Shadow War: Alpha #1 features the return of a classic blue and orange costume worn by one of the greatest mercenaries in the DC universe.
WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Shadow War: Alpha #1, now on sale from DC Comics.
Shadow War: Alpha #1 not only features the stunning death of Ra’s al Ghul at the hands of Deathstroke, but the issue also marks the return of the deadly assassin’s original outfit, which has not been seen in over a decade.
Deathstroke — or who initially appears to be Deathstroke — makes his debut halfway through the issue, sniping Ra’s as the Demon’s Head delivers a speech in Washington D.C. and pledges to start a new leaf and aid humanity rather than destroy it. After dispatching Ra’s, Deathstroke immediately begins firing at the crowd, wounding Talia al Ghul. As Batman and Robin jump into the fray to subdue him, the villain then tosses a grenade at Ra’s body and tells Batman to choose between stopping him or ensuring that Ra’s isn’t completely vaporized in an explosion, rendering it impossible to resurrect him via a Lazarus Pit. Ultimately, Batman chooses neither option and instead saves Robin from getting caught in the blast.
Deathstroke’s costume is a close match to the original gear that Slade wore in his 1980 debut in the pages of The New Teen Titans #2. Featuring a blue and orange ninja mask, sleek body armor atop scale mail and the flared gloves and boots of a swashbuckler, the costume is a far cry from the tactical body armor that Slade began wearing at the onset of DC’s New 52 reboot in 2011. One notable change to the classic outfit added by Shadow War: Alpha artist Viktor Bogdanovic is pronounced spikes along Deathstroke’s collar.
The return of Deathstroke’s original duds turns out to be a major clue to something revealed at the end of the issue. Shockingly, the assassin who killed Ra’s al Ghul appears to be an imposter, and the real Slade Wilson is only alerted to the incident after other members of Deathstroke Inc. notify him. Slade — who has spent the entire day training with his son, Respawn — watches a news feed of the murder and comments: “I haven’t worn that armor in years. That’s an imposter… This one’s moves look familiar. I’ve fought them before…”
While the identity of Deathstroke’s doppelgänger remains a mystery, Shadow War: Alpha ends in chaos as Talia al Ghul’s ninja army smashes through the window of Deathstroke Inc. headquarters, intent on revenge. The overarching “Shadow War” story continues in Batman #122, which goes on sale on April 5. Future installments of the crossover will appear in the pages of Deathstroke Inc. and Robin throughout April and May.
Source: DC Comics
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