The "BWAH-HA-HA!" era had ended and Justice League Spectacular had just introduced new lineups for the American and European teams, but I still don't think 1992 was a banner year for the team. Otherwise, they would've been on the cover instead of, "Hemp." From 1992, Deathstroke the Terminator #13, "Terminator Hunt: The Powers that Be!" Written by Marv Wolfman, pencils by Steve Erwin, inks by Will Blyberg. Maybe there were too many Justice League covers that month, or maybe cover artist Mike Zeck wanted to draw Hemp!
Deathstroke infamously owned the Justice League in Identity Crisis, which somewhat improbably ended up not even being in the top ten worst things about that series. He doesn't have quite as strong a showing today, but it's close; even if it opens with him captured by Superman! He doesn't appear to struggle, although he apparently put up a fight trying to escape the cops the previous issue: that may be worth looking up, it had a couple pages of art by Michael Golden, and apparently Lucy Lane got shot! (Post-Crisis I think she was a much blander, played-straight character; with none of her super-passive-aggressive Silver Age shenanigans. I honestly thought Lucy had appeared on this blog more than Deathstroke...)
At the federal building in Metropolis, Superman turns Deathstroke over to Agent Smith. (Not that one!) Supes is suspicious, partially because Smith seems mega-shady, and appears to have a pinky ring with a setting the size of a Maglite with a skull on it. Still, perhaps it's understandable why Deathstroke went easy with Superman, he knew he'd be able to escape in like three pages: Slade tells his guards he's not really Deathstroke, he's Blue Beetle, working with Superman to give Deathstroke time to flee. When the guards unmask him, Slade is able to beat the stuffing out of them even while handcuffed and shackled. Easier than pie!
Deathstroke's escape makes national news, since multiple Justice Leaguers have been asked to assist in the manhunt: we see Aquaman, this would've been during his '92 series when he was at the United Nations. Hal Jordan is there with his grey streak, and Guy Gardner almost considers helping out until the game comes back on. Picking up new weapons from his stuttering tech-support guy (I don't think he was named here, but he may have worked with Gizmo) Deathstroke is spotted leaving by Hemp and his team. They get flattened inside of three pages, but Hal and Arthur hear the gunfire and find him. Arthur is really talky, perhaps thinking he can convince him to give up. Instead, Deathstroke trash-talks Hal to get under his guard, then gets Arthur with a flare and drops a condemned building on him. That may be a better showing than the Flash (Wally!) who knocks Deathstroke down, but then gets tripped up after he shakes the cops and Smith again.
Elsewhere, the Titans watch another news broadcast that wonders if anyone can stop Deathstroke. Had they dropped the 'Teen' at this point? They do look kinda old, especially Changeling there. I think the book was headed into a crossover next. I also think Deathstroke has shown up on this blog more than the Titans have...
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