For all intents and purposes, Kidpool & Spider-Boy #1 has everything you’d want in a fun one-shot: Christopher Yost’s writing has proven he’s got the comedic chops to pull off a Deadpool character. Two young but new characters you can tread new ground with. Last but not least, Nathan Stockman is co-drawing an issue to bring lighthearted fun. Given the newness of both characters, as well as the somewhat sour view of Spider-Boy, can this one-shot pull off a success story?
I wanted to like Kidpool & Spider-Boy #1, but it just didn’t win me over. Both characters, especially Kidpool, are so new it’s nearly a blank slate for character writing opportunities. That said, this issue is more about the zany notion that Kidpool has the hots for Spider-Boy, but in a pre-teen sort of way.
It doesn’t help that Kidpool tends to look as young as five at times, even though they prominently point out her age at one point. It’s a bit odd to see young puppy love in the form of a Deadpool-looking character, complete with weapons that aren’t dangerous at all.
The visual of Spider-Boy on the rocket is nifty.
Credit: Marvel
That latter detail is a hard one to figure out since nobody is actually in danger, yet Kidpool acts like they are. I guess it’s supposed to come off as cute, but you spend more time pondering if she’s mentally ill rather than a cute kid with high killing aspirations.
That’s unfortunate since Kidpool definitely feels like the main character in this issue. Spider-Boy may have his name in the title, but he’s mostly in this issue reacting to Kidpool, or the situations around them. It makes matters worse that Kidpool is rather bland, with the one “I must kill with Nerf guns” personality trait repeated over and over.
Thrown into the mix is a subplot involving a female scientist who loves dinosaurs so much she wants to marry one. While the concept has the potential to be over the top and funny, she just comes off as sick and needy. It’s the kind of comedic element that’s there on the surface but never gets pulled off.
The art is shared by Stockman, Jed Dougherty, and Chris Campana, who all do their best to ramp up the ridiculousness of Kidpool and the dino subplot. The art throughout is competent enough, but something just doesn’t work with the comedy. The dinosaur people look cool, at least.
In the end, Kidpool & Spider-Boy #1 feels like a missed opportunity to capitalize on the potential of its fresh characters and zany premise. While Christopher Yost and the art team aim for lighthearted fun, the issue struggles with inconsistent tone, underdeveloped humor, and a lack of depth for its leads, leaving it more confusing than charming. Despite a few amusing concepts and visually cool moments, the one-shot fails to fully deliver on its promise, making it an underwhelming addition to the Marvel lineup.
You must be logged in to post a comment.