CSBG Archive
Top 50 DC Characters #51
Thought I’d throw a bone to those folks who were hoping for a look past the Top 50. Enjoy!
51. Deadshot – 137 points (3 first place votes)
Deadshot was technically created by Bob Kane, David Reed and Lew Schwartz, but it was not until Steve Englehart brought him back years after he first showed up, with a new costume designed by Marshall Rogers, that the character really had staying power.
And it was not until John Ostrander began featuring him in the pages of Suicide Squad that the character really took off.
Floyd Lawton is an assassin with a death wish, but also a bizarre code of honor.
Here is why Dana DeVries picked Deadshot #1…
In a world where super strength and flight are common, Deadshot is merely one of the best marksmen alive and is usually armed with wrist-mounted large caliber guns. However, his most notable trait is his lack of concern for his own life. He just doesn’t care if he, or the people around him, live or die. Despite this deathwish, Floyd Lawton survived years on various incarnations of the Suicide Squad while many around him died.
One of my favorite memories of him was on the Phoenix Gambit mission. Deadshot’s primary role was to force the cooperation of Stalnoivolk, a superpowered Russian agent. Although immune to bullets, Stalnoivolk is vulnerable to a laser pistol Deadshot carries for this mission. However, the Russian sees an opportunity to escape by leaping out of an airplane. He knows he will survive the fall and can flee long before anyone parachuting down can reach him. Instead, Deadshot grabs two parachutes and jumps after him. As both of them plummet to the ground, he aims the pistol at Stalnoivolk and orders him to use the parachute or they both die. The Russian reluctantly complies and both parachute to the ground where they go on to complete the mission. Only later does Deadshot reveal that the pistol broke during the fall and he’s used merely the threat to order around someone powerful enough to rip him in half.
In comics, so many characters are consumed with angst, shame, guilt, or needlessly complicated plans for world domination, it is a pleasure to see someone who just lives his life to the utmost without concern for his own safety or that of others.
It doesn’t make him a hero, but it does make him unspeakably cool.
Thanks, Dana!
17 Comments
Danar
September 26, 2007 at 7:53 pm
ok, I hereby protest the Huntress’ two identities being combined. I’ll admit, I didn’t see a problem before (when I didn’t know that she was pushing Deadshot off the list), but…but…I mean, come on. Deadshot so deserves to be on the list.
Seriously, I wasn’t shocked that no one from the Suicide Squad made the list, though I’d hoped that either he or Waller would force their way on. Partly because I just love both of these characters so much. And partly because the Squad itself deserved to be represented. It was one of my favorite comics, because it just seemed to answer so many questions. How do these lunatics keep getting out? Why doesn’t the government employ super powered people? Why do we have powerhouses slugging it out but few, if any, books about real espionage stuff? But the biggest thing that this series showed was that the villains were capable.
I love Robin, but when you see a 15 year old kid beating the snot out of super powered baddies, you start to wonder how big a threat they really are. Couldn’t cops and soldiers handle most of this? Then you see the Suicide Squad mow throw a compound of terrorists or soldiers and realize, these guys really are a threat to the world. It gave the real heroes more legitimacy and made the villains seem so much cooler.
So, I tip my hat to Waller, Deadshot, and the rest of the Suicide Squad. You deserved more love. And fear. Fear and love, isn’t that what it is all about?
And for the stats? Deadshot is 200% cooler than #36 (Firestorm), but only recieved 10% of the points as #2 on the list.
Brian Cronin
September 26, 2007 at 8:01 pm
Like I said when the topic came up, I sure had no vested interest in seeing Huntress make the list, as I like Deadshot a lot more than her.
Anthony Strand
September 26, 2007 at 8:06 pm
Hey, Deadshot. He’s a good one.
The DCU is full of good ones. Full, I say!
The Mutt
September 26, 2007 at 8:11 pm
Whenever I think of Robin, I’m reminded of what they used to say about Ginger Rogers: She did everything Fred Astaire did, but she did it backwards in high heels.
Robin does everything Batman does, but he does it in slippers and and green panties.
Batman: He’s as awesome as a leetle boy.
fourthworlder
September 26, 2007 at 9:43 pm
One day all the surviving Robins will get themselves a damn good attorney and file a class action suit.
Then Wayne Manor will be theirs.
stephen cade
September 26, 2007 at 10:02 pm
Really? #52?
I mean he was an interesting character in SS, but #51?
Seems a bit high. Captain Boomerang was my favorite Squad regular–and I’d list others ahead of Floyd.
SO I’m not complaining–just a little surprised…
fourthworlder
September 26, 2007 at 10:23 pm
Oh great, I’ve been consoling myself with the thought that Mon-El and Big Barda had just barely missed out and were tied at #51, and now you want to torture me by counting backwards and showing just how far out of it they actually are.
Cool! Looking forward to it!
stephen cade
September 26, 2007 at 10:40 pm
Or rather I meant #51?
I like typos…
Black Manta
September 26, 2007 at 10:47 pm
Did anyone from the Legion make the list? There should be a favorite Legionairre list.
Black Lutefisk
September 27, 2007 at 2:25 am
Sadly no, my colorless brother. Nor did any from the Monster Society of Evil. Alack, I say.
Patrick Zircher
September 27, 2007 at 5:48 am
Aside from his appearance in Englehart/Roger’s Detective, and in Ostrander/Wein/Byrne’s Legends, I haven’t read Deadshot– an admitted gap in my DC comics reading– Suicide Squad has a loyal fanbase and has always been pretty well-received.
Marshall Roger’s costume design was always appealing, its ‘facelessness’ perfect for a ruthless sniper.
Mike Loughlin
September 27, 2007 at 5:57 am
I think the Suicide Squad fanbase split it votes- SS had so many great moments and memorable characters, one individual wasn’t the breakout star (a la Wolverine or Brainiac 5).
The principle may hold true for Teen Titans as well, with Robin (who has a role outside of Titans) being the sole reperesentative (unless I missed Starfire or Cyborg on the list).
Eric
September 27, 2007 at 8:38 am
Don’t worry, fourthworlder. I too voted for Barda and hope to see her soon if these “almost made it” lists continue.
I know it is a ton of work, but I would love to see a Top 100.
MarkBlack
September 27, 2007 at 9:48 am
Doesn’t Floyd Lawton care about his daughter and his wife? I mean that is sort of his one weak point.
Joe Gualtieri
September 27, 2007 at 10:04 am
Argh, this just makes the Huntress thing even more annoying.
And Lawton’s been great in the hands of people other than Ostrander.
-His second appearence in the Englehart Batman run was brilliant (the Penguin mocks him for never breaking out of jail, so Lawton steals the Penguin’s break out gimmick).
-Giffen’s Suicide Squad
-Brubaker’s Bat-run
-Gage’s Deadshot mini.
As for splitting the Suicide Squad vote, that’s possible. I had Lawton in my top 5 and Waller #2.
Brian Cronin
September 27, 2007 at 2:17 pm
Get thineself to a comic book store!
Suicide Squad back issues are usually available dirt cheap at comic book stores.
Andrew Collins
September 27, 2007 at 2:24 pm
Joe Gualtieri said:
“Argh, this just makes the Huntress thing even more annoying.”
Wow, so much hatred for Huntress. I’m still thrilled she made the list, though I’m glad Deadshot gets some love too. He was #7 on my list and is one of the absolute coolest characters in the DCU. However, I didn’t like the redesigned costume they tried on him in his own mini a few years back. The one with the ‘grated’ face plate. To me, the Marshall Rogers outfit is iconic and shouldn’t be messed with. It’s as much a part of Deadshot’s character as Floyd Lawton himself is.