As the resident Deadpool Continuity Dork, I’m always a little leery when some random book comes out from folks who aren’t involved with the main title, because that’s when things tend to get screwy. However, with Deadpool Annual #1, I was pleased to see that writers Ben Acker & Ben Blacker (which has to be the stage name for their Vaudeville act) were actually taking the time to explain an odd continuity issue – namely, Daniel Way’s insistence on adding a second voice in Wade Wilson’s head with the white boxes. The secret behind that voice and why it’s not present in the Gerry Duggan/Brian Posehn series going on right now is finally explained.
It was Madcap the whole time.
Deadpool was in New York on a mission to kill Matt Murdock a few issues before Secret Invasion when he ran into the garishly-colored indestructible jester guy with the make-you-insane stare named Madcap. Acker & Blacker (BlAcker?) treat this as if it was their first meeting, but longtime Dead-Dorks may remember that back during his first ongoing series, he guest-starred in one of the many short-lived Heroes For Hire books, tagging along with Power Man & Iron Fist to deal with jerks, one of whom was Madcap, and they had all sorts of hijinks for a while celebrating their mutual insanity and unkillabillity. Then they kind of just disappeared from the second part halfway through, so it felt like a missed opportunity. However, here they are, headlining the same book, and each other’s lives.
Madcap tries his crazy-go-nuts power on Deadpool, which backfires and sends him to his Happy Place rather than the typical madness Maddy is accustomed to. Thor happens by to deal with their nefariousness, and when Madcap jumps Looney Tunes style into Deadpool’s arms just as Goldilocks brings down the lightning to turn them to ash, somehow they heal back to flesh in the same body. Hence, the fresh new voice in his head. This also adds a ridiculous level of nuttiness to Wade’s healing factor, because he’s ACTUALLY A PILE OF ASH.
Then, “Just Before Marvel Now!,” same situation, except this time, Luke Cage smacks Wade around, inspiring Madcap to actively take over the body and use his zany power to make Luke Cage and Thor think they’re on Dancing With The Stars. Then, as Deadpool fights to control his own body again, the decision is made to force the super-strong beefcakes in their thrall to tear him apart lengthwise, allowing each half to grow its own body back, one of whose is now the fully restored Madcap. Zoinks!
Acker & Blacker (Bigger & Blackerer?) get points for actually trying to quantify this whole issue canonically, which was really probably just one of Way’s writing-style affectations rather than any big plan to have the extra voice in Wade’s head mean something. However, they seem to see Wade as more of a surly bastard rather than his trademark wack-a-doodle before the merger, although that might just be to differentiate him from Madcap a bit more, and to make their moody conclusion more resonant. Still, it’s a cute, twisted little story that befits an Annual, and they’ve got good gags – like Thor accidentally killing people and hurriedly claiming “They died warrior’s deaths!” – and the art from Evan “Doc” Shaner is suitably balanced between comic booky and cartoony.
With Deadpool Annual #1, the Daniel Way era is officially behind us, and we can now move forward to a new age of peace and happiness, until are are one. No, wait, until two are one, and then that one becomes two again. Wait, 2 Become 1? Wasn’t that a Spice Girls song? WHY DO I KNOW THAT?!
That’s it, I’m gettin’ outta here while the gettin’s good.
