Slade Wilson, otherwise known as Deathstroke, was genetically modified to be the perfect super soldier. Welcome to the first instalment of Comic Book Origins!
As with most comic book characters, there are many re-imaginings and different versions of each characters past. We have chosen to primarily follow the 1980’s story line “The New Teen Titans “#2 which then was then expanded upon in 1991 to be called “Deathstroke: The Terminator”.
Originally introduced as a mercenary to take out the Teen Titans, Deathstroke was hired by the evil organization H.I.V.E (Hierarchy of International Vengeance and Extermination). Prior to becoming an assassin, Slade Wilson was a legendary soldier from the United States. Rising through the ranks, Slade became an expert in guerilla warfare during the Vietnam War. Training under his commanding officer, Captain Adeline Kane, the two began a romance and eventually had a son together.
When the Army asked Slade to be the test subject for a secret experiment, he agreed believing it would be a drug to help him be capable of resisting truth serum. Little did he know they were actually attempting to create super soldiers. The tests gave Slade increased strength and stamina, heightened reflexes, and regenerative healing by supercharging his adrenalin glands. Unfortunately, the side effects of the experiment caused Slade to become enraged and aggressive forcing the doctors to continually sedate him. After going through severe aggression to severe depression, Slade was discharged by the Army and the super-soldier experiment was abandoned. Now living a life outside of the Army, Slade became a big game hunter to make ends meet and married his love Adeline, whom he had a second son with. It was this second son, Joseph, who was kidnapped and eventually killed by a terrorist known as the Jackal. As it turns out, Slade had been operating as a mercenary on the side, using his advanced strength to his advantage. It was Slade’s refusal to work for the Jackal that resulted in his son’s kidnapping and eventual murder. When Adeline found out about this, her grief turned to vengeful anger and she shot Slade in the eye.
Years later, after becoming internationally recognized as a mercenary assassin, Deathstroke’s past came back to haunt him when the H.I.V.E council attempted to hire him. The Terminator turned down the contract as they had refused to pay him upfront for killing the New Teen Titans. The seven members of the original Teen Titans included The Changling, Cyborg, Kid Flash, Raven, Robin, Starfire and Wonder Girl. Upon Slade’s refusal, H.I.V.E enlisted the services of Slade’s first son Grant, injecting him with their own super soldier formula and giving him the code name “Ravager”. Though Slade warned his son not to take on the task, he did anyways and was killed in the process. This prompted Deathstroke to take on the contract in order to seek vengeance against the New Teen Titans.
Over the years, the run-ins with the Teen Titans has caused him to clash with other superhero’s including Batman and the Justice League. Deathstroke’s name “The Terminator” was eventually abandoned following the release of the movie “The Terminator” in 1984 starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, forever associating the name “Terminator” with this movie.
Deathstroke is easily a fan favourite due to his depth, super intelligence, and sense of morality shining in from time to time. Deathstroke has appeared in multiple comics, live action series and cartoons. He has also become a playable character in the fighting game “Injustice: Gods among Us” and was also one of several assassins hired to kill the Dark Knight in “Batman: Arkham Origins”.
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