My Deadpool Killustrated #1 Review

Deadpool Killustrated #1
Moby Dick
Cullen Bunn (Writter)
Matteo Lolli (Artist)

Be advised, this review is not spoiler free.

This first issue was a lot of fun to read. Not just because I fucking love Deadpool, that helps, but because there was some thought put into this new series. There's some great writing and an interesting story going on here.

Deadpool Killustrated is the sequel to Deadpool Kills The Marvel Universe. More on that in a minute. We find Deadpool, on a boat, harpoon in hand, waiting. Suddenly Moby Dick shows up attacks and seemingly eats Wade.

Then we get a re-cap of Deadpool's previous atrocities. The thing about Deadpool is he's certainly a terrible person, he's basically a sociopath, yet he's hard not to like. We see the weight of what Deadpool has done, killed the entire Marvel Universe. In fact multiple Marvel Universes.

Realizing that no matter how many heroes he kills it's never enough "Super heroes...the multiversal cockroach."  Nevertheless, it's Deadpool's turn to die. He's about to blow his head off when he realizes he's done it before and always heals, or gets cloned, or is brought back with black magic ext. It's pointless.

He decides there's only one thing to do. Find the source of the fictional reality...and kill it. Thinking ahead, Deadpool kept all the mad scientists alive so they can help him kill faster and more efficiently  They've discovered a new universe called the "Metaverse" which contains the "classics", works of fiction that inspired all the fiction up until now. Deadpool is told he's stuck in an endless cycle of killing.

"You are self-aware...a rouge entity who can peer through the veil of creation. To free us all...you must become...metacidal."

So he must start a brand new killing spree in the Metaverse. Reason being, if he kills the classics then the heroes will never exist. So Deadpool heads to the one place he fears, The New York Public Library, to find that one classic that stated it all. Considering it a fool's errand he just decides to kill them all.

With the help of his mad scientists Deadpool leaps into the metaverse, but not before leaving a parting gift for his slave scientists as a token of his appreciation for their hard work.

Deadpool lands in Spain 1610 and is immediately impaled by Don Quixote. Deadpool feels remorse that he's the first to die because he found a sort of kindred spirit in Quixote. But he's got a job to do and and starts his death count. 

Moving on to the next classic, we arrive in 1850 England aboard the Pequod. Captain Ahab and his crew are on the look out for Moby Dick. He finally surfaces but it's now a  deceased whale with a stranger in red and black climbing out his blow hole.

The sailors bring Deadpool on board and congratulate him on slaying the whale. On the ship Deadool has a weird mental breakdown and imagines seeing the Visions face in a doll. Like I said weird  Then it's time to make the proper introductions and continue on with the death count.

Final Thoughts: This was a really fun issue, it hits all thee right notes when it came to a decidedly darker Deadpool. I mean he's just killing people at random but there's a lot of humor in those scenes. The story is kinda dressed up as an existential and cynical look at fiction through the eyes of a very meta character. But really just a simple set-up filled with lots of Star Trek-esque technobable.

I enjoyed reading characters from the past interacting with the merc with the mouth from the present. The kills this time around aren't as creative as they were in Kills The Marvel Universe, but maybe be that will change in issues to come. I recommend you pick up a copy.

Batman & Robin #16 (DOTF)

Batman And Robin #16
Death In The Family: Cast A Giant Shadow
Peter J. Tomasi (Writer)
Patrick Gleason (Artist)

B&R 16 starts off at the Gotham Zoo with a worried (uncharacteristically so) Robin backing away from a chuckling Batman. Now, in case you missed #15, The Joker had revealed himself, terrifyingly so, to the dynamic duo and now we see his plan set into action.

Damian is right to be worried Batman had fallen under Joker's mind control apparatus. Joker's nearby watching the whole show go down and gives Batman his final command: KILL ROBIN!

So Batman attacks while Robin tries desperately to snap him out of Joker's control. It's very clear Batman is beyond reason and the Joker is having the time of his life. It's gets downright depressing with scenes like Damian telling his Dad how much he needs and is trying his best to pull his punches so as not hurt Batman.

The thing is Joker had done the same mind control trick on Robin as he did on Batman, but it's been slow to take effect and Damian has been fighting it. But realizing he can't for much longer Robin destroys the Joker's mind control device and he's free to deal with Batman unabated.

The fight continues  Robin finally realizing talking it over isn't gonna work. She he decides to beat the shit out of Batman instead, maybe that'll get through to him. Meanwhile the Joker is egging Robin on to kill off Batman once and for all and take his place.

