Deathstroke #11 Storytime

>>89407147
Woooo fuck yeah OP

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Obligatory ctrl+v page

>>89407147
>OP Thank you :D

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OH SHIT!!

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WHAT A TWIST

>>89407187
Whoa, I've never seen real-life newspapers referenced in an editor's note before. Has this ever happened?

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THE END

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ADS

>>89407155
>>89407199
>>89407244
>>89407266
>>89407277
IMPRESSIVE!

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THANK YOU FOR READING

>>89407187
Feels bad scoob

>even-handed writing that thumbs its nose at that dumb page in Love is Love
Based Prieststroke

>>89407277
>death by fridge

Savage
A
V
A
G
E

Oddly topical.

Maybe Trump is planning to send Deathstroke to Chicago?

>>89407598
?
did something happen?

I love this book so much. Is it selling well? Is Priest happy with writing it?

>>89407849
Trump said that if Chicago doesn't get it together, he'll send in the Feds.

>>89407449
>Whats the solution to Chicago's gun violence?
>Better aim.
I love how Priest made a PSA comic that was still in-character for Deathstroke.

>>89407962
It's not really a PSA when the message is "nothing is fucking working", is it?

>>89407916
It sells okay. stays in the top 100 every month, but not that far beyond.
Priest only accepted the job because Slade is white.
He was super pissed that he was considered a "black" writer for so long, which is why almost every black character in this series gets fucked.

>>89407962
it's also appropriately dark throughout the story and doesn't come off preachy. Even when he's spitting out figures, it's a build up for a smoking is frowned upon joke

http://www.comicosity.com/interview-priest-and-denys-cowan-take-deathstroke-to-chicago/

>CP: We’re kind of seeing Deathstroke as a force of nature. The decision for Deathstroke to not use guns in this issue serves two purposes: One, and I don’t think we say this on the page, but I would imagine the players involved would have asked Deathstroke to not use guns. Mainly because the whole point is “Enough with the guns already!”

>The flip side of that — and this is in the script — is taking your guns away doesn’t solve the problem. I can still do a whole lot of damage without guns. I am not anti-gun. I am a gun owner. I am an NRA member. I am not anti-gun by any stretch of the imagination.

>I am anti-stupid people having guns. And I am anti-kids having guns. And I am anti-whatever the hell is going on in Chicago. So, I don’t want this to be an anti-gun message, which is what these sorts of discussions tend to turn into. Then you have the right wing versus the left wing and we all know how that works.

>I’m just saying that whatever is going on in Chicago is tragic and awful and needs to stop.

>>89407187
Ctrl+v page?

wow this was really good and not just pushing an agenda, will be picking this issue up by itself to support a good story, i think most of the comics industry could learn from this, especially marvel

>>89407962
>I love how Priest made a PSA comic that was still in-character for Deathstroke.
This. It's still very obviously a PSA, but it doesn't feel like it's insulting the reader's intelligence

>>89408049
>Priest: I hated Denys. (They laugh.) He'd been drawing all along. In the '80s, I was a writer, writing Green Lantern and Wonder Woman and Batman. I was the editor for Spider-Man for many years. But somehow I became "a black writer" and that made me unhappy. I was only being pointed to characters of color or stories that dealt with ghettos. I was writing Black Panther, which is iconic now, but then we couldn't give it away. I would have a box of them in the trunk of my car and stand on Fifth Avenue and people would not take them! I was writing Captain America and Marvel decided to take Captain America out and relaunch (the comic) with Falcon, who was African-American. To me it felt like a demotion. I was writing novels for Simon & Schuster, I was more involved with my Christian ministry. I would routinely get offers from Marvel and DC: "Hey, we're thinking of bringing back Black Iguana Man!" Thanks but no thanks. I wasn't refusing to write comics. But characters of color were literally all I was being offered.

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>>89408135
every issue has one page where the artist copy-pastes panels.
at least in this one the colors changed.

>>89408135
Repeating panels. But its Cowan so I'd buy it anyway

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>>89408093
>I am an NRA member.
Well that's unexpected, though I guess Priest wouldn't look out of place with these dapper gents.

>>89408217
>>89408093
How can one man be so based?

>>89407277
Priest is having the time of his life writing this comic

>>89407277
That poor bastard got Kyle Rainer'd

>>89407389

Best Rebirth EVER.

