The Titans Are Just as Tough As the Justice League, And One Villain Knows It

Warning! This post contains SPOILERS for Titans #17DC Comics continues to confirm that the Titans have become just as tough and equal to the power of the Justice League, and one very important villain knows this to be true as well. While they may have begun as a team of teen sidekicks fighting the forces of evil, the Titans have certainly come a long way since they first joined together. To that end, their impressive growth and evolution as adult heroes have begun prompting Justice League-level responses from those dark forces, particularly from one of the team’s most classic villains in the DC Universe.

As seen in Titans #17 by John Layman and Peter Woods, an amplified Clock King attempts to rob the Titans of their very memories and most closely guarded secrets by manipulating their most traumatic memories. However, Clock King severely underestimates the Titans and their ability to come together, having used a memory they all share to overpower his devices. Although he ultimately escapes, this new issue ends with William Tockman approached by a major DC villain who knows exactly where Clock King went wrong with the Titans: Deathstroke.

Even Deathstroke Knows The Titans Are On Par With the Justice League

They’re No Longer The Teens Of The Past

As admitted by Slade Wilson himself, Deathstroke fully understands that the Titans are no longer the reckless teenagers he and many other villains have fought in the past. In Wilson’s estimation, they’re now on par and equal to the likes of the Justice League. He even credits the Titans as he recognizes that they’ve already served as a substitute League in the DC Universe.

According to Deathstroke, the reason Clock King failed was because the time ironically wasn’t right to go after the Titans. Likewise, he also says that Tockman didn’t give the team of heroes enough respect as “the formidable adversaries they are.” To that end, it does make one wonder how Deathstroke himself might handle the Titans in the current era, seeing as how he’s largely considered to be their greatest nemesis over the decades.

Deathstroke Has Big Plans To Eliminate His Classic Foes

Building A Team To Take On The Titans

Keeping that in mind, it’s intriguing to see Deathstroke claiming that he has multiple plans and strategies to defeat the Titans. While details remain scarce, it does look like Slade knows he won’t be able to take them down by himself. As such, Deathstroke strongly hints that the first step will be to bring together a brand-new team of villains, one that could match the Titans just as well as the Justice League in the DC Universe.

As a general idea, building a new team of villains does make sense. However, some villains may hesitate about joining Slade. After all, it was Deathstroke who led the Secret Society of Supervillains and corrupted several foes to his cause when he was under the sway of the Great Darkness in 2022’s Dark Crisis on Infinite Earths. Since that time when he was shown to have lost his rapid healing factor and had sustained damage from the Great Darkness’ corruption, Deathstroke has been out of the DC Comics spotlight. As such, it will also be interesting to learn how Slade is seemingly alive and well in future issues.

Who Will Join Deathstroke’s New Team of Villains?

Clock King Looks To Be The First Member

Right off the bat, it looks as though Clock King will serve as one of Deathstroke’s first recruits for his new team of supervillains. No doubt eager to learn from his mistakes where he underestimated the Titans, Clock King should make a formidable addition to the team. That said, this new issue of Titans does confirm the source of his new power is gradually killing him, so he doesn’t have long to aid Slade, assuming he can’t find a cure.

“Deathstroke will likely ensure that his new team is extremely capable and ready to take down the Titans before they strike, whoever ends up on the teased roster…”

At any rate, perhaps Deathstroke will be looking to gather other classic Titans villains to his cause as well. This could include the likes of Brother Blood, Blackfire, Trigon, or the Fearsome Five. After all, it would certainly be exciting to see some of the Titans’ classic foes evolving in response to their own strength and greater power in the DC Universe. That said, Deathstroke will likely ensure that his new team is extremely capable and ready to take down the Titans before they strike, whoever ends up on the teased roster.

Titans #17 is on sale now from DC Comics.