DEADPOOL #65
"Healing Factor, Prologue"
Recommended (7/10)
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Marvel Comics
Writer: Gail Simone
Artists: Alvin Lee, Rob Ross, Eric Vedder, A-Zero & TR2
Letters: Dave Sharpe
Editor: Mike Marts & Mike Raicht
Price: $2.25 US/$3.65 CAN |
Not surprisingly, online comics humorist-turned-comics-writer Gail Simone maintains the goofy and irreverent tone of the title character as she tries to take him down a new road. This first issue in her run and that of the artists from Udon Studio doesn't fiddle with Deadpool too much, but there's definitely an impression that this is a transition to something different.
Thanks to a seemingly accidental quadruple assassination of some Japanese crimelords with which he is credited, Deadpool finds himself on the top of the heap in the underworld. He's quickly hailed as the best hitman there is, and with it comes a lot of cash, buxom bimbos and a schizophrenic, homeless biographer. It's also drawn the attention of a couple of deadly fellows who feel the Merc with a Mouth needs to be taken down a peg.
The guys at Udon certainly seem to have an eye for the action-oriented nature of the title character, not to mention the goofier side of Deadpool as well. I also enjoyed the varied designs for 'Pool's "civilian" clothing. Mind you, their work here was a little unclear at times. The opening and closing scenes in this book were a bit hard to follow at times. There's not the same strong flow as one would find in the Taskmaster limited series, written and illustrated by the Udon crew.
Simone certainly has an ear for Deadpool's offbeat dialogue. The pop-culture references, the borderline but refreshing insanity... it's all there. The scene at the Gym of the Underworld was fantastic, as it offered Simone the opportunity to poke fun at comic-book henchmen, the faceless bad guys of the Marvel Universe. There's a fair bit of potential in Ratbag, 'Pool's new sidekick, as well.
I think what's really interesting in this issue is how Simone balances the weird and silly side of the character with the darkness of the world in which he exists. Deadpool may be an entertaining figure, but he's not a nice one. The nature of his job serves as a sharp contrast with the jokes and surreal tone of some of the action.
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