Deathstroke #39

Deathstroke #39 is a good book and entertaining read! The beginning is especially funny since we find out that Slade actually reached out to Earth's heroes for help while he was fighting his alien war against the Pulorians and the responses he got were interesting! I especially laughed when he reaches out to the Titans and Justice League! Our issue ends with Joseph breaking Slade out of Arkham, along with help from Hosun and Death Masque–however I don't believe that's all we've heard from Hugo Strange though! Can't wait to read the next issue! Read Full Review

With every passing issue, Priest's Deathstroke becomes more and more bizarre " and I mean that in the best way possible. Read Full Review

Between outstanding art, entertaining humor, and engaging themes, there is a lot to love about Deathstroke #39 Read Full Review

Deathstroke #39 is fun in a different way from previous issues: itmaintains the sensibility of a thinking man's comic while leaning into the absurdity of the “Arkham” plotline. From alien invasions to questions about reality to dual identities, the “Arkham” story archas been a wild, mind-bending trip excellently executed by its artistic team.Deathstrokeis a title that consistently delivers a thought-provoking script with Class A art. This one's worth a read. Read Full Review

Only one issue to go in order to determine the level of complexity and the overall execution ofDeathstroke: Arkham.As it stands in this issue, the final verdict could go either way but I'll continue to put my faith in Priest as one of the industry's top talents. Read Full Review

For the first time in a few issues, Deathstroke #39 pumps the brakes a bit and allows the story tobreathe, giving extra time to the bits and pieces that need it. Read Full Review

This is a transitional issue for this storyline. That's not to say it's bad. It just is leading to the finale. You could call it the calm before the storm. I'm interested enough to see where we end up. It could very well be a new status quo for this title. We shall see. Read Full Review

The Deathstroke artwork continues to be among the best in DC. Hats off to Carlo Pagulauan & Fernando Pasarin. Also, another stunning cover from Tyler Kirkham. Read Full Review

All of the plotlines begin to collide in the penultimate issue of Arkham. Read Full Review

While the art and supporting characters in this book remain strong, the main ordeal that our favorite assassin is facing is just becoming more and more confusing, leaving me more and more disappointed with what we're getting here.  Yeah, it could all come together by the end of the arc, but right now it's just a big bucket of crazy that I'm afraid will leave a lot of unanswered questions. Read Full Review

In the end, while the premise of this arc seemed great at the start, Priests pacing has made the story seem tedious. Maybe he didnt have enough story to fill the arc, or maybe he just thinks turning in circles over and over again makes for a good mystery. Either way, there feels like there is a missing ingredient that could have made this issue, and overall story, much more entertaining. It is, however, unfair to judge a mystery until its conclusion, so the readers will just have to see how it all turns out to determine whether this arc stands the test of time in coming years. Read Full Review

SnakeWilson

Jan 09, 2019

really enjoyed the emotional impact this issue represents on Slade just a little bit disappointed that we didn't really get inside his mind yet, i hope at least it was a pretty funny issue, some cool fourth wall breaking jokes

Simon DelMonte

Jan 09, 2019

That was weird. But fun. And action packed. And a bit incoherent. I think, in others words, it's pure Priest.

Br'er Lapin AKA 20-Ish Ceiln

Jan 13, 2019

Bizarre in a good way.

