Want You to Want Me Part Three: The Revolution Will Be Televised

Writer: Daniel Way
Penciller: Paco Medina
Inker: Juan Vlasco
Colorist: Marte Gracia
Letterer: VC’s Joe Sabino
Assistant Editor: Jody Leheup
Editor: Axel Alonso
Cover: Jason Pearson
Publisher: Marvel Comics

It’s hard to believe this is only the third issue of Deadpool that I’ve bought new of this series. Since picking up #15 to “try” at a friend’s persistent urging/recommendation, I’ve gone back and bought issues 12-14, the Secret Invasion trade, the Deadpool/Thunderbolts trade, a Suicide Kings hardcover, Merc With a Mouth 1-3 (and 4 “new”), as well as Deadpool #900 and Deadpool Team-Up #899. (And of course, also picked up this week’s Amazing Spider-Man #611 just because it had Deadpool in it).

As the above paragraph probably suggests…I’m hooked. I’m a total sucker for anything Deadpool right now. Of course…that’s for good reason The character’s at the top of his game under the various creative teams right now. And over-exposed or exploited as the character may be, I’m thoroughly enjoying such a concentrated dose of the character at present.

This issue picks up on Deadpool seeking to prove himself to Cyclops, that he can cut it s an X-man. Cyclops is handling a sensitive political situation, and Deadpool doesn’t exactly help. His involvement leads Cyclops to send Domino after the Merc…and a misunderstnding with her overhearing Cyclops talking to Wolverine keeps them from hanging onto Wade once they have him. We’re also given a sort of wacky take on H.A.M.M.E.R. and its agents that fits perfectly with Deadpool. The ending sets up the concluding chapter of this arc on a fairly generic cliffhanger.

The art’s good stuff here, and I continue to really enjoy Medina’s work. This contrasts with the cover art, which–while amusing enough–isn’t all that appealing. Still, I’m thankful for the interior being to my liking.

I like that this title is fairly well self-contained; despite the large number of other Deadpool comics and appearances going on at present, this story isn’t forced to acknowledge all of that; its story is its own entity.

This isn’t a great jumping-on point, really (but certainly is not the worst, thanks to the “Previously Page” that Marvel actually does very well with). As a whole, this really feels like the “main” Deadpool book, allowing the other books their status as “secondary” or “side” titles. This seems the book you’ll want to give a look at if you’re interested in Deadpool’s place in interaction with the current Marvel Universe’s ongoing continuity (Dark Reign and all that).

All in all, another solid issue, and I’m ready for the next.

Story: 7.5/10
Art: 8.5/10
Whole: 8/10

By Daniel Way (Writer), Paco Medina (Pencils), Juan Vlasco (Inks), and Marte Gracia (Colors)

The Story: Cyclops sends Domino to do what she can to keep Deadpool from killing Mr. Kincaid. Meanwhile, Norman Osborn relishes watching the mutant’s situation and does what he can to make it even worse.

What’s Good And What’s Not So Good: I didn’t really mind seeing Deadpool take a back seat to the X-Men last month because of the type of story Daniel Way is telling with “Want You To Want Me.” Way had to set up the situation with Mr. Kincaid and the X-Men, so it made sense to use Deadpool as an obstacle rather than the main character. That same approach doesn’t really work as well in Deadpool #17. While the comic is certainly funny (when Domino comes face to face with her biggest fear, I literally laughed out loud) and Deadpool flavored (Way’s ‘pool dialogue is as humorous as always), the X-Men just simply aren’t as entertaining as Deadpool is. Sure it’s fun to see some of them dragged down to his level and the Norman Osborn stuff is unexpectedly clever, but, as a whole, Deadpool #17 is more entertainingly solid than memorably good.

Simply put, the idea behind the current Deadpool arc is far better than the way it is being executed. Deadpool as walking potential PR disaster for the mutants is a funny, clever way to use the character in a way that fits really well within current Marvel continuity. Instead of focusing on the way Deadpool navigates the situation, however, Way chooses to focus on how the X-Men and Osborn react and deal with Wade Wilson. That is fine and dandy to a point, but when I pick up a Deadpool book I do it to read a story mostly about Deadpool, not the X-Men or Norman Osborn (both the X-Men and Osborn have enough books anyway…Deadpool has just recently started to catch up).

As expected, Deadpool #17 is one slick looking book. Paco Medina and his team do a fine job telling the story and their character work is really strong (thought the focus on Domino’s body is quite obnoxious). While some of the exaggerated expressions are a bit much and a few panels look rushed, as a whole, I’m really happy with the artwork throughout the latest issue of Deadpool.

Conclusion: A little more Deadpool would have gone a long way towards making Deadpool #17 a better comic book. While it’s far from bad, Deadpool #17 isn’t as strong as some of the other issues of Deadpool.

Grade: C+

-Kyle Posluszny

If you’ve been to a comic shop recently or read the forum reviews for the Wolverine movie, then you know delusional, amoral Deadpool is the new darling of fanboys nationwide. Which isn’t to say that he’s simply a fad biding his fifteen minutes; the new ongoing Deadpool monthly series is funny as hell with some pretty well-crafted stories to tell. Deadpool’s crossover with the Thunderbolts received much deserved attention and laughs, and the three-issue story arc in which Deadpool and Bullseye beat the hell out of each other is some of the funniest material Marvel has ever published. He’s even been verbally pitted against Spider-Man recently. Indeed, Daniel Way seems to be the perfect writer for the title, considering his well-paced and thoughtful storytelling technique and his perfect sense of humor. Way has also been teamed-up with Paco Medina, in my humble opinion, one of the best artists in the industry. Medina’s beautiful, fluid and expressive style is perfect for the action-comedy.

From a mentally stable perspective...

What started as a relaunched ongoing series being helmed by Daniel Way has multiplied into a recent one-shot, a five issue mini-series and three monthly titles (Deadpool, Deadpool: Merc with a Mouth, and the upcoming Deadpool Team-Up). Pandering to fanboys is a sure fire way to milk a cash cow, but there’s the risk of over-saturating the market or making the character somewhat irrelevant. With three ongoing series running parallel to each other, continuity will presumably suffer, if not to mention quality. Like Wolverine’s seeming omnipresence in the Marvel Universe, Deadpool will be all over the chart in multiple locations and storylines; and while they may be worthwhile stories, it’s likely to leave some fans thinking “What the hell?”

Pool-O-Vision!

It will be interesting to see how all three monthly titles fare, and if the creative team behind them is up to snuff and the editorial staff at the Marvel do what they can to keep the character relevant, I imagine the readership will keep up.  But I bet you dollars to doughnuts that even if they all survive at length, the flagship title Deadpool will continue to be the best serving of the psychopathic mercenary.

By Daniel Way (Writer), Paco Medina (Pencils), Juan Vlasco (Inks), Marte Gracia (Colors)

Some Thoughts Before The Review: Given how the recent “X” crossovers have turned out, I’m a bit concerned about what’s going to happen to Deadpool now that Wade is headed towards becoming one of the X-Men. Now, granted, I do realize that the Deadpool “X” arc isn’t a true crossover so it might not be such a bad thing for the series. One thing’s for sure though: If any series can enter X-Men territory and come out unscathed, it’s Deadpool.

