DEATHSTROKE THE TERMINATOR #5: Sins of the Past

Slade Wilson is out of money, low on equipment, and taking any job that comes his way, which brings him face to face with another Deathstroke! The sins of his past have come to roost as what was a simple job goes wrong in all the worst ways.

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

SPOILERS AHEAD

The Story:

I continue to absolutely love how Tony takes us back into Slade’s past, shows us his moments with his wife, and pulls back the curtain. It works incredibly well for me because it lets me bond with this iteration of Slade in ways I never have before. He is a bit of a tragic character, and he was so driven by his work that it caused him to neglect his family. Tony’s ability to give us bits and pieces of that makes the present story hit that much harder. Without spoiling the big reveal at the end, it came as a shock to me and shows how immersive this story is. In fact, this issue is full of surprises because the person that Slade has been working with appears to be a member of The Justice League?! I need the next issue immediately!

The Art:

There is such a beautiful contrast in the way the design and the coloring are between the past and the present. The present features a darker shading of colors and a grittier tone in the design of the characters and setting. Meanwhile, in the past, there’s a softness to the shading and a brighter aspect to what is going on. Slade is drawn by Carmine much younger and in a more gentle manner; it again allows us to connect with this version.

The shading by Ivan makes it feel as though the scenes are in a dream state with the softer tones. The two tones play off of one another well and blend as the action ramps up, and the final splash page had me mouth wide open in shock. Wes brings such an exasperated tone, with the lettering work aiding in the past sequences that work so well here. I love the way the letters bring a soft and yet frustrated voice to the panels.

Final Thoughts:

Deathstroke The Terminator #5 brings about more than one shocking reveal, deepening the stakes in this story. Slade’s past and present collide in such an incredible way that this issue has left me speechless. The entire team is crushing this run, and I cannot get enough!

Overall Grade: 10/10

Let us know how you feel about this issue and check out more reviews by Matt!