Deadpool #14 – Review

By Daniel Way (Writer), Shawn Crystal (Pencils), John Lucas (Inks), and Lee Loughridge (Colors)

Some Thoughts Before The Review: Piratepool brought the funny last issue. I’m assuming that he’ll do the same in Deadpool #14.

The Story: Deadpool, his parrot (Hydra Bob), and his “blind pirate wench” face off against the pirate known as Wackbeard.

What’s Good: In Deadpool #14, as he did in the first Piratepool issue of Deadpool, Daniel Way finds a way to strike a nice balance between the clever and the obvious as far as the whole pirate thing goes. On the one side, you have stuff like Wackbeard mentioning just how much of Deadpool’s pirate obsession is the result of watching too many movies. On the other side, you have jokes about using a plunger for a peg leg. The back and forth between the two types of humor makes the latest issue of Deadpool an enjoyable read that really takes advantage of the whole pirate theme. Another thing that Way scores points for is the way he manages to bring Deadpool’s ridiculousness full circle in a way that makes the conclusion of the pirate arc a bit more satisfying than you might imagine.

The artwork by Shawn Crystal, while a bit rough (which I’ll get to), gives Way’s story an indie look that’s rather fitting. I mean, let’s face it, Deadpool rarely feels like the fairly high profile book that it’s become anyways. From Hydra Bob the (impressively expressive) parrot to Wackbeard and his crew, Crystal’s work captures the spirit of what makes Deadpool so much fun.

What’s Not So Good: While Crystal’s work does justice to Way’s script, I’m still a bit hung up on how much I miss the slick, polished work of Paco Medina and his crew. Since Crystal started handling Deadpool, the series went from being one of the best looking to one that just looks somewhere between decent and good. That said, I won’t mind if Crystal sticks around because his style definitely has a certain charm that works.

Conclusion: Deadpool #14 delivers pretty much everything someone could ask for in a comic about the Merc with a Mouth. It’s funny, it’s a bit silly, it’s action scenes are pretty cool (and suitably violent), and it tells a story that could only really work with Deadpool as the lead character.

Grade: B

-Kyle Posluszny

Deadpool #13 – Review

By Daniel Way (Writer), Shawn Crystal (Pencils & Inks), John Lucas (Inks), and Lee Loughridge (Colors)

The Story: After sinking a nuclear sub that he didn’t know was a sub, Deadpool buys a new boat with all the money he got as a result of the last arc. A new boat means that Deadpool needs a crew. It also means that Wade finally gets to live out his dream of being a pirate…

What’s Good: As expected, Daniel Way’s dry sense of humor and “just go for it” mentality makes Deadpool #13 one hell of a funny read. From the humorous set up to the repeated use of Hydra Bob’s name (“Damn it, Bob” or “Never ask me a question like that again, Bob”), nearly every page of the latest issue of Deadpool goes for a laugh either through a goofy situation or a line of dialogue. Now not only does the new Deadpool bring the funny, it also sets up a pretty entertaining story about Wade defending a resort island against real pirates. Sure it’s not the deepest or most epic plot, but there’s a whole lot of potential for stuff that could only happen in a pirate-themed Deadpool book. I like that.

What’s Not So Good: While Shawn Crystal’s artwork certainly gets the job done (it’s got a lot of personality and the right type of goofy flavor), it’s hard not to compare it to the work that had been done by Paco Medina and his team. Simply put, Paco Medina and his team made Deadpool one of the best looking comics on the stands. Without Medina and his crew working on the book, the Deadpool series loses part of what has made it kick so much ass for the majority of its current run.

Conclusion: Do you like Deadpool? Do you like Pirates? If you answered yes to one or both of those questions, then be sure to pick up the latest issue of Deadpool. I doubt you’ll be disappointed.

Grade: B

-Kyle Posluszny

Dark Reign: Fantastic Four #3 – Review

By Jonathan Hickman (Script), Sean Chen (Pencils), Lorenzo Ruggiero (Inks), and John Rauch (Colors)

Some Thoughts Before The Review: I’ll be honest with you and admit that I had completely forgotten about the Dark Reign: Fantastic Four mini-series until this week’s shipping list reminded me about it. That probably says a lot about the first two issues even though I gave them solid grades.

The Story: The third chapter of Dark Reign: Fantastic Four begins with Sue, Johnny, and two versions of Ben on an air-ship that’s about to be boarded by Skrull pirates. That situation doesn’t last long as space-time collapses and the group is thrust into another version of reality…and then another….Meanwhile, Reed Richards continues to search alternate realities for superhuman peace by using the supercomputer known as “The Bridge.” As for Franklin and Valeria, they remain in the Baxter building while they await the arrival of Norman Osborn and members of H.A.M.M.E.R….

What’s Good: From the airship battle to the wild-west showdown and the alternate reality Illuminati sequences, Sean Chen, Lorenzo Ruggiero, and John Rauch do a great job of visually bringing Jonathan Hickman’s high-concept story to the comic page. The effort makes Dark Reign: Fantastic Four #3 the best-looking book in the mini-series so far. It’s a good thing the visuals do a lot of heavy lifting, as the character work and the concept are barely engaging.

What’s Not So Good: The overarching story feels like it’s stuck in neutral. In short, D.R.: F.F. #3 feels a hell of a lot like #2. Ben, Sue, and Johnny bounce around alternate realities as Reed sifts through alternate realities looking for nuggets of information. Meanwhile, Valeria and Franklin sit around the Baxter Building thinking about what to do in case the rest of their family doesn’t return. Those same things happened in issue two and, as a result, issue three feels disappointingly repetitive and somewhat boring.

Conclusion: Pick up Dark Reign: Fantastic Four #3 at your own risk. It looks nice and has some solid moments, but it feels far too much like the last issue to warrant a recommendation.

Grade: C-

-Kyle Posluszny

Ms. Marvel Special: Storyteller #1 – Review

By Brian Reed (Writer), Guiseppe Camunculi (Pencils), Lorenzo Ruggiero (Inks), and Andres Mossa (Color)

The Story: This Ms. Marvel one-shot centers around the return of Gavin, a boy given the ability to alter reality using his imagination as the result of A.I.M. experimentation. He is currently holding a friend named Rich within his storybook reality and it’s up to Ms. Marvel to not only rescue Rich, but also help Gavin understand the dangerous nature of his power.

What’s Good: I found Gavin to be an interesting addition to the Marvel universe when he was first introduced, so it’s nice to see him back in action. And even though this is a Ms. Marvel issue, Gavin and his imagination are really the star of the show. His story is well told and visually interesting, even if it doesn’t necessarily live up to the awesome cover the one-shot sports.

What’s Not So Good: For as dynamic and fun as the artwork is in concept, I find that it falls a bit short in execution. Some scenes look downright sloppy and the character work throughout leaves a lot to be desired. In short, I expected a whole lot more than I got from a visual standpoint.

As for the story as a whole, its biggest flaw is that it doesn’t do enough to explore Gavin as a character concept. There are so many possibilities, yet the plot for this basically boils down to a pretty generic story about how to treat others with respect. While the story is well told, as with the visuals, I expected a bit more than I got.

Conclusion: As a long-time fan of the series, I can’t help but find Ms. Marvel: Storyteller a bit disappointing. The visuals are lackluster and the plot doesn’t exactly go far enough in showcasing a character loaded with potential. That said, there is no denying that it is still a solid, entertaining read. As such, it’s worth it for those able to keep their expectations in check.

Grade: C

-Kyle Posluszny