This article is about Slade Wilson from Earth-1 in the Arrowverse. For his other counterpart from the acknowledged Earth-9 within the Arrowverse, see Slade Wilson (Titans).
- “Under certain circumstances, I'm not so nice a guy.”
- ―Slade Wilson to Nylandr
Slade Wilson, also known as Deathstroke, is a supporting protagonist/antagonist in the Arrowverse, debuting in the Arrow episode, "Betrayal". He crash-landed on an island, to free Yao Fei with his partner Billy Wintergreen, who ultimately betrayed him to the mercenaries they were hunting. Eventually meeting fellow island survivor Oliver Queen six months after he ship-wrecked, Slade accepted him as a partner and later became his second mentor. However, their friendship was fractured after learning Oliver chose to save Sara Lance from Anthony Ivo over Shado, a woman they both loved. Since then, he held a personal vendetta against Oliver, threatening to destroy his life and all those he cares about. After being cured of the Mirakuru, and realizing the error of his ways, works to atone for his past crimes.
Slade served as a supporting antagonist in Season 1, the main antagonist of Season 2, a minor antagonist in Season 3, and a supporting character in Season 5 and 6
Background[]
Comics[]
Slade Wilson as he appears in the comics.
- Main article: Deathstroke (DC)
Slade debuted as Deathstroke in The New Teen Titans and was created by Marv Wolfman and George Pérez. He is notorious for being the main antagonist of The Judas Contract and sharing an antagonistic relationship with Dick Grayson/Nightwing, Gar Logan/Beast Boy and the Teen Titans.
However, there is nothing Deathstroke related within Green Arrow's origin story. In most adaptations, Slade is often an adversary for the Teen Titans and Nightwing, blaming them for his son Grant's death, while also having an on/off friendship with Beast Boy in earlier stories.
Role[]
He is the anti-heroic deuteragonist of the flashback timeline of Season 1, the main antagonist of Season 2, a minor antagonist in Season 3, a background character in Season 4, 7 and 8, a supporting anti-hero in Season 5, and a major anti-hero in the first half of Season 6. He is as a background character in Seasons 1, 2, 3 and 6 of The Flash and Seasons 1 and 2 of DC's Legends of Tomorrow.
In the tie-in novels, Slade appears as one of the central characters and villain protagonists of the non-canon Arrow novel Vengeance.
Personality[]
Pre-Mirakuru[]
Mirakuru[]
After being injected with the Mirakuru serum by Oliver, Slade’s personality took a turn for the worse, with his identity resembling his comic book counterpart.
Upon waking up from his resurrection, Slade’s first concern was Shado, who, at this point, had already been killed by Anthony Ivo. He first displayed his more homicidal tendencies by mercilessly killing Ivo’s men. Heartbroken and vengeful, Slade swore to make the men responsible for Shado’s death suffer to no end. Now a shadow of his former self, Slade’s humanity was nearly falling through and his sanity slipping because of the drug's effects. Shortly after Shado’s funeral, Slade nearly choked Oliver to death with his enhanced strength, but broke out of it when Sara grabbed onto a branch with the intent to hit him with it. However, he showed signs of alarm and regret of nearly hurting Oliver. Later intending to use one of Edward Fyers' old missile launchers to kill Ivo and his men, Oliver managed to talk him out of it by mentioning Shado and Joe. Upon learning Oliver was given the choice of saving Shado and Sara, but chose the latter when Oliver thought Ivo was going to kill her, Slade was being all reason and thinking. He immediately turned on his former friend and later, had him tortured. This is when Slade’s vengeance and vendetta against Oliver began. It only took a turn for the worst when Oliver had the opportunity to heal Slade or kill him, he managed to stab him in the eye and seemingly killed his former friend. It was the mercenary’s will to hate Oliver that caused him to survive. After being reunited with Joe and Adeline, Slade tried living with the Mirakuru, but he became much colder and distance. Some of his actions as Deathstroke under the mask would later cause his son, Joe to become a mercenary and later, a killer like his father. He would begin to hallucinate Shado like Oliver did wherever he needed Shado most. The same would happen with Slade, albeit a darker and twisted way. While Oliver would see a kind and beautiful figure, remembering Shado’s kindness and good heart, Slade would see the darker aspects of her. However, Slade’s bloodthirst and vengeance reflected upon her, as Shado urged Slade to get revenge on Oliver, something the woman he once loved would never do. Speaking of which, when it comes under the subject of Oliver Queen, Slade is driven by his revenge before reason mentality; his insanity reached to a boiling point upon learning Oliver was alive and became a vigilante, the Green Arrow. Despite his anger, Slade killed many ASIS recruits, accept his son Joe, who he still held affection for. He swore to make his former comrade pay for Shado’s death, but Slade never took into account that it really wasn’t his former friend’s fault but rather, it was Ivo’s. He even snapped at Sebastian Blood for questioning his plans at making Oliver suffer, at least throughout the whole second season.
