Lex Luthor and Deathstroke, the history

 

Who does the smartest man in the world call when he needs help?

Lex Luthor, one of the biggest comic book villains of all time, and Deathstroke, who I personally think should also be on that list but that's open for debate. As you can imagine, the two have cross paths in the past and today we will go over the history between the two in preparation for the next issue of Dark Crisis. But only what can be considered main continuity. 

Rude Awakenings

Let's go back a few years, when DC let the bad guys take over. No, not Year of The Villain. And no, not Forever Evil. Before that, before even Flashpoint. Back to Brightest Day era of DC, Deathstroke took over the Titans book, making his own team of Titans. Issue #24 sees Slade accepting a contract to kill Lex Luthor(?). But of course, there was a plot twist. Luthor knew that an assassin had been hired to kill him, in response, he called on whoever he thought was the best in the business to take out the mercenary. Slade Wilson. 

With some complications Slade and his team got the job done. Deathstroke still was the mercenary who never fails during that time.

The Black Ring

One of the most famous storylines for Lex Luthor, where Lex searches for the power he had during Blackest Night. This quest takes him into numerous places, and leads into some interactions with others characters. During part 3 of this adventure, taking place in Action Comics #892, Luthor calls in for a specialist. They end up finding a big dome of black energy, that messes with Slade's emotions making him go berserk. So Luthor suits up as Deathstroke goes after him. 

They fight and Slade wipes the floor with Lex, as he is about to kill him, one of Luthor's scientists managed to send the black energy into a "different type of spacetime", making Slade regain his senses. 

Forever Evil

DC Comics big event that marked the launch of the New 52 line, here, the Crime Syndicate takes over, with some of prime earth's villains at their side. Luthor is the protagonist of this event, taking action against the Syndicate with help from the likes of Bizarro and Batman. In the beginning Slade was working for the Syndicate, but during #5 he has a conversation with Luthor that makes him switch sides. 

(and Deathstroke does nothing for the rest of the story besides getting punched in the face) 

Blood Ties

Ok, not real Lex Luthor. But just so no one think I forgot this. Even tho I wish I  had. Rose got kidnapped and searching for her Slade ends in a Lex Corp building. Naturally he fights a AI of Luthor. 

The robot is too much for Slade, who ends up thrown into a lab with an army of Bizarros. With difficulty, Slade survives and escapes. 

And that's it, if I'm not forgetting anything. Lex and Slade are the best in what they do, if we can learn something from the times the two worked together, is the mutual respect for one another. Now, will any of this get mentioned in Dark Crisis? I highly doubt that. My bet is that Luthor is going to kick Slade's ass while talking about how Deathstroke is the worst person who ever lived(which would be funny since Luthor had a similar role to Slade now during Year of the Villain). But I'm hoping I'm wrong and that something different happens. Regardless, remembering some gems from the past it's always fun. 

That's it for today, as always thanks for your time and have a good one.