"Show him you have what it takes, kid--step out of his shadow--cast your own giant shadow if you dare--or else get out of the way and die already!"

The end draws near for the dynamic duo. They've fought in the aquarium and all over the zoo. The two are tired, even the Joker-controlled Batman. Robin's ready to give the final blow and then has a change of heart and drops his weapon as batman comes closer with a piece of stalagmite, ready to impale him. Damian delivers another emotional scene.

"It's alright, father...I'd rather die by your hand than you by mine."

It looks like this is it. Then the Joker hits the self-destruct button and kills Batman. Joker explains he had wanted and expected Robin to kill Batman, but that was ruined by Robin's "noble and selflessness nonsense". Robin grief stricken and exhausted manages to stab the Joker before he falls unconscious.

We discover that Joker had someone else wearing the Bat-suit. Apparently Toshiro Matsu owed too many favors to keep his dojo going and won "Batman for a day".

The issue ends with Joker tying his face a little tighter with some fishing line and taking Damian/Robin away with him. Robin rightly asks where they're going and what the Hell is Joker doing.

"The only thing I'm going to be doing, my darling boy, is getting rid of all the family skeletons in the closet--and make them dance and prance in the cold light of truth."

Final thoughts: This was another great Batman & Robin issue. Death In The Family continues to be the crossover event that every Batman book is befitting from. It's certainly the best crossover event under the NEW 52.

This issue had a lot of great Joker moments. Gleason's pencils made him look the most gruesome he's ever looked. Damian had great moments as well. Trying hard to connect with his father, then becoming a bad-ass when that didn't work and then accepting his fate. Great art and a great story. It seemed a bit short, but I'll be waiting impatiently for the next issue.

My Favorite Spider-Man Stories

Marvel Team-Up #100: The Reason Is Karma

Probably one of the most overlooked Marvel stories and the greatest Spider-Man team-up. It involves mutants and mind control and introduces some new characters. It’s classic Frank Miller and on par with Daredevil: Born Again. 

The Amazing Spider-Man #229 & 230: Nothing Can Stop The Juggernaut
Spidey is trying desperately to take down Juggernaut but is continually defeated. But Spider-Man, facing great adversity, never gives up and shows us why he’s the best superhero. 

Amazing Fantasy #15: Introducing Spider-Man
You can’t know and read Spider-Man with out reading the story that started it all. Spidey’s origin is as ingrained in our memories as Batman and Superman. The original tale by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko changed superhero comics forever. Conceived of as a story no one would read in a soon-to-be cancelled tittle, it instead cemented MARVEL as a comic book powerhouse and introduced Spider-Man to the world who embraced him.

The Amazing Spider-Man #248: The Kid Who Collected Spider-Man
This is one of those emotional Spider-Man stories. Spider-Man visits Tim Harrison, a boy dying of Lukiemia, because his wish was to meet Spidey in person. Tim asks Spider-Man to reveal his identity.

The Amazing Spider-Man #31-33: If This Be My Destiny!
This is the classic Lee and Ditko (Mostly Ditko) Silver Age Spider-Man story. These issues are particularly timely in the wake of ASM #700 and SSM #1. Doc Ock was seen as Spidey’s quintessential enemy and these issues cemented that fact. He pushes Spider-Man to his limits and, in turn, gives us that iconic 5 page spread of Spidey lifting that machine off his body before he drowns. It’s the ultimate feel-good Spidey story.

The Amazing Spider-Man #300, 315-317: Venom
‘Nuff said right? Eddie Brock get’s the discarded Symbiote Suit from Peter and get’s all the powers of Spider-Man. He can even get close to Spidey without tripping his Spider-Sense. Fortunately Peter has the brain of a scientist and uses it to defeat Venom. These issues also launched McFarlane into super stardom. 

The Amazing Spider-Man #221 & 222: The Death Of Gwen Stacey
Also, the death of Norman Osborn/Green Goblin. The “damsel in distress” plot was used often in comics but here there was no happy ending. At the time Gwen’s death was out right shocking and still remains one of the few deaths in comics that’s never been reversed. Certainly one of the most iconic moments in comic history.

That’s it, my most essential Spider-Man stories. I didn’t include any current ones because, as I said, I prefer the older stuff. Let’s face it, the older stuff is usually the best. 