>>89407187
That's not a ctrl+v page. It's just made to look like one. It's the same composition in each panel, but different drawings. Take a closer look at the differences between them.

I didn't realise this one was out today.

>>89408224
when I saw the thumbnail why did I expect a "you're gay superman" at the end of it?

This reminds me a bit of Ennis' Punisher Max.

>>89408135
>>89408224
have you never read a fucking preist comic before mates

you seriously should read quantum and woody at least

>>89407373
Brutal.

>>89407449
I really really love having Priest writing comics again.

>>89409866
Has he always been this good? This is my first Priest comic

>>89407244
The message being that you don't need guns to kill?

>>89407290
>tfw no Angry Black Mommas With Guns ongoing

>>89407256
>Bitcoin
LOL, OK

>>89407505
I think he actually had the idea for the no-guns comic a few months back, before Love is Love.

I don't remember where I read it though, whether it was one of Priest's blog posts, his treatment of the series on the site, or an interview or something, though

>>89408093
>I am anti-stupid people having guns
Finally a man who gets it

Good guy with a gun or bad guy with a gun, doesn't matter as long as it's not an idiot with a gun.

>>89407147
Fuck I liked it but goddamn this is dark shit. I love Priest.

>>89410373
It's actually making a comeback know for certain frauds

>>89410562
I agree

But seriously what the fuck do you need shit like ARs on the market for? How is a handgun not sufficient for home defense?

>>89407231
>it's chicago! Who's gonna notice!

>>89407389
We can finally bury New52 "Creeper" for good now right?

>>89409992
Marvel just reprinted his Black Panther, give it a look

>>89409992
I dunno if he's always been this good per se, but he has had a lot of good comics under his belt, over a long period of time. His black panther's frequently lauded, but he's had some pretty good stuff even back in the 80s like his Spider-Man/Wolverine one-shot

>>89408093
I finally get why /co/ likes such a mediocre writer like Priest: he's a self hating negro who agrees with thier political views

>>89411357
>Not wanting to be pigeonholed into writing the same kinds of characters over and over is self-hating

>>89407147
I'll admit, I liked New 52 Oni Creeper

>>89411357
Mediocre attempt at being """contrarian""".

based Priest

>>89411357
Why do people like this always refer to blacks who have moderate and pragmatic beliefs as Negroes? It's clear they intend it as a slur.

>>89411357
oh, you!

>>89411405
>only writes non-black characters
>not self hating

>>89407277

FRIDGED

>>89412529
>only writes non-black characters
is that why he wrote Black Panter? Is that why Slade has a partner who is notblackpanter in this?

>>89412529
That's not true, he just wants to move away from being "the guy that only writes comics with black leads". Assigning blacks to the black characters and whites to the white characters and gays to the gay charterers is fucking retarded and only reinforces this separation that's going on in society. It's like saying these different types of people should stay separated.

>>89412426

You're a hypocrite.

>>89412562
>is that why he wrote Black Panter
A decade ago. He's obviousely gone through some things where he is distancing himself from his blackness by refusing to write black leads when he could be doing both and possibly writing black characters his way instead of something more left leaning like everyone els.

But I'm sure /pol/...Er I mean /co/ wouldn't be completly happy with that

>>89412814
Sure thing /pol/

>>89407214
Man this is all kinds of fucked up

>>89407389
Where'd he get the big red scarf?

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>>89407266
Hold the fuck up

As a black I hate this argument.
This is givin WAY too much clout that entertainment is influencing blacks. Shit the root of our problems usually are the fact that these people have shitty ass support systems and I do not mean government. I mean family, friends, teachers, hell even civil servants and the like

Then again I got triggered off of something a grieving mother said
I apologize

>>89412704
Self projecting hasn't gotten you anywhere in your life, why would it start now /pol/tard

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>>89412937
The Ditko origin is that he was trying to buy a disguise from a costume shop and the store only had random pieces of different ones.

>>89408301
>Well that's unexpected
His comics mentor was Larry Hama, no it's not

>>89412814
Coming up on 20 years now actually

>>89407290
It's true that the majority of the history of gun control in America has been about disarming blacks and hispanics when they get the notion they can arm themselves for self-defense. I mean, that was the real reason behind the entire "zip-gun" law, it was more about "low cost guns" that poor minorities could afford.

And I say this as a non-American who supports some measure of gun control in their own country.

