Deadman traveled around the world searching for his killer, and ultimately found out that he was murdered as part of Hook’s initiation into the League of Assassins. Deadman was denied vengeance when Hook was slain by the League’s leader, the Sensei. Rama Kushna and Deadman then struck a new bargain: Deadman would remain on Earth until balance between good and evil was achieved.

(Forever People I #9, 10) - “Doc” Gideon was exploring the paths of revitalizing the dead, and used Electro-organic micro-charges to resurrect a patchwork corpse he’d constructed in the morgue in which he worked. His experiment was a failure, but it did open the door between life and death, and pull Deadman’s spirit back to Earth. He was puzzled by why his spirit, which had been at peace, could be so rudely disturbed. He followed Gideon home to the apartment he rented from Trixie MacGruder, an old carny fortune teller that once worked with Boston Brand. Her tenants were the Forever People, and when Serifan demonstrated his blue cosmic cartridge, which had the power o animating the inanimate, Gideon was obsessed with having it. Gideon convinced Trixie to hold a séance, and during the show he absconded with Serifan’s capsule. During the séance Trixie contacted Deadman, who demanded to know why his afterlife was being interrupted after having finally found Hook, the man who’d killed him. Trixie was there the day Boston Brand became Deadman, and told him his real killer had a hook on his right hand, not his left one. Gideon managed to resurrect his monster, which immediately went on a rampage. The Forever People tried to stop him, but it was Deadman who ended the battle, possessing the monster as it caused a gas explosion that ended its’ second life. Serifan used his powers to give Deadman a temporary corporal form, and the Forever People promised to help him fulfill his destiny, to find his killer and for his soul to find peace. The Forever People built a “Follower” for Deadman in his own likeness. The “Follower” was superpower bio-technology from New Genesis, a vessel that could mimic the movements of its creator, but could also serve as a vessel for Deadman’s spirit. Serifan went to gather Big Bear and Beautiful Dreamer, who’d decided to get jobs, to see his handiwork. By the time they returned to the boarding house they found the “Follower” had been stolen. The Scavengers, a business group that considered themselves super-sellers of super-merchandise had absconded with the “Follower,” and their regional Director, who had a hook on his right hand and seemed disturbed by a likeness of Deadman, was particularly interested in the product. The Forever People and Deadman tracked down the Scavenger Depot and Deadman took possession of his new body. After a tremendous battle they defeated the Scavengers, and Deadman believed he found his killer in the Director. The Director scoffed at him, telling him there were many more Scavenger Depots, all run by Directors with hooks on their right hands. Deadman thanked the Forever People for his new body and left them to once again pursue his killer.

(DC Comics Presents #24) - Deadman still blamed himself for the death of Abraham Gold, and in a fury he told Rama Kushna that he wanted to quit. She thought he was being ungrateful and short-sighted, not seeing that Gold’s death redeemed the life of his son. She promised him the final rest he desired on one condition, which she did not name. She transported him to Metropolis during an earthquake, and after watching Superman minimalize the damage Deadman wanted to know what was going on. Alex Atley confronted Superman, and begged him to take him to S.T.A.R. Labs, saying he was the cause of the earthquake. Atley had been on the government project Earth-Heart, which bored into the center of the earth, and when he began having heart attacks he invented the Cardialink, a two-part mechanism, one implanted in his chest, and one implanted in the earth’s core, that was supposed to synchronize his heartbeat with the earth’s pulse, Unfortunately the Cardialink backfired, and his erratic heart was causing worldwide earthquakes. S.T.A.R. Labs Dr. Klyburn set him up with a pacemaker to prevent any more catastrophies. Superman figured the city was safe, and flew off, but Deadman got suspicious when Atley’s daughter and her boyfriend Dennis visited and Dennis seemed a bit too interested. He followed Dennis, who told mob figure Mr. Genarian about the Cardialink. Generian was near death, and would do anything to prolong his life, and Dennis just wanted to make extra cash. Genarian’s men recklessly unhooked Atley from his pacemaker, causing another earthquake, but they lost their motivation when Genarian got overexcited and passed away. Deadman found Superman, and possessed him to bring the situation to his attention. Deadman entered Atley, and Death confronted him, but they battled on the astral plane, and Death backed off. Superman dug to the center of the earth for the other half of the Cardialink, and turned it off with Atley’s help. He promised to perform super-surgery to make Atley healthy again. Deadman told Rama Kushna he no longer had any intention of quitting, because he’d fought death, saved a life, and lived to tell the tale.

(Swamp Thing II #49, 50) - Deadman joined Swamp Thing, the Spectre and other in a journey to Hell. They attempt to defeat ultimate Evil as it rose from its slumber. The battle ended, at best, as a stalemate when the Shadow Creature merged with God.

(Swamp Thing II #51) - Phantom Stranger and Deadman guided Swamp Thing on the path from the Afterlife back to Earth.

(Swamp Thing II #55) - Gotham City; Deadman attended a memorial service for the seemingly deceased Swamp Thing, and told Abby Arcane that he didn’t think Swamp Thing was dead because he had not seen him anywhere in the afterlife.

(Deadman: Love After Death #1, 2) - Deadman found that most ghost were insane, and he has no one to talk to. This changed when he meets the spirit of Ann Colby, another circus acrobat. They fell in love, but she pleaded with him to save her from her still-loving husband, Warlock Byron. Deadman puts an end to the wizard, and Ann traveled to the afterlife, leaving him behind. Deadman felt used, and decided humanity was not worth fighting for.