DEATHSTROKE

Real Name: Tani Uiruson (definitely not Slade Wilson)

Identity/Class: Human technology user

Occupation: Assassin

Group Membership: Leader of the Terminators

Affiliations: Agent of a Yakuza crime family; would-be member of the Skeleton Crew

Enemies: Cutthroat, David Ishima, Mangler, Spider-Woman (Jessica Drew)

Known Relatives: None

Aliases: None

Base of Operations: San Francisco

First Appearance: Spider-Woman I#39 (August, 1981)

Powers: Deathstroke was a master martial artist and hand-to-hand combatant, arguably at the peak of human ability. He carried shuriken (throwing stars) with him. In addition, Deathstroke wielded an energy blade roughly one foot long, which could easily slice through a steel girder.

History: Little is known of Deathstroke's early history.

(Spider-Woman I#39) - Deathstroke was hired to silence David Ishima, who had learned that a new office building being constructed in San Francisco had secret design modifications. The project had a hidden core, which a Yakuza syndicate planned to use as its headquarters. Deathstroke's men captured Ishima, as well as his lover Jessica Drew, and took them to the building site to kill them both. Using her bioelectric powers to confuse the villains, Drew hurled herself from the building. This allowed her to change into Spider-Woman, and save Ishima when Deathstroke threw him from the ledge as well.

Spider-Woman and Ishima made short work of Deathstroke's Terminators, prompting Deathstroke himself to assault Spider-Woman. Though he was only a normal human, Deathstroke's skills allowed him to hold his own for a few moments. However, Spider-Woman's superhuman abilities gave her an insurmountable edge, and she defeated the killer with a single punch.

(Captain America I#395) - Deathstroke was one of three super-criminals applying for a vacancy in the Red Skull's Skeleton Crew. After the criminals filled out their application forms, they were led to a steel-reinforced cell and told to fight to the death. Deathstroke was the first to strike, hurling shurikens at his opponents, Mangler and Cutthroat. However, Deathstroke made the error of concentrating on Mangler first, and though badly injured, it was Cutthroat alone who survived the melee.

Comments: Created by Chris Claremont and Steve Leialoha

Deathstroke and his Terminators were, of course, an in-joke referring to the popular DC character introduced in New Teen Titans#2 by Marv Wolfman and George Perez. This guy appeared about 6 months after the DC version.

His real name was revealed in Cutthroat's entry in OHotMU A-Z Hardcover#3.

Profile by Omar Karindu.

Clarifications:

The Terminators have no known connection to:

The Terminators were a group of ex-military commandos, and had allegedly never failed in a mission before encountering Spider-Woman. They were trained in stealth and martial arts, and also carried shuriken and blades, though apparently not energy blades like their leader.

 

 

 

 

 

Appearances:
Spider-Woman I#39 (August, 1981) - Chris Claremont (writer), Steve Leialoha (pencils), Bob Wiacek (inks), Denny O'Neil (editor)
Captain America I#395 (December, 1991) - Mark Gruenwald (writer), Rik Levins (pencils), Danny Bulanadi (inks), Ralph Macchio (editor)

Last updated: 10/14/13

Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.

Non-Marvel Copyright info
All characters mentioned or pictured are ™  and © 1941-2099 Marvel Characters, Inc. All Rights Reserved. If you like this stuff, you should check out the real thing!
Please visit The Marvel Official Site at: http://www.marvel.com

Back to Characters