hint at Slade's identity?

[moonchild10]

OK, I noticed something the other day while watching the episode "Mask", the one where Robin becomes the Red X (which is becoming one of my favorite episodes). When Robin is fighting the Titans as X in the subway, Beast Boy falls in front of a train. Robin, seeing his friend in danger, pulls him out of harm's way, despite the fact that Beast Boy has no idea it's Robin behind the mask and believes that he is no more than a villian. Beast Boy responds with "Did you just save me?"

Some time later, toward the end of the episode, Robin has been found out by Slade and is battling him one-on-one on a rooftop. At a high point in the fight, Robin falls over the edge of the rooftop, grabbing onto the edge but slipping rapidly. Slade grabs his arms and pulls him to safety. Robin responds with "You saved me?"

I noticed the similarity between the two situations, and wondered if the creators were giving a possible hint at Slade's identity. Many TT fans know Slade's actual identity from online or wherever, but even the best sources give only his name and a bit of background information about him that isn't really relevent to the events on the show, and so no one really knows WHO Slade is. His motivations, his ties to any character and relationships with anyone in the Titan universe (other than Jericho if he ever appears on the show) are in all reality a mystery. It seems highly unlikely that he is nothing more than a faceless figure coming out of nowhere to fill the dramatic role as the main villain and give the show most of its plot. From the situations in this episode, I think there is a small hint toward something: Slade is actually someone who cares greatly for Robin, someone Robin knows well but is hidden behind that mask, therefore Robin has no idea who he is, just as the situation with Beast Boy and X.

The Red X suit is very obviously equipped with a voice changer in the mask, and this might also be the case for Slade. And because Slade is most often a robot when the Titans fight him and the real Slade watches them from a monitor behind the robot's mask, Slade could be pretty much anyone. There's even the possibility that Slade is no one, Slade doesn't exist, he's only some cruel robotic joke worked up by some random bystander or less important villain to mess with the Titans' heads. It's enough to make you rip your hair out, because it's pretty obvious that the possibilities of Slade's identity are endless.

That was fun. ^_^

[wishiwasbeastgirl]

Wow. Some people think Slade is Batman. I don't. I don't know who I think he is! He's just Slade to me.

[gem]

The theory that my friend and I have is that Slade is Robin's father. I don't know whether this is even possible because I've never read the comics or anything, but it just seems so possible to me. One of the big things is what Moonchild mentioned about how Slade saved Robin in 'Masks'. Another is the fact that they have similar fighting moves, not to mention the comparisons that have been spoken of in the show. Also, Slade did indeed seem very father-like in 'Apprentice' (in a twisted sort of way).

So yeah, that's what I've always thought.

[moonchild10]

Gem has a good point there!

[robin]

Robin's father is Bruce Wayne aka Batman.

Slade was trying to be his father and Robin even stated in episode 'I already have a father' with bats flying by for emphasis.

I don't know who Slade Wilson is in the show. But I can assure you he is not Batman.

;D

[theubu]

First off... Batman is Robin's father?! I had always thought that Bruce adopted Robin after his family died... Then again, I have very little comic info to go off of so you'd probably know better than I.

I'd always thought there was a possibility that Slade could indeed be Bruce Wayne, but he wouldn't be my first guess. I do think he is alive because of the whole "The End" thing where he went back for his life or soul or whatever it was he got back.

I'm a little lacking in the information department regarding season five but unless there have been some major changes, I'm probably going to go with the overly dramatic evil villian out of nowhere.

[robin]

Most adopted families consider their adopted parents, their parents and will call and consider them 'Mother and Father.'

I should know as my mom was adopted.

Not to mention Richard was around 8 and Bruce around 30 when they first met in comic.

[gem]

Yes, I do know that Robin's adoptive father is Bruce Wayne/Batman, but I've always thought that maybe Slade was Robin's biological father. However, it's most likely that I am very, very wrong.

[robin]

That is filled with more cheese then Robin's one liners!

[superdavefumc]

robin's biological parents are dead. two-face killed 'em.