>>89412992
The whole point of this issue is to give a variety of perspectives that people actually have, I agree that the entertainment isn't the driving force of the problem it's just a something that seems easier to deal with that people point to. I know my mom believes that violent video games alone will make kids criminals so it's not surprising to see that echoed here in one of the many perspectives

>>89412426
>refer to blacks who have moderate and pragmatic beliefs as Negroes?
What's the subtext

>>89412562
Please refer to JA ZAKI, THE RED LION by his full name and title.

>>89411158
>>89408541
Yup.

>>89413135
I realized that at the end

I actually love the perspectives
You could see the conclusions every person came to and while some were flawed they still made sense in a way
Well as much sense as you can make of the near never ending cycles of hate, violence, and desperation

>>89412992
Jack Ryder is supposed to be kind of a Bill O'Riley type when it comes to his political opinions.

>>89413002

I'm not a polturd though buddy

This was a surprisingly poignant issue, really.
I teach inner city Chicago and had attended too many funerals of students
I will be buying this issue for my students

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>>89413158
Shut up, you're not His Excellency, President for Life, Field Marshal Al Hadji Doctor Idi Amin Dada, VC, DSO, MC, Lord of All the Beasts of the Earth and Fishes of the Seas and Conqueror of the British Empire in Africa in General and Uganda in Particular

>>89413365
You should send that on to Priest, I think he'd probably dig it.

>>89413279
If you wrote out the things you actually believe in your parents would be disgusted to fine you use the same style of language that they do just with different self made "attackers" on your "values"
Basically you are both cut from the same tree

>>89413365
Godspeed anon, those kids need you

>>89413013
Not the fact that he's a gun owner, but being a member of an organization that's really really devoted to "hands off muh guns"

I'm really glad all the people who got their guns taken away by Obama got them back this week. Still waiting for mine to come back in the mail :3

>>89412992
Pretty sure that was the point of the page though, it's saying the parents are the ones passing bad mentality on to the kids since they're relying on more violence to fix things.

>there are people who thought this book was getting too mundane

I was one too tbqh, but glad to be wrong.

>>89407448
I can't remember seeing one before, but I like it. I do assume most figures like that getting referenced are trying to be factual (outside of when they mention in-universe events of course). Nice to get the confirmation though.

This was better than I expected. I've loved this series so far, but bringing a social issue made me wary. This must be the most politically neutral cape comic I've read this year

>>89407389
That reporter was Creeper?

>>89407306
I like this page.

>>89415229
Well yeah nothing in comics is inherently bad. Just that certain topics are disastrous when handled by mediocre writers.

>>89407358
>Staple gun

I feel like this is cheating.

>>89407449
So the moral of the story is that Chicago sucks?

>>89408049

Hope DC thinks top 100 is good for Deathstroke and that Priest is enjoying it.

>>89415588
have there been interviews with didio where he mentions this book yet?

>>89415233
Jack Ryder is the Creeper, yes

>>89415588
That's close to about the same as it was selling only shipping once a month, so I'm sure they are happy about it. Seems like Deathstroke has carved a niche fanbase for himself. Good for the type of character (not directly Bat-related or a big JL member).

>>89415662
He said stuff about it early on. Like I think the was the one who mentioned that they just called Priest even thought they thought he was busy.

>>89415448
The moral of the story is that there are a lot of guns out there and not enough good sense or training in the people who are too willing to use them.

>>89410040
More like, you think you're hot shit with gun? Here's a guy who can kill you with his bare hands and a couple of pig stickers.

This was great. Priest basically calling out every side as being fucking idiots.

good comic bump

>>89415817

So twice a month is doing the same as once a month or are you saying each issue is doing what once a month was doing?