The Story: After initially getting rejected by the X-Men, Deadpool finds himself being cautiously welcomed back by the mutants. Meanwhile, the X-Men deal with a strange media circus that’s being caused by a young mutant’s father.

What’s Good: I hope this makes sense…Deadpool #16 is, in reality, only half of a Deadpool comic. The other half is an X-Men comic that Daniel Way wrote with his Deadpool pen. Is that a bad thing? Surprisingly, it’s not.

As expected, humor is a large part of what makes Deadpool #16 such an entertaining book. While the story is certainly strong enough to move things along (especially in regards to the Domino and Dagger scenes), there’s no question that bringing the funny is what Way does best when it comes to his Deadpool series. Way gives the X-Men humorous dialogue whenever Wade is somehow involved in their conversations and uses the mutants in a way that makes Deadpool come across as far more sympathetic than usual. However, that’s not to say that Wade’s being soften up by Way. Quite the opposite, in fact. The Merc with a Mouth is as unpredictable and crazy as ever throughout Deadpool #16. Case in point: I doubt you’ve ever seen pancakes used in such a way.

Paco Medina is quickly becoming one of my favorite Marvel artists. Since he started on the Deadpool series, I’ve wanted to see what he would do with other characters. Now that I’ve seen him handle the X-Men, I can’t help but wonder why Marvel isn’t putting him on more books. With the help of Juan Vlasco’s inks and Marte Gracia’s vivid colors, Medina’s pencils are stylish, clean and a little sexy, and loaded with the type of personality that needs to be seen more often.

What’s Not So Good: While Deadpool #16 looks great and proves to be extremely entertaining, some of the storytelling is a bit clunky. While the family issue between a mutant and her father that takes up a chunk of the book eventually becomes relevant, it takes up more page space than it’s worth. Also, a scene that meshes Deadpool and Domino’s encounter with Domino’s status report to Cyclops doesn’t really flow all that well. It comes across as far more convoluted and complicated than it should.

Conclusion: Deadpool continues to be one hell of a fun series. If you aren’t reading it than you’re definitely missing out on one of Marvel’s best monthlies.

Grade: B

-Kyle Posluszny

Want You to Want Me Part Two: No Man is an Island

Writer: Daniel Way
Penciller: Paco Medina
Inker: Juan Vlasco
Colorist: Marte Gracia
Letterer: VC’s Joe Sabino
Assistant Editor: Jody Leheup
Editor: Axel Alonso
Cover: Jason Pearson
Publisher: Marvel Comics

After the cliffhanger emphasis put on Deadpool’s decision last issue, this issue was rather abrubt to start out. Deadpool is flatly turned down and away. Upon further consideration, Cyclops sends Domino after him to bring Deadpool in to the team. This results in some misunderstanding between Deadpool and Domino, before Deadpool spills the beans on his plan to show the X-Men what “moves” he’s got to bring to the team.

This is my first new, bought-day-of-release issue of Deadpool in years. I vaguely recall picking up the final issue of Cable/Deadpool a few years back; prior to that, I don’t recall if I picked up the first issue of whatever the long-running solo Deadpool title became with that “reboot” back in 2001/2002ish. And before that, I’d picked up the first issue of the first 1990s mini-series (that came out the same summer as the first Sabretooth miniseries…guess which character’s ultimately had “legs”?).

The “previously” page lets one in on the bare essentials you need-to-know for this issue…I don’t even need to remember what happened in the previous issue (though I’ve enjoyed issues 15 and 12-14 [in that order]). This is one thing I definitely applaud Marvel on that I’ve long felt DC needs to do–especially the WAY Marvel does it, it’s something that adds to the single issue format, and is easily removed for the collected volume with zero loss of story or story pages. But it adds a lot to the issue itself…not to mention providing a consistent place to see which creator did what on a given issue.

Though there’s some dark, violent stuff to this series…there’s a warped sense of fun about it, too, that makes it simply an enjoyable book to read, with some amusing gags and pokes through the “fourth wall.” The art just plays right into this, as the visual style is very solid…and really quite good in and of itself. Cyclops, Domino, and of course, Deadpool all look quite good in this issue, and for that alone the art gets props from me. The visuals bring in contemporary looks for the various characters…and really makes ‘em look about the best I’ve seen them in awhile–particularly Cyclops and Deadpool himself.

This issue and its story are grounded in the “Dark Reign” status quo the overall Marvel Universe is mired in…and yet thankfully keeps somewhat above it, in a way. There’s also the fact that the issue is a mere $2.99…which is QUITE a steal on a book from this publisher of late.

There’s plenty of backstory to be had in Deadpool as a character, even just from this current series. That context will add an extra layer of enjoyment to the reading of this issue. At the same time, short of another reboot or an issue specifically labeled on its cover or in solicitations as a jump-on point…this is about as good a jump-on point as one’s gonna get.

If you like the character and aren’t reading this book, I’d recommend giving it a shot. ALso, if you’re avoiding Marvel for all the $3.99 books and yet want a peek into the Marvel Universe of late…this seems an excellent title for peeking in on things at the already-high-enough $2.99 price point.

Story: 7/10
Art: 8.5/10
Whole: 8/10

Ya es jueves y  estamos de nuevo con ustedes trayéndoles lo mejor  del universo Marvel,  vámonos riendo que  se nos hace tarde, síguele leyendo acá…

Resulta que el Emporio Disney sigue dando de que hablar con el reciente anuncio de que  se asociará con Guillermo del Toro para crear todo un merchandising que incluye películas de animación de terror, mismas que el mismo del Toro se encargará de  escribir personalmente, este anuncio que debería ser la bomba de la semana, parece que a nuestros amigos  lectores de culturacomic les pasó de noche, ya que no hubo una reacción, que por lo menos su servidor esperaba, hablando de la reciente alianza de Disney con Marvel,  muchos rumores comenzaron a circular sobre cual sería el primer lanzamiento animado  por parte de Disney/Pixar con personajes Marvel y se comenzó a rumorar muy fuertemente que este personaje sería Ant-Man,  y hace unos días, John Lasseter, el mero mero de Pixar dijo que no, que los rumores solo son eso: rumores, aunque la verdad el buen Lasseter no desmintió nada y con eso de que Joe Quesada aceptó haberse reunido con la gente de Disney desde hace tiempo, pues…..

