Skip to main content
Join The Community
- Join our community
11
Premium Benefits
24/7
Access Available
21K+
Active Members
Commenting
Join the discussion
Exclusive Articles Coming Soon
Member-only articles
Weekly Newsletters
Weekly gaming & entertainment news
Member Badges
Earn badges as you go
Exclusive Competitions
Members-only prize draws
Curated Deals Coming Soon
Tech and gaming deals worth grabbing
GET COMMUNITY ACCESS QUICK
For the quickest way to join, simply enter your email below and get access. We will send a confirmation and sign you up to our newsletter to keep you updated on all your gaming news.
By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.
FIND OUT ABOUT OUR MAGAZINE
Want to subscribe to the magazine? Click the button below to find out more information.
Find out more
GET Community ACCESS QUICK

Join the GamesRadar community for quick access. Enter your email below and we'll send confirmation, and sign you up to our newsletter.

By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

Background
Welcome to GamesRADAR+ Community !
Hi ,

Your membership journey starts here.

Keep exploring and earning more as a member.

MY ACCOUNT

Badge picture
Earn your first badge
Read 1 article to unlock your first badge.
Keep earning badges
Explore ways to get more involved as a member.
Latest Games News

Latest Games News

Breaking gaming news and updates

Read Now
Latest Games Reviews

Latest Games Reviews

Expert verdicts on the newest releases

Read Now

See what you’ve unlocked.

Explore your membership benefits.

Explore
Member Exclusives

Stay Ahead with GamesRadar+

Get the biggest gaming news, reviews, and releases straight to your inbox.

