In DC Comics, the mercenary known as Deathstroke is a brutal assassin that pulls no punches, but why does a man who can do just about anything continue to work as a gun-for-hire? Let’s just say that money is a form of respect that Deathstroke cannot ignore, and his job hunting down targets is the best way to keep both in good standing.
Touched on in 2011’s Deathstroke #3, by Kyle Higgins and Joe Bennett, this issue opens up with Slade Wilson aka Deathstroke as he fights an up-and-coming mercenary out for glory. Effortlessly taking this would-be assassin out, Slade internally reflects his murderous tendencies and why he continues to strive to become the foremost assassin on the planet.
Never satisfied with material possessions nor the money that comes with a job well done, Deathstroke takes what he wants -- whenever, however, and from whomever he wants -- with the idea that he isn’t chasing any sort of “normal” achievement, effectively making him more deadly and unpredictable than any other mercenary as a result. And unlike his rival Batman (or any other upstanding DC hero for that matter), Slade doesn’t usually have a wider agenda outside of the next job and paycheck, so the question has always been why does he continue to do what he does when with his particular mind and skillset, he could be out of the game anytime he wants.
Seeing himself as the greatest warrior in the world, Deathstroke thinks about how his craft as a fighter makes him part of a dynasty of such stretching back thousands of years. Lamenting that civilizations used to celebrate warriors by giving them prize status in the kingdoms of the world along with the various riches and respect of even richer and more well-respected men, Slade believes there's only one true kingdom left to conquer now that humanity has shifted its priorities as a whole: the world of commerce.
Essentially believing that the respect he’s owed by the world is made due by the exorbitant amount of money people are willing to pay for his specialized services, Deathstroke considers his price as the only true acknowledgment of his top-tier skills. And by driving his fees higher and higher and taking job after job, Slade Wilson can acquire the “respect” he feels he deserves as a warrior and human being; a terrifying thought considering this means he has no real ceiling on what he'll do as long as it positively grows his reputation. Furthermore, this also means he'll never stop maiming and murdering his prey, with this particular issue making it clear that Slade’s not trying to reach any specific goal, but instead just wants to max out his street cred as the greatest warrior who ever lived -- a feat he always seems close to achieving.
Deathstroke may be a man of vast wealth and skill, but that doesn’t mean he has everything he wants. And since money is something that'll never go out of style, the respect Deathstroke constantly strives for via monetary means has no upper limit, driving Slade in everything he does and everything he will continue to do in the future.