By Dustin Cabeal

Ah, cover interaction. Remember when that was special? And then Marvel had five covers every week with it, and DC was soon to follow? Well since I gave up reading Marvel and DC until recently, it’s now become special again! Maybe it’s just the fact that I like this book and the kick looks like collateral damage, like a lamp being knocked off in a fight.

This issue may not be as good as the last issue, but it’s fucking good still. I was surprised to see it so soon as well. In what’s become the norm for Priest’s writing style he jumps around on the timeline, but in a way that’s not annoying and manages to build up the story at the same time. Also, I won’t spoil the ending, but Priest reminders you that Slade is a piece of shit through and through.

Jericho is a big part of the story this issue and nothing he does is irrelevant to the story, so I will just leave it at that. Slade and the Raptor go toe to toe for a bit, and in a meta way, Priest makes fun of the old Deathstroke costume he’s wearing. I personally have never found a Deathstroke costume that sucks, but I do get that he’s had some corny costumes in the past. He still looks cool.

Red Lion’s plan is revealed, and his relationship with Slade is explained exactly the way that I described it in my last review which was a wonderful feeling. There’s nothing like knowing you truly grasped the story and that’s exactly what this issue did for me.

The art is stellar. The same team is back except Hama on breakdowns. Again, there is just something about having an actual inker on the book that makes this title look better than a lot of other books. I don’t mind digital ink, but there is a crispness to actual ink. Sometimes I look at titles that don’t have inks, and the color looks washed out and not as impactful. Joe Bennett is delivering panels and pages that are dynamic, interesting to look at and mesh with the writing style in a wonderful way. Backing him up is Mark Morales’ inks and Jeromy Cox’s coloring. Morales and Cox are a great combination as each elevates Bennett’s artwork to a higher level.

This series is extremely entertaining and one that I rush to read upon its release.  With a lot of great series I tend to think about and wonder when the other shoe will drop, and I’ll be left disappointed, but not with Deathstroke, I’m just here for the ride and happy with anywhere it’s taking me.

Score: 4/5

Deathstroke #13
Writer: Priest
Artist: Joe Bennett
Inker: Mark Morales
Colorist: Jeromy Cox
Publisher: DC Comics