WARNING: Contains Potential Spoilers for Dark Knights of Steel: Allwinter #5!

Rose “Ravager” Wilson, the daughter of Deathstroke, has just experienced one of the most dramatic and game-changing overhauls to her origin story yet. Taking place in an Elseworlds storyline, this shift isn’t just a minor tweak—it fundamentally reshapes the Wilson family dynamics and redefines Rose’s connection to an iconic figure in her life.

Jay Kristoff and Tirso Cons’ Dark Knights of Steel: Allwinter #5 further expands the Tom Taylor-created Elseworlds series, best known for its fantasy reimagining of the DC Universe set in the medieval world of Earth-118.

Unlike Taylor’s original story, which centered on Batman and Superman, Allwinter shifts the spotlight to Deathstroke, introducing a new cast of characters, including Slade’s daughter Rose and his longtime friend and ally, William Randolph Wintergreen. This reimagining brings fresh twists to the characters’ designs and origins, with the latest being a major overhaul to Rose Wilson’s origin story that redefines her relationship with Wintergreen.

DC’s DARK KNIGHTS OF STEEL Brings Major Change to Rose Wilson’s Origin

Earth-118’s Wintergreen Raised Deathstroke’s Daughter

In Dark Knights of Steel: Allwinter #5, it is revealed that Rose, despite being Slade’s daughter, was raised by Wintergreen. This marks a significant departure from mainstream continuity, where Rose was raised by her mother until the age of 14. This key change has set off a chain reaction of alterations to Rose’s origin story. Most notably, Wade LaFarge (Deathstroke's half-brother) is absent from her backstory. In the main timeline, Wade kidnaps Rose to use as leverage against Slade, an event that serves as the catalyst for her transformation into Ravager—a role that fluctuates between hero, anti-hero, and villain.

Another significant deviation implied in Allwinter is that Wintergreen raising Rose eliminates her connection to the Teen Titans, who, in mainstream continuity, were instrumental in her training and development. Instead, Wintergreen appears to have taken on the responsibility of training her, leaving Rose with no apparent ties to her traditional peers. As a result, this Elseworlds reimagining redefines Wintergreen and Rose’s relationship. While Wintergreen has typically been portrayed as a family friend or distant uncle in the main continuity, Allwinter shifts their bond to something much closer, bordering on a true father-daughter dynamic.

Even in Elseworlds, Slade and Rose’s Tragic Dynamic Remains Unchanged

Cover B Card Stock Variant by Homare for Dark Knights of Steel: Allwinter #5 (2024)

Even though Allwinter drastically alters Wintergreen and Rose’s relationship, Rose’s bond with her father remains tragically consistent with how it is portrayed in mainstream continuity. In both timelines, Slade makes the controversial decision to stay out of Rose’s life, driven by his fear that his involvement would doom her to the same tragic fate as his sons, Grant and Joey. However, this absence fosters deep resentment in Rose, leading her to act out while simultaneously seeking her father’s approval. Despite the significant changes to her backstory in Allwinter, the fundamental complexity and heartbreak of Rose’s relationship with Deathstroke remain intact.

Dark Knights of Steel: Allwinter #5 is available now from DC Comics!