More Merc with a Mouth mayhem in December when Avengers #24.NOW gets the Deadpool Variant cover treatment from Deadpool artist Carlo Barberi (above); and then Wade Wilson is back again in January to take on the zombie apocalypse in the 4-issue Night of the Living Deadpool mini-series by Deadpool Kills... trilogy writer Cullen Bunn, with stylish red on black & white artwork from Ramon Rosnas.
Check out Preview art here!:
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Oh, and January's Deadpool #22 sounds fun...
GERRY DUGGAN & BRIAN POSEHN (W) • MIKE HAWTHORNE (A) Cover by MARK BROOKS
• Deadpool continues his quest for revenge on S.H.I.E.L.D. for stiffing him!
• Someone has been betraying S.H.I.E.L.D., and it seems to be…Agent Preston?!
• PLUS: AGENT COULSON! From the hit TV show AGENTS OF S.H.I.E.L.D.!
The third in the series of Deadpool Kills... mini-series, Deadpool Kills Deadpool #1 - written by Cullen Bunn & illustrated by Salvadore Espin - is out now (Preview at Comic Book Resourceshere *CONTAINS SPOILERS*)...
...and things aren't looking good for Headpool...
Also out now is Thunderbolts #12, the first issue from new T-Bolts writer Charles Soule, with Steve Dillon returning on the art (Preview here!).
It's a strong debut from Soule in this Punisher-focused issue, as Frank Castle relentlessly pursues Elektra's terrorist brother Orestez (who Elektra supposedly killed last issue)--with Dillon illustrating The Punisher as only he can.
If you're not already aboard the regular Deadpool series, I'd highly recommend picking it up! With what occurs in the latest ish, Deadpool #12, it looks like we're set to explore the question of Deadpool's mysterious past and identity, as the barrier to a blocked off area of his memory comes down... It seems we may be about to tap back into what writer Joe Kelly introduced in his classic run in the first Deadpool ongoing, something I also wanna do if I get my shot at pitching for the Merc with a Mouth!
Speaking of Joe Kelly, he's recently been involved in bringing Deadpool to the world of the Ultimate Spider-Man cartoon - and Wade Wilson will be making his debut there in Season 2, Episode 16 - airing in the US on July 7. You can find an interview with Kelly, talking to marvel.com about it here, and a new teaser vid for the show here.
Meanwhile, back in the world of Wade Wilson's funnybooks - Deadpool #13 - "When Cometh the White Man" - out July 17 - is another retro-active flashback issue, following Deadpool #7's drunken Iron Man issue; it sees Deadpool teaming with Power Man & Iron Fist in the '70s, and looks like it could be a blast!
Following the events of Deadpool Kills the Marvel Universe and Deadpool Killustrated, their alternate reality (psycho) Deadpool now believes the entity of Deadpool to be the progenitor of the comic book universe--and sets out to wipe out every version of Deadpool in the multiverse--including the 616 Deadpool!
Not a hoax, not an imaginary story or What If?, writer Cullen Bunn's 'Deadpool Killogy' Deadpool is coming after our Wade Wilson, and the Merc with a Mouth we know and love will be the protagonist of the series!
Deadpools from numerous alternate universes--Deadpool Corps, Age of Apocalypse's Dead Man Wade, Golden Age Deadpool, Noir Deadpool and Evil Deadpool--will all also be among the other 'Pools featured, as psycho Deadpool comes gunning.
The mini-series kicks off in July and sounds like it could be a blast!
Deadpool is on a mission to destroy the Marvel Universe--thanks to Psycho Man messin' with his melon in this What If?-style tale. After taking out the Fantastic Four, Avengers and X-Men, among others, he now--thanks to one of Dr. Strange (also killed)'s books--has found out how to get to the Nexus of All Realities and is aiming BIGGER...
*CONTAINS SPOILERS*
We start the issue with a TV news-reporter at a scene of carnage where super-heroes and villains are rioting and battling each other. But then, in a sudden turn of events, heroes and villains alike head to the edge of a rooftop to carry out what appears to be a mass suicide pact.
Meanwhile, The Punisher has found Deadpool and attempts to take him out--but shoots what turns out to be super-villain The Puppet Master, dressed as Deadpool, before the real deal reveals himself and uses a Punisher doll, fashioned by The Puppet Master, to make Punny shoot himself in the head. From the mess of 'dead' 'super-dolls' strewn around, we can assume that Deadpool was also responsible for the 'suicide pact' and he now has his hands on dolls of Marvel's cosmic heavy-hitters, so no 'No-Prizes' for guessing what's in store for them...