MY ‘THE SUPERIOR SPIDER-MAN #1’ REVIEW

The Superior Spider-Man #1

By Dan Slott (writter) and Ryan Stegman (artist)
+Marvel Entertainment 

 

Now I want to warn all of you upfront that this is not a spoiler free review. It’s the exact opposite. So if you haven’t readThe Superior Spider-Man #1 yet and hate spoiler’s, I suggest you get it, read it, then read this review. Okay, fair warning.

So I know everyone was up in arms about the killing off of Peter Parker but I don’t think all the death threats and hate mail was warranted. I mean I’m the biggest Peter/Spider-Man fan there is and I didn’t loose my shit over it. Because I knew Peter would be back in one way or another and SSM #1 knows it too. I’ll get to that later.

Superior Spider-Man makes it clear right away that this is not The Amazing Spider-Man. Otto Octavius uses his new Spider-Powers as an extension of his supervillain skills. The way he thinks, the way he acts is exactly how he’d act as if he still had four mechanical limbs and a bowl-cut, the only difference is he’s on the other side of the law now. This sort of makes Spider-Man more of an anti-hero than he ever was before.

SSM #1 starts off with Otto accepting what happened in ASM #700. He is now Peter Parker and Spider-Man and seems to be ready for the job. When ever he’s not wearing the Spidey suit he’s got a bluetooth headset on tuned to the police dispatch radio.

He get’s word about a break-in and robbery at Empire State University an jumps into action.

The robbers turn out to be the All-New Sinister Six (I think there’s been like 6 Sinister Six groups by now). This group is made up of Shocker, Living Brain, Boomerang, Speed Demon, Beetle, and Overdrive. It’s an interesting mix of new and old Spider-Man villains, but they’re clearly only there as an obstacle to show off how the new Spider-Man operates.

Here’s where the humor of Otto as Spider-Man comes in. He’s clearly annoyed that this group of hack villains is calling themselves The Sinister Six, a group Otto has a bit of history with. He knows these villains are inferior to the deceased Doc Ock and doesn’t mind letting them know. 

So Otto, as Spider-Man, attempts to take out the All-New Sinister Six. He almost does and at the last minute fucks up and does something Spider-Man doesn’t do, he retreats because he gets annoyed doing super hero work. 

This is an interesting way to take the new Spider-Man. Otto realizes how fucked up you have to be to fight crime 24/7 and was about to just give and go home. Until he see a cop in danger and jumps into action, something compels him to put himself in danger to save another life. But Otto, amazed at how out of character he’s acting, insults the cop he just saved.

The Six get away but not before Otto uses a new Spider-Man tactic, Nano-Spider Tracers in in claws of his gloves (I guess). He scratches Boomerang so he can monitor the group. 

So Otto takes the destroyed Living Brain back to Horizon Labs to study. Back in the lab Otto, having accepted being Spider-Man, now has to accept being Peter Parker. He realizes all his ideas and breakthroughs will be part of Parker’s legacy. This doesn’t sit well at first. 

But then he get’s a call from MJ and suddenly being Peter Parker isn’t so bad. 

This is the only thing about Superior Spider-Man I’m not that into. It was inevitable Otto, as Peter, would be dating Marty Jane but Dan Slott writes Otto as a huge perv. Staring at MJ’s tits and fantasising about banging her with his new found “vigor” is kind of off putting. Especially when you know Otto is (was) an old man and he’s using his guise as Peter to get into MJ’s pants. Our hero, everyone. But I guess once a villain, always a villain. 

Otto get’s a read on the Sinister Six and goes to plant a trap. This part I really enjoyed. It’s where Otto really employs his super villain skills to take out the Six for good. He uses all his knowledge in science to set a trap and takes them out one by one. 

Until it’s just Spidey and Boomerang. Otto is just about to kill a career criminal, something Spider-Man only did in the Zombieverse, but stops. 

 

So there it is, the big surprise ending. Confirming my suspicion that Peter was just on vacation. He was hiding deep in Otto’s subconscious or he’s a ghost, or he’s a guardian angel and what he’s guarding is Spider-Man’s reputation. Either way, Superior-Spider-Man plainly says Peter Parker will be back one way or another. 

 

In conclusion: I liked this first issue. It had everything you’d want in a Spider-Man comic reboot. You get to know this new Spider-Man, how he operates, how he thinks and a taste of things to come. I’m not too fond of Ryan Stegman’s art style. It’s not that it’s no good, just not my favorite look for Spider-Man. Other than that, I think this could be a regular on my pull list twice a month. 

If you’ve read The Superior Spider-Man #1, let me know what you think.