Deathstroke: Rebirth #1 - "The Professional, Prologue"

[laughing_tree]

"As a person of faith, I find writing bloody carnage to be a real challenge because it directly contradicts my own core values. Therefore, it seems odd if not ridiculous for an ordained Baptist pastor to be writing a book about a cold-blooded killer—unless the book is less about glorifying the two-dimensional narrative and devaluing of human life in favor of making the book about the consequences of violence and the ultimate toll that lifestyle takes on you." -- Christopher James Priest

"Deathstroke by Priest and Pagulayan will be the smartest and most nuanced approach to the character you've ever seen." -- Editor Alex Antone

Comments

[coldfury]

I have to say, I've never been that interested in Deathstroke as a protagonist, I've always felt he works better as an antagonist or as the star of an occasional mini-series, but this is the most interesting take I've seen yet. My curiosity is piqued.

[gmm2.livejournal.com]

I didn't know Christopher Priest was a pastor. He has probably the most fitting name in the world, then.

[kamino_neko]

Well, it isn't his birth name...though I'm not sure if he adopted it before or after taking up the cloth. (Of course, a Baptist pastor being named Priest isn't really that appropriate a name.)

[wizardru]

While well-written, at first I thought that 'oh, Deathstroke is a monster' is not a take I was interested in. But the later part of these scans is fascinating and makes him a very compelling character. The idea that he NEEDS to be hired to maintain his contract (at least due to his own internal code) is a great take. This is a much better take on a flawed anti-hero than I expected.

[bradygirl_12]

I agree with the other posters. Very compelling take on Slade. There's something always interesting about a villain with a strict code of his own. Also, a guy who can slide back-and-forth between good guys and bad guys in his own way always tells a good story.

[shadowpsykie]

huh... while I am not a fan of the "Deathstroke" is a dick... thing... I do feel like the rest is a pretty interesting take on him...

I await the inevitable moment where a hero hires him for a penny in order to turn on the people he is morally, but contractually obligated to.

[miss_abnormal]

At least for this issue, I like how Priest is dealing with a character like Deathstroke. Usually, writers (of any medium) try to level-up a character's cruelty by making them go through extremely violent scenes or try to create interest in a morally-lacking character by making them too sympathetic. From what I see, this will be a complex and interesting take on Deathstroke. And reading the posted Priest quote above, I can also expect an avoidance of unnecessarily graphic visuals of violence (be it Deathstroke killing his targets or his abusive treatment of his sons).