Deathstroke #7 Review

Written by: Tony S. Daniel and James Bonney
Art by: Tony S. Daniel, Sandu Florea and Tomeu Morey
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: June 24, 2015

Clash of the Titans

So far, I would say that Tony S. Daniel's run on Deathstroke has been style over substance.  While the story has struggled to find it's direction, the art has been over-the-top excellent.  If you are looking for a book where blood and severed limbs are the order of the day, look no further. However, man can't live on missing arms alone and I've have been patiently waiting for the story to catch up and make this book a must read.  Did the two month Convergence hiatus and the new God-Killer story line start this book down that path or is it a matter of been there done that?  Let's find out...


The issue opens up with Slade reluctantly agreeing to his new mission...to kill a god.  To do so, Hephaestus gives him the aptly named "God-Killer" sword and has Deathstroke do a little practice.  If you have in fact come for some severed body parts, you are in luck.  Heads go flying and even if it isn't quite real, it's pretty damn exciting.  Not bad for an opener, but Slade has some business to attend to before getting on with his mission.

Talk about stopping momentum in it's tracks.  Tony S. Daniel has Slade head off to find his daughter, Rose, and we get three pages of just about nothing.  We are reminded that Slade has children, a new face (and eye) and that he is more caring than he lets on.  Great.  We got all this before and if you tell me that this is for new readers I may just cry bullshit.  The scene has to be confusing to anyone just jumping in and the worst part is, it slows down the pace of the book.

We then get back to business and after Slade makes an odd Dr. Who joke, he enters Tartarus.  If you are a Wonder Woman fan, the entrance to Tartarus should make you smile, but also cringe because you know what is on the other side.  Deathstroke is immediately attacked by beasts, but he makes quick work of them and continues on his way.  As always, he's going to have to step over heads, limbs and guts to do so.

The issue ends with Deathstroke falling into an obvious trap that has a certain character pretty pissed off.  I had now idea that this character would be in this issue (and hopefully the full arc), but it makes so much sense and has me excited for what comes next.  I wish the rest of the issue was as good.

I know that this review is short, but not much happens.  It is a combination of catch-up and setup and while it's okay, I was hoping for more.  I really want this book to kick ass, but it just keeps falling flat.

It won't be a shocker that I loved the art.  It's the usual bloody mess that has defined this book and I really enjoy it.  Kudos to the art team for their work.

Bits and Pieces:

I had high hopes that this God-Killer arc would bring the average story telling in line with the awesome art this book has had during this run.  Sadly, I'll be waiting another month at least.  While the art still kicks ass, the story doesn't go anywhere.  It does end with a promising cliffhanger that hopefully gets this book going in a better direction.  As of now, however, I can't recommend this issue.

6.0/10