Deathstroke #10 Review

Send Deathstroke, Guns and Money

Written by: Christopher Priest
Art by: Cary Nord, Jeromy Cox and Willie Shubert

Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: January 10, 2017

If you hang around our site or listen to our podcast (if so, you just passed the test!), you know that my faith in Deathstroke is waning. There are a bunch of reasons, but it's  the confusing nature of the narrative that is public enemy number one.  I'm not just talking about the out-of-time, look I saw Pulp Fiction way the story has unfolded at times, but just the way that Priest seems to withhold information to make everything seem bigger and more mysterious. That being said, when the book clicks for me, it clicks hot and heavy and that's what I hope for with each issue.  Is this Four Rooms finale one of those issues or did I pull my hair out in frustration once again?  Let's find out...


We start out in Serbia and Deathstroke isn't on horseback, but he is still pretty badass.  The shit has hit the fan and while chaos is the order of the day, Deathstroke has a razor sharp focus...getting Dragas and his money.  I can't say there is a "plan" at this point even though Wintergreen is calling audibles left and right and it all ends with some good men not seeing another day.

We continue seeing the aftermath of it all and while it sucks to even imagine that Slade can be bought off, it's kind of awesome seeing the moment he met Adeline...even if we know how it worked out in the end.  The scene also ends with the first (and before now, only) meeting of Slade and Dex.

I'll admit that up until this point, I was all in.  The scenes flow into each other nicely and Priest was even tying up some loose ends.  It just keeps getting better as we see how Dex and the government plan to take Deathstroke down.  Sure, it's insulting to Slade, but it makes so much damn sense it put a huge smile on my face!

The issue transitions to Jericho who is being looked at by Dr. Villain (I will pronounce it just like it's spelt, by the way!)  Villain explains the what and how of Jericho's abilities as well as his father and sister's and I will tell you, it is awesome!!!  Sure, it goes back to that tired cliche of human's only using 10% of their brains (aren't we over this by now?!?), but hearing Villain describe Deathstroke's and Rose's abilities while hinting at Jericho's really was worth the price of admission.

The issue then heads off to Minneapolis and that's where I got confused.  I thought Rose was in Vietnam, but the lady who showed up did ask if her plane ticket was refundable.  I guess she went off to Minnesota to visit family.  We see the lady from before (?) and find out it's Rose's aunt and also meet all her cousins.  Rose ends up kicking some wannabe gangbanger's ass, but besides the mentions of a mystical family sword, this part falls a bit flat.  The issue then ends with Slade doing some interesting reading in his cell right before an old friend (and betrayer) shows up to spring him loose.

I liked this issue.  I liked it a whole lot.  Besides the part with Rose, I actually loved this issue.  The scenes flow into each other smartly and seeing it here makes me wish Priest did it all along.  While it doesn't tie things up like a typical finale does, we do get some answers and I like where things appear to be headed.

Cary Nord seems to step it up in the art department as well and the issue looks good, but also sets the tone so well.  The Jericho parts were my favorite and Jeromy Cox's colors in them were great.

Bits and Pieces:

After becoming frustrated with this book to the point of almost dropping it, I am back in.  All it took was some answers, good art and a story that flowed from scene to scene nicely.  Is that so much to ask?  Going forward, I hope not!

8.0/10