>>89419056
11/2011: Deathstroke #3 -- 33,754
11/2012: Deathstroke #14 -- 14,452
11/2014: Deathstroke #2 -- 36,356 [37,484]
-----------------------------------
11/2015: Deathstroke #12 -- 31,939 (+ 2.6%) [32,568]
12/2015: Deathstroke #13 -- 25,344 (- 20.6%)
01/2016: Deathstroke #14 -- 27,648 (+ 9.1%)
02/2016: Deathstroke #15 -- 26,534 (- 4.0%)
03/2016: Deathstroke #16 -- 25,390 (- 4.3%)
04/2016: Deathstroke #17 -- 24,858 (- 2.1%)
05/2016: Deathstroke #18 -- 21,087 (- 15.2%)
06/2016: Deathstroke #19 -- 21,094 (+ 0.0%)
07/2016: Deathstroke #20 -- 20,562 (- 2.5%)
08/2016: Rebirth #1 -- 109,250 (+431.3%)
08/2016: Deathstroke #1 -- 91,962 (- 15.8%)
09/2016: Deathstroke #2 -- 60,877 (- 33.8%)
09/2016: Deathstroke #3 -- 54,908 (- 9.8%)
10/2016: Deathstroke #4 -- 46,773 (- 14.8%)
10/2016: Deathstroke #5 -- 43,058 (- 7.9%)
11/2016: Deathstroke #6 -- 37,177 (- 13.7%)
11/2016: Deathstroke #7 -- 35,782 (- 3.8%)
Deathstroke 8 $2.99 DC 32,530
Deathstroke 9 $2.99 DC 31,519

Might go down a little since it has stopped being returnable but it seems like it has mostly settled in. Wouldn't expect large drops anymore.

>>89411357
Cry more bitch nigga. You want your shitty
>Fuck whitey where muh reparations at?
Go read Coates upcoming books before they're cancelled at issue 3.

>>89407147
So everyone has forgotten thenjapanese demon Creeper from Katana run?
Good.

>>89420259
I guess that might have been what was mentioned here >>89407389 with the "going through some changes"? Or was the one in Katana not Ryder at all?

>>89411357
>Calling Proest a negro because he doesn't agree with your agenda

Here we have a SJW showing their true racist colors, /pol/ at least admits their racism.

>>89410425
He talked about it during an interview at NYCC. He's been planning this issue for a while.

It just shows how much better of a writer he is than most of the hacks they got for Love is Love. He didn't get preachy and just say guns are bad, ban all guns. He gave both sides to the story and kept it in character for Deathstroke.

>>89415588
It'll be kept around for a while I imagine since Deathstroke is going to be in the movies soon.

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>>89420087

>>89422096
In all fairness I don't think you can give both viewpoints in something like Love is Love just given the context. It would be too crass. The best pages in LiL of course were focused on the loss of life though rather than getting into the politics of things so I guess you're not wrong.

>>89422220
But like look at the Deathstroke page in that and how laughably bad it was. If you want to get preachy about gun violence, Deathstroke is not right character to do it with.

>>89407244
>no guns
Well he's still killing people. But I'll let it pass--
>>89407256
>Dark Web
Dropped.

Why is Superman the only good thing to come out of Rebirth?

>>89422290
That one was so bad that it almost makes me wonder if they approved the idea because they knew Priest would do it better shortly afterward.

>>89422298
You're illiterate

>>89422440
I don't think you know what "illiterate" means.

Are you looking for "not well-read"?

In which case, does consuming tripe mean one is "well-read"?

>>89410938
>Bill of needs
Please kill yourself

>>89407429
>Priest-stroke
har-har-har

>>89407187
I adore how the white location panel stands out against every time it's been used in the series thusfar.

>>89422459
I don't know what else to refer to not being able to finish a twenty page funnybook as

Hey, who wants some actual information regarding gun violence statistics?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bX4qUsgHa4Y

>>89423174
>Vox

>>89423258
>poisoning the well

every single one of those charts is accurate, with source listed

>>89415448

There's been over 200 shootings and 42 deaths so far this year. So yeah

>>89422459
>>89422298
Sounds like you are illiterate

>>89422298
>Superman
>Not painfully mediocre

>>89407449

Priest is BASED!!!

Based Priest is BASED!

Thank you OP. Will definitely be picking up Deathstroke in trade.

>>89407761

Deathstroke doesn't work for governments.

>>89411357
>he's a self hating negro who agrees with thier political views

Racist chicken hawk.

>>89412814
>when he could be doing both

Yeah, writers can just work on all the different stories. And have ALL the different ideas for each different character.

Oh, and those stories are at least "okay filler" tier, not shit tier.

Fuck off, you've never written and been paid for it in your life.

>>89413126
>I mean, that was the real reason behind the entire "zip-gun" law, it was more about "low cost guns" that poor minorities could afford.

That was the beginning of it yes.

But it stopped being like that a LONG time ago.

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>>89413365

Pic related.

>>89414522

Did Trump actually repeal that Executive Order?

I wouldn't be surprised if he did, but I have yet to hear anything about it in the news.

Because if he hasn't it is still in effect.