Taskmaster has been hired by some of Wade's victims' bereaved to kill him, and he tracks the Merc with a Mouth to the Nexus of All Realities, whereupon the two battle; Taskmaster using his patented ability to mimic others' moves by anticipating and imitating Deadpool's--until he's interrupted by the guardian of the Nexus--Man-Thing--scaring Tasky; and whoever knows fear burns at the touch of a man's thing. (or something).
Deadpool missed the opportunity to make a Man-Thing joke, so while I picked up his slack, Man-Thing, sensing why Wade's here, has exploded into a portal to multiple realities, and Deadpool travels through this to find the centerpoint of existence...
...Which in Wade's case is the Marvel offices of the Deadpool Kills the Marvel Universe comic's creative team, where writer Cullen Bunn is typing the end to the mini-series: 'The Merc with a Mouth raises his sword to strike...when he notices some otherworldly force watching him'...
Us.
Deadpool looks at us from inside the comic and tells us something that, ironically--given that this book had been taking Deadpool far from the 'Bugs-Bunny-with-a-gun' direction he'd been going in in recent years--ends the series in something of a Warner Bros 'Th-th-th-that's all, folks!' style. The issue doesn't shed any further light on Wade's new Psycho Man-induced driving-force head-voice and doesn't end, for me, satisfyingly.
Suspension of disbelief has been asked for throughout this 4-issue mini-series--a series which could have been decompressed to make Wade's hits less easy and more rewarding; but I got that this was about Deadpool's agenda--carried out in broad strokes--rather than the nuts and bolts of it; and the intriguing Fourth Wall-breaking set-up--in which the Merc with a Mouth wasn't gunning to take out just the heroes and villains of the Marvel Universe, but the Marvel Universe itself--kept me hooked. The ending is open to some interpretation but for me steps on this premise somewhat, as if you take what Wade believes as Gospel, his parting shot is an empty threat--Deadpool's odyssey ending with it.
Aside from this qualm, writer Cullen Bunn and artist Dalibor Talijac render a well-crafted conclusion to the 4-issue mini-series--with, thankfully, more time given to the Deadpool/Taskmaster battle that'd been coming than others have been afforded--but if, like me, you were expecting a conclusion that's more than 'It's just funnybooks'--rather than having that itch scratched, you'll be left scratching your head.
If you didn't catch my reviews of Deadpool Kills the Marvel Universe #1, #2 and #3, you can check them out here. ...And moving on from Deadpool Kills... and looking at the Merc with a Mouth's future as part of his Marvel NOW! relaunch, you can check out a new interview with Deadpool's new writers Brian Posehn and Gerry Duggan, along with editor Jordan D. White--talking with Newsaramahere.
A taster...
White: One thing you can see in the history of Deadpool as a character is that every time he has had a new series, it has been at least a partial reinvention. Part of the reason we are doing this as a new relaunch rather than just the next issue of Deadpool is that these guys do have a fresh take on him. Not throwing away anything that went before, not saying none of that happened, or anything like that. Just a real clean take that anybody can jump on and totally appreciate what this is all about.
Posehn: He's still a Merc with a Mouth. The only thing we've changed is that now he can fly — and let me finish — he has a penis that can see the future. Those are the things that everybody loves about Deadpool, right?
Marvel NOW! [click those words for more] kicks off next month with Uncanny Avengers; the new Deadpool #1 coming in November. So that's Marvel NOW! But what's Not Marvel Not NOW!?
In Cullen Bunn & Dalibor Talajic's Deadpool Kills the Marvel Universe 4-issue mini-series, Wade Wilson the Merc with a Mouth has snapped and embarked on a Fourth Wall-breaking mission to destroy everything Marvel's created! The Nexus of all Realities looks to hold the ultimate key Deadpool's looking for--unless The Punisher can stop him!...
Check out a Preview here:
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Meanwhile, Deadpool's own team-up book may have been canned but that ain't gonna stop him! Wade's back for another one in Sept-Oct's Avenging Spider-Man #12-#13, written by Robot Chicken's Kevin Shinick and illustrated by Aaron Kuder. It's Deadpool and Spider-Man versus HIGH SCHOOL in a wacked-out tale also featuring Hypno-Hustler, Forbushman, Spider-Ham, and more!
You can check out an interview with Shinick talking to Comic Book Resources about the 2-parter here--and Shinick's also involved in the upcoming Robot Chicken DC Comics Special...
