Deadshot
Deadshot is a male comic supervillain who features in DC Comics.
Contents |
Biography
Origin
Floyd Lawton
Lawton came to attend a prominent charity dinner party that was targeted by robbers with the thieves being stopped due to the intervention of Batman. The incident had a profound impact on Floyd who decided to adopt the hero persona for himself. (Deadshot v1 #1)
The evidence rallied against Lawton was overwhelming and in the trial he was found guilty. (Deadshot v1 #1)
He went under the training of David Cain who he looked up to as the best teacher he had ever had with the man training him on how to be a killer. (Batman v1 #607)
Deadshot
Whilst in prison, he worked out everyday for his chance at revenge against Batman. (Detective Comics v1 #474)
He was once married to a redheaded woman named Susie with the two having a son together called Eddie. The marriage was not working and Floyd left the family though Susie kept on hoping that he would return. (Deadshot v1 #2)
Suicide Squad
Sent to Ryker's Island, Lawton was Prisoner #23964 and was serving out his sentence when he was visited by Colonel Rick Flag. He offered Deadshot a choice to either stay in prison or serve out his sentence by performing missions for the government as part of Task Force X. (Legends v1 #2)
After a job with some supervillains, he decided to visit his son's grave and learnt that his parents had died. From the lawyer, he learnt that he was not left anything with Floyd being content with that as he checked letters sent to them. Among them was prostitute he slept with sometime back who revealed that she had become pregnant with Floyd's child and that she had his daughter. Lawton decided to investigate and travelled to Star City where instantly he knew that the young girl named Zoe was indeed his child. The mother stated that after learning she was pregnant had left the life of a callgirl and completed her education in order to provide for a better life for her child. She had not wanted any money from the Lawton's and simply thought that they might had wanted to see their grandchild. Floyd attempted to pay to support her and Zoe but the mother refused as she did not want blood money from hitman jobs. Deadshot ultimately decided to stay in the neighbourhood for the time to make sure they were safe as the area was rife with gang violence and other criminal activity. (Deadshot v2 #1)
He came to be one of a number of people brought together by the mysterious Mockingbird who brought a team together known as the Secret Six. Among them also included Catman, Cheshire, Scandal Savage, Rag Doll Peter Merkel Jr. and a rogue Parademon where they were brought together to oppose the Secret Society of Super Villains. In exchange, Lawton was offered rule of North America but was warned that any betrayal would result in the destruction of the neighbourhood holding his daughter and wife. (Villains United v1 #1)
Post-Flashpoint
Following the Flashpoint, a new version of reality was created with a different history of events.
The New 52
According to one account, Floyd had claimed that he lived with his poor mother and father along with his sister in the Narrows of Gotham. The family constantly struggled being able to manage for themselves until one day his father had gotten a job at ACE Chemical. It was then that his father, mother and sister were gunned down from stray bullet fire from the next room. Only Floyd turned out to be the only survivor where he found a gun and began teaching himself to use it. He ultimately sought revenge for the death of his family were over the years he became a skilled marksman and a noted gun for hire. (Justice League of America v3 #7.1) In reality, this was actually a story that Lawton had stolen from another man named Will Evans when the two shared a cell at a county lockup around 10 years ago. (Suicide Squad Most Wanted: Deadshot and Katana v1 #3)
He came to wake up in the infirmary at Belle Reve where he was revealed the truth that he had died on the two previous occasions as well but that they had used the Samsara Serum to revive him. (Suicide Squad v4 #20)
Rebirth
Given his pardon from the service, he decided to return home and abandon his old life of crime behind in order to be with his family. Whilst there, a public announcement was made for the arrest of Task Force X members with the FBI arriving at his ex-wife's home. Floyd ultimately decided to surrender himself to the authorities rather than endanger his family though Zoe came out in her Liveshot costume and fired at one of the arresting officers in order to free her father. To save his daughter, Lawton had to take a gun and fire at the authorities as he could tell that they were prepared to shoot his child. Zoe was nearly killed by weapon fire but the Revolutionaries arrived at the scene where they saved her and took Deadshot with them as they intended to dismantle Task Force X. (Suicide Squad v6 #7)
Overview
Personality and attributes
Initially, he sought to use his masked persona to be a crimefighter where he took the name Deadshot. (Batman v1 #59)
After being sent to prison, he said that he had learnt to rely on power rather than brains and not to use any fancy games against his opponent. He said that he no longer played by rules where in the past he would not have hurt bystanders. (Detective Comics v1 #474)
