The 2017 DCEU film Justice League introduced Joe Manganiello as the formidable DC villain Deathstroke, with potential plans for further exploration of the character in future installments. However, these plans were dashed with the reboot of the superhero universe. But, there remains a glimmer of hope that the new direction of the franchise may finally delve into Deathstroke’s story on the silver screen.
Throughout the years, Deathstroke has made numerous appearances in TV shows and comic books. Notably, one instance saw him alongside the X-Men, engaging in a face-off with formidable Marvel superheroes such as Wolverine, Colossus, and even Storm. Despite their stature as some of the most powerful heroes in the MCU, Deathstroke emerged victorious in the battle.
When Justice League Villain Deathstroke Triumphed Over Marvel’s Mightiest Heroes
While fans await a potential DC-Marvel collaboration on the big screen, the convergence of these two superhero universes has occurred multiple times within the pages of comics. One such instance is the crossover between The Uncanny X-Men and The New Teen Titans, where Marvel’s X-Men and DC’s Teen Titans united against Darkseid.
However, Darkseid was not the sole antagonist the heroes confronted. They also faced off against the Teen Titans’ nemesis, Deathstroke. Despite their combined efforts against the supervillain, both teams, Teen Titans and X-Men, proved incapable of overcoming Slade Wilson’s prowess.
Even formidable heroes like Wolverine and Colossus fell short in their attempts to defeat Deathstroke. While Wolverine managed to land a blow, Deathstroke’s agility allowed him to deflect most of the attack, swiftly incapacitating the mutant with a fiery blast.
Colossus found himself thrown off a cliff after his fruitless attempt to engage the villain, despite his immense physical strength. Even Storm found herself outmatched by Deathstroke. Despite their best efforts, Deathstroke emerged victorious, capturing both teams.
The sequence is particularly noteworthy as it showcases Deathstroke’s ability to not only best DC’s heroes but also defeat Marvel’s formidable X-Men, solidifying his reputation as a force to be reckoned with.
The Uncanny X-Men and The New Teen Titans crossover is often hailed as one of the best crossovers between the two universes. However, despite its promising premise, it was confined to a single issue, leaving fans longing for more.
Deathstroke Could be Utilized in a Better Way in the New DC Universe
Both Justice League and Zack Snyder’s Justice League featured Joe Manganiello as Deathstroke, who joins forces with Lex Luthor to discuss Batman’s identity and briefly appears in the post-apocalyptic world epilogue.
Despite initial plans for the character, Manganiello revealed he’s no longer pursuing them after advice from DC Studios head James Gunn to “Let it go.” And the character’s underutilization in the DCEU presents an opportunity to explore him in the new DC Universe.
As a prominent villain in DC lore, Deathstroke has seen limited live-action appearances on the big screen, primarily featuring in television adaptations. Yet, he holds great potential for future silver-screen endeavors in the new DCU.
The upcoming Teen Titans movie alongside The Brave and the Bold, offers promising avenues for Deathstroke’s involvement. These films provide opportunities for the supervillain to confront his nemesis Batman or engage with his longtime adversaries, the Teen Titans.
Justice League and Zack Snyder’s Justice League are available to stream on Max.