Hablando de proyectos fílmicos, resulta que ya se ha dicho que  el final de la película de Kick Ass dará pie a una posible secuela, que ya sabemos que eso depende de la respuesta del público, John Romita Jr. Dijo hace unos días que él ya había visto la película y que el resultado  era muy bueno, recordemos que  Romita es el creador del cómic junto con el excelente Mark Millar…

Siguiendo con el asunto del cine,  se anunció tambien que  Spider-Man 4 estará disponible en formato Imax, lo cual no  nos causa mucha reacción por que en nuestro país  no hay muchas  salas con este formato, a los que les sea posible  poder verla en ese formato, pues envidiados son (de buena fe, eso si) desde estos lares…hablando del arácnido, debo recomendarles la serie que se llama  Sinister Spider-Man, en donde  Venom (Mac Gargan)  toma el lugar de Peter Parker  en los Dark Avengers de Norman Osborn y ha emprendido una cruzada terrible haciendo lo que el cree justo,  usar todo su poder para saciar sus mas íntimos deseos y tiene en la mira al alcalde de New York, J. Jonah Jameson… y siguiendo con el Spidey, ¿Qué tal el regreso de Mary Jane? ¿Será posible que todo el asunto de One More Day comience a tomar buen rumbo? ¿O simplemente nos darán atole con el dedo? Por lo pronto los fans están de plácemes con el regreso de la pelirroja mas HOT de  los cómics… Otro que regresa a Marvel es Rob Liefield, quien regresa con uno de sus hijos pródigos: Deadpool, un personaje que parece haber tomado un buen impulso tras la aparición (nada fiel) del personaje en la película X-Men Origenes: Wolverine, veremos si Liefield logra  terminar con las poses imposibles y las desproporciones que tanto le han caracterizado, otros que están dando de que hablar son los jóvenes Paco Medina y Juan Vlasco quienes están haciendo de las suyas en otro cómic de Deadpool,  ya llevan una carrera de 16 números y la cosa está pintando bastante bien, esperemos que pronto tengan una oportunidad con algún personaje de las “Grandes Ligas” del universo Marvel…

Hablando de tecnología, el episodio número 3 del Motion cómic de Spider-Woman ya está al aire, donde Bendis y Maleev siguen intrigándonos con el regreso de la original Jessica Drew, no esa impostora Skrull que puso de cabeza al Universo Marvel en lo de la Secret Invasión, y siguiendo con lo de la tecnología ahora ya podemos recordar las glorias pasadas con el tablero tipo arcadia adaptable para PS3 y XBox 360, donde ya no habrá pretextos para perder con tu sobrino de 8 años en el Marvel vs Capcom….

A partir de hoy, está disponible el nuevo Juego Ultimate Alliance 2  en donde se encuentran personajes como SongBird, Miss Marvel, Juggernaut, Deadpool, además de los clásicos, como el Cap America, Spider-man, Iron Man, Thor y varios otros personajes….

Hablando ya de cómics The Marvels Project #2 ya está al aire, la continuación de  la saga que conmemora los 70 años de La Casa de las Ideas, en donde vemos como  se van entrelazando los destinos de varios de los héroes clásicos de Marvel, asimismo recomendamos tambien el número 6 de Kick Ass, en donde varios cabos sueltos comienzan a atarse y vemos finalmente el temple de Dave Lizewski quien junto a Hit- Girl pondrá las cosas claras con los malhechores, un verdadero carnaval de violencia que deja con ganas de más, aunque ya solo resta un  número de la serie, veremos si  el final es satisfactorio como el resto de la serie y aprovecho para  pedir al editor de Marvel en México, Giobany Arévalo que nos traiga esta serie, ya sea en Monster Edition o en cualquier otro formato que se le ocurra en estos días, creo que no estoy exagerando con esta petición.

Algo tarde pero debo recomendarles también que le den una leída al número 600 de Daredevil, en donde vemos que Matt Murdock libra una gran batalla contra un ejército de enemigos  y al final…. ¿Se convierte en su lider? Un excelente cómic que no pueden perderse…

Hablando de cómics editados en México, la Secret Invasión esta en su mero apogeo,  ya nos vamos acercando mas al final, las piezas comienzan a caer en su lugar y se revela quienes son Skrulls entre los héroes de la tierra, además tambien debo recomendarles los número de Wolverine referentes a Old Man Logan, en donde el otrora Wolverine hace equipo con Clint Barton en una nada agradable misión que se vuelve  aún más desagradable, chéquenlo y verán lo que les digo… tambien recomendable el Uncanny X-men 6 que corresponde al Uncanny X-Men #500 en donde los X-Men defienden su nuevo hogar  contra unos Centinelas liderados por un recuperado Magneto, quien está haciendo una alianza con un enemigo de grandísimas Ligas, en serio…. Ya para finalizar, habrá que checar el catálogo de cómics que Marvel México ha puesto disponible para adquirir números atrasados de todos los títulos aunque hay que decir que están un poco mas caros que su precio de portada original, si alguien ha comprado ya por este medio, seria bueno que nos diera nortes sobre esta opción, así pues  los invitamos a que participen en esta  columna con sus comentarios y que en general lo hagan en las diferentes notas que tiene culturacomic.com…..

¿Mundo DC? No pues, nomás eso faltaba……

D15

Writer-Daniel Way

Artist-Paco Medina

Issue 15 marks yet another drop in the roller-coaster run that Daniel Way has provided for the new Deadpool series thus far. Way has written some really stand-out and laugh out loud moments in Deadpool, as well as a number of bad-ass scenes as well, but he can’t seem to make it stick.

The issue has some interesting ideas presented, that are never fully explored, and it ends up basically being two completely different issues. Deadpool is recovering from his brief stint as a pirate and by recovering it means he is killing sharks and then talking to them. The first half of the comic is covered with hallucinations, trippy day dreams, strange dialogue with a shark and Death, and even imagining himself on a cruise with different Marvel heroes and villains. It’s all a very bizarre and hectic scenario and it almost seems that Way is about to delve into the psyche of Wade Wilson, swim around a bit, and hook onto something deep and relevant; this does not occur.

It turns out that all of bizarre concoctions of Deadpool’s brain are just segueing into the real plot of the run. Deadpool, through a series of strange events, ends up in San Francisco and within panels the accepting overall attitude of San Francisco, as well as the large gay community, is flaunted unto the reader. While I like the way that Way has shown both of these things in a positive light, it’s still a bit of a stereotype to see these highlighted in, literally, the first page showing our favorite Merc in the Bay Area.

I really like the purpose behind what Way has been attempting to write: Deadpool is trying to find his place in the word. This, however, is not being executed very well. Deadpool was once a wise-cracking but brutal and highly effective mercenary but he has been distorted and turned into a slapstick diva who is quickly becoming over saturated in the Marvel stables. He’s lost a lot of his edge and it’s being traded in for whimsical and over-the-top comedy gags which are getting old fast. Personally, to me, it seems that it’s Ways job to balance the scales of comedy and action but he’s taken the comic into one direction with an overwhelming shove.

The issue was boring. The art was unimpressive, which goes along with the story, and although the plot is going in the right direction it remains to be seen whether this ride is going back up or continuing downwards in a sickening lurch. Only time will tell.

Rating:

-Ryanscribbles

FINALLY! The weekend is here and I can now do some reviews. These reviews are going to be books that I’ve already reviewed in the past. So first review is:

Batman#690  

Writer: Judd Winick       

Artist: Mark Bagley w/ inks by Rob Hunter    

Price: $2.99     

Publisher: DC Comics

Judd Winick has totally got me into the character of Dick Grayson. At first I didn’t care for Dick Grayson that much but thanks to all the Batman: Reborn books I now do, especially Winick’s portrayal of the character. I’m happy to see some old-school Batman villains back into the book. Seeing Two-Face, Clayface, and Penguin and not some lame new villain makes me happy. Especially when they’re drawn by Mark Bagley. I love how the fighting was written and drawn. As Batman was fighting he would always be a step ahead of his opponents and he wasn’t reckless at all. I thought that was really well written. I’m interested to see what happens next. Bagley’s art is so nice to look at. It’s solid and really realistic looking and not at all cartoony. This book is a treat to read and to look at. It’s unfortunate that Winick and Bagley are going to be replaced come issue #692.

