Review – Deadpool #9 (Marvel Comics)

Time To Handle Things The Deadpool Way in Deadpool #9

It isn’t every day that Deadpool can face an enemy that is a genuine threat. Not to him, at any rate. Yet that is precisely the sort of situation that he has found himself in, in Deadpool #9. Get ready for things to get crazy.

Deadpool has thrown his lot in with Elsa Bloodstone, all in the hope of helping to save the day. And just maybe get the girl. That is, right up until he learned that she had set him up. Now the real question is, how far is he willing to go, given what has just happened?

While he’s busy dealing with this mess, his loyal monsters are dealing with a new mystery of their own- one that appears to be a slow-growing but equally dangerous case. Only time will tell how bad things are going to get here.

Writing

Deadpool #9 dives right into the action. Which, given that we’re talking about Deadpool, is not that much of a surprise. He’s stuck in a brutal battle, one against a somewhat scary (and kind of gross) monster.

Kelly Thompson once again has nailed that balance between drama and humor. There’s a very real sense of concern for Deadpool, as well as all of those he’s protecting (especially sweet Jeff the Land Shark). There’s also that touch of classic Deadpool humor. And perhaps a tad of the gross nature that comes with constantly being cut up and dismembered.

While Deadpool and Elsa worked hard to steal the spotlight for this issue, the many secondary characters running around demanded attention. Some were cute; some were funny (and some were both – looking at you, Jeff). It’s another element that helped to ground the plot.

One of the things I love about Kelly Thompson’s writing is how she always seems to seamlessly weave the following plot well ahead of time. Granted, at the moment, Deadpool has no idea what is coming for him, but that is half the fun.

Art

As fun as the writing is for Deadpool #9, the artwork is even more impressive. Gerardo Sandoval (pencils), Victor Nava (inks), Chris Sotomayor (colors), and VC’s Joe Sabino (letters) all went above and beyond for this issue.

The monster is horrifying and larger than life. That’s not all that new in the world of Marvel. What is new is how the beast is portrayed. She doesn’t ever seem to fit in a single panel, and the texture on her skin (scales? Whatever) is borderline hypnotizing.

It’s also reasonably pointed, given that she’s not the only one showcasing those particular colors and designs. It’s a clever way of showing what is happening, even while also telling the readers its truth. Together, it works to increase the impact of it all.

Conclusion

Deadpool #9 is another frantic and fun issue about the merc with a mouth. This issue has a little bit of everything – action, drama, romance, Jeff, comedy, and more. It makes for a great and memorable lead. All while setting up for whatever adventure is going to be next.

There’s no doubt in my mind, this latest run of Deadpool is proving to be one of my favorites yet. Now to sit down and wait for the next installment.

This review was originally written for Word of the Nerd, but has been ported over to Quirky Cat’s Fat Stacks now that the site has shut down.