Despite his sanity deterring, Slade has become a master manipulator who can metaphorically feed on people's egos and manipulating events into his image. He managed to gather a group of followers, including an army of Mirakuru soldiers, with most individuals being willing to be subjugated to the serum’s effects save carry out his vendetta of both Oliver and, later, Sara. Slade swayed the mind of Sebastian Blood with promise of making him Mayor of Starling City by feeding off his desire to rebuild the city from the ground while Slade planning to raze it to the ground just to hurt Oliver. When he met Isabel Rochev, Slade learned of her anger towards Robert Queen, and by extension, the Queen family and managed to get her to join his vengeance campaign. He later tricked Moira into thinking he was supporting her mayoral campaign, when in reality, he was at her house to plant cameras to spy on her. When he kidnapped Thea Queen, Slade pretended to be ignorant of being involved in her disappearance, with the police force believing him and eventually, releasing him because of Quentin Lance only arrested him out of suspicion. Of course, this was only Slade's way of showing Oliver and Team Arrow he couldn't be taken out that easy. However, despite his master manipulation, Slade’s arrogance and vengeance, as well as his vendetta against the Archer, to could also be his weakness. He later revealed to Laurel that Oliver was the Arrow in an effort to hurt him and break Oliver’s and Laurel’s relationship. However, Slade’s plan would ultimately fall through. She was deeply affected by this revelation, and at first distant about it, Laurel accepted that Oliver was doing good as the Arrow and later comforted him when she saw he was afraid and alone. Instead, she would show her support for Oliver, even giving him reason to fight Slade because of Sebastian Blood’s involvement in his mother Moira's death. He was ultimately tricked by Oliver during the events of the Siege. Slade watched video footage of Oliver telling Felicity he loved her, knowing that his former friend would hurt the woman he loved. From this point on, Oliver and Felicity were planning on stopping Slade by curing him from the Mirakuru; if the madman captured her, then Felicity would be close enough to inject him with the Mirakuru serum cure. Slade had never taken into account what would happen if Oliver was aware of the hidden cameras, he had in the Queen Mansion. However, he was somewhat successful in ruining Oliver and Thea’s relationship when he told her that both Moira and Oliver kept the secret that Malcolm was her biological father and not Robert. She grew cold towards them but this changed when Oliver told Thea to leave Starling City, as this was what she wanted and would lead to their reconciliation.
Apart from his vendetta against Oliver, Slade became a mercenary once more through brutal methods. He is shown to be extremely deadly and fearful, and being intolerant of failure and betrayal. When Blood failed to “take care of” Laurel, Slade demonstrated his failure intolerance when he killed four of Sebastian’s followers, threatened to kill Sebastian if he failed him again. This shows Slade no longer has regard for anyone’s well-being. However, it is implied that he had some level of care for Isabel Rochev, however according to her, Slade was brutal with her in their training sessions when she became his apprentice. After she was killed by John Diggle, Slade used the Mirakuru, as well as his own blood to revive her. However, he abandoned her to Nyssa Al Ghul, Oliver Queen and their reinforcements during the siege and it is unknown how he reacted to her death. Apart from this, Slade has no regards for human life in his anger towards Oliver, which is in stark contact to him on the island, when he wanted to blow up a missile launcher to foil Edward Fyers and save innocent civilians. Now, his methods became dark and twisted.
Even after being cured, Slade's vendetta against Oliver still remained. He once goaded Thea to kill him, but he did not beg on her presence, probably because he didn't want to give active the satisfaction of his fear. However, Slade proved to be somewhat sane, warning Oliver to keep Thea away from Malcolm Merlyn, perhaps showing some level of respect for his former protégé. However, it didn't stop him from mocking Oliver that he will continue to lose those closest to him if people like Merlyn are able to manipulate both Queen siblings or anyone related to them.
Post-Mirakuru[]
- “Under certain circumstances, I'm not so nice a guy.”