Rating: B+

Next review is….

Deadpool#15

Writer: Daniel Way

Artist: Paco Medina w/ inks by Juan Vlasco

Price: $2.99

Publisher: Marvel Comics

I’ve already done a review on last week’s issue so I’m not gonna beat this one to death. This issue starts off a little slow. It’s not as funny as one would hope, but it digs deep into the character of Deadpool. One thing about the cover is I wish the actually copy had the classified thing on it instead of a weird looking Cyclops, Emma Frost, and Namor on it, but oh well. Three issues of the main Deadpool book in a month’s time! Wow! I wish they’d do that all the time! Halfway through it gets quite funny as Deadpool hallucinates about being on a boat surrounded by all these Marvel characters who are dressed as sailors. Deadpool sees Captain America and says, “Hey, you can’t be… Ed killed that guy!” I just burst out laughing right there.

Another part is when Deadpool is imagining he is talking to a dead shark and he mentions he has lots of friends and we see pictures of him about to hurt all his friends. This book is a heart-warmer. It really does wonders to lighten the spirit. Not reccomended for the young kids, though… hence the Parental Advisory warning on it. Medina’s art shines in this book as well. Nice to have you back Paco! This is a fun book and I can’t imagine it without Daniel Way on writing chores since he really is the only writer right now who has proven that he can write the character really well. I would like to see Joe Kelly and Ed McGuinness come back and do a Deadpool story though… that would be awesome.

Rating: B

By Daniel Way (Writer), Paco Medina (Pencils), Juan Vlasco (Inks), and Marte Gracia & Antonio Fabela (Colors)

Some Thoughts Before The Review: While Shawn Crystal’s work definitely has its merits, I’d be lying if I acted as though I wasn’t pumped for the return of Paco Medina and his art team.

The Story: After pondering life and death for a while, Deadpool decides to head to San Francisco…

What’s Good: Just when I think I’ve got Daniel Way’s approach to Deadpool figured out, he goes off and makes the character get all existential and, shockingly, somewhat sympathetic. It works FAR better than you might expect (and, as a philosophy fan, I find it to be pretty satisfying). The subject matches the setting (‘pool adrift at sea, talking to himself) so everything just sort of “clicks” in the right way. The character is still funny, but the philosophical back and forth he has with himself, a dead shark, and death finally gives the character some depth. Depth, I might add, that’s quite welcome in my opinion. The book eventually returns to it’s regularly scheduled programming once the character takes the advice of a bullet-riddled shark (obviously…). Hilarity ensues and you quickly come to realize that Way isn’t looking to abandon what made the series such a hit in the first place.

The artwork in Deadpool #15 expertly captures both tones that Daniel Way goes for. It proves that the art team has some serious range (and that the team is one of the best that Marvel has). The first half of the latest Deadpool is violent, moody, and appropriately bleak. The second half is bright, goofy, and sure to cause a reaction of some sort (San Fran ‘pool, ’nuff said).

What’s Not So Good: In all honesty, I’m not exactly sure I’m on board with the direction that Deadpool seems to be taking. It has potential because it’s always fun to see Deadpool interact with others in the Marvel U., but the recent track record of “X” crossovers is– well, quite frankly, shitty. I’d hate to see the series get dragged down like Dark Avengers has been.

Conclusion: While I’m not quite excited about the destination, getting there should be a pretty cool ride if Deadpool #15 is any indication.

Grade: B+

-Kyle Posluszny

Title: Deadpool #12
Writer: Daniel Way
Art: Paco Medina and Juan Vlasco
Cover: Jason Pearson
Publisher: Marvel
Price: $2.99

During the Shitty Secret Invasion Saga Deadpool discovered a way to kill the Skrull Queen. Norman Osborn stole the data on the Skrull Queen from Deadpool and then proceeded to kill said Skrull Queen. Norman Osborn went on to become an American hero and Deadpool…not so much. To get back at Normie Deadpool took on the Thunderbolts and stole Osborn’s Gold Credit Card as well as a kiss from the Black Widow. To finish this game of cat and mouse Norman decides to send Bullseye a.k.a Hawkeye to kill Wade Wilson a.k.a. Deadpool. BullsHawkeye succeeds. Deadpool gets better. Deadpool wears a meat suit. Hawkbullseye then gets stabbed with a meat hook. Ok, I think you’re caught up now.

I am glad that in an industry that can take itself too seriously at times that a comic like Deadpool exists. It just likes to have fun. There is always at least one verbal and one visual joke in every issue that’s makes me laugh. Actually, I laughed quite a few times while reading this particular issue.

This final part to the Bullseye story arc really drives home the point that Deadpool is playing the part of Bugs Bunny while Bullseye is filling in for Elmer Fudd. The best scene of this comic comes in the form of Bullseye , with missile launcher in hand, trying to take out Deadpool who is riding around in a Big Foot truck. Nuff said, right?

Without giving away too much of the climax:

-We find out that in another life Bullseye and Hawkeye could have been B.F.F.’s
-Deadpool is given a lotta money to lay low whole Osborn is still in charge
-While laying low for a month Deadpool eats his weight in tacos and then

*SPOILER ALERT*

Shoots himself in the head.

Oops. I think I just gave away the entire climax. My bad.

In case you are wondering what will become of Wade Wilson here is the solicitation for the next two issues:

“Wave of Mutilation,” Part 1 & 2
Deadpool has ceased to exist, he’s given his good-byes, he’s driven his car into the ocean. They’ll think he’s dead, but he’ll sail away. Then, he becomes a pirate!

Sounds awesome. I’ll be there.

J.

By Daniel Way (Writer), Paco Medina (Pencils), Juan Vlasco (Inks), and Marte Gracia (Colors)

Some Thoughts Before The Review: Surprisingly dark, Deadpool #10 was just a (somewhat disappointing) teaser for the Bullseye (Hawkeye)/Deadpool showdown. I fully expect the main event to make up for arc’s lackluster start….

The Story: Bullseye and Deadpool fight. Blood is shed, childhood dreams are realized (seriously), and…Well read and find out!

What’s Good and What’s Not So Good: Deadpool #11 is an extended fight scene done right. It’s as simple as that. Fast-paced, funny as hell, and extremely fun to look at, the latest issue of Deadpool delivers in nearly every way. Allow me to break it down for you…

Fast-paced – While Wade doesn’t exactly hit the ground running (on account of the arrow that’s stuck through his head), the issue definitely does. The pace definitely makes Deadpool #11 feel like it’s over in a flash, but all good things seem to end far too soon.

