Deadpool #10 (Dark Reign) – Review

By Daniel Way (Writer), Paco Medina (Pencils), Juan Vlasco (Inks), and Marte Gracia (Colors)

Some Thoughts Before The Review: Deadpool Vs. Bullseye? Sign me up! I can’t wait to tear into Deadpool #10, so I’m just going to get right to it.

The Story: Norman Osborn decides to send Dark Hawkeye (A.K.A. Bullseye) after Deadpool soon after finding out, in a hilarious way, that the Merc with a Mouth somehow survived his encounter with the Thunderbolts. Meanwhile, Deadpool takes care of job that he found on Craigslist that involves a vicious rumor and an unfortunate pizza delivery guy.

What’s Good: The way Deadpool handles his latest job proves to be quite surprising. That’s because it highlights how Wade exists in his own little world and is still far from being a true “good guy,” despite how he often finds himself facing off against some of the best villains the Marvel universe has to offer. The whole scenario gives the book a darker feel that is both welcome and appropriate, especially considering how it leads into the start of what looks to be a great confrontation between Deadpool and Bullseye.

As usual, the artwork in Deadpool #10 is a blast to look at. Paco Medina, Juan Vlasco, and Marte Gracia make one hell of a team and the latest Deadpool is a great example as to why that is. Even when most of the book involves talking, it’s still a lot of fun to look at. While I’m sure the style turns some people off, I think that it is a great fit for the character and the dark cartoony vibe the series tends to shoot for.

What’s Not So Good: Unsurprisingly, some of the humor feels out of place among the darker aspects of the story. While I still laughed, I didn’t laugh nearly as much as I usually do when reading an issue of Deadpool. Another complaint I have is that it takes far too long for Bullseye to show up and, as a result, the whole book tends to drag because of it. While the job is entertaining enough, it takes up WAY too much of the issue.

Conclusion: Deadpool #10 is solid, but it’s not nearly as strong as some of the issues that came before it. However, I won’t lie; the small fight between Deadpool and Bullseye left me itching for more.

Grade: C+

-Kyle Posluszny

Welcome to Hoxford #2 – Review

By Ben Templesmith (Writer and Artist)

I had somewhat mixed feelings about the debut of this new Ben Templesmith series, but I just couldn’t resist another look at the deranged inmates residing in the twisted Hoxford Reform Facility. And after reading this issue, but am I glad that I did.

While the bulk of the first issue was spent establishing characters and Hoxford itself, the second wastes no time creating a focal point between inmate Raymond Delgado and Doctor Ainley and a conflict between ancient evil with a taste for human flesh. The premise is the darkest that humanity has to offer finds himself face to face with the darkest that history has to offer. And you know what? It works far better than I had expected. While I am not entirely sure how long you can really go with such a fairly limited concept, I am more than willing to go along for the ride.

Ben Templesmith is really impressing me with his work on this series. Raymond Delgado is an incredibly compelling (and completely insane) anti-hero that really wouldn’t work unless the setting, atmosphere, and concept was just right… and it is. Simply put, I don’t think he could work in any other environment or storyline, and that alone makes him unique and interesting enough to warrant following. Delgado’s reality (and Hoxford in general) is dark, dreary, and disturbingly violent – a fact that is reinforced by some incredibly gritty and surreal visuals. From a creative standpoint, everything just comes together extremely well.

I really don’t have anything truly negative to say about Welcome to Hoxford at this point, but feel that it really is being written for a specific type of audience. I can’t (in good conscience) make a sweeping recommendation, but those into the horror genre or the concept of the anti-hero really must give this one a try. (Grade: B+)

-Kyle Posluszny