Or – “The Sensational Character Find Of 1991!”
The success of Deadpool is the kind of thing that really makes you love comics. His pedigree isn’t impressive (a not-at-all subtle knockoff of Deathstroke, from a creator who is, at best, controversial) and he comes from a timeframe widely lambasted for its excesses. Moreover, he is a comedic character with a tendency to break the fourth wall, making him a perfect storm of things that could go horribly wrong. And yet, he’s become a key weapon in Marvel’s arsenal, with a recent high-profile relaunch. What’s the secret? Your Major Spoilers review awaits!
DEADPOOL #8
Writer: Brian Posehn & Gerry Duggan
Penciler: Mike Hawthorne
Colorist: Val Staples
Letterer: VC’s Joe Sabino
Editor: Jordan D. White
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $3.99
Previously, in Deadpool: Wade Wilson has been through a lot, but things have gotten weird since he fell in with a necromancer named Michael, who has not only contacted the ghost of Benjamin Franklin, but has stuck the consciousness of a female S.H.I.E.L.D. agent in his head somehow. Last time, we got a flashback story from the 1980s, but now we return to the 21st century to break walls (and other things) with a trip inside the head of the ‘Pool what is dead.
HIS BRAIN’S OVERLOADED…
I actually laughed out loud at the first image of this issue (a wonderful and rare occurrence) as we see the inside of Deadpool’s head, which looks for all the world like a Chuck E. Cheese franchise. The sequence is wonderfully subtle, something I didn’t expect from a Deadpool book, as Wade and the late Agent Preston discuss their predicament and how to get her spirit out of his head. Visiting her family, Deadpool manages to convince her son that his mother isn’t dead (“I have an angry black woman in my head! Now I know how Tyler Perry feels!”) and gets a literal @$$-load of buckshot from her angry husband. The plotting is pretty crisp here, with Deadpool always on the move, leaving the suburbs only to confront a demon who sends him on a mission that might save the soul of necromancer Michael, the one person who can help him out of his additional multiple personality disorder…
HIS BULLETS ADAMANTIUM-COATED.
I really enjoy the art in this issue, as well, with Deadpool looking sharp in costume, disgusting out of it, and his weapons looking very accurate throughout the issue. When he sets out to capture his first target, he ends up stealing the jerk’s car, and while it’s never quite clear whether it’s an Impala or a Charger, it’s nonetheless well-rendered and consistent throughout. Deadpool even uses his head for something more than a cautionary tale, figuring out a really clever way to take down a foe who is mystically empowered and essentially invulnerable. As the issue ends, we get another clever touch, as a group of strange people bait Wade into helping a pretty girl, only to shoot him up with tranquilizers and harvest his blood and organs (a really brilliant scam, given that he’ll just make more) for their mysterious, unseen boss. The dialogue is fast, funny, and entertaining, and there’s a clear core of humanity at the center of a sociopathic madman who is made of cancer, something that is triumphant in itself.
THE BOTTOM LINE: FREAKAZOID FRICASEE!
Marvel NOW! may be strangely punctuated, but there’s a lot to love, and a clear commitment to quality that shows in this issue. The writing is good, the adventure is adventurous, and the funny stuff is actually funny, but I also find myself appreciating and even understanding the Deadpool fans of the world. This book makes me want to read more Deadpool, and may even have launched him into my pull list, pending review of finances. Deadpool #8 rocks the house, mixing our hero up in something weird, but keeping it approachable, and most of all entertaining as hell, earning 4 out of 5 stars overall. If you’ve ever wondered what makes a good Deadpool book, I’d say you want to check this one out…
[rating: 3/5]DID YOU READ THIS ISSUE? RATE IT!
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