Explore

Sign Out
GamesRadar+ GamesRadar+
US EditionUS CA EditionCanada UK EditionUK AU EditionAustralia
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Games
    • Game Insights
      • Games News
      • Games Features
      • Games Reviews
      • Games Guides
      • Big in 2026
      • The Big Preview
      • On The Radar
      • Indie Spotlight
      • Future Games Show
      • Golden Joystick Awards
    • Genres
      • Action Games
      • RPGs
      • Action RPGs
      • Adventure Games
      • Third Person Shooters
      • FPS Games
    • Platforms
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X
      • PC
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Nintendo Switch 2
      • Tabletop Gaming
    • Franchises
      • Grand Theft Auto
      • Pokemon
      • Assassin's Creed
      • Monster Hunter
      • Fortnite
      • Cyberpunk
      • Red Dead
      • The Elder Scrolls
      • The Sims
  • Entertainment
    • TV Shows
      • TV News
      • TV Reviews
      • Anime Shows
      • Sci-Fi Shows
      • Superhero Shows
      • Animated Shows
      • Marvel TV Shows
      • Star Wars TV Shows
      • DC TV Shows
    • Movies
      • Movie News
      • Movie Reviews
      • Big Screen Spotlight
      • Superhero Movies
      • Action Movies
      • Anime Movies
      • Sci-Fi Movies
      • Horror Movies
      • Marvel Movies
      • DC Movies
    • Streaming
      • Apple TV Plus
      • Disney Plus
      • Netflix
      • HBO
      • Amazon Prime Video
      • Hulu
    • Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • DC Comics
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • Lego
    • Dungeons and Dragons
    • Merch
  • Hardware
    • Insights
      • Hardware News
      • Hardware Reviews
      • Hardware Features
    • Computing
      • Desktop PCs
      • Laptops
      • Handhelds
    • Peripherals
      • Headsets & Headphones
      • TVs & Monitors
      • Gaming Mice
      • Gaming Keyboards
      • Gaming Chairs
      • Speakers & Audio
    • Accessories & Tech
      • Gaming Controllers
      • Tech
      • SSDs & Hard Drives
      • VR
      • Accessories
      • Retro
  • Deals
    • Game Deals
    • Tech Deals
    • TV Deals
    • Buying Guides
  • Video
  • Newsletters
    • Quizzes
    • About Us
    • How to pitch to us
    • How we score
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
    • Total Film
  • home
  • Games
    • View Games
      • Games News
      • Games Features
      • Games Reviews
      • Games Guides
      • Big in 2026
      • The Big Preview
      • On The Radar
      • Indie Spotlight
      • Future Games Show
      • Golden Joystick Awards
      • Action Games
      • RPGs
      • Action RPGs
      • Adventure Games
      • Third Person Shooters
      • FPS Games
    • Platforms
      • View Platforms
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X
      • PC
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Nintendo Switch 2
      • Tabletop Gaming
      • Grand Theft Auto
      • Pokemon
      • Assassin's Creed
      • Monster Hunter
      • Fortnite
      • Cyberpunk
      • Red Dead
      • The Elder Scrolls
      • The Sims
  • Entertainment
    • View Entertainment
    • TV Shows
      • View TV Shows
      • TV News
      • TV Reviews
      • Anime Shows
      • Sci-Fi Shows
      • Superhero Shows
      • Animated Shows
      • Marvel TV Shows
      • Star Wars TV Shows
      • DC TV Shows
    • Movies
      • View Movies
      • Movie News
      • Movie Reviews
      • Big Screen Spotlight
      • Superhero Movies
      • Action Movies
      • Anime Movies
      • Sci-Fi Movies
      • Horror Movies
      • Marvel Movies
      • DC Movies
    • Streaming
      • View Streaming
      • Apple TV Plus
      • Disney Plus
      • Netflix
      • HBO
      • Amazon Prime Video
      • Hulu
    • Comics
      • View Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • DC Comics
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • Lego
    • Dungeons and Dragons
    • Merch
  • Hardware
    • View Hardware
      • Hardware News
      • Hardware Reviews
      • Hardware Features
      • Desktop PCs
      • Laptops
      • Handhelds
    • Peripherals
      • View Peripherals
      • Headsets & Headphones
      • TVs & Monitors
      • Gaming Mice
      • Gaming Keyboards
      • Gaming Chairs
      • Speakers & Audio
      • Gaming Controllers
      • Tech
      • SSDs & Hard Drives
      • VR
      • Accessories
      • Retro
  • Deals
    • View Deals
    • Game Deals
    • Tech Deals
    • TV Deals
    • Buying Guides
  • Video
  • Newsletters
    • Quizzes
    • About Us
    • How to pitch to us
    • How we score
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
    • Total Film
Trending
  • Pokemon Winds and Waves
  • New Games for 2026
  • Submit your game clips
  • GDC
Don't miss these
Deadpool running from a small plane just like Roger Thornhill (Cary Grant) in North By Northwest
Marvel Comics Wade Wilson: Deadpool #1 pays homage to an iconic Alfred Hitchcock movie moment
Maul TV show
Star Wars TV Shows It's Darth Maul against the galaxy in first trailer for Star Wars: Maul - Shadow Lord
A lego version of Batman standing on a rooftop in front of a large moon, taken from Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight
Action Games Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight aims to be the "definitive Batman story"
Mister Miracle #1 by Tom King
DC TV Shows Darkseid is officially on the way to DCU as James Gunn confirms upcoming Mister Miracle show is canon
Maul in Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord
Star Wars TV Shows New Maul – Shadow Lord trailer teases more duels and a detective hot on the former Sith's heels
Robert Pattinson as Bruce Wayne during The Batman
DC Movies The Batman 2 writer says the story is "new and dangerous": "The bar couldn't be higher"
Superman in a battle-damaged costume brandishing both Mjolnir and Captain America's shield
Comics The best Marvel/DC crossover returns to pit the Avengers against the Justice League in the biggest superhero fight ever
Batman
DC Movies James Gunn gives disappointing update on the DCU Batman movie: "Screenplay isn't finished"
Sam Witwer as Darth Maul in Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord
Star Wars TV Shows Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord release date, cast, trailer, and everything else we know about the animated show
Absolute Wonder Woman in action.
DC Comics DC Comics had a triumphant 2025 – but can it sustain its momentum in an uncertain future?
Sam Witwer as Darth Maul in Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord
Star Wars TV Shows Animated spin-off Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord is the franchise's first "cops and robbers" story
Mark Grayson in Invincible season 3
Superhero Shows Invincible season 4 first look teases terrifying new villains and another Walking Dead cast member
Omni-Man putting his hand on Invincible's shoulder in Invincible season 4 trailer
Superhero Shows Robert Kirkman opens up on Invincible season 4's show-original Hell storyline
Elektra, Lin Lie, and Karnak joining forces against a demonic army
Marvel Comics Marvel Rivals writer brings the comic story of the game's Iron Fist Lin Lie to its "climax" in Deadly Hands of K'un-Lun
Robert Pattinson as Bruce Wayne during The Batman
DC Movies The Batman 2 release date, cast, plot, and everything else you need to know about the upcoming DC movie
  1. Comics
  2. Dc Comics

Ra's al Ghul's dying in Shadow War Alpha #1 preview kicking off Batman, Robin, Deathstroke crossover

News
By Michael Doran, Chris Arrant, George Marston published 26 March 2022

The immortal Batman villain is dying and then assassinated in the March-May crossover

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

Shadow War: Alpha #1 art
Shadow War: Alpha #1 art (Image credit: DC)
  • Facebook
  • X
  • Pinterest
  • Flipboard
  • Email
Share this article
Join the conversation
Follow us
Add us as a preferred source on Google
Get the GamesRadar+ Newsletter

Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more


By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

You are now subscribed

Your newsletter sign-up was successful


Want to add more newsletters?

