Billy Wintergreen


 * For his partner who uses the same signature balaclava, see Slade Wilson. For the comic book issue of the same name, see Wintergreen (issue).

"Slade! Come back to die?"

- Billy Wintergreen Bill "Billy" Wintergreen was a member of the Australian Secret Intelligence Service/ASIS unit, and the nemesis of Yao Fei. He was also the former friend and ex-partner of Slade Wilson, and the godfather of Joe Wilson. After he and his partner arrived on Lian Yu to rescue Fei, Billy betrayed Slade and allied himself with Edward Fyers' mercenary unit. Thus tracking and hunting down the man he was originally ordered to rescue.

Agent of ASIS
Billy and Slade Wilson were best friends prior to Lian Yu. They were so close to the point Slade made Billy the godfather to his son.

Some time before 2007, Billy and his partner and also friend, Slade, came to Lian Yu to rescue Yao Fei. Their plane was shot down, and Billy eventually allied himself with Edward Fyers, leaving Slade to escape by himself.

Working for Fyers
When Oliver was stranded on Lian Yu, he was captured by Edward Fyers' men who were looking for Yao Fei, their reasons unspecified. When Oliver refused to give up Yao's location, he was tortured by Bill. Oliver is later rescued by Yao, who engages Bill in battle and temporarily subdues him, escaping with Oliver.

Bill later tracked down Yao, besting him in a fight and taking him to a camp led by Edward. He was later seen fighting a prisoner in an organized fighting circle with all the other mercenaries watching. Billy throws many punches and kicks at the prisoner while the latter fails at every attempt to even touch him. Bill glances at Fyers who gives him a nod, allowing Bill to kill him.



When Oliver returned to the camp to rescue Yao, Yao knocked him out as Edward Fyers and Billy entered his tent. Bill was led to execute Oliver. However, Slade caused an explosion to distract everyone. Billy met Slade with vigor, eager to kill his old partner. As Oliver ran to his safety, Slade and Billy fought, leading to Slade stabbing Billy through his right eye, killing him.

Afterwards
Following the destruction of the Amazo, Slade was stranded back on Lian Yu and went searching for Oliver to enact his revenge on the latter. He stumbled on Fyer's former camp and discovered Wintergreen's corpse where he left it with the knife still stuck in his eye. After his return to Australia and at ASIS headquarters at Perth, Slade - not wanting to reveal the actual details about what happened on the island - lied about Wintergreen's betrayal and death to the regional head of ASIS, Wade DeForge, who was Billy's half-brother. Later on ASIS agents went to Lian Yu and discovered Billy's corpse, thus exposing Slade's lies.

Personality
Billy was once a man of honor who fought for his country, but after he and Slade were captured by Edward Fyers, Billy immediately accepted Edward's offer to work for him. It was after this moment, that Billy revealed his treacherous and self-centred nature. It can also be assumed that he had a bad temper, as when Oliver called him by his name and criticized him for what he had become, Billy brutally attacked him.

Abilities

 * Peak of human physical condition: Billy was a man in top physical condition and demonstrated incredible feats of strength, durability, stamina, speed, and agility. When he fought Yao Fei, Billy also demonstrated coordination, dexterity, and reflexes that appeared to border on superhuman. In addition, Billy caught an arrow fired at him from mid-range; further demonstrating incredible reflexes, (a feat that only highly skilled individuals have accomplished).
 * Master hand-to-hand combatant/Martial artist: Much like Slade Wilson, Billy was a master in close-ranged hand-to-hand combat. As seen in Oliver Queen's flashback, Billy easily defeated Yao Fei, who was also a skilled hand-to-hand combatant. According to Slade, "Billy always had a good kick."
 * Master swordsman: Like Slade, Billy used a sword as his primary weapon, and was extremely proficient when using it.
 * Master marksman/Firearms: As a former ASIS operative, Billy was an expert in the use of various firearms.

Equipment

 * Protective suit: Billy used a variant of ASIS unit armor, as well as a distinctive orange-and-black balaclava, same as his partner, Slade.
 * Curved Sword: Like Slade, Billy used a curved grey sword as his primary weapon.
 * Guns: Billy used multiple types of guns, including a pistol and machine gun.
 * Knives: Billy also used multiple types of knives, including a machete.
 * Grenades: Billy also used multiple types of grenades, that were strapped to his armor.

Trivia

 * Billy Wintergreen gave Oliver Queen his second scar by cutting the lower left side of his abdomen with a knife whilst torturing and interrogating him, as well as several others.
 * His costume and the fact that his eye is stabbed is a reference to Slade Wilson as Deathstroke. He was also referred to as "Deathstroke" in the credits of Arrow episodes.

Behind the scenes

 * In DC Comics, William Randolph Wintergreen is Slade Wilson's close friend and butler in the comics. He too was ultimately slain by Slade Wilson (despite being controlled by his son, Jericho).
 * Billy Wintergreen never appeared without his balaclava during the show. His face was only shown in the comic book.
 * A DC Collectibles action figure of Billy Wintergreen was released under the title "Deathstroke", even though he was never referred by this name on screen. However, the actor was credited as "Deathstroke" in the credits of multiple "Arrow" episodes.
 * Billy's being stabbed in the eye was reminiscent of how Oliver did exactly the same thing to Slade about a year later.

Arrow

 * "Wintergreen"
 * "Shado of the Past"

Novels

 * Arrow - Vengeance (corpse)