Deathstroke has proven his chops as one of DC Comics’ best villains time and time again, during everything from his creation in Marv Wolfman and George Perez’s New Teen Titans to video games like Batman: Arkham Origins
There’s a reason you see all sorts of DC heroes trying to pluck Deathstroke out as their own antagonist, with everyone from the Teen Titans to Batman to Green Arrow building serious cases for their enmity. Deathstroke the Terminator is just that good.
Due to a fascinating background, perfect color scheme, and excellent eye patch, Slade Wilson has been involved as DC’s most compelling killer for hire since the early 1980’s.
After a dry spell following the character’s peak in popularity in the early 90s, DC’s New 52 and Rebirth have both seen solo ongoings for Deathstroke, with the Rebirth series in particular ranking as one of the publisher’s best.
Below you’ll find a mega reading order for Deathstroke comics, ranging across a wide variety of titles the character’s been involved with.
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The Complete Deathstroke Reading Order
Origins in Teen Titans
Collects: New Teen Titans #1 To #8
Deathstroke the Terminator origins in the pages of Marv Wolfman and George Perez’s relaunched Teen Titans.
Collects: New Teen Titans #9-16
Marvel and DC Present #1: The Uncanny X-Men and the New Teen Titans
Any time Darkseid hires Deathstroke to take on Wolverine, that’s a comic you have to read.
Collects: New Teen Titans #28-34, New Teen Titans Annual #2
Collects: New Teen Titans #35-41
Collects: New Teen Titans #42-48, New Teen Titans Annual #3
Collects: The New Teen Titans #49-58
Collects: New Teen Titans #1-9
Deathstroke’s First Solo Series In The 90’s
Deathstroke: The Terminator (1991-1996) Vol. 1: Assassins
Collects: Deathstroke: The Terminator #1-9 And The New Titans #70
Deathstroke: The Terminator (1991-1996) Vol. 2: Sympathy For The Devil
Collects: Deathstroke: The Terminator #10-13, Deathstroke: The Terminator Annual #1, And Superman #68
Deathstroke: The Terminator Vol. 3: Nuclear Winter
Collects: Deathstroke The Terminator #14-20 And Showcase ’93 #6-11
Collects: New Titans #75 To #84
Slade is forced to confort a possessed Jericho.
Deathstroke, The Terminator Vol. 4: Crash Or Burn
Collects: Deathstroke, The Terminator #21-#25 And Deathstroke The Terminator Annual #2
Collects: Detective Comics #708 To #710
Batman caught in the crossfire between Deathstroke and Gunhawk in “Death Lottery.”
Villains United and Deathstroke In DC’s Crisis
Collects: Outsiders #22
Deathstroke messes with Dick Grayson’s Outsiders unit.
Collects: Identity Crisis #2 To #3
Deathstroke takes on the Justice League in one of the character’s most iconic fights.
Teen Titans by Geoff Johns Omnibus
Collects:
There’s lots of Deathstroke throughout the Geoff Johns run of Teen Titans, including Slade and Rose Wilson dressing up as Batman and Batgirl.
Collects: Superman/Batman #27-36 And Superman/Batman Annual #1
Deathstrokes takes a contract for Bruce Wayne’s head in Superman/Batman Annual #1
Collects: Batman #635-641, #645-50 And Batman Annual #25
Deathstroke makes an appearance in the second half of the story, approaching Black Mask about interest in joining The Society.
Collects:
Dick Grayson takes on the training of Rose Wilson, aka the new Ravager and daughter of Deathstroke.
Collects: Nightwing #111 To #117
Collects: Villains United #1 To #6
Countdown to Infinite Crisis
Collects: Infinite Crisis Special: Villains United #1, Infinite Crisis #1 To #7
Deathstroke And The Titans Before New 52
Green Arrow: Crawling Through the Wreckage
Collects: Green Arrow #60 To #66
Green Arrow vs. Deathstroke to save Mayor Oliver Queen!
Green Arrow: Road to Jericho VOL 09
Collects: Green Arrow #67 To #75
Blackest Night: Black Lantern Corps Vol. 1
Collects: Blackest Night: Batman Issues #1-3, Blackest Night: Superman Issues #1-3 And Blackest Night: Teen Titans
The Blackest Night Teen Titans tie-ins feature major developments for Slade and Rose Wilson!
