Way, Daniel
AVERAGE REVIEW SCORE
3 out of 5
(3 books)
TOP PICK:
Deadpool: Dark Reign
Deadpool By Daniel Way: The Complete Collection Vol. 4
(Art by Carlo Barberi, Ale Garza, Shawn Crystal, Salve Espin, Filipe Andrade, Matteo Lolli, Walden Wong, Sean Parsons, Don Ho and Jeff Huet)
When his evil double is killed, Wade Wilson AKA Deadpool discovers that someone has developed a cure for his healing factor, which means he may finally be able to fulfil his death-wish. He then tricks X-Force into helping him track down the serum. However, when he finally has his hands on sweet mortality, Wade soon discovers that he has something to live for.
Where Deadpool comics often go wrong for me is when they lean too heavily on Wade chaotic nature and just have a random series of things happen whilst he kills people. Unfortunately, there is a bit of that feel here in places, particularly with Wade's plans, his double-crosses and triple-crosses. I don't mind a bit of anarchy, but it should be in service of moving the actual plot forward and here that's not always the case.
That said, there are a couple of elements here I really liked. The first is Wade's relationship with X-Force, particularly Wolverine. In fact the best moment of the book is when X-Force are determined to kill Wade for betraying them but Wolverine lets him off when he sees that Deadpool is genuinely concerned for Hydra Bob, in a nice echo of how Logan changed from irredeemable killer to superhero through connection to his friends. The other element I liked was seeing Deadpool come to terms with his mortality and have to totally change his M. O. to cope with the fact that all his appendages won't just grow back anymore.
3 out of 5
Deadpool: Dark Reign
(Art by Paco Medina, Juan Vlasco and Sandu Florea)
Book 2. In the wake of Secret Invasion, Deadpool discovers that he's made a powerful enemy in the shape of Norman Osborn, new head of the Avengers. After surviving attacks by contract killers such as Tiger Shark and HYDRA Bob, Wade find himself in the sights of Hawkeye AKA Bullseye.
The first half of this book was fairly standard Deadpool fare, with quips, shenanigans and over-the-top violence. Fine, but definitely nothing new. However, the second half, in which Deadpool and the new villainous Hawkeye go toe to toe was much better.
Both Deadpool and Bullseye are ruthless, deranged killers and seeing them get increasingly creative in their attempts to kill one another was very entertaining to read. I also liked the interpersonal dynamic between them, with Bullseye/Hawkeye seeming genuinely hurt when Deadpool accuses him of not having a sense of humour. The book then ramps up just how much fun these two are having trying to kill each other, but only one can be victorious (and the other will have to use cunning and outright lies to get away).
4 out of 5
Woverine: Origins & Endings
(Art by Javier Saltares and Mark Texerira)
Set in the aftermath of 'House of M' (by Brian Michael Bendis), Logan has finally recovered the entirety of his memories. But as he begins to explore his forgotten past, he may come to wish that he'd never remembered at all.
At first I thought there would be plenty of mileage in exploring how Logan reacts to suddenly having access to all of his lost memories, but this book rapidly stole away my hopes on that front. The author is very careful not to actually reveal much of any great significance, with us just having to accept that Logan's remembering something important without ever finding out what it is. Honestly, the tackling of Logan's past is so cynically oblique that I actually began to actively resent the book for its refusal to actual give us any details.
There's still a modicum of fun to be had seeing Logan on his perpetual hunt for his past, the scenes with the similarly amnesiac Winter Solider are the high point, but overall this book is a tedious exercise in how not to actually tackle anything significant.
2 out of 5
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Marvel Comics (here)