>>89419265

Considering it's a villain book, which (particularly in this issues) seems almost like Punisher MAX I wouldn't be surprised if a lot of soccer moms don't allow their 8 - 14 year sons to buy it; it seems to be doing alright.

I'm going to add it to my pull list next time I go to my comic book store just to make sure it keeps doing well.

>>89419265
It stopped being returnable at issue #6.

>>89422096
>It just shows how much better of a writer he is than most of the hacks they got for Love is Love

I don't really think pro-gun arguments have much place in a charity book aimed to help the families who are victims of gun violence. That is not to say LiL presented their gun control arguments very well or eloquently, for the most part they didn't.

The thing I like about Priest's approach is that it's rather sensible, it isn't the usual "any type of reform of regulation is automatically bad, muh militia, and they're going to come and take your guns away!" response you usually tend to get from a typical member of the NRA.

>>89407449
I love Priest's work.

I wish Cowan and Sienkewicz were drawing the whole series.

>>89425162
Sienkewicz seems to have gotten busy again. Stuff for Heavy Metal and TMNT Universe, plus he's got an upcoming Image series with KSD

>>89407187
Is this in Austin or in Chicago with a person named Austin?

>>89408504
kek

>>89407449
That miscolored beard in the second panel looks like Slade has balls growing out

>>89423388
HOW DOES THIS HAPPEN???

>>89423388
How do you have 200 shootings in 25 days? That's instances not people right?

>>89426015
maybe because of Trump's inauguration?
seems like the entire country has gone crazy because of it.

or at least that's what it looks like from here in yurop.

>>89426060
Nah, that's Chicago being Chicago

I've never been a fan of Deathstroke but this series has been really enjoyable. Hope it keeps the quality.

>>89426714
And I hope Priest doesn't pussy out when he does the Judas Contract.
Like, seriously. If he fucks that up I'm dropping this series.

Pretty good. Addresses the real-world issue of Chicago being well on its way to becoming Detroit 2 without being heavy-handed, and someone remembered Creeper exists.

>All these months later, and storied DC Comics characters are still lining up for their respective debuts in the publisher’s Rebirth reality. This week sees the reemergence of that jaundiced, feral freak, The Creeper, along with his Fourth Estate alter ego, Jack Ryder. To make the return all the more odd, it takes place in the pages of “Deathstroke #11,” by Christopher Priest and guest artists Denys Cowan and Bill Sienkiewicz.

>Priest and company have hardly taken the typical approach to Slade Wilson or his terminations with this series, opting instead for something just as violent, but far more introspective. That’s especially evident with this latest issue, a frank examination of gun violence and vendetta–not in Gotham or Metropolis, but real world Chicago. When multiple perpetrators of gang murder turn up dead themselves, journalists flock to cover the story of a potential serial killer. Is this justice, or the kind of “eye-for-an-eye” vigilantism that only feeds the cycle of violence? Perhaps an assassin with an eye-patch may prove the best testimony.

>CBR: Chicken and egg question: Did Deathstroke #11 start with the outline, or the knowledge that Denys and Bill would be the art team?

>Christopher Priest: The issue began as an inventory story, which is an issue we prepare and hold in case there are production or scheduling problems with the book. I wanted to do an anti-violence story and thought, what better place to do an anti-violence story than Deathstroke — a book that all but glorifies violence. As I see it, my run does not glorify violence so much as it examines the consequences of violence and the effect living this lifestyle has on this man Slade Wilson. I thought a stand-alone inventory issue would be a great platform to make a more forward-leaning statement about those consequences.

>>89428413

>At the time of commissioning, there were many stories about the rising toll of shootings in Chicago, with 2016 being a record-breaking year in terms of gun violence and homicides. I thought this tragic situation would make an appropriate platform for my story, and discussed it initially with film director and producer Reginald Hudlin (“D’Jango Unchained,” “2016 Academy Awards®,” “Marshal”), who is now a principal in Milestone Media Inc. I invited Reginald to co-write the issue, but he was busy at the time directing the upcoming biopic “Marshal.” He did share his views on the culture of violence—including Hollywood’s role in it—and suggested my story might work as an urban spin on the classic western “A Fistful of Dollars,” wherein the beleaguered townsfolk hire the gunslinger Clint Eastwood to resolve their problems by means of violence. “Dollars” is a cautionary tale and an anti-violence statement in its own right, and Reginald’s suggestion provided the direction I ultimately pursued.