I Review Comics

Dec 15, 2019

It's been so long since I reviewed a Deathstroke comic that I almost forgot that it was on my pull list at one point. Issue #39 continues the Arkham storyline. Slade is an inmate in the asylum and while that much is certain, everything else in the comic is questionable. The closest analog to Deathstroke in this arc is Jeff Lemire's Moon Knight (another excellent series). On the one hand, you have Deathstroke's unofficial sidekick Devon trying to get Slade out of the Asylum so that they can stop a potential alien invasion that only they know about. On the other hand, you all of that may be bullsh*t and Slade has just lost it. I think the truth is between those extremes. Carlo & Fernando put together a great book. Everything looks perfect from the action beats to the quieter moments between characters. Even when something mundane is happening on the page the art direction either makes the panel look cool, dynamic or humorous. There is also some pretty horrible stuff going on at Arkham if taken at face value. I loved the linework and colors throughout the book. When you combine the excellent main plot and the art direction you have a great single issue. Devon AKA Death Dasque is becoming this arcs standout character. He's essentially a Black Deadpool and is the only one that believes in the alien invasion. He has a cool look in or out of the mask and I hope he gets mileage outside of this story arc. There is also the Two-Face - Rose subplot but that aspect of the comic didn't really do much for me so I won't spend too much time on it. I'm curious as to how this story will play out because this entire arc has been a mindf*ck. Here's my theory as to what's going on. I believe that everything that is not involving Deathstroke directly is real. This means that Devon's story about the invasion is real and that Two-Face really has kidnapped Rose. I think that the stuff in the Asylum is in flux because of the medication that Slade is on. There is also a possibility that the invading aliens have taken over the asylum which would explain how there's a Two-Face in the institute and also with Rose. If Devon's story is real it doesn't really make sense that the Villains stopped an invasion and ended back in the asylum a couple of weeks later. I don't trust any of it and it should make Issue #40 even more fun when all is revealed. Overall a pretty solid issue, fun story, great art my only real knocks on the issue are that the running subplot with Slade's kids isn't as interesting as the main story and throw the pacing at times. I'm also really burned out on Harvey Dent, dude needs a vacation. more

waltgator93

Jan 09, 2019

While I’m now understanding a few of what’s happening, still confused on more than what I know. The alien invasion I understand and thoroughly enjoy but the Rose and the Arkham part very confusing and makes me wonder how many more issues does Priest have in him with Deathstroke. Beautiful artwork by the way.

Nihilist

Jan 09, 2019

Seems like Deathstroke is going through midlife crisis. There's no other explanation for what's happening with his comics. he first half is a 4th wall breaking full blown Deadpool-esque comedy, and the second is a drug infested trip where no one knows what's happening and what's real. It hits you harder than listening to The Piper at the Gates of Dawn while being stoned so much you can barely move a finger. And to be honest, I can't say I like it. I mean, I love Pink Floyd, I love good comedy, and I love Deathstroke, but I don't love something that tries to be all at the same time, the same way I don't love Burton's Batman movies (come at me), despite Burton himself being one of my favourite directors of all time, and Batman being my #1 fav ourite comic character ever. It's a strange mix (pun intended), and its tone is goin up and down in matter of panels, which is only amplified by Priest's signature jumping from one point of view to another. I do not know if there's method in this madness, but as of now, I really don't enjoy it. Maybe I need to see where the story leads first, or read the entire arc several times to get it, similarly to how I had to mature as a listener to comprehend the genius of Pink Floyd, but yeah... For now I see only madness, with no method behind. Manganiello joke was cool, though. more

Psycamorean

Jan 11, 2019

I feel like the last thing we need with something like Priest's writing is an unreal drug trip where you can't trust what you read. Usually, when you read his work, it can be confusing but eventually it comes together and you figure out where all the pieces go and that can be a really fun and rewarding experience. But a good portion of this arc just isn't real so I don't think we'll get that same experience this time around, and we will just stay confused. A good portion of this issue is spent with Death Masque, which is clearly a parody of Deadpool. And that's fun, I guess. That's it. Just fun. Then we have the stuff with Two Face and Rose. I don't care about this at all. And I'm not sure why Two Face does. The whole subplot with Rose's mu ltiple personalities, most specifically Willow, has mostly fallen flat for me. And the final part, Hugo Strange is trying to fix Deathstroke and he succeeds by making Deathstroke kill his doctor. Which would have more impact if she had played a larger role and wasn't just in this super confusing arc. And then, Jericho and Wintergreen stop Strange. And Death Masque shows up with a getaway van. I think next issue will be a lot more straightforward. Deathstroke and the others will save Rose from Two Face and I'm not a fan of easily the worst sub plot becoming the focus. Oh, and then they'll stop that alien invasion, I guess. This issue was messy and failed to deliver on what was clearly supposed to be big moments for these characters. Despite that, I didn't hate it. I was just mostly unimpressed. more