GamesRadar+

Every Friday

GamesRadar+

Your weekly update on everything you could ever want to know about the games you already love, games we know you're going to love in the near future, and tales from the communities that surround them.

GTA 6 O'clock

Every Thursday

GTA 6 O'clock

Our special GTA 6 newsletter, with breaking news, insider info, and rumor analysis from the award-winning GTA 6 O'clock experts.

Knowledge

Every Friday

Knowledge

From the creators of Edge: A weekly videogame industry newsletter with analysis from expert writers, guidance from professionals, and insight into what's on the horizon.

The Setup

Every Thursday

The Setup

Hardware nerds unite, sign up to our free tech newsletter for a weekly digest of the hottest new tech, the latest gadgets on the test bench, and much more.

Switch 2 Spotlight

Every Wednesday

Switch 2 Spotlight

Sign up to our new Switch 2 newsletter, where we bring you the latest talking points on Nintendo's new console each week, bring you up to date on the news, and recommend what games to play.

The Watchlist

Every Saturday

The Watchlist

Subscribe for a weekly digest of the movie and TV news that matters, direct to your inbox. From first-look trailers, interviews, reviews and explainers, we've got you covered.

SFX

Once a month

SFX

Get sneak previews, exclusive competitions and details of special events each month!


Join the club

Get full access to premium articles, exclusive features and a growing list of member rewards.


An account already exists for this email address, please log in.
Subscribe to our newsletter

Deathstroke will assassinate (or so it seems) a sickly and dying Ra's al Ghul, kicking off the upcoming 'Shadow War' event crossover. The upcoming event begins Tuesday, March 29 with Shadow War: Alpha #1, before crisscrossing the Batman, Robin, and Deathstroke Inc. titles for the following two months.

Shadow War: Alpha #1

Shadow War Alpha #1 (Image credit: DC)

If you're saying to yourself, "waitaminute, don't Batman, Robin, and Deathtroke, Inc. already have something in common?" you'd be right. It's the prolific Joshua Williamson who writes all three series and, of course, is writing Shadow War.

The publisher promises William's epic will have "major ramifications" for the DC Universe.

You may like
  • Deadpool running from a small plane just like Roger Thornhill (Cary Grant) in North By Northwest Wade Wilson: Deadpool #1 pays homage to an iconic Alfred Hitchcock movie moment
  • Maul TV show It's Darth Maul against the galaxy in first trailer for Star Wars: Maul - Shadow Lord
  • A lego version of Batman standing on a rooftop in front of a large moon, taken from Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight aims to be the "definitive Batman story"

Written by Williamson, the 48-page Shadow War Alpha #1 (cover price $6.99) is drawn by Viktor Bogdanovic (Detective Comics).

Here's a look at four preview pages from the special: 

Image 1 of 4
Shadow War: Alpha #1
(Image credit: DC)
Shadow War: Alpha #1
(Image credit: DC)
Shadow War: Alpha #1
(Image credit: DC)
Shadow War: Alpha #1
(Image credit: DC)

When Slade Wilson commits his latest 'unthinkable act', Talia al Ghul and the League of Shadows are out to end Deathstroke and Deathstroke Inc. for good. Only Batman and Robin can track down Slade and bring him to justice before Talia gets his hands on him.

The special features a main cover by Jonboy Meyers (see above), with variant covers by Bogdanovic and Dan Mora.

Sign up to the GamesRadar+ Newsletter

Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more

By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

Check out all the covers here:

Image 1 of 3
Shadow War: Alpha #1
(Image credit: DC)
Shadow War: Alpha #1
(Image credit: DC)
Shadow War: Alpha #1
(Image credit: DC)

Deathstroke has killed Ra's Al Ghul before. In the 2014 animated film Son of Batman, Slade Wilson acted as a mentor to Ra's Al Ghul's grandson Damian Wayne/Robin but ended up killing Ra's after being jealous that Damian, and not Deathstroke, was chosen to be his successor.

But subsequent marketing materials for 'Shadow War' seem to suggest Deathstroke may not be the true culprit and since this is Ra's Al Ghul, you also have to question is he really dead ... or will he stay dead even if he is?

After the Alpha special, 'Shadow War' continues in Aprils Batman #122, along with Deathstroke Inc. #8 and Robin #13, and then concludes in May with Batman #123, Shadow War Zone #1, Deathstroke Inc. #9, and Robin #14, and as you probably guessed, wraps up in the bookend Shadow War Omega #1.