>I thought the story would be a great fit for Milestone Media in its renewed relationship with DC Comics, and had hoped for a mini Milestone reunion by inviting Reginald and Milestone co-creator Denys Cowan to join me. I was incredibly pleased when Denys said yes and worked the “Deathstroke” story into his busy schedule. Denys then brought along our longtime friend Bill Sienkiewicz as well as longtime Cowan letterer Willie Schubert (“The Question,” “Legends of The Dark Knight,” “Lone Wolf & Cub”).

>CBR News: Was there ever any resistance to this story?

>>89428432

>Priest: DC has been unqualified in their support of this story. I was actually prepared for a fight and kind of expected the story to get dumped somewhere along the approvals process, but both Bob Harras and DC Publisher Dan DiDio were extremely supportive, making me feel a little like a dope for, essentially, doing to the company what I’d experienced for so long — making assumptions along cultural lines. I kind of owe the company an apology for my having suited up for a fight that never happened.

>CBR News: Obviously, every project is different, with its own mood and pace. Denys, were there any particular challenges when putting pencil to paper on this one? Anything you wanted to try?

>Denys Cowan: The challenge of this story was to try to convey the city of Chicago and the people who live there, because the city is as much of a character in this story as Deathstroke is. I tried my best to show this… and with the excellent story by Priest and the inks by Sienkiewicz, I’m very happy with the way this issue came out.

>CBR News: I don’t imagine this applies to anyone on this call, myself included, but there are those who don’t want politics to infringe on the escapism of their comics reading experience. What’s your take on that?

>Priest: Read other comics. [Laughs] The way I see it, there are so many choices these days and so many genres from both major and indy publishers, that there should be room for a myriad of approaches. You know, once there was a Cary Bates approach and a Denny O’Neil approach, with Chris Claremont emerging as a kind of amalgam of the two: the high-energy larger-than-life superhero action but character-driven and grounded in reality.

>>89428448

>DC films are very much grounded in reality, while the main grouping of their superhero comic books tend to read more like animated series in terms of their heightened reality and high-octane action. Everything is really loud and really bright and occasionally silly, with colorful villains like Abra Kadabra and so forth. But The Dark Knight was so good, it actually worked without the costumes. I mean, if Bruce Wayne had been a Bond-style vigilante rather than Batman, that movie would have still worked.

>If I were writing Justice League, the book would probably not be something DC fans would want to read because it would be far less larger than life and would echo life as we know it. I mean, what if there really were a self-appointed group of godlike people “protecting” us? How would the world respond to these people? My JL book would examine the real-world conflicts, challenges and consequences and be less concerned about the next galactic menace the heroes would have to fight.

>This isn’t to criticize writers who write the bang-zoom stuff; these are very talented people doing a great job. But I, personally, don’t read those comics unless I have to for research because they don’t appeal to me, and nobody is writing “JLA: The Real World,” which would appeal to me. It’s also possible I am simply not the audience for mainstream superhero comics because so much of it is just too cranked and too loud for me. I want the real world—or as close to it as I can get—and then pop the heroes into it.

>Cowan: This isn’t a political issue to me. Gun violence is a human problem. We deal with this subject in the context of a thriller type story.

>CBR News: Still others might ask why Deathstroke the Terminator is the right guy to relay questions about the cycle of violence in the real world. Do you think audience perception of Slade is a hurdle or an advantage in telling a really charged, meaningful story?

>>89428464

>Priest: I think only Nixon could go to China. If DC is going to do an anti-violence story, it really has to take place in “Deathstroke” in order to have real credibility. You had to send the most staunch anti-Communist crusader to talk to Mao in order for any agreement to be trusted by both sides.

>CBR News: I went into this one cold. In fact, I read this digitally without having seen the cover. So when the Creeper shows up, it was maybe the last cameo I expected to see. It’s almost a shame most other readers will have already seen him on the cover. How did the Creeper become part of the equation?

>Priest: For this story, I wanted Deathstroke to be portrayed, more or less, as a force of nature. He has very few lines. The story is told by a point of view character. I thought that POV character should ideally be a reporter; someone who could ask questions. I did not want to the book to preach to the readers “Violence Is Bad!” I wanted to preach a good sermon. A good sermon is like a good court summation: tell a story, ask pointed questions, which lead the hearer to draw their own conclusion.

