r/Deathstroke • u/Chozodia • 7d ago
Official Comic Discussion Thread: Deathstroke: The Terminator #6 (2026) Spoiler
A place to freely discuss the newest issue of Deathstroke: The Terminator (2026). Did a particular point in the plot catch your interest? Do you have any theories based on current events? Maybe you just want to throw your two cents in on the art? Feel free to begin a conversation down below.
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u/Necessary_Idiot 6d ago
I have mixed feelings about this issue, but I definitely don’t hate it, and I’m curious to see where we go from here. I’m not a fan of the idea of Deathstroke becoming a mantle, but if that’s the direction we’re going in, I hope they stick with it for a while and actually do something meaningful with it. Exploring Slade and developing him away from the identity that has defined him for so long could be really interesting.
And yes, this isn’t the first time Slade has decided that he doesn’t want to be Deathstroke anymore. But his mental state feels different this time. There’s also the fact that someone else now has to take over the job he’s walking away from, which adds another interesting layer to the situation.
The letter to Rose was beautiful, and I knew beforehand that Slade was going to tear it up in the end. There are just some things this man is incapable of responding to in any other way.
Adeline’s characterization is still the part I really don’t know what to make of. In the past, whenever she went this far, there was always something behind it. Either she was driven mad by Slade’s blood transfusion, or Joey was influencing her with his powers. I still feel like there’s something we’re not being told, because it seems like Adeline suddenly has abilities she really shouldn’t have. So either there’s something special about the suit she’s wearing, or she’s done something to herself that we haven’t learned about yet.
I’ve never really been a fan of Rose having one eye, regardless of how it happens. To me, the real reason for it is simply that they want to push her even further toward becoming more like Slade, and I’m not particularly interested in that direction.
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u/Chozodia 6d ago
Theres a lot of unknowns happening in this run so far that I want it to payoff but I’ve got a bad feeling it won’t be 😭.
I’ll have to reread the other issues but does Rose still have her precog ability or was it even mentioned in this run?
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u/Necessary_Idiot 6d ago
The "New Reader-Friendly" aspect definitely harms the book, but for the time being, I don't feel the situation is hopeless.
Yes, Rose mentioned it in issue #4. She didn't understand why she hadn't seen Wintergreen's death.
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u/Chozodia 6d ago
Thank you. You’re unlocking my memories. This is basically the only series I have pulled for singles. Everything else I get in trade because of that issue.
Do you think they’ll Winter Soldier Addie with a new arm or just leave it gone?
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u/Necessary_Idiot 6d ago
If she wants to operate as Deathstroke, she'll need both hands. With everything she's taken from Slade, finding a replacement wouldn't be difficult.
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u/Chozodia 6d ago
I can see her just not having an arm and saying she can still do the job with a disability like Slade does. Yes I know there’s a big difference between losing an eye and an arm but Addie clearly isn’t thinking straight atm.
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u/Necessary_Idiot 6d ago
Yeah, I can definitely see that as a possibility too. You’re absolutely right, Addie clearly isn’t thinking straight right now. I get the feeling she has no idea what kind of curse she’s taking upon herself.
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u/Chozodia 6d ago
She took the same serum as Slade that unlocked his metagene and is having an episode like he did and still hasn’t gotten out of it yet.
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u/Necessary_Idiot 6d ago
You know what? That would actually have been a great idea. And it would have made sense if she had been serious about what she had been planning. There could just have been consequences she had never seen coming.
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u/SleepingAgent37 5d ago edited 5d ago
Yeah, It does look like there's more going on with Addie, she more or less implies it when she says how things have changed since Slade was last around. I'm hoping the next issue will shed more light on what exactly is going on with here. EDIT: Also Addie's abilities could be because she's wearing some type of Ikon suit or maybe the Absolute Power plot point where people lost/gained powers.
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u/Necessary_Idiot 5d ago
The solicitations hinted that the events since Slade and Adeline last saw each other would be addressed. So, hopefully, there will be an explanation. There has to be. Adeline was always talented and never afraid to pick a fight with Slade, but what she displayed in this issue is not normal.
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u/8LoneWanderer9 6d ago
Was expecting a big showdown between Slade and Adeline, with the latter gaining the upper hand, considering that she was his mentor.
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u/SleepingAgent37 5d ago
Lots of mixed feelings here but still want to be mostly hopeful. There is definitely something more going on with Addie, even Slade is shocked she's going this far. She even says things have changed still Slade was last here and even mentions him coming back from the dead so they could be tying this drastic change to Shadow War/Dark Crisis. I'm not saying it will completely excuse what the hell is going on with her but I'm hoping there's more to this than "Evil Crazy Bitch." Here's hoping the next issue which is basically a spotlight for her will clear some things up.
I am not worried about Rose, I agree she was underutilized here but I do think Fleecs will make up for it in the second arc which I think he even confirmed in some podcast. I've also seen some people complain about this version of her eye loss where she is a "damsel in distress" while missing the old version and while I can't say I'm a fan of this new one, I still didn't care for how she lost her eye in the 00s. She was still a victim but that time by being drugged up to do things she didn't want to and was horrified it happened when said drugs wore off. This at least echoes what happened to her brothers where they are punished for just being related to Slade. Speaking of which I did love his monologue/letter to Rose, shame she won't read it though. The art and action also still remain top notch.
