Deathstroke #15 Review

She Blinded Me With Science

Written by: James Bonny
Art by: Tyler Kirkham, Arif Prianto and Dave Sharpe
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: February 24, 2016

I have enjoyed the hell out of Deathstroke and even more so since James Bonny took over and Tyler Kirkham jumped on art duties.  It's been all about the fun and if you want an example of what I am talking about, travel back in time to last month (or just buy a copy of the book now) and watch as Slade dismembers a bunch of guys, fights a Lex Luthor AI driven robot and then finds an army of Bizarros.  Yes...Bizarros!  With that kind of cliffhanger, how could I not be waiting with bated breath for this issue?  Well, now that it's here, did it live up to the hype that I made up in my head because I am a nut and a Deathstroke fan?  Let's find out...



We open this month with a little flashback that does little to explain Rose's current situation, but at least promises we will learn more soon.  At least I hope so because her Dad is knee deep in Bizarro's because of her and that sounds every bit as cool as it looks!

While I love the whole Bizarro thing, the part that makes me laugh is thinking that Lex just can't catch a break with these clones.  They always end up getting pulled out of the oven before their time  and therefore are always undercooked as they say in the cloning business.  Trust me on the terms, I'm a comic reviewer.

While Mercy Graves, the AI Lex and Deathstroke talk about the outs and ins of these Bizarros, Rose and her "benefactor" continue watching the scene and while I still have no idea who the mysterious villain is, Tyler Kirkham should call up Arif Prianto because he's tickled pink at the sight of the messed up clones.  This is the part when the reader is let in on a little fact...the three stooges with backwards S's on their chests will destroy all of LexCorp if they aren't stopped.  Unfortunately, the plan to stop them is downright insane.

It's kind of a think globally, but kick ass locally kind of plan as they let the rest of the Lex Clones out in order to capture every one of them.  Hey, I'm no rocket surgeon, but the Lex AI has done the math and like Chicago Jones, knows about the polarity and shit.  Have you ever heard the phrase, "theories are shit and reality is the cure"?  I know you haven't because I just made it up, but I'm using it here because the plan doesn't work.  All the Bizarros are now bearing down on Slade until he pulls a move from my favorite movie of the 80's (well played, Mr. Bonny) and instead of doing a crazy jig, blackmails Mercy into letting him continue searching for Rose.

After a quick "what's in the box?" moment, we finally get to see who is behind this game of cat and mouse and boy does he look badass!  The fun continues as Deathstroke decides he never should have trusted anyone but himself and the issue ends with one of my top five characters showing up looking awesome as can be.

James Bonny brings the fun again this month, but also gives us a few answers along with a bunch of questions.  As long as every issue ends with another awesome character or characters showing up to team up or trade fist, guns knives...with Slade then I'll keep coming back.  Sure, every issue may just set up the next issues fight big battle, but I don't care because that's all I want and/or need from this book,

I know that Deathstroke is supposed to be the star of this book, but somebody better tell Tyler Kirkham quick because he is stealing the show.  He has really settled in and this issue is his best one yet.  His character models are always great, but he's taken to the over-the-top violence like a Predator in town with a few days to kill.  He is that damn good!

Bits and Pieces:

James Bonny and Tyler Kirkham are quietly giving fans a thrill ride of a book with action and severed limbs to spare.  I know that Slade will eventually find Rose, but I don't care how long it takes because I am really enjoying the ride.

8.5/10