Summary
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DC’s Antimatter Universe has its version of Deadpool, resembling Deathstroke.
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Joe Kelly and ED McGuinness created an alternate Deathstroke Superman/Batman Annual #1.
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It’s time for DC to introduce the antimatter Deathstroke amidst the success of Deadpool.
Deadpool is one of Marvel’s most popular characters, but many fans may not know about the variant that exists in the DC Universe. While death stroke has often been cited as an inspiration for the Merc with the Mouth, an alternate universe version of the Teen Titans Roche makes the connection quite literal.
2006s Superman/Batman Annual #1 by Joe Kelly and Ed McGuinness presents a “reimagining” of the moment Clark Kent and Bruce Wayne discover their secret identities on a cruise. In the opening scene, Deathstroke attempts to assassinate Bruce Wayne, but unbeknownst to Slade Wilson, he has been mixed up in some multiversal shenanigans involving the crime syndicate of the Antimatter Universe.
While Deathstroke is hired to take out Wayne, his antimatter universe counterpart comes along for the ride to save the billionaire playboy. He can never say his name, however His snarky attitude and overall look strongly resemble a certain other mercenary for hire Over in the other big two company: Deadpool.
Related
DC has their own version of Deadpool, but it’s not Deathstroke
Superman/Batman Annual #1 by Joe Kelly, Ed McGuinness, Ryan Ottley, Carlo Barberi and Sean Murphy
While Deadpool co-creator Rob Liefeld has often stated that the character was more inspired by GI Joes snake eyes like Deathstroke, later comics have made the connection more clear. Deadpool collaborator Fabian Nicieza voiced the character The alter ego of “Wade Wilson,” a direct nod to Deathstroke’s real name, Slade Wilson. Of course, Deadpool has been further developed by several creators in the years since, creators such as Kelly and McGuinness, who worked on Superman/Batman yearly #1.
Superman and Batman’s counterparts, like Ultraman and Owlman, are villains in the Antimatter Universe, while DC’s traditional villains are the heroes. As such, the Antimatter Deathstroke is more of an antihero when compared to the Prime Earth version.
Kelly is the writer who truly gave fans the Deadpool they know and love today, and his run with McGuinness on DeadpoolThe first ongoing series resulted in some of the best Deadpool comics of all time. Both creators taking the opportunity to recreate some of the magic in the DC Universe was a nice nod to their previous work, and Fans got to see what would happen if Deadpool were to interact with Superman and Batman. It’s even more hilarious to see the no-nonsense Deathstroke become increasingly annoyed with his antimatter counterpart, at one point claiming he’d rather die than hear the killers talk anymore.
Will DC bring back their own version of Deadpool soon?
Now is the time to introduce the “antimatter deathstroke” again
While the antimatter Deathstroke was eventually sent back to his own universe by the end of the story, the “DCU Deadpool” was never seen again. Given that Deadpool & Wolverine is currently burning up the summer box office, it seems like an opportune time to bring back Antimatter Deathstroke in some form or another. If DC can get Kelly and McGuinness to collaborate on the story, all the better. With any luck, DC will bring back their version of DeadpoolAnd the antimatter death stroke Will have his day in the sun again.
Superman/Batman Annual #1 is available now from DC Comics.