Funny as hell – Let’s face it, Daniel Way’s “throw everything and see what sticks” approach to humor is flawed. That said, when it works, it works extremely well. And does it ever work for the Deadpool/Hawkeye battle. The “Fly, you beautiful bird! Fly!” page is absolutely hysterical. The classroom flashbacks and comments regarding them are far funnier than they have any right to be. I could mention more examples, but why spoil the fun?! Trust me when I say that Deadpool #11 will make you laugh…early and often.

Extremely fun to look at – Paco Medina and his art team deliver their most impressive (and insane) visuals to date. Colorful, violent, disturbing, expressive, and perfect for the material, the art team’s style just plain works. While a few scenes are a bit hard to follow (one near the end is particularly tough to figure out), the good far outweighs the bad.

Conclusion: Deadpool #11 rocks. Go buy it.

Grade: A-

-Kyle Posluszny

By Daniel Way (Writer), Paco Medina (Pencils), Juan Vlasco (Inks), and Marte Gracia (Colors)

Some Thoughts Before The Review: Deadpool Vs. Bullseye? Sign me up! I can’t wait to tear into Deadpool #10, so I’m just going to get right to it.

The Story: Norman Osborn decides to send Dark Hawkeye (A.K.A. Bullseye) after Deadpool soon after finding out, in a hilarious way, that the Merc with a Mouth somehow survived his encounter with the Thunderbolts. Meanwhile, Deadpool takes care of job that he found on Craigslist that involves a vicious rumor and an unfortunate pizza delivery guy.

What’s Good: The way Deadpool handles his latest job proves to be quite surprising. That’s because it highlights how Wade exists in his own little world and is still far from being a true “good guy,” despite how he often finds himself facing off against some of the best villains the Marvel universe has to offer. The whole scenario gives the book a darker feel that is both welcome and appropriate, especially considering how it leads into the start of what looks to be a great confrontation between Deadpool and Bullseye.

As usual, the artwork in Deadpool #10 is a blast to look at. Paco Medina, Juan Vlasco, and Marte Gracia make one hell of a team and the latest Deadpool is a great example as to why that is. Even when most of the book involves talking, it’s still a lot of fun to look at. While I’m sure the style turns some people off, I think that it is a great fit for the character and the dark cartoony vibe the series tends to shoot for.

What’s Not So Good: Unsurprisingly, some of the humor feels out of place among the darker aspects of the story. While I still laughed, I didn’t laugh nearly as much as I usually do when reading an issue of Deadpool. Another complaint I have is that it takes far too long for Bullseye to show up and, as a result, the whole book tends to drag because of it. While the job is entertaining enough, it takes up WAY too much of the issue.

Conclusion: Deadpool #10 is solid, but it’s not nearly as strong as some of the issues that came before it. However, I won’t lie; the small fight between Deadpool and Bullseye left me itching for more.

Grade: C+

-Kyle Posluszny

By Daniel Way (Writer), Paco Medina (Pencils), Juan Vlasco (Inks), and Marte Gracia (Colors)

Some Thoughts Before The Review: If you take a minute to check out our “Best and Worst of ‘08″ feature, you’ll find that “Magnum Opus” was one of my most anticipated things of 2009. Now, with half of the crossover finished, I have to say that it is almost living up to expectations. It’s fast, it’s fun, it’s funny, it’s action-packed, and the conflict between Deadpool and the Tbolts makes for some extremely entertaining reading. The only real problem is that I would much rather have the old Thunderbolts (more effective?) team facing Deadpool as opposed to the new one. I’ve got to say though, the new team is starting to grow on me.

The Story: Deadpool, while attempting to score points with Black Widow II, teams up with the Taskmaster to take on the Thunderbolts. I wish there was more to it then that, but there really isn’t. There is a variety of attempts at different types of humor, a lot of action, and a healthy dose of violence…in other words, business as usual.

What’s Good: The highlight of Deadpool #9 is how Wade Wilson interacts with both Taskmaster and Black Widow II. The exchanges he has with both are, in my opinion, downright hilarious and they are made even funnier by the ever present voice inside Wade’s head. Simply put, Daniel Way brings the funny in the third chapter of the “Magnum Opus” crossover.

Also of note is how great the whole book looks. Paco Medina’s cartoony style is a perfect fit considering the tone and his action scenes are just a lot of fun to look at. Juan Vlasco’s inks and Marte Gracia’s colors deserve to be mentioned as well, because the visuals really are the total package.

What’s Not So Good: For as fun as Deadpool #9 is, both as a visual experience and a reading experience, it definitely has a few flaws worth mentioning. One of them is that everything just feels extremely basic, like Daniel Way is just going through the (very funny) motions. If it wasn’t for the Thunderbolts, the latest Deadpool would feel very much like any other. In fact, it still does, though in nearly any other context that wouldn’t be a bad thing. I guess it’s just that it’s something of a shame to see a crossover so loaded with potential lean so heavily to one side. Also, and I know I can’t be the only one, I continue to be disappointed with how rather easily Deadpool is dealing with his enemies. While it’s fun to see Wade get the upper hand, it also undermines the effort being made to try and have the Diggle Thunderbolts fill the very big shoes left by the Ellis Thunderbolts.

Conclusion: Deadpool #9 works better as an issue of Deadpool than it does as the third chapter of “Magnum Opus.” I found it to be extremely entertaining (hence the high grade), but couldn’t really shake the fact that it didn’t lend itself well to the whole crossover thing. It just seems like “Magnum Opus” could be (or should have been) so much more.

Grade:  B

-Kyle Posluszny

It’s so refreshing to see Deadpool with his own series again.  I have to admit, for all my love of Thor and the Cap being such amazing heroes, Marvel has some damn great anti-heroes, most certainly including Deadpool, who always sets off with the intention of selling to the highest bidder, and more often than not, tends to come home with no cash at all because much to his dismay, he did something stupid… like the ‘right thing.’

Lead up to the Story

Deadpool has been engaging in shenanigans as usual, been jumped by random b and c list villains, most recently Tiger Shark, out smarted friend and foe alike, and served up enemies to zombies.  Through all of this, he’s found out that both his friend Bob and Tiger Shark were hired to take him out.  The hit was put out by none other than Norman Osborn, or Oscorp.  Basically, if you weren’t paying attention, Norman Osborn is the new Tony Stark and runs the new SHIELD (called HAMMER).  He tricked the world into thinking he was a savior by killing the Scrull queen, using information that Deadpool got for Nick Fury.  All in all, Deadpool is pissed, and this is part 1 of what we can hope is a good old showdown at noon.

Plot Synopsis

Daniel Way has Deadpool begins his assault on Stark Tower.. Osborn Tower?  I don’t know.  He’s assaulting it anyway (this review is starting to sound more and more like a Deadpool comic).  As I said above, this is the first part of the story arc, called Magnum Opus, and is part 1 of 4.  It starts with just a little back story, and goes straight into action really.  Deadpool initially runs into some robotic traps, steals the Iron Man chest piece, throws some bad hair jokes Osborn’s direction, and begins his ascent.  We are then plunged into a classic Deadpool hallucination.  This one is a Jack and the Beanstalk parody, and although it is only a few pages in length, it falls sort of flat.  Not that it is bad, it just seems to be an unnessessary stopping point in the story, a storyline bottle neck of sorts.  As unfortunately for us that it does, things start going worse for Deadpool when he gets into a fight with his inner monologue, or readers.  I can never tell if the white boxes are supposed to be readers, a voice in his head, and if the yellow boxes are him thinking.  No matter what the case, they’re ignoring him, because when he reaches the top, it’s not Osborn who’s waiting for him, it’s the Thunderbolts.

