Deadpool and Wolverine are a bit oversaturated these days, but paired with Cable, Chamber, and Thunderbird in Weapon X-Men, it’s a new kind of stew. Out in comic shops today, Weapon X-Men is headlined by Joe Casey, who talked about the series in last week’s X-Men Monday. He’s got the resume to back up great X-Men writing, and it shows with this first issue.
Weapon X-Men opens with Wolverine discovering there are adamantium thieves scooping up the metal. He’s sharing the news with a drunk at a bar and is soon attacked out of nowhere. It’s just not his day; it never is, it seems, especially when Deadpool shows up. Things go from annoying for Logan to downright exhausting as Cable rushes in to scoop him up for a mission.
So begins a rather excellent first issue. The joy and entertainment you’ll find in this issue are largely found in Casey’s excellent dialogue. Deadpool is funny, the characters all sound accurate to their characters, and the page-turn cliffhangers are some of the best you’ll read all year. Seriously, Casey is a master at driving up your interest on the final panel of the page, only to discover a cool reveal or a great second part of a joke. At a certain point, I counted how many good page turns there were. There are just that many.
Ouch.
Credit: Marvel Comics
This is some of the best art you’ll see from ChrisCross ever. When Thunderbird punches Wolverine in the chest, you practically feel it. The detail is strong throughout, and nearly every panel has a good angle choice. All the characters look great, especially Deadpool and Chamber. ChrisCross also nails Logan’s rough and hairy look. Inking by Mark Morales gives the book a slightly cel-shaded look that at times makes it a touch cartoony, but with Yen Nitro’s colors, this is a triple-A-looking title.
Another reason this issue feels next-level for an X-Men title these days is the self-awareness of the canon. Deadpool comments about the oversaturation of his adventures with Wolverine. Casey clearly knows the characters with smart character bits here and there. The characters feel like they’re living in a world rather than just playing up to the plot. It adds richness to the overall read, indicating that it all matters and that it’s not just a cash-grab miniseries.
As far as the plot, I think even Casey is aware there are familiar elements going on here. Take, for instance, the theft of adamantium, which gets an editor’s note this is happening in Wolverine’s solo book. A twist involving Deadpool isn’t the most original, either. The cliffhanger should excite fans of the villain, though. The characters, especially Chamber and Thunderbird, make the adventure feel fresh.
Weapon X-Men #1 is a thrilling and visually striking debut that excels in character work, humor, and page-turning excitement. While its premise doesn’t reinvent the wheel, the execution elevates it above standard fare, making it a must-read for X-Men fans, especially those who enjoy Wolverine, Deadpool, and the deeper corners of mutant lore.
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