The beloved, fourth-wall-breaking antihero Deadpool has had a long, on-and-off career of heroism fighting alongside Peter Parker’s iconic Spider-Man. However, in a recent crossover, Wade Wilson got to spar with and fight alongside New York’s other fierce Spider-champion, the electric Miles Morales. The new Pools of Blood trade paperback collects four issues, spread across Miles Morales: Spider-Man and Deadpool, that depict an explosive adventure featuring the two epic heroes. While a bit too short and lacking a compelling villain, the trade is still a hilarious, action-packed read with lovely art.
All four issues are written by Cody Ziglar, with Deadpool art from Andrea Di Vito and Guru-eFX, while the Miles Morales issues feature art by Luigi Zagaria and Bryan Valenza. I wish this crossover were longer, partly because it was just really fun, but also because it made for a pretty short trade paperback. That being said, the trade is $15.99, so it is a good deal for four issues, and the trade includes a bunch of dope full-page variant covers plus process pages from the artists. So, all in all, the trade itself is a worthwhile investment, especially if you love either hero.
Marvel
The main Pools of Blood plot revolves around Miles Morales and Wade Wilson coming together to fight the corrupted Agent Gao, after Gao initially hires Wade to assassinate Miles. Wade accidentally shoots Shift, Miles’ clone, which leads to a confrontation between the Spider-Men and the Deadpools, Wade and his daughter Ellie. One of the highlights of the crossover for me is the relationship between Ellie and Shift, who connect throughout the issues and end up as tenuous friends. I also am obsessed with Deadpool’s “other daughter,” the symbiote dog Princess, and it was hilarious to see Princess interacting with Spider-Man, who was just so incredibly confused about her origins. Oh, I also really enjoyed when Miles and Ellie were able to speak Spanish together!
If you’re someone who is generally in the know about current Marvel plots, but maybe hasn’t read every issue of the current Miles Morales or Deadpool runs, it won’t be hard to jump into this comic. That was my situation, and even though I don’t know exactly how Miles got stuck with Ananse or Deadpool and Ellie started a mercenary business with Taskmaster, I didn’t need those details to thoroughly enjoy the comic. That being said, I feel like this trade is advertised as a digestible crossover between Miles Morales: Spider-Man and Deadpool, and even though there is some explanatory exposition by Deadpool, I think this is not the most accessible crossover if a random fan just happens to pick it up.
Marvel
Even though this crossover was short and seemed to jump right into some other major plots, I like how neatly the adventure wrapped up. Despite Deadpool still needing to find a way to make money, and Spider-Man being about to enter into a war between several pantheons of Gods, the actual story between Wade and Miles ended clearly and concisely. I owe much of this to Cody Ziglar’s stellar writing and the fact that he writes both of the individual series, which lends a level of consistency across the issues.
Of course, I also want to highlight the art by both Luigi Zagaria and Andrea Di Vito. While different artists, their styles work well together, providing a near seamless artistic lens for the crossover. The fight scenes are dynamic, the emotions are evocative, and in particular, the fight between the heroes and Gao’s team in Miles Morales #31 is truly epic.
I was a big fan of this trade! It was a short read, and it is a testament to the creative team’s writing and art that I really wish it were much longer. Filled with the hilarity of Deadpool and the heart of Miles Morales: Spider-Man, this Pools of Blood crossover was a fun romp and offered a fresh perspective on the relationship between Wade Wilson and the Spider-Men. I love Ellie and Shift as side characters, and I will read any comic with Princess (as should you…). Highly recommend this trade if you are a fan of either hero, love Cody Ziglar’s writing, or what an enjoyable comic read that you can finish in one sitting!
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