Deadpool’s Secret Secret Wars #2 continues the regeneratin’ degenerate’s incongruously engrossing antics on 1984 Battleworld.
Last issue saw DP as the sole survivor of a horrible attack and the recipient of a flowing blonde coiffure and ‘70s porn-star mustache that’d make Thor purr and say “Aye, verily robust.” Who will DP throw down with this time? Can he actually win the Secret War? Is it good?
Deadpool’s Secret Secret Wars #2 (Marvel Comics)
Deadpool’s Secret Secret Wars #2 starts off with DP wandering through the desolate hellscape of Battleworld, lamenting the deaths of heroes he had fought alongside only days earlier. We’re talking heavy hitters like The X-Men, Spider-Man, Captain America and the Hulk — so it’s no small feat that our boy Wade is the only one left standing.
Eventually Deadpool comes across another survivor, The Lizard, and unsurprisingly, they scrap. The impetus for his attacker’s personal grudge might be lost on those who haven’t read the original Secret Wars comics, but writer Cullen Bunn pays fine homage with sly, Easter egg comments throughout the issue in sequences such as this. (It’d be interesting to see some ardent fans of the original send in your panel by panel comparisons… or any comparisons at all, really.)
Bunn’s Deadpool isn’t as witty as he was in the first issue (he leans more towards the garrulous side here), but that’s alright — Bunn’s strengths as a Deadpool writer have never relied on being as laugh out loud funny as Joe Kelly or Gerry Duggan/Brian Posehn. Rather, they lie in putting Deadpool into unique situations, contrasting him with the ancillary cast (the exchanges he has with some of the A-listers remain amusing as ever) and pushing the narrative along in absorbing fashion — and he does that in fine form once more in Deadpool’s Secret Secret Wars #2. Plenty happens this issue, past and present (the issue is punctuated by much-welcomed flashbacks) alike, including Deadpool discovering a new device dripping in meta-joke goodness, rashing on the Hulk (in a way that’s integral to the storyline), flirting with a new love interest and a one-on-one with a certain someone that I’m shocked they didn’t feature on the cover for monetary reasons (that’s right, hire me Marvel if you want to make even more paper). My only gripe is that we’re not much further along narrative-wise in this issue than we were at the beginning of #1, but Bunn’s pace never feels sluggish and he keeps things interesting. He also sets Deadpool up with some interesting alliances and character developments that will be fun to watch as they inevitably come undone.
Aesthetically speaking, Deadpool’s Secret Secret Wars #2 is gratifying as all hell. Artist Mateo Lolli renders each panel with consummate skill; his characters are full of expression and extremely lifelike in body proportion and truly brought to life by the amazing sense of fluidity, energy and perspective in the action sequences/fight scenes. Combined with Ruth Redmond’s vibrant colors, Deadpool’s Secret Secret Wars #2 features an overall crisp, clean and vivacious look that suits the title well.
Wolverine/Deadpool banter always hits the mark.
Is It Good?
Put another one in the win column for Deadpool’s Secret Secret Wars. Issue #2 is full of action, gorgeous art and Deadpool sticking his nose where it doesn’t belong but… sticking around nonetheless, pestering the shit out of everybody the whole while. Just how we like the guy.
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