Deathstroke #23 Review

Double-Edged-Sword

Written by: Christopher Priest
Art by: Diogenes Neves, Jason Paz, Jeromy Cox and Willie Shubert
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: September 6, 2017


It's time to jump back into the Defiance story and while I understand why this book went monthly, it sucks waiting thirty days for each issue. Christopher Priest is writing such a good story and while I like seeing a "changed" Deathstroke, I am having fun watching just what he defines as such. I'll also admit that I'm waiting for him to go 100% back to his old ways. So, what messed up things does Slade do this month in the name of redemption? Let's find out..



The issue begins with a little flashback from the beginning of the series and since it's one of my favorite parts of the early run, I liked seeing it again.  Priest does throw it in here because it becomes relevant later in the issue, but finding out that it happened a year ago kind of threw me for a loop, timeline-wise.

Then it's back to Defiance HQ to get a glimpse at a training session...gone horribly wrong!  While Slade tries to prove a point to Rose and the rest of the team, it ends up biting him in the ass (or chest) when he almost dies at the hands of Rose and her special sword.  You know, the one we all thought Slade set up in the Minneapolis pawn shop.  

The family affair continues as we head off to Jericho and his mother and while it's a bit odd that Adeline has a past continuity picture of Jericho, I have full faith in Christopher Priest here.  While this is going on, we get a little more with WIllow...you know, the mysterious chick who showed up at the beginning of this arc and may or may not be White Willow from the League of Assassins. We don't get any answers here and besides seeing that she is safe (for now) and hungry, we move along quickly. 

Back with Deathstroke, Power Girl has a time traveling sword theory that may not be as crazy as it sounds, but we will have to wait to see how that plays out since the book shifts to a Defiance mission that's cool, but also feels like a bit of filler all the same.

Before that, however, we get what I found to be the most interesting part of the book...Jericho and his mother discussing what happened to Etienne as well as their relationship in general.  As far as Etienne, nothing is 100% revealed, but I think it's pretty clear Adeline had something to do with it.

The issue continues with Defiance stopping some African Pirates...that just happen to be the ones from the opening of this series and this issue.  While everyone seems to be questioning the motivations of Slade since he was "born again", I think Priest threw these guys back in to show that most people can't change when all is said and done.

The issue ends with Deathstroke trying to stay on the straight and narrow while we see that things are finally going to heat up in the Willow department in the issues to come.

I liked this issue, but that's no surprise since I love this book.  Once you invest time in what Christopher Priest is giving out, you get in the flow of things and know what to expect with each issue.  This issue ties up some loose ends I didn't realize were loose and sets up some mysteries for the future, but on top of all that, gives the reader some kick ass action scenes and some really smart dialogue.  All that being said, the issue doesn't move the story forward much at all and the Defiance team felt underused here.

The art was excellent throughout.  This book is quietly up there as one of the best looking in Rebirth and the whole art team, but especially Diogenes Neves, should be getting more attention.

Bits and Pieces:

The Defiance story continues and while this is not a book that new readers could comfortably jump on, those who have been around from the start will continue being happy with it.  Christopher Priest is giving us a slow burn story while he sets all his pieces up on the board.  The art is top notch and the only thing I can really fault here is the little amount of overall story progression.  Even with that, I still love this series and like this issue.

8.0/10