[gem]

Ah. Well, as I said, I know nothing of such things. You can just disregard my theory then. n_n;

[laurie]

Actually, Richard Grayson's parents were John and Mary Grayson of the Flying Graysons. The Flying Graysons were a three man act with John, Mary, and Richard. It wasn't until a man named Tony Zucco, who wanted the circus owner to buy his insurance, cut the ropes of the act when the net was down (for they Graysons'stunning "Death Act"), did John and Mary Grayson die. At age twelve, Richard Grayson became an orphan.

Richard Grayson was put in the care of billionaire socialite Bruce Wayne. He became his ward, which is different than adoption because Richard was never legally Bruce's son. It has only been recently that Richard was adopted by Bruce.

And Slade Wilson. He was a young hotshot in the military when he married his superior, Adeline Wilson. Soon after (They had two children, Grant and Joseph) Slade volunteered for some experimental tests. The military was testing a serum so their officers could resist truth serums. Unfortunately, the serum did not have the affect they intended. Slade was in a coma for a couple months, until he awoke. He then found out he had extraordinary reflexes and that he used ninety-percent of his brain unlike the ten-percent normal humans use.

Slade would start appearing strangely at night, and his wife, Adeline, thought he was basically going out fo rbooze with his friends. Wrong. It turned out he was the infamous mercenary, Deathstroke the Terminator. One night, his son Joey was captured and would only be released if Slade agreed to work for the capturerers. Adeline insisted that Slade give up, but he was too proud to stand down. Instead, he tried to grab Joey away from the men. He wasn't fast enough. They didn't kill Joey, but managed to slit his throat (they had a knife at the throat). Joey, from then on, was mute.

Slade, or Deathstroke as he was called, was always stopped by the Teen Titans, led by Robin the Teen Wonder (eventually Nightwing). It became so bad that Slade started to conjure up a personal agenda against Nightwing, his co-leader, Wonder Girl (Troia), and the rest of the Titans, which sadly included his youngest son, Joey (also known as Jericho).

Slade's oldest son, Grant, took after him and became the mercenary known as "The Ravager". When he made a contract with the Church of Blood (Brother Blood and his cronies) to get superpowers, he promised to bring them the heads of Richard Grayson, Donna Troy and the rest of the Teen Titans (including Roy Harper, Kory Anders, Raven Roth, Gar Logan, and Victor Stone).

Grant was killed by the Titans (actually, his powers got him killed). Slade wanted revenge, so he cast in young Tara Markov. The young girl had marvelous powers of the earth itself. The only thing wrong with her is that she hated everyone, for no particular reason at all. There was only pure hate. Tara Markov was found by the Titans and became the hero known as Terra. Little did the Titans know, she collecting information on them so the Deathstroke could finally fufill the contract made by his son. Hence the name "The Judas Contract," which was the name of that particular story arc.

Later, Slade Wilson (after Adeline shot out his eye; she was rather disappointed with his handling of Joey) left his home and traveledfar away, where he met Lillian Worth or "Sweet Lili" as he called her. He then left after a short affair, not knowing that Lili was pregnant with their daughter, later named Rose Wilson Worth.

Rose is a whole different story, a story almost as twisted as her father's.

Let's just say that Slade eventually had to kill Joey (for the sake of the Titans, surprisingly), recruit his daughter to his "way of thinking" and become one of the most hated villains in the DC universe.

The Slade in the TV show is no different. He is a manipulative man, only looking out for himself. Slade needs some way to use all ninety-percent of his brain, so he occupies himself with the joy of toying with the Teen Titans.

Sorry if that was a tad long. ;D

[naomi]

Oh no I don't think it was long at all! ;D I always love to read what happend in the comic because I don't get it read it.

[moonchild10]

That was brilliant, Laurie! I've never gotten so much comic info in such a short amount to time. ^_^ I bow to you and your fabulous TT knowledge.

[laurie]

Aw, thanks. I get bored easily, and so I look this stuff up for fun. It was no problem at all.