>I initially wanted Lois Lane, but there was so much going on in the Superverse that we looked elsewhere. When Jack Ryder came across my desk, I felt Ryder — a former Jerry Springer-type — would be perfect. The story is built around Ryder however, as it developed, it became obvious that if we have Ryder in the book, readers would expect The Creeper to make an appearance.

>I actually did not want Creeper on the cover, but this is the first post-Rebirth appearance of the character, so it made sense that DC would want to play that up. Hopefully, the way the book is written, most readers will have all but forgotten about The Creeper until he makes his entrance. I think it still works.

>>89428482

>CBR News: What’s important to you right now, as storytellers in, let’s call it 2017? What do you personally want to explore or say or ask? What do you want to get out of it?

>Cowan: As a storyteller in this medium, I’ve always tried to explore the human experience using extraordinary superheros to entertain and reach people. It’s just as or maybe more important in 2017 to continue to do that.

>Priest: I’m still trying to decide if I’m having a good time or not, and how long I’ll be writing comics. It’s a lot of hard work, and there’s this big team the editor has to corral, like herding cats. I worry that I’m really not in sync with what is popular and what sells these days, which is probably why I am not offered leading, or A-List titles. A friend told me last week, “Dude, that [Denny O’Neil] era is over.” Man, I really hope not. I loved Cary Bates’ Superman and Flash, But Denny took Superman and grounded him in reality — got rid of Kryptonite and de-powered him, then wrote him introspectively. It should not be zero sum. Grant Morrison’s “JLA” was certainly larger than life and sold a gajillion copies, obliterating my “Justice League Task Force.” So, do I still belong here? I guess that’s for the readers to decide.

>I’d like to be writing novels and exploring other creative avenues. As of this writing, there are lots of possibilities and I’m really kind of shocked that so many people have approached me to work with them. It’ll likely be at least another month or so before I know for sure what 2017 looks like.

>>89428496
Priest ought to check out Bates's Captain Atom to see him doing reality-grounded introspective superheroics.

>>89428448
>>Priest: DC has been unqualified in their support of this story. I was actually prepared for a fight and kind of expected the story to get dumped somewhere along the approvals process, but both Bob Harras and DC Publisher Dan DiDio were extremely supportive, making me feel a little like a dope for, essentially, doing to the company what I’d experienced for so long — making assumptions along cultural lines. I kind of owe the company an apology for my having suited up for a fight that never happened.
>>I actually did not want Creeper on the cover, but this is the first post-Rebirth appearance of the character, so it made sense that DC would want to play that up. Hopefully, the way the book is written, most readers will have all but forgotten about The Creeper until he makes his entrance. I think it still works.
It seems like DC editors are doing their job properly.

>>89428496
>>Priest: I’m still trying to decide if I’m having a good time or not, and how long I’ll be writing comics. It’s a lot of hard work, and there’s this big team the editor has to corral
Fuck DC for forcing that shitty Deathstroke/Titans/Night wing

>I worry that I’m really not in sync with what is popular and what sells
Fuck the industry, fuck everything

This interview is depressing to read. Fuck Rebirth, fuckbMarvel, fuck Image, fuck everything! I am legit mad.

>>89429307
I don't understand why you're mad. He's just saying what appeals to him is different from what's popular but he's been able to do what he wants on the book.

>>89429307
Nightwing and Titans sell more than Deathstroke, it could use the boost.

Didn't they have a Deathstroke v Superman issue out a while back? What happened with that one?

>>89429368
Yeah I think Superman captured him in the end but I can't remember how he got out.

>>89429394
He was in captivity in the latest issue, but Ja Zaki the Red Lion broke him out.

>>89429317
Because the industry is in a shit spot and could use more people like Priest. If hacks like Williamson and Spencer and Waid can keep pumping out garbage, why does Priest need to feel like a dinosaur that's no longer welcome in this medium?

>>89429406
Your interpretation is this is odd. There's nothing wrong or inherently negative with acknowledging that as a creator that what you're producing is niche. Priest isn't saying he feels unwelcome. Just merely stating that the average fan isn't into what he's into, but I don't see why it matters when he's allowed to freely write the type of stories he wants to.

>>89429481
I'm not mad at him though, I made that perfectly clear. And he does say he feels like what he is writing isn't the stuff people want to read right now and he's unsure if 2017 will see him in the comic book industry. And I'm mad because it's not like he's on twitter where I can assure him that what he's writing still has an audience in 2017.