Floyd had seemingly claimed that he believed every bullet should have a purpose and that there should not be a stray shot. (Justice League of America v3 #7.1) Lawton was known to use a fabricated story of his own past that he mad by stealing the stories of other convicts as he was ashamed of his real history. (Suicide Squad Most Wanted: Deadshot and Katana v1 #3)
He was noted for being the scion of a wealthy family with his father's money based on real estate whilst his mother came from the Pitt bankers. The family was noted to be well connected socially and were noticed by high society. (Deadshot v1 #1) Floyd had noted that his father loved guns though fancied himself more as a collector but was never actually talented in using one. (Suicide Squad Most Wanted: Deadshot and Katana v1 #3)
Once, he was married to a redhead named Susie with the two having a child together with this being a son named Eddie. (Deadshot v1 #2)
He later slept with a half-Cuban and half-Italian call girl where she became pregnant with his child. Unknown to Floyd, she gave birth a daughter named Zoe where the girl's mother quit her old life and finished school in order to provide a better life for her child. (Deadshot v2 #1)
Zoe wanted to become a masked vigilante somewhat inspired by her dad where she wanted to take the name Liveshot with her saying that she did not want to kill anyone. To prepare herself, she made a costume based on her fathers and learnt archery. (Suicide Squad v6 #7)
Around 10 years ago, he met a fellow convict named Will Evans who was enamoured with Lawton and wanted to be just like him by being the greatest contract killer ever known. The man idolised Deadshot and wanted to replace him in the role. (Suicide Squad Most Wanted: Deadshot and Katana v1 #3)
Powers and abilities
It was shown that he was capable of recovering from encountering something suddenly with the same speed as Batman. (Detective Comics v1 #474)
He showed an incredible level of marksmanship where he was able to use a gun and shoot with amazing accuracy. (Batman v1 #59)
After his initial defeat, he came to redesign his costume which now included wrist magnums. (Deadshot v1 #1) The new blasters were like parts of his arm with them being fed by magnum charges which he fired from a firing button in his palm that he shot by using his middle finger. (Detective Comics v1 #474)
He had a grappling launcher that could fire from his wrist allowing him to latch onto buildings. (Detective Comics v1 #474)
Whilst with the Suicide Squad, he actually died on several occasions but was brought back to life using the Samsara Serum. (Suicide Squad v4 #20)
Notes
- Deadshot was created by David Vern Reed, Lew Sayre Schwartz and Bob Kane where he made his first appearance in Batman v1 #59 (June, 1950).
Alternate Versions
In other media
Television
- In the DC Animated Universe, Deadshot made multiple appearances in the shared continuity setting:
- In Justice League, the character made his first animated appearance in the DCAU television series starting in the episode "The Enemy Below" (Part 1) where he was voiced by actor Michael Rosenbaum.
- In Justice League Unlimited, the character returned in the animated television series episode "Task Force X" where he was once again voiced by actor Michael Rosenbaum.
- In Batman: The Brave and the Bold, Deadshot appeared in the animated television series where he was voiced by actor Tom Kenny.
- In the Arrowverse, Deadshot made multiple appearances in the shared continuity setting:
- In Arrow, Floyd Lawton made his first appearance in the live-action television series where he was portrayed by actor Michael Rowe.
- In Justice League Action, Deadshot appeared in the animated television series where he was voiced by actor Christian Slater.
Films
- In Batman: Assault on Arkham, Deadshot appeared in the animated film linked to the Arkham games where he was voiced by actor Neal McDonough.
- In Suicide Squad, Floyd Lawton appeared in the live-action film set in the DC Extended Universe where he was portrayed by actor Will Smith. This version was an African-American who was noted for being the most wanted hitman in the world.
- In Suicide Squad: Hell to Pay, Deadshot appeared in the animated film where he was voiced by actor Christian Slater.
Video games
- In the Batman: Arkham series, Deadshot made a number of appearances in the shared continuity setting:
- In Batman: Arkham City, Deadshot appeared in the setting of the video game where he was voiced by actor Chris Cox.
- In Batman: Arkham Origins, Deadshot appeared in the setting of the prequel video game where he was voiced again by actor Chris Cox.
- In Injustice: Gods Among Us, Deadshot appeared as a non-playable background character on the stage of Stryker's Island in the setting of the fighting video game.
- In Injustice 2, Deadshot appeared as a playable character in the fighting video game where he was voiced by actor Matthew Mercer.
Appearances
- Batman v1: (1950)
- Suicide Squad:
- Deadshot v1: (1998)
- Deadshot v2: (2005)
- Villains United v1:
- Secret Six v2:
- Suicide Squad v4:
- Justice League of America v3:
- Suicide Squad Most Wanted: Deadshot and Katana v1:
- Suicide Squad v5:
- Suicide Squad v6:
External Links
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