Meanwhile, if you're not up to speed on Deadpool Kills the Marvel Universe, you'll find my reviews of #1, #2 and #3 by clicking on those numbers--and join me back here on Wednesday for my Review of issue #4--the climactic conclusion!
"What if everything you thought was funny about Deadpool…was actually just disturbing?" That was one of the lines in the promo blurb for this mini-series, and in this third issue, that really locks in.
Due to Psycho Man screwing with Wade Wilson's messed up head, a new voice has emerged in Deadpool's noggin'--cancelling out the old voices and giving him a 'clarity of vision' that he never had before. Deadpool's now either loopier than ever--or the only one that 'gets it;' that what we're reading isn't real, everyone's just a Marvel comic book character getting their strings pulled by Marvel, and he's had enough of having his strings pulled--he's gonna take out the Marvel Universe! Hero or Villain, look out--the Merc with a Mouth is gunning for you!
Deadpool's been busy since last issue. Witness to the bodycount he's been racking up in the days that have passed, we see Venom, Madrox and the Green Goblin are all now among the dead... Taskmaster's been hired by some of Wade's previous hits' bereaved to take him down, and following his trail, he comes across the smoking remains of kid-superheroes Power Pack.
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Tasky (or 'Tony' to his friends) sees this as the point where Deadpool's crossed the line; he would've been happy to find and kill Wade for money before--but now he's going to do it because Deadpool deserves to die...
It's from this point that my earlier quote from the Deadpool Kills the Marvel Universe promos started to sink in; for all Deadpool's 'This is just a funnybook' evangelizing, we are following a twisted killer here--the fun and funny side to Deadpool has taken a back seat to psychosis, and any humor now is tainted with sickness.
This is evidenced further as we cut to Wade torturing Professor Xavier--whom he's taken hostage inside a building that he's rigged with inventive, twisted booby traps--as he attempts to educate Charlie X on his beliefs, while the X-Men show up in a vain attempt to rescue him--and fall foul of Deadpool's maniacal machinations.
Deadpool tries to get through to Charles; to get him to see that all Marvel characters are just puppets being played by the Big M for the amusement of the general public, but the Professor is more concerned with the slaughter Deadpool's traps are wreaking, and determines to get inside Wade's mind and shut it down...
...But this backfires. Professor X can't handle what he finds in Deadpool's brain and is rendered a vegetable by connecting with it. Whether this is because of Deadpool's unspeakable insanity, or whether Charles has discovered what Wade's saying to be true and it's blown his mind, is left ambiguous.
Meanwhile, believed dead at Wade's hands last issue, Wolverine's healing factor has restored him and he's arrived at the building--making short work of super-villain Arcade, who's built Wade's traps for him--to take on Deadpool, who's now wearing The Beast's fur as a hunting trophy over his costume; another flash of trademark Deadpool humor, but again one steeped in his new sickness.
Once more breaking the Fourth Wall, Deadpool informs Wolvey that it isn't Logan's healing factor that truly keeps bringing him back, it's his popularity--*Wade slicing Wolverine's head off*--but that all the popularity in the world can't save him from what he has planned.
...At Dr. Strange's place, Taskmaster arrives to find Strange and his man-servant Wong murdered, and that Deadpool's ransacked the place looking for a magik book--and found it--and what's suggested inside the book makes issue #4, the conclusion of Deadpool Kills the Marvel Universe, for me, unmissable.
Artist Dalibor Talajic once again hits the right feel for the book, and Cullen's Bunn's writing again falls slightly short. As with the first issue, this one has another moment or two where suspension of disbelief is called for; particularly in how Taskmaster finds what he does at the end of the ish. But this book is exceeding my expectations in terms of its (Fourth Wall-breaking) angle; a maguffin that continues to make the book's intrigue exceed its shock 'n' schlock (which ain't bad either) value for me.
...If you didn't catch my reviews of issues #1, #2 and #3 you can find them by clicking on those numbers; you can also find a Preview of issue #4 here--and join me back here on Wednesday for my Review of Deadpool Kills the Marvel Universe #4--the climactic conclusion! ;)
In this What If?-style parallel reality tale, thanks to super-villain Psycho Man, Wade Wilson a.k.a. Deadpool, the Merc with a Mouth has had the relatively harmless voices in his head replaced by a new one; one that's driving him to destroy the tights 'n' capes of the Marvel Universe; heroes or villains--whatev's--they're ALL gonna get it!...
