Deathstroke Returns to the DCU in a Terrifying New Suicide Squad (Theory Explained)

Summary Amanda Waller is ready to unleash hell with her new Deathstroke 'Army' in DC's upcoming event Absolute Power.

An upcoming cover hints at Waller potentially using Deathstroke as part of her plans.

Waller may have cloned Slade Wilson to create her backup team.

After an extended period away from the spotlight, Deathstroke is returning to the DC Universe to join up with a new 'Suicide Squad'. Amanda Waller has bargained, blackmailed, and schemed her way into the greatest position of power and she's about to unleash hell on the Earth's metahumans.

Fans have seen the awful things Waller's done to prepare for war, but have they seen everything? A glimpse at DC Comics' upcoming event Absolute Power hints that Amanda Waller just might be involving Deathstroke But in what capacity? And to what end does Waller plan on using Slade Wilson in her mad goal?

Amanda Waller Has a Deathstroke 'Army' to Take Down DC's Metahumans

Absolute Power #1 (2024) Release Date: July 3rd, 2024 Writer: Mark Waid Artist: Dan Mora Cover Artist: Dan Mora Variant Covers: Jim Lee, Stephen Bliss, Puppeteer Lee, Chris Samnee, Chrissie Zullo, and others. THE TRINITY OF EVIL HAS WON. DC’s epic summer event kicks off with a bang, as the combined might of FAILSAFE and the BRAINIAC QUEEN has at last given Amanda Waller the ability to steal the metahuman abilities of every hero and villain on planet Earth. As chaos erupts in the streets and a massive misinformation campaign sways public opinion to her side, the founder of the Suicide Squad methodically targets each superhero dynasty one at a time, starting with SUPERMAN. But even in this darkest of hours, a resistance is forming…and BATMAN is out for vengeance. It’s a shocking blitzkrieg across the globe that is decades in the making—and will shape the course of the DC Universe for years to come! Brought to you by the superstar talents of MARK WAID and DAN MORA—it all starts here!

This summer, DC Comics is going all-out with Absolute Power. Between the main series, companion books like Absolute Power: Task Force VII and Absolute Power: Origins, and various tie-in issues, the DC Universe is going to be rocked by what Amanda Waller has in store. Many of the covers show off Waller, her companions in the Trinity of Evil, Failsafe and the Brainiac Queen, or their new army of Justice League-inspired Amazos. But there’s one element that’s easy to overlook on the standard cover for Absolute Power #1.

...the primary colors of the new Task Force are black and orange, the same colors associated with Slade Wilson...

The main cover for Absolute Power #1 drawn by Dan Mora shows the major players for the event, including the Justice League, the Trinity of Evil, and the new Amazo team. But also featured on the cover on the left next to Jadestone, the Green Lantern-inspired Amazo, are several of Amanda Waller’s new Task Force foot soldiers. They all wear heavily padded suits and are armed with powerful weapons, they also wear masks obscuring their identities. These soldiers can also be seen on covers for Absolute Power: Ground Zero #1 and Absolute Power: Task Force VII #1.

There’s nothing on any of the covers that indicates who any of the masked soldiers are. However, on Mora’s cover for Absolute Power #1, the soldiers' masks appear to be shaded so that their colors are evenly split down the middle, much like Deathstroke’s mask is. Not to mention, the primary colors of the new Task Force are black and orange, the same colors associated with Slade Wilson when taking on his mercenary work. Not to mention how adept the soldiers seem with guns, something Deathstroke was quite skilled at as well.

Where Has Deathstroke Been During the Dawn of DC?

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In the last several years, Deathstroke’s star rose to be one of the most prominent characters in the DC Universe. Not only was he the star of multiple ongoing series in a post-Rebirth DCU, but he also had roles in big events like Dark Nights: Metal. But things took a dark turn for the greatest mercenary on Earth when he got caught up in a battle with the al Ghuls, an event that saw Talia al Ghul kill Deathstroke, believing him to be Ra’s al Ghul’s murderer.

Deathstroke's death and revival can be seen in Batman: Shadow War (2022)!

Fortunately for him, Deathstroke’s body was stolen by Wilson’s incarnation of the Secret Society of Super Villains and they had their leader placed in a Lazarus Pit. However, Deathstroke’s body was corrupted by the Great Darkness and upon his resurrection, Wilson swore to kill everyone on the planet. Deathstroke led his Society during Dark Crisis on Infinite Earths where he took advantage of the Justice League’s deaths. Deathstroke attacked Titans Tower and shot Beast Boy as a warning to anyone thinking of filling the Justice League’s place.

Deathstroke’s power grew thanks to the Great Darkness and he spread its corrupted influence to other villains before launching one final attack on the Hall of Justice. Thankfully, Black Adam purged the Great Darkness from Slade using the Living Lightning. Not only was Deathstroke freed from the Great Darkness, but he was also stripped of the serum that allowed him to heal. Left in agony, Deathstroke was placed in intensive care under the Hall of Justice where a mysterious figure attempted to kill him by turning off his life support.

How is Amanda Waller Going to Use Deathstroke?

While there’s no guarantee that this new army has anything to do with Deathstroke beyond a few similarities, one must remember one important thing. After Dark Crisis on Infinite Earths, Slade was imprisoned under the Hall of Justice. While that was fine when it was still under League control, Waller claimed that property as her own when she became the head of the Bureau of Sovereignty. Now it’s the Hall of Order and everything that was previously the Justice League’s is in Waller’s hands.

Waller could be using Deathstroke’s body to create a battalion of clones.

Even without powers, Deathstroke is incredibly hard to kill and it’s unlikely whoever pulled his plug put him down for good. There’s a good chance that he was still clinging to life underneath the Hall. Amanda Waller’s never been one to waste an asset and if she found Slade, even if he was incredibly damaged, there’s little doubt she’d put him straight to work. And with the private Lazarus Pit that Waller used to revive Emilia Harcourt, Deathstroke could be theoretically brought back to normal.

Of course, that doesn’t explain the multiple new members of her Task Force, all of whom wear Deathstroke’s colors and share his affinity for guns. Perhaps Waller isn’t reviving Deathstroke since he is a risky asset and one who doesn’t take orders easily. Instead, Waller could be using Deathstroke’s body to create a battalion of clones. Even without powers, Slade Wilson is a prime specimen and a great model for Waller to build an army with. They might not be as good as the original, but a Deathstroke army could do exactly what Waller needs them to.

Deathstroke is Making Up Waller's Perfect New Backup Team

While Waller has an army of Amazos to help enforce her rule, she can’t count on them being her only option. Though nowhere near as powerful, an army of Deathstroke clones could assist Waller as she and her partners in the Trinity of Evil take control of the Earth. Deathstroke’s a good fighter and an excellent shot, so if his clones have even half of his skills, Waller has the perfect team to serve as her backup. It remains to be seen who’s in Waller’s new Suicide Squad, but don’t be surprised if Deathstroke is behind the mask.

Absolute Power #1 is available from DC Comics on July 3rd.