Connect with us
Deathstroke #24 Review

Comic Books

Deathstroke #24 Review

Defiance continues to boil as a team as a secret about Wally West II is revealed to the team.

[amazon_link asins=’B074KN1RLX’ template=’AiPTProductAd’ store=’aiptcomics-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’7dddadc7-a7ad-11e7-910c-098bd075fd3b’]

Deathstroke #24 continues the arc developing back from the Lazarus Contract crossover of Slade Wilson turning a new leaf and becoming a force for good.. or is he?

Listen to the latest episode of our weekly comics podcast!

So what’s this about?

The official summary reads:

“DEFIANCE” part three! As Kid Flash gets to know his new teammates, he soon discovers that Defiance is a team built on secrets and lies…but Kid Flash might be keeping the biggest secret of all! Meanwhile, a dangerous new threat emerges from the Far East and threatens to destroy Defiance before they even begin!

Deathstroke #24 Review

Wally II leaps into action to save innocents from a rooftop gunman.

Why does this issue matter?
Deathstroke has been a major villain for the Teen Titans since his introduction back in The New Teen Titans #2 in 1980 but him becoming a good guy is something that shifts the character’s status quo. Continuing the thread of having the New 52 Wally West not knowing fully where he belongs is a thread that has been present since his introduction and continues here with him not fully trusting his teammates on Defiance and the team finding out he’s been spying on them all. With the other Wally currently out of action, the current Kid Flash is the only other member of the Flash family present, a group of characters with historical grudges with Deathstroke. Setting up the next conflict for Defiance is a way paved forward by Wally and his dealings with Slade.

So, what’s good about Deathstroke #24?

Deathstroke #24 Review

Slade knows all like a morally compromised Batman

As usual, with Christopher Priest on writing duty, Deathstroke continues to be one of the best series currently going; the intrigue of Deathstroke’s plans for Defiance behind the scenes and the dynamics of the team are wonderful driving points for the plot. Priest also brings in the brand new villains of The Forgotten and his group the White Lotus to set up the next arc of the run. His development of Wally’s reasoning to join a team led by the world’s deadliest assassin is interesting and builds Wally into more of a character who has more reasons to join Deathstroke than being kicked from the Teen Titans.

Deathstroke’s methods of teaching lessons to his team and helping to develop them into a team are perfectly in character for a character who has previously done acts such as put a hit on his daughter so he had a reason to spend time with her. The dynamics of the team shown through their treatment of each other (both through Wally’s spying notes on each of them and their reactions towards what is being revealed) builds up the tension that everybody within the team has their own agenda for being there and if not for Deathstroke being the main focus of their agendas most of them would never be in contact with each other or be fighting. Priest is expertly continuing to build a universe around a character that previously wasn’t too expansive outside of a small side cast.

Deathstroke #24 Review

Wintergreen is the Alfred to Slade’s Bruce Wayne.

The pencils by Diogenes Neves perfectly match the tone of the book and present a well set landscape of locations and characters within the book, particularly a sequence where Wally is leaping from an elevated train track to nearby rooftops and his subsequent sprint across them towards the sniper who is threatening innocent people below.

Can Deathstroke do anything wrong?

Parts of the team dynamics feel as if they would fit at home on a television show that has plenty of character drama. Some of the facial expressions on some characters, particularly Wally and sometimes Power Girl, look odd at times with eyes occasionally looking to opposite sides and mouths that are in weird positions.

Deathstroke #24 Review
Is it good?
Christopher Priest continues to write an ongoing story about a once mercenary turned hero leading a team of teenagers with the feel of a television show with spectacular writing.
Priest's writing of the main character continues to be excellent
Priest develops the team dynamics of Defiance expertly and makes them continue to feel like a team that shouldn't work yet does
The artwork continues to brilliantly fit the writing
Some of the faces on characters can look strange at times
9
Great

Join the AIPT Patreon

Want to take our relationship to the next level? Become a patron today to gain access to exclusive perks, such as:

  • ❌ Remove all ads on the website
  • 💬 Join our Discord community, where we chat about the latest news and releases from everything we cover on AIPT
  • 📗 Access to our monthly book club
  • 📦 Get a physical trade paperback shipped to you every month
  • 💥 And more!
Sign up today
Comments

In Case You Missed It

WWE SmackDown preview, full card: March 1, 2024 WWE SmackDown preview, full card: March 1, 2024

WWE SmackDown preview, full card: March 1, 2024

Pro Wrestling

AEW Dynamite preview, full card: February 28, 2024 AEW Dynamite preview, full card: February 28, 2024

AEW Dynamite preview, full card: February 28, 2024

Pro Wrestling

AEW Rampage preview, full card: March 1, 2024 AEW Rampage preview, full card: March 1, 2024

AEW Rampage preview, full card: March 1, 2024

Pro Wrestling

Marvel unveils the new villains Bloodcoven appearing in 'Blood Hunt' Marvel unveils the new villains Bloodcoven appearing in 'Blood Hunt'

Marvel unveils the new villains Bloodcoven appearing in ‘Blood Hunt’

Comic Books

Connect
Newsletter Signup