The last time I laid eyes on Deathstroke, he was lunging into battle, badly outnumbered. This is how Slade Wilson lives his life... delivering death. A flesh-and-blood grim reaper. And he won't stop... until that inevitable day of reckoning when the Terminator finally meets the same fate as his many victims.
Superman (Volume 4) #31 is an issue of the series Superman (Volume 4) with a cover date of November, 2017. It was published on September 20, 2017.
Synopsis for "Breaking Point, Part One"
Maggie Sawyer is handling a hostage situation at S.T.A.R. Labs, Metropolis. The hostage taker is a scientist called Dwayne Litters, who worked day and night to develop a new energy source, neglecting his wife and newborn child in the process. Dwayne was hoping his work would earn him a promotion and he would get to spend more time with his family; unfortunately, it was not meant to be. His wife left him and took the baby with her, and Dwayne's bosses were more interested in using Dwayne's invention as a weapon. Depressed, Dwayne now threatens to activate the weapon, which will destroy Metropolis. Although Dwayne has released the hostages, he still plans to activate the weapon but Superman arrives at the scene and successfully talks Dwayne down. The police comes in and takes Dwayne under custody.
Meanwhile, at Bolivia, Lois and Jimmy are chasing a story about a drug lord who has agreed to an interview. Upon their arrival at the place where the interview is to be held, Lois and Jimmy find that Deathstroke the Terminator has slaughtered the drug lord and his group. Lois takes the story back to Metropolis and asks Perry for permission to interview Deathstroke. Aware of Deathstroke's reputation, Perry reluctantly agrees. Clark provides Lois with a stun device created by S.T.A.R. Labs.
Lois tracks Deathstroke down to Prague, where he is ambushed by the criminal Cestus and his minions, only to be saved by Superman, who reveals the stun device he had given Lois contains a tracking device. After Superman departs, Lois continues his search for Deathstroke and is able to find him. Deathstroke reveals that he was using Lois as bait to bring Cestus' men into a trap. After killing Cestus' men and forcing Cestus to retreat, Deathstroke takes Lois to an observation tower in the outskirts of the city, where they can have their interview.
Lois asks Deathstroke about his profession, and Deathstroke reveals that he derives no emotion from his work and that sometimes he kills people out of muscle reflex. He does not remember the faces of his victims, but he does remember how he died and even admits he welcomes death to a certain extent but when death comes to him, he will go out fighting. The interview is suddenly cut short when Cestus and his forces attack the tower. Deathstroke engages Cestus' men while Lois escapes.
Lois delivers her story to Perry, who congratulates her on another good job. As she leaves the Daily Planet, Lois calls Clark, who tells her that Jon is waiting for her back home. Suddenly, Lois is ambushed by Deathstroke, who reveals he has been hired to assassinate her. He then aims his gun at Lois and fires.
Appearing in "Breaking Point, Part One"
Featured Characters:
- Lois Lane-Kent (Apparent death)
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
- Deathstroke (Slade Wilson)
- Dwayne Litters (Single appearance)
- The Throng (First appearance)
- Cestus (First appearance)
Other Characters:
- The Grave Maker (Carlos Gorzman) (Single appearance) (Dies in flashback)
- Carlos Gorzman's Cartel (Single appearance) (All die in flashback)
- Metropolis Police Department
- Darkseid (Mentioned only)
- Dwayne Litters' child (Unnamed) (Mentioned only)
- Dwayne Litters' wife (Unnamed) (Mentioned only)
- Ghosts (Mentioned only)
- Jon Kent (Mentioned only)
Locations:
- Earth 0
- 2017
- Bolivia
- Czech Republic
- Prague
- The Observation Tower
- Prague
- United States of America
- 17th Century
- 2017
Items:
- Deathstroke's Energy Lance (Cameo)
- Deathstroke's Swords
- Ikon Suit
- Jimmy Olsen's Camera
- Stun Device
Vehicles:
Notes
- This story takes place before the events of Deathstroke (Volume 3) #21.
See Also