- ―{{{2}}}
At least four years after his imprisonment on Lian Yu, the Mirakuru was finally out of Slade Wilson's system, with Slade's sanity intact when he met Oliver since their last encounter. According to him, the Mirakuru was like waking from a nightmare. Aware of all his past actions against Team Arrow, Slade was at best, remorseful of what he had done. These included the suffering he inflicted on Starling City and murdering Oliver's mother in front of him and Thea, listing this as one of the reasons why Oliver should not ask him for his help. However desperate, Oliver offered Slade the chance to redeem himself by helping him saving his son, William, from Adrian Chase. Slade remarked it would be 'like old times," showing he was the same man Oliver had met ten years ago. He also likes to tease his old enemies turned allies, telling Felicity she still had the same fire when they last encountered each other. Slade later teased Oliver, about his 'marriage' to Nyssa, instead of ending up with Felicity. On a more serious manner, Slade has also helped Oliver come to terms of his survivor's guilt, empathizing that they are both the same on an emotional and personal level. He could also return to his old charades, as he pretended to betray Oliver and Team Arrow, but only did so they could get closer to saving Dinah, Curtis, Rene and William. Slade is also capable of showing sympathy to others, as he showed this sentiment to Oliver when it Chase lied and told him that his son was dead. This is probably influenced by the fact Slade is a father himself, and the thought of a child's death is devastating to him.
However, Slade's loyalty to Team Arrow only extends to Oliver, as he refused to leave the island without him and his son and left the team to find him. After witnessing Samantha, the mother of Oliver's son, die after the explosion, Slade would further push Oliver to give up being the Green Arrow to be a father and also influence his decision to finding Joe himself. Though he would ask for Oliver's help to find Joe, he proceeded to knock him out to prevent him from helping, and later leaving a note telling him to go back home.
Despite no longer being under the influence of the virus, Slade still remains to be an intimidating and dangerous figure when it comes to being Deathstroke. He claims that under most circumstances, including the involvement of saving Joe in Kesnia, he is not so "nice a guy." However, this mostly stems from Slade's need to finding his son. From past experiences, Oliver has known that it is not wise to test Slade. When he and Oliver were at the prison Joe was apparently killed in, Slade was sneering at the warden when he was forestalling his and Oliver's search for Joe and likely would have attacked him, but Slade kept his anger in check, or rather, tried to. Angered at the Jackals for apparently abducting his son, he swore to save Joe from them at all costs. Like everyone when they are angry, Slade's only plan to save Joe involved visiting the Jackals' hideout by force, thinking he could take down all of the Jackals. However, he couldn't take into account that Joe could have been one of the Jackals, even rising to the ranks as their leader. Slade also refused to kill Oliver when Joe presented his father with the idea to enacting his vengeance on the latter from the promise he made four years ago. Instead, the two parted ways as friends, with Slade going on to find Joe and his other missing son, Grant.
History[]
Background[]
Slade Wilson was born in Australia, eventually joining the ranks of the ASIS, his country's secret intelligence. Trained to be the deadly assassin Deathstroke, Slade went on intelligence missions for whatever the job was. he married a woman named Adeline Kane, and had two children, Joe and Grant. However, Slade was unaware of his second son's existence because she didn't want their second son to be aware of his criminal past. He had become best friends with fellow soldier Billy Wintergreen, who he made his son's godfather. Slade would receive a mission to rescue an asset to the Chinese government, Yao Fei Gulong. During the camping trip with Joe, in reality, Slade was searching for the spy with information of Yao Fei's whereabouts. After Ming told him he was in Purgatory, Slade was suddenly distracted from sound in the distance, Ming took out a knife and attempted to kill his attacker. However, Slade was forced to kill him before he had a chance. Unfortunately Joe witnessed the killing his father committed, which would lead him down the same path as his father.
In 2006, Slade and Will left for Lian Yu, where their plane was shot down by a mercenary named Eddie Fyers. He offered the two men the choice of joining his cause it die. However, Slade refused but his former friend agreed. Eventually, he was freed by Yao Fei and the two took up residence in Slade's crashed plane, planning to make their escape by infiltrating Fyers' airfield to secure a supply plane out of the area. However, the men suddenly parted ways
Partnership with Oliver Queen[]
Slade's first meeting with Oliver Queen
Six months later, Slade caught a young Oliver Queen was walking around the fuselage. Slade snuck up behind Oliver and, placing his blade up against his throat, threatened to cut out his voice box if he didn't clarify who he was sang his business there. A panicking Oliver revealed that Yao Fei Gulong had sent him, showing a skeptic Slade the map that led him there. Oliver informed him the note that was on the map as well Slade discussed that her originally planned to steal a supply plane. Realizing Yao Fei sent the boy to him to help complete the mission, Slade threw several weapons to Oliver to test his combat skills. The two started fighting but Slade immediately won. Realizing Oliver was inexperienced with fighting, Slade saw him as a liability and despite the younger man's pleas, Slade knocked him unconscious and took him captive by knocking him out.
