Comic Vine Review

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Deadpool's Art of War #1

5

Deadpool is off to create his own Art of War book! Now it's just a matter of doing what needs to be done to get it published.

The Good

If you're reading the current Deadpool volume, then you know how impressive Scott Koblish's artwork can be. No matter what Duggan and Posehn throw his way in a "lost" issue, the guy's able to create a style that matches the story tremendously well. Here, the style is a little grittier and sketchier, allowing us to take these totally ridiculous scenarios just a tad more seriously. The character work is consistently expressionate and it's seriously impressive just how many characters Koblish can fit in a scene. This issue is yet another example of why this guy has become one of my favorite Deadpool artists. Meanwhile, Val Staples' coloring is usually bold and vibrant, but here its more toned down to match the style Koblish is applying and it works very well.

Peter David's narrative is hilariously over-the-top. In hopes of landing a book deal and earning riches (at a place called "Major Publishing"), Wade Wilson embarks on a ridiculous mission -- one which surely could have landed him other means of getting some cash -- to begin a massive war. The great thing is the story's out-there and silly, but Deadpool isn't acting like a total clown. David makes it so Deadpool isn't in your face with an onslaught of references, goofiness, or paragraphs of dialogue that amount to nothing substantial. He's much more level-headed and it still stays true to the character -- this still feels like Deadpool. You'll still see him in funny situations like wearing Asgardian attire and typing on laptop as a war explodes nearby, but he's surprisingly tolerable. And yes, I'm saying that as someone who's a big fan of the Merc with a Mouth. I love the guy, but sometimes writers can go overboard with trying to make him humorous. David, though? He's struck a nice balance and I'm left wanting more. There's even a bit of clever humor that you could only get away with in a Deadpool book ("Okay, screw continuity").

The Bad

The first several pages didn't pack the kind of big laughs you'd expect when Deadpool arrived, but that quickly changed. So, I'm more than happy to say I have no noteworthy criticisms with this issue!

The Verdict

Yes, Marvel has given Deadpool yet another limited series, and yes, this one has a ridiculous narrative, but who cares when it's so well-written looks great? Even though David places Deadpool in absurd situations, his take on the character feels more grounded. Sure, he still talks a whole lot, but he's not rambling, going off on tangents, or spewing pop culture references. Basically, his approach to the character seems perfect for someone who's only a casual fan or doesn't like Deadpool when he's a bit more obnoxious. Throw in Koblish and Staples' consistently delightful visuals -- an art team which constantly delivers over in Duggan/Posehn's book -- and the end result is an enormously entertaining debut issue. If this level of quality keeps up for the rest of the limited series, we should begin to call it DEADPOOL'S ART OF AWESOME.