Jan-Ken-Pon – Deadpool #7 review

    
This is a very solid issue that could easily have felt like the overextended back-end of a story treading water with Tiger Shark for too many issues. Previously, I expressed slight concern over Daniel Way’s potential ceiling with this character. I also remarked that if Way catches your fancy on a run you’d probably stay with him as if nothing else, he’s terribly consistent in staying true to his ‘groove’ with a title and character.

Way brings the Tiger Shark confrontation to an end and the Merc with the mouth finds out who is trying to kill him, and of course, such a circumstance motivates Deadpool to recall a reason to cash in. Revealed to Bob in typical Deadpool patter, somebody whose name rhymes with “Norman Osborn” owes Deadpool a bit of money. The hilarity of Deadpool’s reaction to his realization that he played such a pivotal role to bring Secret Invasion to a close touches us because as we start to laugh we realize that it mirrors the reaction most of us would have in our own world to the situation. Starting with the last issue I found myself considering who the Deadpool and Hydra Bob duo reminded of, and it finally dawned on me this issue: The Tick and Arthur. For those that don’t know the Tick beyond the cartoon, the Tick comics of the ‘80s was fantastic stuff. We need to remove ourselves from the idea that Deadpool is a mouthier Punisher, he’s not, as there is an intrinsic absurdity to the character that has to be honored, or else we risk seeing him revert to an extreme Deathstroke knock-off. It’s not easy, and Way is not running away from the challenge – he can’t, he’s using damn Tiger Shark – but his issue works very well for me leading up to a bit of a mini-event. There is something to be said about being able to move a story along and putting material behind you as a writer, and this issue has closure and gives reasons to anticipate the next.

I think what was much more effective this issue was the dream sequence. Last issue was a bit over-the-top, and while to some that may be the point, it was almost too boisterous and felt forced. This issue’s placement and timing acts much more as a welcomed dalliance and not so much a blatant segue to get ‘the other Deadpool‘ comic. In the past and at his best, Deadpool successfully embodied both without that wall to the whimsical, but if it’s the tool that’s going to be used, one should only critique skill of the application– and not get too invested in the fact of if choosing to continue to read. It works here, and for a moment it reminded me of stepping into one of the story panels of one of my favorite comics out right now, House of Mystery. Regarding Paco Medina, and I’ve said this about my art evaluation before, I find difficulty grading art as not only am I not technically trained, but I also tend to be very lenient if I enjoy the story layed down by the writer. Medina is functional and not off-putting for me at all, and while sure, I’d like to see a David Aja or Rafael Albuquerque have a go at it, Medina is doing nothing to add to an argument to drop the title.

Back to the “mini-event”. Thus far I’ve loved the new Thunderbolts and I’ve anticipated this crossover since I’ve heard of it. We are building up to a classic loose end story. Do you remember when you used to read comics and crossovers were a big deal? Even as recent as (to some) the dreaded ‘90’s I remember the whole excitement over a Spidey and X-Force crossover (remember the horizontal cover!). You’d read a whole story, be perfectly content, and then suddenly the last couple pages would act as that catalyst for anticipation for the next read, instead of being what seems to be the norm now of excuse my 12 issue commitment to pay off down the line. This is where Deadpool needs to be. He needs to be that contemporary Titus Pullo that brushes against the main course to make it that much better. We knew it was coming, so launching it and still making it fluid and cool can be harder than people think. Way avoids any pitfalls by just making it simple and a bit old school (which was a rather fine one)– you just make it to where at the end you almost expect some Leeish, adjective laden, alliteration to follow “To Be Continued…”

- Jay Tomio

_{Jan-ken-pon is the time traveling, force-walking, multiverse crossing column of Jay Tomio, owner of 1/3 of everything you see currently on screen and the editor of Heliotrope. Norman Osborn owes him 5 bucks. Some call him the Bodhisattva.}