Deadpool #1 - Marvel Comics

DEADPOOL No. 1, January 2013

For some reason I have never taken to Wade Winston Wilson, despite being there right at the very start with Deadpool’s first appearance in “New Mutants” issue 98, way back in February 1991. I guess I am simply not a big fan of his seemingly senseless gratuitous violence, insane banter (which frankly puts the spectacular Spider-Man to shame) and supposedly humorous breaking of the ‘fourth wall’. But this didn’t stop me buying this particular comic book after I had glanced past the rather lack-lustre cover by Geof Darrow and Peter Doherty and saw the wonderful artwork by Tony Moore inside.

Fortunately being a good twenty years behind the various ‘goings-on’ with the anti-hero is not much of an issue as writers, Gerry Duggan and Brian Posehn, quickly get any such reader up to speed by having the 'Merc with a Mouth' explain all about his super-powered origin to an astonished fireman within the comic's first few pages. Indeed the pace of “In Wade We Trust” is frantic as the non-stop action effectively starts in Manhattan as Deadpool (not teaming up with Thor) eviscerates a walking dinosaur, spilling prehistoric intestines all over the street and doesn't then finish until the zombie of Abraham Lincoln ‘pops’ the disfigured mercenary in the back of the head with a revolver in Liberty Hall. In between which we have more “Bam”, “Brakka Brakka” and “Rattatat Brattatatt” sound effect filled scenes to sate even the most committed of adrenalin junkies.

All of this is sumptuously illustrated by Tony Moore and wonderfully coloured by Val Staples. The creative team have captured Deadpool’s zany antics absolutely perfectly, with some splendidly animated panels showing the mentally unstable human mutate battling the Undead Presidents of the United States using his signature firearms and katana swords. A particular highlight has to be the sense of terrific speed the pencil work conveys upon the wheelchair of (zombie) Franklin D. Roosevelt, as its velocity would clearly hard push super-speedster The Flash from rival publishers "DC Comics".

There are also some very nice and thoroughly entertaining moments to be found throughout this book when the action does momentarily recede, such as the humorous cameos of The Avengers Captain America and Thor, or SHIELD Agent Preston trying to help Deadpool stand up only to pull the mercenary’s half-torn hand off.

The variant cover art of "DEADPOOL" No. 1 by Skottie Young