Review: "Deadpool" #20

Admittedly, it's sort of difficult to write a review of Deadpool #20 after that excellent epilogue by writer Gerry Duggan himself. As he already goes into detail about the positive impact even unstable anti-heroes such as the Merc with a Mouth can have on people in need, I feel everything relevant has been said about this already. But the comic does something else as well...

As a one-shot where Deadpool takes a suicidal girl on a eventful night out to ultimately make her changer her mind, it's the comic's stripped-down nature that makes it stand out in comparison to the rather over-blown Deadpool instalments of late. Being left without any gadgets and teams to fall back on to, Duggan very impressively captures the helplessness, fragility but ultimately also humanity of both Deadpool and the unnamed girl. For the comic medium as a whole it shows that less is sometimes more, where putting our heroes in more grounded situations can ultimately lead to such great achievements as this one.

10/10

Comic of the Day 15/5: "Deadpool" #11

When the Deadpool/Sabretooth dynamic started to wear off in #10 last month, the fear started to creep in that writer Gerry Duggan might just not manage to drag this story across the finish line. And even though he does, the ride turns out to be a lot harder and uglier than anyone could have wished for.

The more serious and thoughtful tone here neither suits the narration nor Gerry Duggan's or artist Matteo Lolli's strengths, diminishing the otherwise prevalent satire and and in-your-face humor that usually make Deadpool comics such an enjoyable affair. The fact that Duggan has hardly any idea of how to conclude this somewhat cohesively makes for a more than fragmented narrative experience. Only when Sabretooth exits does the comic find its groove back, with a convincing Doctor Strange appearance and a finale that will make you laugh out loud (finally).

"The End, Thank Odin."

5/10

Further links:

Deadpool/Masacre #1
Deadpool & The Mercs For Money #3
Deadpool #10