Art Critique

The art is pretty well done, Paco Medina has the Deadpool look down to a T.  Explosions, guns, action scenes, he can do them with great skill.  Basically, everything that you are most likely to encounter in a standard issue of Deadpool.  Sometimes faces are an issue, and can come out disproportional (for example, see the recap page), but this is the exception rather than the rule.  The hallucination, which I mentioned was not my favourite part of the story, really gives Medina a chance to shine, and he takes it.  Everything is much more comic than usual, and I mean that in two ways.  First, it’s absolutely ridiculous, which is awesome, the adaptation of Jack and the Beanstalk is right on target.  Secondly, if you look behind the action, you’ll see that the background is actually made up of dots, as the old comics and newspapers were.  The only major criticism that I have is that when Deadpool takes the Iron Man chest piece, it’s not immediately apparent.  I had to look back and check a few times, and maybe this was intentional, but there could have been a larger colour and size difference.  That said however, the third page or so, the full page spread with Deadpool decked out to assault Stark/Osborn tower is pretty fantastic, it’s always great to see how each artist will render Deadpool fully equipped for action.

Is it Worth Buying?

I would say absolutely, this looks to be a good story arc.  We know that Daniel Way can write a good story, and he’s set it up perfectly for a high action comic in the next issue, with a great cliffhanger.  Even to non-deadpool fans, I would recommend picking up the next few issues of Deadpool.  The story is great, the art is great.  Daniel Way has come into his own with his ability to deliver one-liners befitting Deadpool, with just enough humor, and a few thrown in there that probably only make sense to Deadpool himself.  I will be looking forward to the next issue, to see how the merc with a mouth settles the score not only with the Thunderbolts, but also with the voices in his head.

EDIT: Magnum Opus is Deadpool 8-9 and Thunderbolts 130-131.

If you’re looking for a new Marvel comic to dive into, you should be reading DEADPOOL. If you’re itching for a character reboot comic to get into, choose DEADPOOL. How about just an awesome comic to read? Seriously, go DEADPOOL. If there’s one comic on the top of my pull list right now, it’s … well, you get the idea … right?!

Every month I’ve been looking forward to another installment of DEADPOOL, currently written by Daniel Way. As I’ve previously mentioned, I’ve never been into the Merc with a Mouth until now—reboots (or whatever the hell this is) are usually a great way to get into a character you’ve never had much exposure to before. And man, am I glad I did. Deadpool is now one of my favorite comic book characters, mainly thanks to Way’s priceless writing that provides the Merc with hilarious lines and ridiculously awesome situations. It helps, too, that artist Paco Medina, the colorists (Marte Gracia and Raul Trevino), and the inkers (Juan Vlasco and Sandu Florea—I love Florea) transform every page into a visual wonderland.

In Part 2 (“What about Bob?”) of “How Low Can You Go?” (DEADPOOL #7), Deadpool belatedly saves the creepy-admirey Hydra Bob from drowning after Tiger Shark’s attack … and then goes for some tacos. It’s not long, however, before their fishy friend rejoins them, and by the end of the issue Deadpool learns just who is behind the assassin attempts on him (three guesses who).

Daniel Way has me laughing out loud and shamelessly declaring my love for this red-and-black, cocky, gun-loving anti-hero. If he and the artists keep up this kind of good work, I just might push Batman aside and set up a shrine to Deadpool.

Okay, that would never, ever happen.

… And I don’t have a shrine, either.

By Daniel Way (Writer), Paco Medina (Pencils), Juan Vlasco (Inks), and Marte Gracia (Colors)

Some Thoughts Before The Review: With Deadpool #6, the series heads into Dark Reign by putting the Merc with a Mouth on a collision course with Norman Osborn and the Thunderbolts. But first, as revealed last issue, Wade Wilson must deal with Tiger Shark. Should be fun to see how that plays out…

The Story: Deadpool battles Tiger Shark, meets a potential love interest, and comes to the conclusion that someone wants him dead. Also, the titular character cracks jokes and inadvertently becomes part of a hostage crisis. In other words, it’s pretty much business as usual in this issue.

What’s Good: While it certainly isn’t the deepest comic on the stands, the sixth issue works well because the creative team knows exactly what makes a character like Wade Wilson work. On the writing end, Daniel Way’s script revels in dark, offbeat humor and graphic (sometimes gratuitous) violence, while still managing to keep the character thoroughly fun to follow. And with the addition of a possible love interest, it’s almost impossible not to want to root for the main character. As for the art, it continues to be perfectly suited for the tone of the book. Paco Medina and his art team make Deadpool’s world (and the events that take place in it) slick, stylish, and loaded with personality.

What’s Not So Good: Despite the fact that there’s a lot to like about Deadpool’s encounter with Tiger Shark and the chaos that ensues, Deadpool #6 might be the weakest issue of the series so far; considering how strong the others are. But don’t take that as a big negative. The biggest problem is that it feels as though a few parts of the issue only exist to get a laugh. Now I;m not saying I have something against the style of humor Way employs, but this time around some of it just simply gets in the way. For example, a nearly four pages are spent on Tiger Shark’s encounter with a guy in charge of the shark tank at an aquarium. Was it funny? Sure, to an extent. But it feels like the pages could have been used for something much better.

Conclusion: While not quite as strong as other issues, I still consider the Merc’s latest story a hell of a fun read. In addition, it serves as a nice, lighthearted appetizer before the Deadpool/Thunderbolts crossover takes the series into darker territory. Check it out.

Grade: C+

-Kyle Posluszny

Amigos, este 25 de diciembre, el “Drim Tim” se lanzo para la zona comúnmente conocida como El Culo de Gato. Temprano por la mañana Canek, Brito, Paco, Orejo y su servidor emprendimos el camino.

La intención fue incursionar en una ruta desconocida para todos, Crecent Moon Buttres sencilla, amena y con muy buena vista. Fue algo mas que divertido, reflexivo e interesante.

Después del lindo aproach por el desierto comenzaron las decisiones de cordadas, parejas, simultáneos y demás. Las gamberreadas estuvieron a peso, inclusive personalmente me di el lujo de jalarme de una cuerda fija !! Gracias Paco !

Después del tercer largo, ya en el primer puerto hicimos la parada obligada y para ello llevamos unos suculentos tacos de acelga con huevo…y por supuesto con su respectivo desempance y rancheo. Transcurrido el debido tiempo y reflexión, el Canek saco el tigre y continuo hacia arriba, siguió el Paco y finalmente Brito. Orejo y su servidor se quedaron a divisar el panorama, tomar fotos y hasta una siesta en la alturas.