Does Deathstroke rate as of the best DC supervillains ever? 

PRODUCTS
Batman And Robin Batman
George Marston
George Marston
Social Links Navigation
Entertainment Writer

I've been Newsarama's resident Marvel Comics expert and general comic book historian since 2011, and now I'm the Entertainment Writer at GamesRadar+. I've also been the on-site reporter at most major comic conventions such as Comic-Con International: San Diego, New York Comic Con, and C2E2. Outside of comic journalism, I am the artist of many weird pictures, and the guitarist of many heavy riffs. (They/Them)

Read more
Deadpool running from a small plane just like Roger Thornhill (Cary Grant) in North By Northwest
Marvel Comics Wade Wilson: Deadpool #1 pays homage to an iconic Alfred Hitchcock movie moment
 
 
Maul TV show
Star Wars TV Shows It's Darth Maul against the galaxy in first trailer for Star Wars: Maul - Shadow Lord
 
 
A lego version of Batman standing on a rooftop in front of a large moon, taken from Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight
Action Games Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight aims to be the "definitive Batman story"
 
 
Mister Miracle #1 by Tom King
DC TV Shows Darkseid is officially on the way to DCU as James Gunn confirms upcoming Mister Miracle show is canon
 
 
Maul in Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord
Star Wars TV Shows New Maul – Shadow Lord trailer teases more duels and a detective hot on the former Sith's heels
 
 
Robert Pattinson as Bruce Wayne during The Batman
DC Movies The Batman 2 writer says the story is "new and dangerous": "The bar couldn't be higher"
 
 
Latest in Dc Comics
Superman in a battle-damaged costume brandishing both Mjolnir and Captain America's shield
Comics The best Marvel/DC crossover returns to pit the Avengers against the Justice League in the biggest superhero fight ever
 
 
One Piece filler arc
DC Comics DC Comics boss knows why anime and manga has an "advantage" over American comics
 
 
Absolute Wonder Woman in action.
DC Comics DC Comics had a triumphant 2025 – but can it sustain its momentum in an uncertain future?
 
 
Absolute Martian Manhunter image with red GamesRadar+ Best of 2025 badge in upper right
DC Comics Absolute Martian Manhunter isn't just the best superhero comic of 2025 – it pushes into the wild spaces of the form itself
 
 
Superman and Spider-Man leaping into action by Clayton Crain
Comics Superman/Spider-Man #1 will bring in some of the biggest names in the comic industry for a new Marvel/DC crossover
 
 
Neal Adams drawing of Batman featuring his blue-and-gray costume with white eyes and a yellow circle around his bat symbol
DC Movies Fans are begging James Gunn for a blue-and-grey Batman costume with white eyes, but he's doubling down that it's "less important" than the writing and the actor who takes the role
 
 
Latest in News
Crimson Desert
Open World Games "My dream game": After 7 hours, Palworld publishing lead delivers his Crimson Desert verdict: "This game is made for me"
 
 
Zoomed-in, cropped box art for Pokemon FireRed shows Charizard roaring.
Pokemon "The biggest time save in nearly a decade of Pokemon speedrunning" has been discovered in FireRed
 
 
Marathon Cryo Archive runners looting
FPS Games Marathon's Cryo Archive is locked to weekends partly because you're going to "lose a lot of gear"
 
 
Arc Raiders Queen
Third Person Shooters Arc Raiders devs tortured each other during playtests, juicing Arc into Elden Ring bosses
 
 
A fox shopkeeper has a Lucky Cat figurine on the counter in Piece by Piece
Games Two indie games with the same name accidentally launched days apart, so the devs averted disaster by working together:
 
 
Spider-Man Brand New Day
Marvel Movies Tom Holland compares Jon Bernthal's Punisher to RDJ's Tony Stark in Spider-Man: Brand New Day
 
 
LATEST ARTICLES
  1. Fully painted Legio Custodes warrior on a wooden table
    1
    The new Warhammer Custodes look amazing, but my god, I wish they were easier to build
  2. 2
    3 new to Netflix movies I recommend you watch this weekend (March 21 - March 22)
  3. 3
    "My dream game": After 7 hours, Palworld publishing lead delivers his Crimson Desert verdict: "This game is made for me"
  4. 4
    "The biggest time save in nearly a decade of Pokemon speedrunning" has been discovered in FireRed
  5. 5
    Marathon's Cryo Archive is locked to weekends partly because you're going to "lose a lot of gear"

GamesRadar+ is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

Add as a preferred source on Google Add as a preferred source on Google
  • Terms and conditions
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Accessibility statement
  • Careers
  • About us
  • Advertise with us
  • Review guidelines
  • Write for us
  • Accessibility Statement

© Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...