*EXCLUSIVE FIRST REVIEW*
*CONTAINS SPOILERS* *MATURE READERS*
After offing Psycho Man, The Fantastic Four and The Watcher last issue, Ghost Rider, Doctor Doom, The Beast and Howard the Duck are among those who have 'bought it' at the hands of Deadpool since then (Howard's been cooked). This is relayed to us by The Beast's former girlfriend/news reporter Trish Tilby, before we jump right into where Wade's at now on his killing spree: taking on Spider-Man!
With Deadpool hanging onto Spidey's leg in an aerial battle, nicely rendered by artist Dalibor Talajic (whose art style fits the feel of the book very well), it looks as though Wade and his sword might be outclassed by Spider-Man and his webs--which soon send Deadpool plummeting into the bonnet of a cop car. Spidey proclaims that Wade's lucky he doesn't kill him for what he's done. Climbing to his feet as his healing factor gets to work, Deadpool counters that 'they' wouldn't let Spidey break character, even if he wanted to. Dismissing Deadpool's words as meaningless banter, the web-slinger berates Wade for 'stealing' his wise-cracking 'routine,' and just adding blades to the equation--which hasn't proven to be a match for Spidey's ablities. Wade pulls his gun, and it's Spider-brains all over the sidewalk...
Stumbling off, asking the voice in his head for his next target, the voice replies that it doesn't matter who's next; they all have to die. But, illustrating that he's not simply blindly following 'Voicy', Deadpool argues that it does matter. He needs something big & meaty--that's the Merc with a Mouth's style... But the voice says that's 'old Deadpool' talking; spectacle is what 'they' want; he doesn't have to play their game anymore. Deadpool argues that he's already broken free of 'their' chains; 'they' wouldn't have let him kill the wall-crawler. This is what he wants... Something big...
And that something comes in the form of Iron Man, Captain America, Ms. Marvel, Thor, Spider-Woman, Wolverine, Luke Cage and Hawkeye--the Avengers now assembled to take him down. But Wade's got hold of some of the 'Pimp Articles' that he squandered in the regular series' recent 'Deadpool Reborn' arc, and before the Avengers can say, "What's that floating in my coffee?" Earth's Mightiest go boom!!!
When the last of the smoke clears there's only The Mighty Thor left standing--and Deadpool's a little conflicted about offing him, as he's unsure about who's 'pulling Thor's strings.' But he brushes this concern aside and utilizes the 'Pimp Articles' once more--to devastating effect on the God of Thunder. There's more discussion between Wade and the voice in his head as they justify their actions with the belief that Deadpool is the only one that sees things how they are; they're all just puppets--and having managed to break free of his 'strings' thanks to his new head-buddy, Wade has done the Avengers a favor!
Only, there's a sometime-Avenger who's shown up late for the party; enter The Hulk, promptly tearing Wade's head off, before going to rest in a cave.
Hulk may just have proven to be more than Deadpool can handle, but when Hulk sleeps, there is Hulk no more... there is only Bruce Banner. And Deadpool's healing factor having now done its job + puny Banner equals...
... 'Work' over for the day... Is there no-one who can stop this madman's maniacal rampage?!?
YES!
Aunt May...
...and the fallen heroes' other bereaved have got together and pooled their resources to hire someone who just might be able to do the job...
...which is good because although Deadpool's using his smarts rather than solely relying on shooting and stabbing, Cullen Bunn's script feels like it's letting the Merc have things too easy. The introduction of this new antagonist should be a game-changer--though it's unfortunate that both he and the 'Pimp Articles' were so recently used in Deadpool #55-#57, lessening the impact they'll make here on regular Deadpool readers... But the central driving force in this mini-series, pushing the envelope of Deadpool's Fourth Wall-breaking capabilities, belies the impression of senseless violence that could be assumed of this title, and if a rumor I've heard about who the Merc with a Mouth's final target is gonna be proves true... Well, let's just say there's a reason, other than the obvious one, why the book's called Deadpool Kills the Marvel Universe.
Join me back here next Wednesday for my review of Deadpool Kills the Marvel Universe #3, and if you haven't been following Deadpool's regular book and haven't had enough spoilers, you'll be able to work out who's hired to take Deadpool down and what the hell 'Pimp Articles' are by checking out my review of Deadpool ##57 here!
