A preview for the upcoming Deathstroke: Year One from DC Comics is teasing that the comics may be changing the standard origin for his missing eye to more closely align with the CW’s Arrowverse. The change would fit in well with the trend of DC including elements of its non-comics stories in its main comics continuity. It would also be appropriate given 2022 is the tenth anniversary of the Arrowverse and the shows will be releasing a crossover event in comic book form this June.
While the exact circumstances surrounding Deathstroke losing his eye have changed through various reboots and retcons in the comics, the general cause has usually remained the same. While the New 52 version of the character was a bit of an exception, having Slade lose his eye in a fight with North Korean soldiers, he usually loses his eye for much more personal reasons. Originally and in the Rebirth reboot, after his mercenary work endangered his family, his wife Adeline attempted to kill Deathstroke by shooting him in the head. While he survived, the bullet destroyed his right eye, which never managed to heal despite his healing factor. The origins of his missing eye were changed drastically on the television show Arrow. While initially an ally of Oliver Queen, the two eventually have a falling out and Oliver stabs Slade’s right eye out with an arrow in an attempt to kill him. While the comics and the show have kept their continuity largely separate, this may change with Deathstroke Inc #11.
Deathstroke Inc #11, written by Ed Brisson and with art by Dexter Soy will continue the Deathstroke: Year One storyline, following Slade’s beginnings as a professional mercenary. The issue’s description reveals that it will be focusing on Deathstroke’s first assassination mission. A variant cover of the issue by Francesco Mattina shows a bloody Deathstroke facing down a Green Arrow nocking an arrow against him. As Green Arrow is shown in the reflection of the right side of Deathstroke’s mask, this could imply that this issue will see Slade lose his right eye at the hands of the Emerald Archer instead of his wife.
This change to Deathstroke’s origin would cause the comics to mirror the Arrowverse version of events. Given the popularity of Manu Bennett’s portrayal of the character in Arrow, this move makes sense on DC’s part and also fits into their recent trend of using characters and events from their many television shows in DC comics as well. In addition, writers like Christopher Priest have already thoroughly explored Deathstroke’s relationship with his wife in the comics, so keeping the original origin might just lead to retreading old ground. A deeper history between Deathstroke and Green Arrow may be more interesting to explore.
It remains to be seen how exactly Deathstroke will lose his eye in DC’s new Infinite Frontier continuity, but losing it to Green Arrow would surely make fans of the Arrowverse happy. It could also potentially set up further fights between Deathstroke and Oliver Queen, each of whom are heavily involved in secretive organizations, with Slade leading Deathstroke Inc and Queen funding Checkmate. If so, this change to the origins of Deathstroke’s most distinctive injury could take his series in an exciting new direction while also paying homage to one of the most popular portrayals of his character in the Arrowverse.
Deathstroke Inc #11 will be available from DC Comics on July 26th, 2022.
Source: League of Comic Geeks