Deadpool Vs. X-Force

When you got to Ollie's and you find a Deadpool book for only $4, you don't pass it up. That's what introduced me to Deadpool Vs. X-Force. 

Originally published in 2014, the story inside is set prior to Wade Wilson's first meeting Cable and the rest of the New Mutants prior to the team being christened as X-Force. So, you should expect a slightly different, possibly more sadistic Deadpool, than the lovable loser we've grown to love in the past 10 years. But this version of Wade just seems beyond the pale!

The story starts off with Deadpool going back to Revolutionary War times and screwing things up so that while America will win the war, it will take a little bit longer for them to do it. So far, I'm okay with things because the reason the Merc with a Mouth kills a Colonial general is because Wade had to write a report on him in high school and this sort of vengeance seems like something Deadpool would do. But then Wade starts messing with the past again...

This time, he goes to the Civil War and helps the Confederates win. Then he goes and... Okay. I don't want to spoil it too much. But, he tries to save Hitler!

Look, I've read enough Gerry Duggan Deadpool to know that Wade Wilson is no fascist. And he'll only work for those goose-steppers if his daughter's life is at stake. I really doubt that Deadpool was that ambivalent when first floating around in the head of Rob Liefeld. 

Cable's Duane Swierczynski does a great job when it comes to Cable and his manipulation of the time stream by joining X-Force together prematurely. But the author's Deadpool just seems wrong. In fact, it freakin' is wrong. Money is the biggest motivator for the actions of Deadpool. But in my heart of hearts, I feel that even when faced with a pile of cash, Deadpool would never, ever help the Nazis unless absolutely backed into a corner. And Wade seems full of options here!

There's some great moments. But it's all X-Force related. And that wasn't why I bought the book. Not the best Deadpool story. Nope. Not at all...

Rating: 5 out of 10 stars.

Season's Beatings #1

X-Force, Spider-Men Miles Morales and Peter Parker, Squirrel Girl and the West Coast Avengers join Deadpool in this 2018 holiday comic. While it has elements of Run Lola Run and The Usual Suspects throughout the plot, this was another festive fail on Marvel's part this year.

The Spider-Men story starts great and then gets jumbled when the two Spidey's meet. It has a great ending however. 

The Squirrel Girl yarn was flat out perfect as she deals with Doctor Doom on a Latverian Christmas Eve. 

The West Coast Avengers story was horrid. It's got the Kate Bishop trying to solve the murder of a mall Santa. If she was doing the work on her own, it would be fine. Having Clint Barton on hand would have been ideal. Instead, Katie has some annoying purple haired mutant helping, hindering, and it was the biggest steaming pile of crap.

Then we have the framing story which involves Deadpool and X-Force. Deadpool by himself is very funny as usual. But X-Force are freakin' confusing as all get out. And once Wade Wilson and Cable's squad get together, it's like a very bad rendition of Who's On First?

The entire book is written by Winter Solider and Spider-Gwen's Jason Latour. I think if Latour had focused on characters that he's got experience writing about, this book would have been great. Or if Marvel had a different writer for each story. Instead, the entire book felt very uneven. 

Then there's the art. As I have mentioned in several posts, Marvel has gotten some flak on the lack of quality in the art. This holiday comic is no exception. The Spider-Men tale was a pale imitation of the great Darwyn Cooke at best. And I've never seen Deadpool look worse and that's saying something. At least whomever did the Squirrel Girl art was on point in this special. As I said, that one tale was flawless.

I'm not sure what Marvel was thinking this year. The Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur Christmas themed issue was great. But the two stand-alone holiday specials just weren't all that great. The House of Ideas has fallen into disrepair and the publisher is going to have to do something to fix things quick in 2019. It's no wonder Disney doesn't trust Marvel with it's more family friendly properties; subletting to Dark Horse and IDW instead.

Rating: 5 out of 10 stars.