By Published May 13, 2026, 3:00 PM EDT Shaun Corley is a Staff Writer for ScreenRant, a position he has held for five years. While he enjoys many types of comics and graphic novels, he has a particular interest in the licensed Star Trek titles. Summary Generate a summary of this story follow Follow followed Followed Like Like Log in Here is a fact-based summary of the story contents: Try something different: Show me the facts Explain it like I’m 5 Give me a lighthearted recap
A new era is dawning in the Universe, and the publisher kicks it off by elevating one of its most underrated characters to the A-list. Earlier this year, DC, already riding a high from the runaway successes of the Absolute line and DC KO, unveiled Next Level. This publishing initiative took some of DC’s best “second-string” characters and gave them exciting new titles.
Like everything else coming out of DC at the moment, Next Level has been a hit with both audiences and critics. Characters such as Zatanna, Lobo and Firestorm are headlining their own titles, some for the first time in many years. DC’s recent hits have featured some of the best creative pairings in the American comics' scene, such as . The creative teams working on the Next Level initiative are proof DC has learned its lesson from its recent triumphs.
Now, DC is preparing to up the ante for its Next Level publishing program. Later this year, DC will unite many of the Next Level characters, connecting them to a grand conspiracy. While DC has teased future Next Level titles, it has remained mum on how it plans to bring them together. Now DC has finally revealed one key participant in the upcoming event, and it will take one of the publisher’s most underused villains to a new level.
Deadshot is Getting a Massive Level-Up in Next Level: One Shot
Deadshot is Way Overdue the Spotlight
today announced Next Level: One-Shot #1, an upcoming special that will reposition Deadshot as a major player in the DC Universe. The book will be written by Gerry Duggan and drawn by Fernando Blanco, who also provides the book’s main cover. DC also provided AIPT with a synopsis of the one-shot, which reads as follows:
The issue follows the deadly assassin as a routine job spirals out of control, pulling him into a conspiracy that stretches across the Next Level cast. Along the way, the story explores a father-daughter relationship while setting the stage for a larger conflict building in the background. The one-shot is designed to lay the groundwork for what’s coming next, with hints of a looming war that could reshape the line.
Superstar artists Jorge Corona and Mark Spears will also provide covers for the book as well. DC’s press release did not reveal any additional information on One-Shot’s plot.
Deadshot, one of DC’s best assassins, began as a one-off Batman villain before being retooled in the 1970s, a move that transformed him from forgettable to a powerhouse. Deadshot has held his own against some of DC’s best fighters, Batman among them. He has been a member of the Suicide Squad as well, and even made the leap to live action in the DCEU adaptation of the franchise.
Deadshot made his debut in 1950's Batman #59.
Currently, Deadshot is threatening Deathstroke, another Next Level participant. Someone wants Deathstroke dead, and they have sent in heavy guns, like Deadshot and Deathblow, to finish the job. The identity of Deathstroke’s antagonists is being kept under wraps for the moment, but the conspiracy behind it could be linked to the one Deadshot discovers.
DC's Next Level Initiative Is Not Just For Its Heroes
Using Deadshot as the book’s central character is long overdue, and keeps with the spirit running through DC’s Next Level program. The initiative is bringing some very deserving characters from DC’s stable back to the forefront. Firestorm, whose Next Level title is one of the best, was a prominent DC character decades ago. Next Level did that for Firestorm, and it can do the same for Deadshot.
Using Deadshot as the book’s central character is long overdue, and keeps with the spirit running through DC’s Next Level program.
The future looks bright for DC’s Next Level publishing program. The months ahead will bring new titles for The Legion of Super-Heroes, the Demon and Jonah Hex, among others. These newly minted A-listers will need a threat worthy of their abilities, and the publisher may have found just the person in Deadshot. Just like Zatanna, Lobo and Batwoman, Deadshot is a great character, and begs for the spotlight.
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Next Level: One-Shot #1 is on sale August 19 from DC Comics!
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