DC Universe: Last Will and Testament #1
Collects: Dc Universe: Last Will And Testament #1
Brad Meltzer and Adam Kubert write a one-shot callback to “The Judas Contract”
Collects: One-Shot
Written by David Hine with art by Georges Jeanty and Mark McKenna.
Collects: Batman And Robin #11 To #12
Deathstroke is hired by Talia Al Ghul to kill Dick Grayson (currently operating as Batman)
Collects: Titans: Villains For Hire Special #1, Titans #24 To #28
Collects: Titans #29 To #38
Flashpoint: Deathstroke and the Curse of the Ravager
Collects: Flashpoint: Deathstroke And The Curse Of The Ravager #1 To #3
New 52 Deathstroke Reading Order
Team 7 Vol. 1: Fight Fire With Fire
Collects:
Collects: Deathstroke #1 To #6
Collects: Deathstroke #7 To #12
Collects: Forever Evil #1 To #6
Deathstroke joins the villains banding together to save the world from the evil Justice League.
Deathstroke (2014-2016) Vol. 1: Gods of Wars
Collects: Deathstroke #1 To #6
Deathstroke (2014-2016) Vol. 2: God Killer
Collects: Deathstroke #7-10, Annual #1 And Dc Sneak Peak: Deathstroke #1
Deathstroke (2014-2016) Vol. 3: Suicide Run
Collects: Deathstroke #11-16
Deathstroke (2014-2016) Vol. 4: Family Business
Collects: Deathstroke #17-20 And A Special Preview Of Deathstroke: Rebirth #1
DC Rebirth Deathstroke Reading Order
Deathstroke (2016-) Vol. 1: The Professional
Collects: Deathstroke Rebirth #1, Deathstroke #1 To #5
Deathstroke (2016-) Vol. 2: The Gospel of Slade
Collects: Deathstroke #6 To #11
Deathstroke (2016-) Vol. 3: Twilight
Collects: Deathstroke #12 To #18
Batman Vol. 4: The War of Jokes and Riddles
Collects: Batman #25-32
Deathstroke’s a supporting player in the Joker and Riddler’s war for Gotham City.
Collects: Superman American Alien #3
Deathstroke has a contract to take out a college-aged Bruce Wayne, but mistakes him for Clark Kent on a party yacht.
Collects: Titans #11, Teen Titans #8, Deathstroke #19-20 And Teen Titans Annual #1
Collects: Deathstroke #21 To #25
Collects: Metal #1 To #6
Deathstroke works with the heroes, most notably with Aquaman to prevent the invasion of the Dark Knights. After all, what could be worse for Deathstroke than a dark multiverse full of Batmen?
Deathstroke Vol. 5: Fall of Slade
Collects: Deathstroke #26 to #29, Annual #1
Collects: Deathstroke #30 to #35
Collects: Deathstroke #36 to #40
Teen Titans/Deathstroke: The Terminus Agenda
Collects: Deathstroke #41 to #43, Teen Titans #28 to #30
Collects: Deathstroke #44 to #50
Deathstroke Inc. (2021) Vol. 1
Collects: Deathstroke Inc. #1 to #7, Batman: Urban Legends #6
Collects: Shadow War: Alpha #1, Batman #122 to #123, Deathstroke Inc. #8 to #9, Robin #13 to #14, Shadow War Zone #1, Shadow War: Omega #1
Deathstroke Inc. (2021) Vol. 2: Year One
Collects: Deathstroke Inc. #10 to #15
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I think you should update this list. they have released a lot of comics featuring Deathstroke since issue #25
Great list, but you should include New Suicide Squad: Pure Insanity.
Amazing post as always, Dave. Just wanted to say that Deathstroke Rebirth IS AMAZING. It’s what got me into the character and I’m eager to dive into his past appearances. Although, I might steer clear from the New 52 run because I’ve only heard bad things lol.
Thanks, and YES! The Rebirth era is soooo good.
I’m certain the New 52 era doesn’t measure up, but I need to do a reread at some point of the series relaunch (when it reboots with a new volume 1). Big improvement from the early days from what I remember.