Deathstroke’s Latest Feat Officially Makes Him DC’s Biggest Badass (Sorry, Batman)

WARNING: Contains Potential Spoilers For Dark Knights of Steel: Allwinter #1!Deathstroke has officially earned the title of DC’s ultimate badass by achieving a feat that not even Batman can rival. While Slade Wilson has long been revered for his formidable skills, in the sequel to Tom Taylor’s high-fantasy Elseworlds series, Dark Knights of Steel, the mercenary’s combat prowess has soared to unprecedented heights.

Tom Taylor’s fan-favorite Elseworlds series makes its long-awaited return with Jay Kristoff and Tirso Cons’ Dark Knights of Steel: Allwinter #1. However, instead of continuing with Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman, the sequel shifts its focus to Deathstroke the Terminator.

The issue begins with Slade working as a coin-for-hire under Jarl Vandal Savage, which includes the mercenary killing Jarl Black Mask for Vandal. Following the success of this battle, Vandal assigns Slade another mission, which takes him sailing across the seven seas alongside Vandal’s second-in-command, Killer Frost. It is during this journey that Deathstroke earns the title of Kraken killer.

Deathstroke Defeats a Kraken by LITERALLY Jumping Into the Belly of the Beast (Beat That Batman)

While sailing to their destination, Deathstroke and Killer Frost’s longship is attacked by a Kraken. Despite Frost retaining her metahuman abilities in this universe, her attacks prove ineffective against the beast, prompting Slade to take matters into his own hands. Armed with two battle axes, Deathstroke takes a running leap off the boat and jumps into the belly of the beast. After the Kraken swallows him, it swims off, leading Slade’s companions to believe he is dead. However, the creature’s body soon bobs to the surface, followed by Deathstroke hacking his way out of its gullet, marking one of the most brutally badass kills in DC Comics history.

Deathstroke has more than a few impressive kills to his name, especially in Elseworlds series like DC vs. Vampires and DCeased. However, the Kraken slaying stands out as Deathstroke’s most impressive kill due to its sheer brutality and insanity. Armed with nothing but two battle axes, Slade intentionally allows the beast to eat him so he can take it down from the inside. The strength required to kill the Kraken, let alone hack his way through its organs and muscles and hide to free himself from its corpse, is an unparalleled feat both in Deathstroke’s personal dossier and compared to other DC characters.

Dark Knights of Steel: Allwinter Elevates Slade Wilson to an Unprecedented Level of Badassery

Despite the Kraken scene being wildly entertaining and showcasing Slade’s unparalleled strength and nerve, it’s the last panel that truly elevates Deathstroke to a new level of badassery. This is thanks to Kristoff’s applaud-worthy dialogue and Cons’ phenomenal art. The panel depicts Slade in his full Viking glory, gripping twin battle axes while standing on the Kraken’s corpse, drenched in its blood and guts. This image transforms Slade into a figure more akin to a blood-soaked Norse god than a mere mercenary. However, it’s Kristoff’s dialogue that makes this moment legendary when Deathstroke says, “I need another #@&%*& bath.”

Dark Knights of Steel: Allwinter #1 is available July 17, 2024, from DC Comics!