Wednesday, July 6, 2011

Deadpool #39

Cover by Dave Johnson,
Marko Djurdjevic
Deadpool #39
Writer: Daniel Way
Penciller: Bong Dazo, Joe Pimentel
Colorist: Andres Mossa
Letterer: VD’s Joe Sabino

As I have gotten more and more into comic books, I’ve discovered a couple characters that I’ve become really interested in and anxious to read more of. Deadpool is one such character, though, based completely on an extremely superficial knowledge of his background and history, I am worried that he is one of those comic book characters that suffers from awesome-idea-poor-execution syndrome and I will be perpetually disappointed in comics about him (my beloved Question also suffers from this horrible disorder).

But I am interested in Deadpool and therefore was excited to actually read one of his single issues, Deadpool #39. Of course it was right back smack in the middle of a story arc but to be frank, I am used to that by now.

Marvel told me on the opening page that Deadpool wanted to get himself killed (it’s hard with that tricky healing factor he’s got) so he decided to detonate two nuclear weapons in the Hulk’s face in an effort to piss the Hulk off so the Hulk will Hulk!Smash Deadpool into nothingness. Seems reasonable, though I am curious to just how the Hulk would survive nuclear weapons to the face. I know he’s all gamma-rayed up but still, wouldn’t that at least negatively impair your Hulk!Smash skills? But I quickly realized that Deadpool #39 was not exactly relying on the strongest of plots.

For instance, as Deadpool decides to detonate these nuclear weapons, he just happens to notice that he’s standing right next to a day care center. Whoops. Seriously, that’s what the entire plot of this comic was: Deadpool comes up with a stupid idea and then immediately regrets it as soon as he puts it into action and happens to glance over his shoulder at the group of innocent children. It was silly.

So like anyone else who quickly realizes they’re totally boned, Deadpool panics and begins having arguments with his various inner monologues (apparently he has dissociative identity disorder, which can manifest itself as a voice of reason and which he probably should have listened to a couple issues back). Things get a little out of hand, the army gets involved, and Deadpool absconds with a school bus full of terrified children. It was quite thrilling.

Basically, I read a comic that was low on plot, but high on ridiculously over-the-top scenes of car chases, explosions, an exasperated Deadpool and the Hulk acting his non-subtle self. Deadpool also managed to find plenty of time to make wisecracks and just basically act all devil-may-care, which I suppose is his normal state. Or at least, what comic book writers assume his readers want. I don’t know, I haven’t read enough.

This particular weakness and the fact that the art reminded me a lot of Archie comics aside, I am actually really interested in reading the next issue purely because the reader finds out that Deadpool (who managed to survive surprise surprise) is getting sent to Crossmore Prison, which is being converted into a mental institution. Oh man. It’s about time Marvel realizes that a regular prison is boring; they should all be Arkham Asylum in the comic book world.

Anyway, I have to say that Deadpool #39 was entertaining in a really stupid, easy way. The story required no intense thought process and Deadpool was portrayed as the sort of the character that can be really funny and awesome but also super annoying, kind of like Beetlejuice. While not a particularly strong comic, Deadpool #39 definitely whetted my appetite for more comics with this character.

8 comments:

  1. Shane used to read a decent amount of Deadpool. You should ask him for some guidance.

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  2. No no no no! Oh man this is a terrible entry into Deadpool... the current Deadpool offerings are so... Meh. Kerry no! I'm so sad, I'm glad this didn't make you completely write off the character, because he is my favorite character and there are such better Deadpool arcs to read! I gotta hook you up with something better... perhaps Gail Simone's excellent run in his previous series, or the absolutely excellent series between this one and that one, Cable & Deadpool. I can get you those if you wanna give it a spin. The writer doing Deadpool now, Way, doesn't really "get" the character and how to treat him like previous books have.

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  3. @Pat Hughes Haha I suspected as much when I picked up this comic. I was like, "man, I bet this character is so cool and I bet everything out there right now with him just sucks and is super cartoony." This seems to happen a lot in comics.

    I still definitely like the guy and definitely want to read more. I'll try to see if I can get my hands on some of Gail Simone's run just because I love her. Cable & Deadpool I only heard about vaguely so I'd need to look into that as well I guess.

    Thanks for the suggestions and I may hit you up for those comics :P

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  4. @Thomas I shall have to ask Shane's advice. I just felt that this issue was so gimmicky and that this character is only understood in this really broad way now. The Question seems to have this happen to him as well in comics.

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  5. As far as I'm aware (my first hand knowledge of Deadpool is limited to MvC3 sadly) Deadpool can be a hit or miss character based entirely on how the writer depicts insanity. In short, he can either be Daffy Duck or the Joker and the challenge is in figuring out which persona matches the situation and cast. This one kinda reminds me of Atomic Robo.

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  6. Yeah, it's really tough with The Question since I think they took a lot of liberties with the character in JLU, making him a lot better. I'd really like to read some of the original comics from the 60s that Steve Ditko did, but they're really hard to come by. Apparently he just loved Ayn Rand, so he's still kind of crazy. I don't know if they have any of the conspiracy stuff though. All well.

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  7. @Sergio J. A. Ragno III Yeah, that's definitely the feeling I got. The tough thing is, sometimes the Joker is Daffy Duck (though I do love Daffy Duck). Some writers just stick with a gimmicky and won't let go, which is awful.

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  8. Deadpool is definitely a fantastic character that for some reason writers have a tough time portraying. I remember reading his first 2 mini series(es) {not sure what the plural of series is}.
    Anyway, most stories that I've read him in and enjoyed have him as not so much insane as he is super-deadly and deals with "nervousness" in almost a Spider-Man way of cracking jokes and having fun. Also, I think he does this because he likes to be challenged (due to his healing factor almost making it too easy) which is why he likes to rile his opponents up with dumb jokes and wise cracks. Get their ire up. And get an awesome fight out of them.
    Then again, that could just be me (and how I see the character).

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