It's been a huge week for the Merc with a Mouth, with the release of Deadpool Kills the Marvel Universe #1 from Cullen Bunn & Dalibor Talijic, and the announcement of the creative team that will helm Deadpool's Marvel NOW! relaunch, Brian Posehn, Gerry Duggan and Tony Moore--(as well as Deadpool co-creator Rob Liefeld's much-talked-about reaction to this).
"Duggan did Infinite Horizon and that was a pretty cool comic, and I like Posehn (well, I like him as a comedian, don't know about his comic writing chops)." Die-yng.
"Testament to Deadpool's appeal and durability is that he thrives regardless of being regulated to D-list talent. Marvel A-list never touches." Rob Liefeld.
"I haven't read Deadpool since the early days of the Joe Kelly series. I like the character though and I like Brian Posehn's stand up. This could be good." Kingslayer.
"I may have to buy a Deadpool comic." JM Young.
(some of Tony Moore's work on Venom)
"Tony Moore = perfect for this." Hatmasta.
"I wish people would stop treating chimichangas like they were Deadpool's major thing." Chris McFeely.
"The last thing we need is Marvel completely shitting on another one of their characters, changing what works out of a failure to understand what makes them tick. Deadpool being fond of but not loving chimichangas, and certainly not loving them more than burritos, is a fundamental part of his character. Assholes." Deathpanda.
"I've changed my mind. I'm boycotting this series due to chimichonga/burrito-gate!!!" Kingslayer.
As can often happen with posts on the internet, Liefeld's post wasn't quite meant the way it was taken, and he qualified it with a further post: "The flip of my statement is that Marvel doesn't feature their prize talent on Dpool and the character does well-Mostly newbies, hence D-list," and later apologized.
The Walking Dead co-creator/artist Tony Moore certainly doesn't rank as D-list (though, again, Liefeld could have been excepting him from this with his second statement, he tends to make high-impact comments).
As for co-writers Brian Posehn and Gerry Duggan, their comics work, The Last Christmas, Infinite Horizon, The Simpsons--some of these written by Duggan solo--hasn't been extensive, but suggests they could be a good fit for the Merc with a Mouth; particularly The Last Christmas mini-series. For those not familiar with it, this is 4thletter.net columnist, retailer and Deadpool fan Gavin Jasper's take on it:
"With Rick Remender on art, the two co-wrote The Last Christmas for Image back in 2006. In a comic that’s much like a more whimsical flavor of Eric Powell’s The Goon, it deals with Santa Claus existing during the post-apocalypse. It’s a violent and hilarious story of ridiculous situations and explosive redemption with a strong supporting cast and that in itself is exactly what I want in a Deadpool run."
And if anyone's doubting whether stand-up comic Posehn is particularly into comic books...
[UPDATE 8/9/12:] You can now check out an interview with Brian Posehn, Gerry Duggan and Tony Moore - talking with IGN about their plans for Deadpoolhere!
"This is promising to be the best Deadpool focused work to come out in a while. Looking forward to the next issue." Billy of Billycart Lane.
"It makes me wonder just how this series is going to close out. That’s the purpose of a first issue, to make you get excited over what could happen next." David Giltinan.
It's heartening to me that Deadpool Kills the Marvel Universe is going down so well, as it connects with something I also want to tap into if and when I get to pitch for Deadpool. I've been fleshing out my ideas since Daniel Way announced his departure, and now we know what the future holds, I'm officially setting out my stall as the writer that would like to follow the new creative team on Deadpool.
I've plotted six issues--single-issue stories and a three-issue arc--all of which can stand alone or form part of a bigger whole that taps into Deadpool's rich history & characters while taking Wade somewhere he's never been before; all to be scripted in a way that'll be completely accessible to new readers while rewarding for those who have been with Wade for awhile.
As mentioned in a previous post, copies of my Avengers-parodying The Almighties #1, co-scripted with Mike Gagnon, are on their way to the relevant people to showacse my MwaM-writing skillz as the next stage of my 'strike plan' that began with Bootleg Deadpool hearts Death; and if that doesn't get me an invite to pitch, I've got plenty more in the works.
Meanwhile, I'll be keeping a close eye on what Posehn, Duggan and Moore bring, keeping my plot malleable to fit with this, and looking forward to more Deadpool Kills the Marvel Universe. If you haven't checked out my Review of Deadpool Kills the Marvel Universe #1, you can find it here--and below is some Brand New Preview Art from issues #2 & #3, courtesy of Comic Book Resources:
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And you can check out my Review of Deadpool Kills the Marvel Universe #2here!