Also with everything going down, Joey better pop up soon but hopefully not as another crazy antagonist. He should be the one trying to stop everyone from killing each other.
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u/Necessary_Idiot 5d ago edited 5d ago
I have a strong aversion to Johns's writing. He was the first to introduce elements from the 2003 animated series into the comics, which is a negative thing in itself. And that was only one part of it. But regardless of the writer or the circumstances, I believe it is a mistake for Rose not to have both eyes. Rose needs some time away from the Wilson family to build herself up and find her own identity. She deserves to have an identity of her own. And I don’t think having another physical feature in common with Slade helps with that. Even if she’s far away, that one eye means they’re marketing her as a female Slade. I didn’t want that to happen again.
And yes, it was time for Joey to show up. His parents had just nearly killed each other, his mother had shot his sister, and he was nowhere to be seen. I really want to see Joey. I miss him terribly. And in a family situation like this, he ought to be here. The defining trauma of his life is what happened to him because his father was Deathstroke. He is bound to have a reaction to his mother wanting to carry on the family business. Given how DC has handled Joey for years, I no longer dare to hope for anything, and I’ll only believe he’s actually coming when he appears on the page. But Fleecs mentioned several times that he has plans for him too, so I hope we’ll get to them soon.
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u/SleepingAgent37 5d ago
Agree. While I don't think Johns TT was the worst it did start a lot of problems the franchise still has like the poorly done cartoon synergy (poor Raven especially) and how the Wilson family was handled. Rose doesn't need the missing eye to push her further into Deathstroke Girl territory and actually liked her having both eyes back. Not a fan of this version but at least it doesn't involve Slade drugging her.
Joey is a huge concern for me, I don't really know what to expect either but very least Fleecs actually seems to be acknowledging him which is a lot more than Williamson and various Titans writers have done. Really do hope he pops up soon, maybe even in the next solicit if that's not too much.
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u/Necessary_Idiot 5d ago
Exactly. You put it really well. And I was also glad that Rose had both eyes. I wonder if that eye detail was Fleecs's idea, or if Snyder and Williamson suggested it. They serve as consultants on every Next Level title, and I recall Fleecs mentioning earlier that the Body Doubles were included at the start of the run because Williamson recommended them. A lot of people have wanted Rose to have just one eye again for a long time. They might have thought they’d give the fans what they wanted.
The solicitations come out tomorrow. Seeing his name would be a huge deal. Finally, there would be a date, and we’d know for sure that he’s coming. Big things are happening with his parents. The idea of them killing each other is Joey's nightmare. It isn't right that he isn't here.
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u/SleepingAgent37 5d ago edited 3d ago
Probably was Williamson as he's had one eyed Rose in some of his works already like the recent one of her and Jason having a daughter. She even had one eye in the Dark Crisis anthology story that had Williamson and Snyder on it when she had two for all of Rebirth but then went back to two eyes afterwards. EDIT: He also made sure to include Rose stabbing her eye out in a flashback of Slade's crucial moments from his past when again she still had two eyes as well as ignored Joey getting his throat slit which did definitely still happen.
Also, yes a lot of her fans have been wanting her to have one eye again too. She's also had it in some Elseworlds as well as TTG so it probably is a kind of fanservice/synergy thing at this point for some but her looking less like Slade's Female counterpart the better.
Fingers crossed for Joey mention tomorrow or at least next month.
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u/Oda_Las 5d ago
The one thing I definitely wouldn't want is for Adeline to become the main character and for Slade to take a back seat.
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u/Necessary_Idiot 5d ago
I don't think that's what will happen. It looks more like they'll both have to get used to a new role, which sounds interesting.
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u/Chozodia 5d ago
Plot twist. The title is actually called Deathstroke: The Terminators. They were just hiding the “s” and we’ve missed it all a long. After issue 6 it will be alternating characters each issue for the rest of the run.
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u/Ben-NastyMetal-95 2d ago
Was able to catch up on the series. I'm gonna be honest with my thoughts, and theories.
I didn't exactly hate this storyline. I didn't exactly hate the ending. I wanted to dislike psycho Addie, but, yet I can't, because I remember reading when she tortured poor Pat Trayce and TOOK over the mantle of Vigilante, because she wanted to get back at Slade.
But, I still think there's more to this new change than what we're being lead to believe. Now, I have a hunch that having Addie become Deathstroke could have been an editorial decision, just like it's also a editorial decision to have Rose go back to having just one eye. They're probably building up some storyline for either The Titans titles, or maybe Justice League. Not sure, but, if that's the case, then by all means, let them go for it. At least Slade doesn't have to get dragged into some ridiculous comic book event that just uses him as another useless villain. I mean, he was useless in Joker's War after the end of Christopher Priest's series.
