DEATHSTROKE THE TERMINATOR #4: Families Are Complicated

Slade is losing every bit of humanity that he had left, and if the hunt for Wintergreen’s killer doesn’t kill him, then his daughter, Rose AKA Ravager, just might!

Creative Team: Tony Fleecs, Carmine Di Giandomenico, Ivan Plascencia, and Wes Abbott.

SPOILERS AHEAD

The Story:

After 3 issues of non-stop action and chaos, Tony walks us back and allows this story to breathe, if only for a moment. I love that we get Rose thrown into the mix now, and what makes this issue so strong for me is the dynamic she and Slade have. They’ve never had a relationship, and we are seeing yet another side of Slade that hasn’t been shown before. He’s used to being a mercenary, and now he must come to terms with his past and reconcile with his own daughter.

The way Tony writes this conflict, both inner and on the panels, develops so much of Slade’s character in a new light. Despite this issue being narratively driven, there is something looming, and Tony gives us just a taste and ends this issue on a big mic drop.

The Art and Letters:

There are a lot of beautiful colors in this issue, and I have to give credit to Ivan for his use of oranges and for making the background pop out on these pages while the foreground was dusty and left us feeling grimy. I love the duality of the color choices that were chosen and it gave this middle-of-nowhere vibe perfectly. Carmine’s art showed the battle scars and the detail of what Slade just went through.

While we have been used to seeing so many punches being thrown, I loved the outfit choices the team went with, how Slade had the Bat, and how Rose had a kitten sweater. It brought out some fun in this serious run. Lastly, this is a big week at DC with the credit splash page, and Ravager bursting onto the scene and kicking some butt was just the chef’s kiss and a heck of a way to open the issue!

Final Thoughts:

Deathstroke The Terminator #4 is a narratively driven masterpiece. It allows this fast-paced story to take a step back and breathe while developing Slade and taking us into what drives him. The colors and art are beautiful, and this run continues to be extremely fun.

Overall Grade: 9.6/10

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