WARNING: Contains Potential Spoilers for Titans #17!After years away from mainstream continuity, Deathstroke makes a triumphant return—reviving one of his most iconic looks and reclaiming his place as the Titans' ultimate nemesis. As DC reignites one of the team’s most legendary rivalries, anticipation soars for the mercenary’s undoubtedly sinister plans to unfold.
...the absence of the Dark Crisis trench coat offers hope that the atrocious haircut is gone as well...
John Layman, Pete Woods, and Wes Abbott continue their Titans run with issue #17—a chapter that sees Clock King unleash his master plan against the team using his newly revealed powers to manipulate time perception and memory. Yet, in true Titans fashion, the Donna Troy-led squad thwarts Tockman’s schemes and forces him to retreat.
Defeated and frustrated, Clock King finds himself sulking at the iconic villain hangout, Noonan’s. It’s here, in the comic's final pages, that Deathstroke makes his grand debut, proposing a partnership with Tockman to take down the Titans once and for all.
Slade Wilson’s New Deathstroke Redesign Combines the Best Elements of His Past Costumes
Deathstroke’s Dark Crisis 2022 Storyline Design
The last time Deathstroke appeared in main continuity was during the Dark Crisis storyline, where he sported one of his most radical redesigns to date. While the mercenary retained his signature orange and black costume with silver fish-scale accents, this iteration introduced a flamboyant orange-and-black trench coat featuring ripped-off sleeves for an edgy effect. Additionally, Slade debuted a controversial mohawk, a look many associate with Zack Snyder’s Justice League cut. The over-the-top trench coat and polarizing mohawk ultimately made Deathstroke’s Dark Crisis design one of the least popular among fans.
In contrast, Titans #17 returns Slade to a costume that reflects his most iconic looks. While fans only get a single- glimpse of Deathstroke, Pete Woods does an excellent job showcasing the redesign. With Slade still wearing his mask, it’s unclear whether he’s still sporting the divisive mohawk, but the absence of the Dark Crisis trench coat offers hope that the haircut is gone as well. The new look closely resembles Deathstroke’s beloved New 52 design, arguably one of his most celebrated appearances to date. Woods’ redesign feels like a welcome return to form, combining classic elements with subtle updates to give Slade a fresh yet familiar aesthetic.
Stafire's Sister Debuts Her Greatest Costume to Date, Setting Up a Titans Comeback
Blackfire's blink-and-you-miss-it return in the Titans series is more than welcome—especially since she’s sporting one of her best costumes to date.
Deathstroke Is Returning to the DCU as a Major Titans' Villain (Finally)
Main Cover by Pete Woods for Titans #18 (2024)
Seeing Slade in a costume that evokes classic Deathstroke is a welcome sight, but his debut in this series is significant for another reason: it appears to confirm his return to the role of the Titans' primary villain in Layman and Woods’ run. Over the years, the mercenary has become one of DC’s most iconic and fan-favorite antagonists. While Deathstroke has branched out to torment various heroes, he remains, in the hearts of many fans, a Titans villain above all else—with his rivalry with the team being the foundation of his meteoric rise to fame in the DC Universe.
Titans #17 is available now from DC Comics!