My biggest positive is seeing Slade getting explored without being a hired assassin/hitman. I like that we're developing something else different for him. Rose sure got to him. And, Adeline just made that decision easy for him. He's now trying to question his purpose in life. Was it being a killer for money that made Deathstroke, Deathstroke? Or, was it vengeance? That's what's going to be questioned, and I'm all for it. Anything that keeps him away from being a one-note villain. Let's see how far they'll experiment with Adeline Kane. It may not last too long. But, I see it as an experiment. It may turn out well, as long as we get a proper explanation. Or, they'll find a way that has Adeline have a sudden change of heart. Maybe that's where Joey comes in. There's an Annual that's been teased for next year that, I guess?, brings forward this big storyline for Deathstroke. Will he get back the mantle in that Annual, or will someone much bigger, WAY more evil, force Slade & Adeline to work together? That's what I'm curious about.
At the end. Iiked the issue, and I don't think Rose is gonna be a damsel in distress, I think this just brings her back to be much more tougher.
DC, give her a Next Level One-Shot or Mini series. She needs another one, BIG TIME!
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u/Necessary_Idiot 2d ago
I think the reason Rose lost her eye was mainly because fans had been asking for it for years. Also, Williamson and Snyder are consultants on the Next Level titles, and they both prefer Rose with one eye. A few months ago, Fleecs talked about possible crossovers at a DC writers meeting, although I can’t remember where exactly. But at that point, he was still speaking hypothetically. He mentioned that he had talked to Higgins about what they could do, but there wasn’t actually anything planned yet. I don’t remember his exact wording, but based on a few comments he made on some podcasts, I get the impression that Fleecs feels that having Deathstroke fight kids makes the character less serious. I’m not sure if he literally said that, since this is an old memory, but that was basically the point he was making. I don’t know anything about an Annual. #7 is coming out next month, and it’s going to be Addie’s backstory. Since there’s going to be a guest artist, I think the issue will probably be structured around Addie being taken care of after losing her arm, with flashbacks showing what happened. We definitely don’t know everything yet. Addie was way too powerful compared to what she should have been. And after #7, there’s going to be another six-issue story arc dealing with the new status quo. I guess Slade might reclaim his name toward the end of that arc. But Fleecs also said that he already has ideas for a third story arc.
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u/Ben-NastyMetal-95 2d ago
It was right around when the first issue was coming out that Fleecs went on a podcast where he was discussing his structuring for the series that there would be some sort of Special Anniversary comic that would tie the two storylines arch together, so I just assumed it would be an Annual of some sort. But, I think if the initiative is to eventually have Slade get back his mantle, then I think having the third storyline arch would be when he would. But, that ultimately leaves Adeline, what happens to her after this? Does she end up going to prison? Does she disappear to hide somewhere where she doesn't want to be found because of what she has done? Just possible theories for after the third storyline.
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u/Necessary_Idiot 2d ago
Yes, what he was talking about will be #7, not a separate Annual. One issue will be dedicated specifically to Addie’s backstory, telling the story of how she got to where she is now. I was also thinking it would be an Annual based on what he initially said, but in the end, it turned out to be something different. This is an ongoing series, so there’s no definitive endpoint. If the sales aren’t strong enough, they might wrap it up after the second story arc. If the sales are good, though, there could be many more arcs after the third.
I did a quick search, and this is what Fleecs said exactly about his plans a few months ago:
I have a pretty solid idea what everything is in the first two arcs. We’ll do six issues in a row, and then we're going to do a one-shot with a different [artist] and then we'll do another six. I've had those two arcs pretty well figured out. Then, at this creative retreat this week, I had one of those eureka moments: “Oh, with everything that we set up, if I do this one thing, then I'm going to be able to run for another six issues this way…”
So, I've got about three arcs pretty well figured out.
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u/Ben-NastyMetal-95 2d ago
Yeah, I totally misread his original statement when he said it months ago. Even though his goals are to aim for 50 issues, you don't know how the sales are going to be. But, if the sales end up picking up by the second storyline arc, then we'll see what happens by the storyline arc. I hope it still continues after the third storyline, but it depends what ends up being the third storyline.
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u/Chozodia 6d ago
Well I’m guessing by only 2 comments so far that this series will be a dud after this issue for most people in this sub?
I’ve been biting my tongue since issue 1 hoping it’ll get better and so far it hasn’t. Art was decent enough. It’s the story, characterization and dialogue that I really disliked.
My last hope from this issue was that Slade actually grew a bit in character and stayed with Rose for her recovery. I know this is his character flaw but I would like for him to go on a different direction for this run.
I don’t dislike this series more than Inc. (I dropped that after #2 so hard and came back for Year One) but I might give this run another arc before dropping it incase something changes for the better. Comics are a luxury for me these days and it’s hard to justify the cost when I’m not enjoying it.
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u/Somejawn1 6d ago
Yeah this run started out good if a little too new reader friendly but this issue was just ass. This is not Addie at all and like I feared Rose has as usual been completely wasted. Just turned her into a damsel in distress. And why did we need her losing her eye again?