Casual Comics Guy Reviews: Deadpool Kills Deadpool #1

Casual Comics Guy Reviews: Deadpool Kills Deadpool #1

Writer: Cullen Bunn
Cover Artist: Michael Del Mundo
Art by: Salva Espin
Deadpool, Deadpool, Deadpool… Where to begin?

In the past, I always found mini-series or one-shots to be a decent place to pick back up when I’m trying to catch up on comics. Even comics with dense mythologies tended to craft mini-series basic enough to make sense to a casual reader. As an example, after years, I picked up “Identity Crisis” and didn’t feel lost.

So, when I was in the comic shop last week, I decided to pick back up on some sweet Deadpool action.
When last I left Deadpool, “Deadpool: Merc with a Mouth” (issue 2 or 3, probably), I was having a heck of a good time. Picking back up with Deadpool via “Deadpool Kills Deadpool” is much harder than expected, though.

Having done way more research on this issue than a Casual Comic Guy would like (that amount being any research at all), it appears that this is the conclusion to the “Deadpool Killogy” that began with “Deadpool Kills the Marvel Universe” and continued with “Deadpool Killustrated”. Whether that’s because it’s a continuing story or because there’s a common thematic thread running between the series will remain a mystery to me. I’ve already spent more time researching the comic than I did reading it.

Overall, “Deadpool Kills Deadpool” issue 1 left me feeling like I do after I see a Spike Lee movie. I liked the idea of reading “Deadpool Kills Deadpool” more than I liked actually reading it. It’s a great concept that seems loaded with cool ideas, but it feels forced.

Maybe the character of Deadpool is eluding me. Back when I used to read comics more regularly, Deadpool was the off-the-wall, can’t believe that happened, comic relief character. He was strong as a foil when there were straight men (like Cable or Wolverine) to play off. In this series, at least, there’s no identifiable motive for any actions. Is Deadpool still a merecenary? Then why is he endangering himself when there’s nothing really that he will get out of it? Is he a hero? It doesn’t seem like it.

I guess that’s my problem with this issue. “Deadpool Kills Deadpool” issue 1 recalls the quirks, tics, and generally funny things that I recall from previous series without the motivations or characteristics that made the character interesting and complex. Most of the things that made me smile in recognition were very obvious callbacks to things I remember, like Deadpool’s obsession with “The Golden Girls”.

This is probably a sour note for me to start on. I already sound like a curmudgeon in my very first review. There are good things about the issue. Here are a few:

• Always love to see Dogpool
• Deadpool’s solution to the bad guy’s dimension transporting device
• Some funny throwaway asides like “What in the name of Namor’s bikini briefs is going on?” See? Even I get that one.

But, they’re treading on thin water here. I get that Deadpool breaks the fourth wall. That used to be comedy, not a plot point. When Uatu shows up at the end and describes the villain’s motivation, it made me shake my head. They need to dig out of a narrative hole here, because “meta” stakes aren’t really stakes at all.

Other random notes:

• If the villain is the Anti-Deadpool, he should really talk a lot less.
• Cullen Bunn, you are on my list of people I’m looking for at SDCC. I’d love to hear about the genesis of the idea for this series and how you took on this character. As a CCG, I’m interested to hear your take on writing for the casual reader vs. the hardcore fanbase.
• There is a super-weird (and kind of disturbing) ad for Cirque Du Soleil in the first third of this comic. Treat it like an eclipse – try not to look directly at it.

– CCG