>>89429399
I expected Deathstroke to lawyer out towards his freedom. Priest had earlier mentioned that Deathstroke is the best mercenary because he can afford the best lawyers.

>>89429632
He definitely wasn't happy about it.

>>89428496
I hope they put Priest on some A-list street leveler like Batman. I want a Question revamp from Priest, but it won't sell.

>>89410938
SHALL NOT BE INFRINGED

>>89429544
I didn't think you were angry at him but needlessly angry at the industry when they are seemingly supporting him both editorially and in sales despite him producing a weirder book by general standards.

>and he's unsure if 2017 will see him in the comic book industry

Honestly that read more as humbling thing than anything else and that he's thankful that he's getting so many offers. Some people feed on the idea that they're well-know/desired as an ego boost but maybe he's not like that. I noticed he kind of downplays his own status a lot. Like he's surprised that editorial lets him do what he wants on the book even though he's a long-time creator who has been in the industry long enough to get that protection. He doesn't seem to want to buy in on his own "importance" too much.

>>89429803
Well Marvel did remove a joke from Deadpool #27 because they were afraid white people offended on behalf of black people would complain.

>>89429803
The industry is just in a crap spot with maybe a dozen comics that are actually great at the moment, and Death stroke is one of them. Oh and it's on no way a weird book. Doom Patrol or Shade are weird.

And although some people on /co/ love the guy, he is in no way a "big name". Furthermore, the reason he's so surprised by how well editorial has been treating him is because he's been out of the industry for a decade and he just came back, the fact that he already took such a long break in the past scares me that he will again because as you said, the guy us humble and doesn't really know how many fans this comic has right now.

>>89413521

You're delirious lol

>>89429720
Priest's Batman would be... interesting, but I don't know how it would sell - from what I've read he would combine King's PTSD and current 'Tec's direction of how Batman is bad for the layperson, and add to it.
It would work cause Priest is a good writer, but it would be so, so dark. I don't know how a casual reader would react to this.

>>89422936
>>89429785
Not an argument

>>89407147

>>89429632
That seems like what he intended to do but JA ZAKI, THE RED LION had other ideas

bumpity bump

>>89407449

What a great fucking issue.

>>89432050

It's Batman.

People will eat it the fuck up if Priest wrote it. Also, people like dark Batman stories so I'm sure it would sell. I'm just wondering what direction DC is taking Batman at the moment.

>>89428464
>>If I were writing Justice League, the book would probably not be something DC fans would want to read because it would be far less larger than life and would echo life as we know it. I mean, what if there really were a self-appointed group of godlike people “protecting” us? How would the world respond to these people? My JL book would examine the real-world conflicts, challenges and consequences and be less concerned about the next galactic menace the heroes would have to fight.
Fucking put him on Titans.

>>89429720
I think he could do a good job with Suicide Squad

>>89438857
Suicide Squad with real-world conflicts and challenges? Ostrander already did it.

Priest is killing it with Deathstroke, having him take over Titans next makes sense. Related properties, and he'd get to play with the 'self-appointed group of godlike people "protecting" us' through the eyes of their children. Titans has always been daddy issues and soap opera. It'd be something different, you know?

>>89439208
>Suicide Squad with real-world conflicts and challenges? Ostrander already did it.

I know. I liked it. I wanna see it again.

What country is JA ZAKI, THE RED LION president of?

>>89439651
my heart

>>89439651
W̶a̶k̶a̶n̶d̶a̶
Buredunia?

>>89419265
I wish it sold better

this is easily in the top 3 books DC publishes

>>89407244
So this is the continuation of that Orlando shooting charity comic in which deathstroke promises never to use guns again?

>>89440586
no

>>89440586
finish reading the comic

>>89438666
>Titans getting a good writer

Doing that would require an even worse artist than Booth, anon. Like Henderson bad to counteract how good Priest is.
Titans aren't allowed to be wholly good.

>>89428464
>>If I were writing Justice League, the book would probably not be something DC fans would want to read because it would be far less larger than life and would echo life as we know it. I mean, what if there really were a self-appointed group of godlike people “protecting” us? How would the world respond to these people? My JL book would examine the real-world conflicts, challenges and consequences and be less concerned about the next galactic menace the heroes would have to fight.

He really should've been the one to write the original Marvel Civil War and not Millar.

>>89408301
>Damn, I hope Jeff isn't looking at my ass again.

>Damn, Phil's got a sexy, sexy tush.