Brian Posehn and Gerry Duggan have certainly brought back the funny to Deadpool, and with their new “The Good, The Bad and The Ugly” storyline in issue #15, they may be looking to bring back the dramatic side that made Wade Wilson a remarkably fascinating character back in the days when I was a slavishly devoted fan to Joe Kelly’s seminal run. Incidentally, I like using the word “seminal” a lot because it implies semen. I can say that in a Deadpool review.
Last time out, Deadpool finally got the drop on the weirdos who’d been getting the drop on him, knocking him out and harvesting his organs because he has a healing factor and will grow them back. He killed most of them, and got the name “Butler” out of the last one before she got aced. Now, he’s going around asking for help from the Ol’ Canucklehead Wolverine and the Ol’ Rochambeau’d Captain America to see if they can help him unravel the mystery of who’s after him. Naturally, Wolverine refuses because Wade’s obnoxious, and Cap offers some minor help and some sage advice, which leaves Wade to deal with it on his own. So he implants some mystery device in his legs and goes to sack out in a still-bloodied murder scene… because apparently that’s what he does these days.
In the middle of the night, though, Wolverine shows up, admitting Wade was right, and helps him try to escape from Butler’s forces surrounding the place he’s squatting in, while Wade pulls MacGyvers, stuffing cleaning products in the microwave and timing the bomb, and the like. Action, adventure, escape… except not. There’s a dramatic turn at the end that makes things a bit heavy, man, and I really hope it brings back the full-on Wade Wilson – the one that could effortlessly bounce between twisted pathos and hilarious guffaws.
I will admit that my continuity sense is tingling with the opening couple of pages, showing a flashback to Wade’s unceremonious dumping from the Weapon X program back in the day. This doesn’t technically contradict anything from the sacrosanct Deadpool/Death issue from back in the day if you assume this was just the transition we never saw between the Hero Program and Dr. Killebrew’s House of Cruelty, but it seems to imply that it ain’t. Yes, it’s been established that Deadpool continuity is fluid and you can just choose whichever writer you like best, but that was Fabian Nicieza messing with Kelly canon and giving people an out if they thought it was bad. That was nice of him, but come on. The answer to your first question is ‘shaddap.’ The answer to your second question is ‘don’t mess with Kelly canon, because it’s the best canon.’ And yes, I know I used a Christopher Priest line to defend Kelly, but that was the best stuff. Work with that and you shan’t go wrong.
I do like the psychological drama that comes out here, there’s something definitely creepy about Butler, and Declan Shalvey’s artwork is pretty kinetic and interesting – never a dull moment with this guy. My hopes for a Deadpool revival – a complete one – are ever rising. I’m actually interested in his story and not just waiting around for the next gag. This crew seems to know what’s up.
