Strange Science DC Comics: Deathstroke: The Terminator #2 Review

Written by: Tony Fleecs
Art by: Carmine Di Giandomenico
Colors by: Iván Plascencia
Letters from: Wes Abbott
Cover art by: Dan Panosian (cover A)
Cover price: $3.99
Release date: April 15, 2026

Deathstroke: Terminator #2 (DC Comics, 4/15/26): Writer Tony Fleecs and artist Carmine Di Giandomenico put Deathstroke on the ropes when a mysterious enemy seems to have the Terminator cornered at all times. The theme is full of gunfights, explosions and impossible challenges for the mercenary. Verdict: Comic readers looking for a high-octane action comic will love this one.

First impressions

I didn’t expect to like this series. I’ve never been a big Deathstroke fan, but I have to say that so far I’m totally invested in what’s happening here. Tony Fleecs doesn’t shy away from violence and puts action and energy on every page. DC’s deadliest mercenary may not be a hero, but Fleecs gave me a reason to care about his survival.

Summary

In Deathstroke: The Terminator #1, Deathstroke is sent on a blind mission to kidnap a high-powered executive, with Wintergreen providing coordination. When Deathstroke finally reaches his goal, he discovers that Wintergreen has been killed. The mission was a setup and all its resources were exhausted; The song ended with an explosive climax.

Plot synopsis

The issue picks up immediately from the end of issue 1. Deathstroke barely survives the explosion placed around Wintergreen’s body. He soon finds himself surrounded by armed soldiers sent by the mysterious mastermind behind Deathstroke’s downfall. Deathstroke manages to shoot, stab, and fight his way through the small army of soldiers to escape, but not without suffering serious injuries.

Deathstroke eventually arrives at a safe house and contacts one of the mercenaries’ handlers in hopes of breaking the rules and finding out who set up the contract. However, Deathstroke has no time to rest when a new group of soldiers burst into the safe house. He eventually escapes in an armed helicopter, killing as many people as he can along the way. But he soon finds himself cornered again when the helicopter crashes. The issue ends with two of the DC Universe’s least famous (but still recognizable) mercenaries cornering Deathstroke to deliver the killing blow.

Writing

I have to imagine Tony Fleecs said to himself, “Yeah, let’s put Deathstroke in an all-out shootout that lasts from the opening page to the final page and makes it as exciting and tense as possible.” Overall, he succeeded. Fleecs cleverly infuses small snippets of memories and flashbacks, mostly about Deathstroke’s daughter, to make their conflict personal and emotional. Therefore, the comic is not just action and violence for its own sake; There is a personal motivation that makes Deathstroke’s struggle human and relatable.

Art

Carmine Di Giandomenico probably has the most challenging, and possibly the most fun, task of the entire latest batch of “All-In” comics. There are flames, bullets and explosions on every page. For an artist who loves making superhero comics, it must be his dream job. But it’s probably extremely difficult because there are a lot of details that need to be conveyed. For his part, he pulls it off and looks fantastic.

character work

Slade Wilson is the focus of this issue, and for good reason: it’s his journey. It’s his story, and you see how he acts and reacts to every right turn and every wrong move. Flashback fragments of his interactions with his daughter give his actions an emotional weight that drives his motivations. It’s unclear at this point if he will grow or change by the end of this series, or at least in this arc, but Fleecs is off to a good start.

Originality and Concept

The idea of taking a character who is known for having almost unlimited resources and gadgets at his disposal and then taking them away from him is a tried and true trope that we see most often with Batman. So the mechanism isn’t original, but the application of the mechanism to a character commonly known as a villain, or at least an antihero, is new. So that aspect works pretty well. Once again, Slade’s relationship with his daughter gives the fight some emotional weight, meaning the concept is executed much better than a standard action comic.

Pros and cons

Advantages

The urgent action and drama will keep you on the edge of your seat.
The art team delivers exceptional visuals that surpass most DC offerings.
The challenge seems bigger than the protagonist, which is a rarity in most modern comics.

Cons

The mastermind behind Deathstroke’s problems seems to have access to every part of his life, which puts his credibility to the test.
Deathstroke seems to be able to survive damage that not even his healing factor should be able to overcome.
The cliffhanger is a surprising moment, but it comes out of nowhere.

The control panel

Writing quality (clarity and rhythm): 3.5/4
Art quality (execution and synergy): 3.5/4
Value (Originality and entertainment): 1.5/2

Final thoughts

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Deathstroke: The Terminator #2 is an excellent addition to this latest round of “All-In” titles. You get action, urgency, energy, drama and emotional weight in abundance. The concept of Tony Fleecs may not be very original for a hero, but it is novel when applied to a traditional villain. Also, Carmine Di Giandomenico’s art is surprisingly good.

8.5/10

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