Y ya habiando repeleado de esa seguna etapa, nuevamente nos reagrupamos en el puerto para emprender la bajada. Todo muy a tiempo, pues para cuando llegamos a la camioneta la noche se hacia sentir.

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Entre otras novedades, el dia de ayer tuvimos la visita sorpresa de nuesto amigo y acuñador del termino Huastequism, el Dr. Paul Vera.

Y por si fuera poco, nos invito a cenar el tradicional recalentado navideño. Grata compañía la de sus papas, nos recibieron de maravilla como siempre, hicimos el tradicional brindis y a disfrutar !!!.

Tuvimos una muy amena y enriquecedora platica con su señor padre y como buen geologo nos dio una catedra de las formacions rocosas de la region. Ademas se compromentio a escribir algo de esto para el enriquecimiento de nuestro blog Huastequista.

Animooo…y prevenidos pa este primero de enero…todos a trepar, aun que se a la azotea !

By Daniel Way (Writer), Carlo Barberi & Paco Medina (Pencils), Juan Vlasco (Inker), and Marte Gracia & Raul Trevino (Colorists)

Some Thoughts Before The Review: Fresh off an incredibly entertaining Secret Invasion launching point, Deadpool #4 marks the true test of whether or not the “merc with a mouth,” has the power to carry his own solo series. In my opinion, if the work done by the creative team for the Secret Invasion tie-in is any indication, Wade Wilson is in good hands. He should have no problem having a successful (and lengthy) run.

The Story: Since Deadpool’s last two jobs proved to be busts, he finds himself in need of cash and looking for work. This leads him to see Zeke, an old acquaintance that specializes in the type of work Deadpool is looking for. The job offer? A million dollars to investigate a zombie holed up in a castle that may have done something to Zeke’s wife.

What’s Good: Nearly everything (as long as you aren’t looking for something deep or serious that is). The artwork is vibrant, full of life, and incredibly well suited for the material. As for the story, it is a nice mix of silly and sinister that plays to the character’s strengths. And the writing? Entertaining as can be. Daniel Way knows how to serve up the funny in a variety of ways. Dry humor and sly remarks? Check. Wacky, totally silly randomness? Check. Off the wall situations? Check. I promise that the book will make you laugh at some point; and that definitely counts for something when so many comics these days aim for dead seriousness. Also worth noting is how Way gives Deadpool depth through a few surprisingly revealing comments. He doesn’t beat you over the head with it, yet it makes Wade an even more likable character overall.

What’s Not So Good: Very little. My only real complaint, a minor one, is that it seems as though Way is employing the “throw everything and see what sticks” approach to the humor. While it is sure to make everyone laugh at some point, it feels like a bit much when the shtick falls flat.

Conclusion: Deadpool #4 goes a long way in proving that the series is under control and in capable hands. The writing, artwork, and storyline all come together to form one of the most entertaining packages that Marvel offers.

Grade: A-

-Kyle Posluszny

By Daniel Way (Writer), Paco Medina (Artist), Juan Vlasco (Inker), and Marte Gracia (Colorist)

The Story: Deadpool fights a Super Skrull and works to complete the mission that was assigned to him by Nick Fury. Violence, witty banter, and general wackiness ensues in a way that only “The Merc with a Mouth” can deliver.

What’s Good: The third issue of the new Deadpool series is the best yet and ends in such an intriguing fashion that I find myself eagerly anticipating what is going to happen next. In every way, Daniel Way and Paco Medina have taken a fairly limiting story situation (the Secret Invasion) and made the absolute most of it. The jokes (a mix of dry humor and slapstick) hit far more than they miss, the artwork perfectly matches the energetic tone of the story, and most importantly, the book is just plain fun. Deadpool is now easily one of the most entertaining and vibrant books that Marvel puts out. If the creative team can keep it up, Deadpool may have a long and successful future.

What’s Not So Good: The fact that this series is still stuck within the Secret Invasion for this issue. I have definitely had my fill of Skrulls, no matter how entertaining the book they are in is. It is time to move on to different (probably better) things.

I also feel I should mention that the tone of this book may not be to everyone’s liking. Daniel Way goes little bit overboard trying to make a joke at every opportunity and Paco Medina’s stylized, cartoony artwork may be a bit much for some. Personally, I am a big fan, but I know many prefer comics with a darker edge.

Conclusion: By injecting some (much needed) fun into the Skrull invasion, Deadpool joins Ms. Marvel and Black Panther as a prime example of how to use event trappings to the fullest. Well worth picking up.

Grade: B+

-Kyle Posluszny

Recently in the comments section of this post, I brazenly asserted that Batman, by Grant Morrison & Tony Daniel, fails as a monthly comic reading experience. Basically, I feel the plot is too convoluted or complex for easy monthly digestion, although I’m sure it’ll go down very easy in trade.

So, what makes a good monthly comic? A couple of things:

Comics that put “character” first!

Comics that tend to focus more on character than plot are inherently more readable as monthlies. When jumping into the middle of a six issue arc, its character that pulls you in and fills in the holes. With the exception of Fantastic Four, every comic on my list stars a single character.

“Done-in-One (or two)” Stories!

There’s no need to wait for the trade if each arc is only 1-2 issues long, right? Again, this type of story goes well with character writing. Since the plot isn’t required to sustain itself for 3-6 issues, it can be pared down and used primarily as a vehicle to reveal the titular hero’s character. Batman and Zatanna team up to stop the Joker!?! Reading that story you find that it’s not really about catching the Joker as much as it’s  about developing Bruce and Zatanna’s relationship. Also, without really sacrificing the overall plot, these “done-in-one” stories can be framed like TV episodes that when viewed over an entire season combine to reveal a hidden master plot. Think Buffy, Heroes, etc… As many of us know, it can be very intimidating for a new reader to jump onto a book with a long running story, so hiding the plot in this manner is a great way to eliminate that intimidation factor. It also allows the writer to integrate sub-plots with clearly defined conflicts into the background that can be slowly developed and brought to the forefront at a later date, as Mark Millar does in Fantastic Four.

Cliffhangers that punch you in the face!

I mean, does this one really need explanation? There are quite a few comics (many on this list) that use the “final page splash” to great effect in almost every single issue. The rush you get from experiencing these in a floppy is much different than when experiencing them in a trade. Actually, it doesn’t even come close.

Getting that “OMG I can’t wait for next month!” Soap Opera feeling!

Of the four I’ve listed here, I think this last one is probably the most important (although it is very closely related to the Cliffhanger thing). For me, it’s the most important factor in deciding whether or not to wait for the trade. I ask myself, as many of you probably do, “Can I go more than a month without reading about BLANK?!?” If you answer “NO!”, then you obviously have a great monthly in your hands!

With the pretentious explanations out of the way I present to you, in no particular order, my “Top Ten Comics That Work Best as Monthlies”:

ACTION COMICS by Geoff Johns & Gary Frank

I could NEVER read this comic in trade; I just love the characters too much! And the cliffhangers are the epitome of punch you in the face. There haven’t been many done-in-ones in the Johns run, but that’s okay, since at least half the comics on this list barely utilize that comic book storytelling device. But Johns does love the sub-plots, wherein he writes some of the best (or, THE best) character moments in comics. CONS: More done-in-ones would be nice.

