Slade Wilson


 * For his partner who uses the same codename, see Bill Wintergreen.

Slade Wilson, known under the codename Deathstroke, is a member of the Australian Secret Intelligence Service who was sent to Lian Yu to recover Yao Fei, along with his former friend and ex-partner Bill Wintergreen. The both of them wear the same bi-colored masks, he is also the father of Joe Wilson, and one of the former mentors of Oliver Queen.

Biography
Some time before 2007, Slade Wilson and his partner, Billy Wintergreen, arrived on Lian Yu via plane to rescue Yao Fei, as well as to uncover what Edward Fyers was planning. However, their plane was shot down and they were captured by Edward. Slade was tortured by Edward for almost a year but Slade didn't give them any information on why he came to Lian Yu or who sent him. Slade was put in a cell with Yao, the man he was sent to the island for. Fei asks who he is but Slade refuses to tell him. However, Yao figures out that Slade is from ASIS (Australian Secret Intelligence Service) because of his accent. In order to escape, Yao temporarily cuts off Slade's blood flow slowing down his heart rate to make him appear dead. Yao lures a guard into the cell telling him that Slade is dead but when the guard goes to examine Slade, Yao takes him out. Yao takes the keys off the guard and uncuffs himself and Slade. Slade and Yao flee the cell and attempt to find Billy who to Slade's shock and dismay has joined Edward. Slade and Bill fight with Slade ultimately knocking Billy unconscious and fleeing the camp with Yao. Not much is known about what occurs afterwards, other than that Yao and Slade had plans on escaping the island together on a supply plane that comes on the island every few months.

Season 1
Later, when Oliver searches a crashed plane that turned out to be the one Slade came on, Slade attacks him. Although Oliver reveals that Yao sent him there, Slade views him as a liability and knocks him unconscious. When Oliver comes to, his wrists are tied and he's sitting in a chair. Slade explains that he had to kill him but before he does, Oliver frees himself, breaking his own arm in the process and punching Slade in the face, proving that he's worth keeping alive. Slade explains that he needs another person to help kill guards in order to escape the island via supply plane. When Oliver is choosing a weapon, he finds Slade's mask which is identical with the one his torturer wore when he was first captured. Oliver accuses Slade for deceiving him but Slade explains that it is the mask worn by him and his ex-partner Wintergreen to protect their identities. He also reveals that they are in the service of ASIS (Australian Secret Intelligence Service) who wanted to free Yao Fei from the island.

Slade begins training Oliver, who struggles and nearly gives up until Slade gives him the option to escape or die. Choosing escape, Oliver continues his training. They only have 10 days before the plane arrives that they will escape on, leaving very little time to train. They ventured towards the camp, however Oliver got himself caught on a land mine, presumed to be from World War 2. When some of Edward's men begin to approach Slade seemingly abandons Oliver, only to return, swiftly killing all of the men and rolling one of the bodies over the mine, freeing Oliver.

That night Slade reveals that Bill betrayed him immediately after they were captured and that he was the godfather of Slade's son. Once they reached the camp, Slade proceeds to take out the soldiers with his sniper rifle as Oliver reachs the communications tower, his only duty to kill the man in the tower. However, Oliver hesitates and after a brief fight, is left with a gun pointed at his head. Slade comes to his aid, killing the man right before he gets to shoot Oliver. Disgusted that he couldn't complete one task, Slade instructs him to stay in that one spot until he comes back. He promptly returns, disconnecting the phone after Oliver calls Laurel Lance, furious that he risked them being caught. Slade reveals that after they leave, he will call in airstrike and blow up the island. When Oliver asks about Yao, Slade states that it's not his concern anymore. However, a determined Oliver leaved to find and bring Yao back with him. Slade stays, warning Oliver that he has 3 hours or Slade will leave alone.

Oliver gets captured and right before he is executed by Slade's ex-partner, Bill, Slade himself causes a distraction in the form of multiple explosions. As Oliver runs to safety, Slade snipes a large number of soldiers. Once it was clear, Slade came out to face Bill. The two fought, ending with Slade stabbing him in the eye, killing him. Believing they were safe Oliver and Slade began to walk away, only for Slade to be shot in the arm by Edward. Oliver brings Slade back, at one point overpowering a soldier and disarming him as Slade taught, to the plane and removes the bullet from Slade's arm. Slade acknowledges that Oliver has proved that he had grown as a fighter and can survive, and the two of them begin a partnership.

Personality
Unlike his DC comics character counterpart he was based on, Slade appears less cold and distant, but retains his appearance of an anti-hero. Slade is a man of good morals, who puts up a tough act, but underneath is a caring individual, shown in the time he went to go and rescue Oliver from Edward Fyers and Bill Wintergreen, even after stating that he'd leave the island if Oliver didn't return in time. Though Slade is shown to be a good man, he doesn't take well to traitors as he killed Billy Wintergreen, his friend and partner for many years until he betrayed him for his own life, without signs of hesitation. However, Slade cares and trusts people who have proven themselves to him.

Abilities

 * Peak human physical/mental condition: Slade has shown to be in top physical and mental condition for a man of his age. He engages in constant intense exercises even in his time on the island.
 * Master marksmanship: Slade is shown to be an excellent marksman as he took out many soldiers with his sniper rifle in the episode "The Odyssey". It can then be implied that he is also extremely competent in using other firearms. In "The Huntress Returns", he was able to take out several soldiers with only two handguns.
 * Master hand-to-hand combatant/martial artist: Slade is shown to be an expert hand-to-hand combatant and martial artist, and mentor Oliver in his ways. He sparred with Shado in "Unfinished Business" in one of Oliver's flashbacks and was able to stalemate her in combat, although it can be implied that Slade held back a little. He was also able to beat his partner in combat, even though Bill Wintergreen was able to beat Yao Fei in a fight. His main fighting style is Eskrima with Muay Thai and other unidentified fighting forms in the mix. His combat skills are at the very least on par with Oliver's though considering Slade was one of Oliver's mentors on the island, he may even be superior.
 * Master swordsmanship: Slade has shown himself to be a master swordsman, cutting down multiple armed mercenaries in mere seconds, explicitly stating his weapon of choice are swords, and killing his skilled partner in a sword-fight, who was also a master swordsman.
 * High tolerance for pain: Slade has a high tolerance for pain. In "The Odyssey", Oliver had to pull out the bullet out of Slade's arm without any form of anesthetic, albeit he had to tie him up (on Slade's suggestion) because he might kill Oliver. He was also able to take down several of Edward Fyers' henchmen with an injured leg in "Sacrifice".

Appearances
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Comics
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 * Arrow #19

Trivia

 * A Deathstroke mask is seen mounted on a wooden stake In "Pilot" as Chinese fishermen investigate Oliver's distress signal. It is unknown whether or not this is Billy's Deathstroke mask or Slade's. Although the mask seen did have an arrow going through the right eye hole and Billy was killed by a sword in the right eye.
 * In "The Odyssey", Slade mentions that Bill Wintergreen was the godfather of his son. Slade has had three children in the comics, two boys and a girl. His oldest son, Grant, was known as Ravager, and his other son, Joseph, was the Teen Titan Jericho. His daughter, Rose, became the new Ravager after Grant's death.
 * Wilson has only been seen wearing the Deathstroke mask in the comics.
 * Unlike most other incarnations outside of the comics, this version of Slade appears more heroic.
 * According to an interview with Manu Bennett, he thought he was auditioning for a character named Halloway/Holloway.
 * Slade Wilson was Oliver Queen's second mentor.