Shiva complied and walked him to the H.I.V.E. base nestled in the island's volcano. H.I.V.E. Queen complimented Deathstroke on his strategy but warned him it wouldn't be as easy getting out. Deathstroke realized she was just a child. She quipped he was a dinosaur whose time had passed then took her mask off.
Deathstroke cut to the chase and demanded his son. She was amused by his sudden concern for him after he was left trapped, isolated, and friendless with his mind and soul on fire. Deathstroke stated he didn't know his son had powers. She wondered if he didn't want to. He was taken to the chamber holding Joseph. Deathstroke thought he was their lab rat. She countered they were training him and helping him master his powers. Deathstroke pointed out he was locked up. She stated it was for his own protection since his psychic energies were still wildly unstable. Still, she keyed on how limitless his potential was. Deathstroke assumed she meant as a weapon. She confirmed as much and told him to imagine manipulation on a global scale through the power of mind. H.I.V.E. Would dominate the world with no bullets or bombs. Deathstroke pounded on the chamber and called out to Joseph. Joseph had flashbacks to when his throat was slit. Shiva put her swords to Deathstroke's neck in a "x" pattern. The Queen revealed they gave him a new name, Jericho, because he was going to bring down the walls of the old order tumbling down. She nodded and Shiva released Deathstroke.
The Queen inquired if he ever cared about Joseph or if this was just another adventure to prove his questionable manhood. She claimed H.I.V.E. was his family. Jericho used telepathy to ask Deathstroke for his help. Deathstroke told him to get back. He planted an explosive on the chamber. The Queen saw it but it was too late. The explosion rocked the room. Deathstroke put Jericho over his shoulder and bolted, shooting soldiers he came across. A mounted device fired a bola at him. They dropped over a ledge. Deathstroke jumped off a moving ledge, fired a grapnel, and made it into a doorway with Jericho. They were soon surrounded. Jericho awakened and used his powers to render them all unconscious. Jericho claimed to know a way out. He used his telepathy to make Deathstroke think he radioed Wintergreen then used telekinesis to open steel doors. He dropped to his knees and revealed that was all he could do. Deathstroke tried to hail Wintergreen but his gauntlet fried.
Jericho informed him Wintergreen wasn't coming and revealed he blocked the signal. Deathstroke asked him why. Jericho revealed he wouldn't betray his own sister. He didn't understand. Jericho tapped his head. Deathstroke realized the H.I.V.E. Queen was the daughter of him and the Cambodian woman he slept with. He tried to explain his motives to Jericho. Jericho cut him off and told him he came riding to the rescue like a knight in shining armor. Deathstroke called out to him. He stated Joseph was gone and there was only Jericho. H.I.V.E. caught up to them. Jericho bid Deathstroke goodbye. The soldiers opened fire on Deathstroke. After talking innumerable amounts of bullets, Deathstroke dropped to his knees. Lady Shiva pushed him off the cliff into the ocean then congratulated Jericho. Jericho took one last look then walked back into the facility.