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN by “The Spidey Brain Trust”

With the exception of the current arc, “New Ways To Die”, Brand New Day has been nothing but 1-, 2-, and 3-issue arcs filled with character, character, character… the Soap Opera mojo has been strong. Because of the weekly shipping schedule, the Spidey team has been using the last page splash to great effect. CONS: Actually, maybe there are too many characters? Sometimes it gets confusing.

CAPTAIN AMERICA by Ed Brubaker, Steve Epting & Luke Ross

All of the above? Without all the little Bucky character stuff, I would not be enjoying this book as much as I am. It’s funny, but to me, most issues of Captain America feel like single issue stories set in an epic tapestry whose true significance won’t be seen ‘til Brubaker ends his run. It’s one long, ongoing story that excites me month in and month out.

DEADPOOL by Daniel Way & Paco Medina

We’re two issues in and I’m in love. For now. Plot? What plot? If you’re looking for a story, you’re in the wrong place, duder. This is all about Deadpool. That’s it. Do you need to read issue one to understand issue two? Hell no! Enjoy the funny!

DETECTIVE COMICS by Paul Dini & Dustin Nguyen

Current master of the 1- or 2-part story (yeah, yeah, I know the RIP tie-in breaks the rules). Reading Detective for the last two years I remember more about Bruce sex life (obv lack thereof) than I do the details of any of the stories. And to me, that’s awesome writing. Dini has made Bruce likable. This is new, folks. Bruce Wayne as an actual character in comics? Not since pre-DKR, I would think, have we seen the identity of Bruce Wayne written as a real character. Ah no, I disagree with you, Morrison’s Wayne is a flimsy piece of cardboard. Maybe he had something at the beginning of his run, but fleshing out Batman’s alter ego took a back seat to RIP setup long ago, maybe around the time Adam Kubert left the book. Anyway, yes, Dini isn’t writing Batman, he’s writing Bruce Wayne as Batman. And there is a difference, and that difference is quite refreshing.

FANTASTIC FOUR by Mark Millar & Bryan Hitch

The character stuff is lacking, but the sub-plots, cliffhangers and OMG moments make this a top of the stack must-read. Here’s a recent review that reads more negative than it actually is.

GRAVEL by Warren Ellis, Mike Wolfer & Raulo Caceres

The way the current arc is framed, it works wonderfully as a series of single issue stories filled with scenes exploring the character of William Gravel. Oh, you know what? Thank God Ellis finally got around to fleshing this guy out. Gravel started life as a boringly hollow SAS thug who starred in a series of idea-driven minis. In those minis, there was never anything particularly exciting or compelling about the Gravel character and the fact of the matter is, I probably only read them because they were written by Ellis. Now, under the watchful eye of Mike Wolfer, I really grown to like this guy and each month I can’t wait to read Gravel’s next adventure. Shocking. That’s good stuff, brother.

HULK by Jeph Loeb & Ed McGuinness

Heh. I really do love this book. Honest. HA!

INVINCIBLE by Robert Kirkman & Cory Walker

Ever since the #51 reboot, this book has been one of the most anticipated monthlies in my stack. LOVING IT… happy now, Bruce?

JACK OF FABLES by Matthew Sturges & Bill Willingham

Awesome title character? CHECK!
Outstanding sub-plots? CHECK!
Cliffhangers? CHECK!
SOAP OPERA?!? TRIPLE CHECK!!!

Deadpool #1 (****)

Deadpool #1 was fun and pretty at the same time. I’m not always 100% on board for Daniel Way but he seems to have a story to tell, and I like it so far, so I’m gonna let him tell it. Paco Medina kicked the crap out of the art in this issue, especially the Skrull characters. Cable & Deadpool was decent fun (hardly ever pretty fun), but Deadpool has always worked better as the star of his own book and Way is taking advantage of that trademark charisma with the introduction (or re-introduction?) of “Pool-o-Vision”. Also, kind of an unrelated question but, are we sick of the Skrulls yet?

Ms. Marvel #30 (***)

Ms. Marvel fights a Super Skrull this issue. Just like last issue. And the issue before that. Oh, but this time said Super Skrull is actually a product of HYDRA science. Oh, and then we’re treated to a SI-epilogue that’s just weird. Huh-wha?

Secret Invasion: Frontline #3 (****1/2)

Are people reading this? Because it’s awesome! Easily one of the best tie-ins. Brian Reed confuses me though, as a talent, I mean. Sometimes, like with this book, his writing is incredible, and then there’s Ms. Marvel which is so hit-or-miss lately. Ugh, BRIAN REED! Focus!

Secret Invasion: Runaways/Young Avengers #3 (****)

They swooped in, got their story told, and got out. Three cheers for three issue tie-in minis! And in three issues there was so much character development it was almost too much. Is Terry Moore going to address any of what happened here in his new Runaways ongoing? And what about Heinberg’s new Young Avengers series? WHEN IS THAT COMING OUT!?!

Secret Invasion: X-Men #2 (****)

I don’t want to beat a dead horse, so you won’t see me telling you how much better this is than Secret Invasion. It is, but I won’t say it.

You may have noticed I don’t write a lot of reviews for Marvel books.  That’s largely because I don’t read a lot of Marvel books.  That wasn’t always the case.  A long time ago, I read pretty much everything the Big 2 put out.  And one of my favorite books at that time was Joe Kelly’s Deadpool.

I’ve lost touch with Deadpool since he started hanging out the Cable.  (Hanging out with Cable is pretty much a sure-fire way to chase me off your book.)  But I decided to give this Cable-free first issue a look for old time’s sake.

Silly me.  I didn’t notice the Skrulls on the cover.  I’ve been avoiding anything Skrully outside of the main Secret Invasion mini-series.  (Which has caused my Marvel consumption to shrink down to Secret Invasion and Captain America these days.)  Had I known Deadpool 1 was a tie-in, I wouldn’t have picked it up.

But since I had it in my hands, I figured “what the heck” and I gave it a shot.  Am I glad I did?  Not so much.  But I’m not sorry about it either.  Basically, I found Deadpool to be a pretty mixed bag.

There were some pretty funny moments that reminded me of what I liked about the character during Joe Kelley’s run.  And it also had the kind of over-the-top action I’m sure Deadpool fans are expecting from a Deadpool book.  In the first issue, Deadpool goes toe-to-toe with a Skrull army and does remarkably well considering how other heroes have fared in Secret Invasion.

I enjoyed the art by Paco Medina.  Though his style is a little cartoony for such a violent book, it is perfectly appropriate to the goofy nature of the lead character.

The issue ends with a cliffhanger that is a bit of a non-starter.  After single-handedly demolishing the Skrulls, Deadpool offers to enlist in their army.  Why?  At the rate he was going, he could end the entire Secret Invasion John McClane-style.  Am I really supposed to believe that Deadpool is going to do anything but infiltrate the Skrulls?

On the whole, the issue was an okay read.  But it pales in comparisson to something like Secret Six #1.  As a casual Deadpool fan (at best) I can’t see sticking around for issue 2.