Slade shows Oliver he has earned his respect
Several hours later, Oliver regained consciousness, finding himself restrained. Slade, aware of his awakening, revealed that it was nothing personal and that he had no choice but to kill Oliver because he believed his captive would be unable to help him steal the supply plane. Oliver begged for Slade not to kill him and that he was capable of helping him; however Slade remained unmoved by the other man's pleas and believed it he let him go, then Oliver would be captured, tortured save reveal Slade's location. Before Slade could harm Oliver, the younger man dislocated his thumb and shoulder to escape his bonds. The young man punched Slade on the face to take him down. Sightly taken aback, as the man apparently went to kill him, Slade instead laughed, showing his new appreciation and new impression. Seeing a warrior in the young man, Slade revealed his name to Oliver, who later exchanged his own. However,
Meeting Shado[]
Dealing with Anthony Ivo[]
Reuniting with Joe Wilson[]
Vendetta/War with Oliver Queen[]
Building the army[]
The Siege[]
Thea and Oliver's Return[]
War with Prometheus[]
Searching for his son(s)[]
Anti-Monitor Crisis[]
New Multiverse[]
Just as Slade was about to kill Moira Queen, Oliver broke free from his bonds and fought Slade Wilson, managing to gain the upper hand.
Abilities[]
Abilities[]
Former Powers[]
Relationships[]
- Oliver Queen:
- Shado:
- Joe Wilson:
Allies[]
- Mirakuru Soldiers
- Isabel Rochev - Subordinate and Protege
- Team Arrow - Former Enemies turned Allies
- Oliver Queen/Green Arrow - Friend, Protege, and Former Attempted Killer and Former Attempted Victim
- Felicity Smoak - Former Attempted Victim
- John Diggle
- Quentin Lance
- Dinah Drake
- Curtis Holt
- Rene Ramirez
- Thea Queen
- William Clayton
- Samantha Clayton
- Nyssa Al Ghul - Former Enemy
- Malcolm Merlyn - Liberator
Enemies[]
- ARGUS
- Edward Fyers
- Amanda Waller
- Anatoly Knyazev
- Anthony Ivo
- Sara Lance
- Laurel Lance
- Quentin Lance
- S.T.A.R. Labs
- Moira Queen - Victim
- Ray Palmer
- Anna Loring - Indirect Victim
- League of Assassins
- Talia Al Ghul
- Adrian Chase
- Digger Harkness
- Nylandr
- Jackals
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- Slade is arguably the most effective mentor towards Oliver, showing him most of his combat skills and survivalist skills. Oliver himself has admitted this.
- While Oliver and Slade are not involved in each other's origin story in the comics, Slade's relationship with Oliver in the past borrows elements of Oliver's and Comic-verse Tommy Merlyn, as his friends turned enemy.
- He is the first of Oliver's allies to turn into his enemy then his ally again, a trait that he shares with Anatoly Knyazev and Talia al Ghul.
- In the noncanon novel, it is said Slade's ex-wife was killed by ASIS operatives. This is evidently not the case in the season 6 episode "Deathstroke Returns" and "Promises Kept", Adeline is still alive, as she told Slade to stay away from her and her son.
- Slade's occasional anti-heroics in the comics may have influenced his character's more heroic qualities within Arrow.
- His mask in Season 2 resembles the one worn by his 2003 counterpart from the Teen Titans animated series.
- He is the only main antagonist to be the main antagonist of both the flashbacks and the present-day events, this being Season 2
- He is one of the two main characters to be a villain and the second person to kill a main character, a trait he shares with Malcolm Merlyn.
- In the comics, with the addition of two sons, Slade also has a daughter named Rose. Whoever she's the only child of Slade Wilson to never appear in Arrowverse related media. However, Rose appeared in Titans a television series that takes place on Earth 9 in regards to the Arrow franchise.
- In the series, Slade has dark hair and brown eyes, In the comics, he white hair/beard and blue eyes.
- While the series depicts Slade losing an eye to Oliver stabbing an arrow into it, Comic Book Slade's wife grew enraged at him for getting their firstborn son Grant killed and Joey being critically injured and shot him in the eye. Both results are the same: Slade heals his wound, but his eye is never truly restored.
Gallery[]
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