Deadpool #25.NOW Review

Deadpool gets the All-New Marvel NOW! jump-on treatment with his 25th issue; but that treatment is executed in a skewed style that only the Merc with a Mouth could. While this is a jump-on issue in that it establishes a new status quo for Wade Wilson, what it is more than that is the culmination of everything Marvel NOW! Deadpool writers Brian Posehn and Gerry Duggan have been doing with the book since the start of their run.

The bulk of the issue is given over to a two-act battle between Deadpool and Crossbones, Crossbones having gone after Wade in the hopes of claiming the bounty corrupt S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent Gorman put on his head. Gorman pulled this after stiffing Deadpool on a bill for taking down the zombified dead presidents in the series' first arc, resulting in Wade going gunning for him.

Stacking up this issue - and, indeed, this story arc - against the 'Dead Presidents' arc, this is a different book - but one that has evolved beautifully from its origins. 'Dead Presidents' was very much the 'Bugs Bunny Deadpool,' the unkillable wackadoodle, tossing wisecracks around at the same rate as he dished out cartoon violence. Delivering on their promise that things would get dark, what Posehn and Duggan are doing with Deadpool carries that aspect of Deadpool's persona firmly through, but brings back the dark, damaged side to him, revealing the depth and vulnerability the character houses, despite his physical invulnerability.

Deadpool was put through hell in North Korea during 'The Good, The Bad and The Ugly' arc, in which he discovered that the Weapon Plus program responsible for his cancer-beating super-charged healing factor had messed with him worse than he ever knew; that he has a daughter - missing (if alive) - and Weapon Plus were responsible for the death of her mother; a woman whom - thanks to the Program screwing with Wade's head - he has no memory of.

Still processing the events of 'The Good, The Bad...' Deadpool begins this issue mentally in a very bad place - but while battling Crossbones (with a very brief comedic cameo from Sabretooth), he's inadvertently given some hope, and re-asserts the one thing he can firmly cling to about himself, going forward: that the Merc with a Mouth is a badass.

Though the battle is the centerpiece of the issue, through the story's course, all loose ends regarding Wade's new friends and enemies - going right back to 'Dead Presidents' - get tied up, and Deadpool says goodbye to... well, everyone... and leaves on a jetplane.

We're then treated to an epilogue that sets up the already-running digital Deadpool: The Gauntlet series - wherein we meet Deadpool's would-be future bride - bringing that into continuity with the main book; and we're all set for Posehn & Duggan, aided by their strong rotating art team, to bring us Wade Wilson's next chapter...

Deadpool #25.NOW! Preview

Deadpool is enjoying a renaissance under writers Brian Posehn & Gerry Duggan, with a great art team, headed by Mike Hawthorne. Deadpool gets the All-New Marvel NOW! treatment with next week's Deadpool #25 - and in typical Merc with a Mouth fashion, his 'jump-on' issue comes at the end of his current story arc!

To bring you up to speed, Wade Wilson is out to get revenge on former S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent Gorman for stiffing him on a bill. Gorman used the money to put a price on Deadpool's head; Crossbones came gunning for Wade, but was dispatched - tied to a hot air balloon.

Crossbones then escaped this and has now tracked Deadpool down...

Oh yeah, and wackadoodle Wade now has a new voice in his head.

Here's the Preview!

(Right-click on images and 'Open in New Tab' to enlarge)

In the run-up to the landmark Deadpool #27 ('the most important twenty-seventh issue of a series ever!') - in which Wade will be tying the knot, I'll be reviewing every issue of Deadpool right here on the day it comes out. So join me back here on Wednesday for my Deadpool #25 review, and RSVP to Wade's wedding on Facebook here! ;)

Deadpool #21 Review - Deadpool vs. S.H.I.E.L.D. Part 1

EXCLUSIVE FIRST REVIEW!

Back in the the first story arc of Deadpool's current ongoing series, Wade Wilson was hired by S.H.I.E.L.D. to take down a horde of turned-evil resurrected dead presidents. Teamed with S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent Preston, Deadpool pulled this off--but not without Preston getting taken out and her consciousness transferred into Wade's mind by his buddy Necromancer Mike... and S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent Gorman stiffing Deadpool on the bill.

It's time to get Preston back into a body, and for the Merc with a Mouth to get payback on S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent Gorman. Deadpool vs. S.H.I.E.L.D. starts here--and if you like Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D but would enjoy a spicier, more out-there take on Nick Fury's crew, you've come to the right place...

Deadpool's been through some trauma recently, discovering that the Weapon Plus program had been harvesting his regenerating organs and messing with his memories; and when he went to get some answers, he learned that he has a daughter he never knew about, and, with no memories of its mother, discovered the woman dead and the child missing.

The issue begins with Doctor Strange giving Deadpool's mind a check-up (it's not healthy - as per usual) and trying to help Agent Preston get out of it; Strange surmising that the answer may lie with her old employers, S.H.I.E.L.D.

Meanwhile, having now learned of Preston's predicament from Necromancer Mike, her sometime-sidekick, S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent Adsit checks in at S.H.I.E.L.D.--through a somewhat quirky secret entrance--with designs on getting a LMD robotic clone (or Life Model Decoy) of Preston made, to transfer her consciousness into. But it turns out there's already one in existence, and it's out there dealing S.H.I.E.L.D. arms, selling drugs and raking lawns(!?!).

It also turns out that Agent Gorman is secretly behind this, and when Adsit reports to Gorman on his findings--revealing to him that Agent Preston's in Wade's head--Gorman ain't too pleased to learn the real Preston's alive and, once he's despatched Adsit, goes about setting a $10,000,000 million price on Deadpool's head.

Various super-villains who've been wronged by Deadpool in the past take up the offer, but it's Crossbones who's first to the punch, happening on Deadpool leaving a Tyler Perry movie Preston wanted to see (Wade having shot himself in the head to get out of it--firmly answering where he stands on any similarities drawn between Perry's dressing-up-as-large-black-women schtick and Agent Preston inhabiting his body.)

Despite his recent hardships, Deadpool's battle with Crossbones demonstrates his inventive and comical sides are still firmly intact--before we cut to Agent Adsit meeting another S.H.I.E.L.D. operative...and a twist in the tale.

With what writers Brian Posehn & Gerry Duggan having been doing on Deadpool lately, they've been making this run the book's best since the halcyon days of Joe Kelly; and that is strengthened further here in a solid and intriguing opening to the Deadpool vs. S.H.I.E.L.D. arc--solidly illustrated by Mike Hawthorne, who is proving to be the best-fitting of this series' rotating artists. If you ever stopped reading Deadpool, or you've never tried it, this might be the issue to get onboard...