Jim Lemoine
May 2, 2002, 03:52 am
<a href="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/covers/dpool-066.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/covers/dpool-066t.jpg" align=left alt="Deadpool #66"></a>Reviewer: Jim Lemoine, darkkelf@earthlink.net
Quick Rating: Excellent!
Story Title: I Forget
Deadpool goes after the Rhino as he slowly loses his mind… well, more than he usually does, anyway.
Written by: Gail Simone
Art by: UDON with Alvin Lee, Rob Ross, Eric Vedder, A-Zero, & TRZ
UDON Chief: Eric Ko
Lettered by: Dave Sharpe
Assistant Editor: Mike Raicht
Editor: Mike Marts
Editor-in-Chief: Joe Quesada
President: Bill Jemas
Gail Simone and UDON have a lot in common: both are among the comic world’s hottest new talents. Both are best known for their work at Marvel. Both have a history of doing stories with television cartoon tie-in’s. Both are phenomenally talented. Now, both are working on what I’ve always argued is Marvel’s most unique book: Deadpool.
One thing that I wanted to be convinced of, though was whether or not either of them were a good fit for our favorite mercenary. Here I’m seeing a difference: Simone is without a doubt the best Deadpool scribe since Joe Kelly. UDON, on the other hand… I just don’t know. Don’t get me wrong, these guys are outstanding artists. But while I was impressed with beautiful artwork throughout this issue (just as I was with #65), I’m not quite sure that UDON are the right artists for Deadpool.
Before I get into this argument, though, let me make one thing perfectly clear: this was an outstanding issue of Deadpool for both story and art, and I’d highly recommend it to just about anybody, because it’s hard not to love it. To test this theory, I convinced somebody who doesn’t even read comics to try this issue of Deadpool, and she thought it was great! If the uninitiated will say that about a single issue of a comic, that’s a wonderful testimony to how far Marvel is progressing in making their comics more mainstream without sacrificing quality. That said, allow me to make what I hope is constructive criticism, and point out some of my favorite aspects of the book.
It may sound like nitpicking, but UDON’s rendition of Deadpool just doesn’t wash with me. With some exceptions, his body language and facial expressions don’t seem to convey the insanity and surrealism that the script show. Look at the pages where his mask is torn and we can actually see Wade’s face. His facial expressions are almost always standard super-hero stuff; serious, brave, and courageous are all adjectives that pop to mind. Those aren’t the words I want to pop into my head. What about “twisted”, “weird”, or even “homicidal”? UDON does come through for us on scenes revolving insecurity on ‘Pool’s part, though… I present as evidence the panels with Wade munching coffee, and the outstanding sequence when he gets to watch the Whittaker’s making out. I’m still laughing out loud at that last one, and I’ve read the book four times now.
Then there’s the book’s manga styling. I’ll admit, I’m not exactly the world’s biggest fan of this style of art, but contrary to what you may be thinking, that doesn’t mean I dislike UDON. Quite the opposite, they’re really turning me on to it. But one of the problems with this style is that it glamorizes… well… everybody. All of the characters look extremely handsome (for guys) or drop-dead gorgeous (for gals). Deadpool, though, is a book about ugliness… the ugly side of the soul, ugly urges, and ugly people. In this issue, contrarily, even the most unlikely people are beautiful. The Rhino, who has always been given a “stupid face” and simple pug-ugliness, looks intelligent, brave, and handsome. Assorted gangsters and miscellaneous bad guys throughout this book have movie-star features. Deadpool himself looks like a very handsome man with only a few unsightly sores. Even Old Man Whittaker would look all right if you erased two or three wrinkles.
So I have my doubts about UDON. The book just doesn’t seem right to me. Still, I’d be remiss if I didn’t give credit where credit’s due: these guys are fantastic. The art, the backgrounds, the coloring… it’s all beautiful, truly top-notch comic art, that raises the bar as far as effects go for just about every other artist out there. That’s something you have to acknowledge and recognize, whether or not you think the style fits the book. And that’s why despite personal reservations, I’ll give this book a high rating on art.
But as good as the art is, not even it can hold a candle to the saga that Gail Simone crafts in Deadpool #66. I’m a ‘Pool fan from way back in the early days, and words simply cannot express how good it is to read this book again and actually laugh out loud, several times. Simone has shown in two issues that she is without a doubt at least the second best writer to ever tackle Wade Wilson… and please keep an open-mind here, Kelly-fans, but she may even be the best. Her opening quotes are delightful (I’m a big fan of that old coyote line). Her supporting characters are fantastic. Her plots contain thinly-veiled slaps in the face to our culture. And Wade himself is funnier than he’s been in years.
I’ve read through the book several times trying to find some places to nitpick the story, and at least offer some criticism up… but darned if I could find anything. What I found, instead, were awesome lines (“You tried to foment me!”), outstanding irony (that gunshot at the end was classic), and amazing humour (“I love the night life. I’ve got a booger.”) OK, OK, I suppose I could nitpick: I would have liked to see more of Ratbag. He’s funny. Oh, and Hawkeye’s boxing glove arrow. As a big fan of the Avenging Archer, I’ve gotta point out that he would never, ever use one of those. That’s that other bow-and-arrow type, the teal-ish one.
However, there is one huge negative that I have to bring up about this book; like last issue, reading Deadpool #66 leaves a pit of fear in my stomach. Here we have some of the finest adventures of one of mainstream comicdom’s most unique and enjoyable characters. Deadpool is finally as good as he should be, and life is great… except for the fact that it’s all coming to an end soon. Who is Agent X? Where is Deadpool? What’s happening to the awesome costume and the amazing banter that could make Spider-Man cry? Why, oh why, after we finally get the Deadpool we want, is it being snatched from us?
But hey, Agent X will be by the same great creative team, right? So I should have faith in them. And I do. Still, perhaps the nicest thing I can say about Deadpool #66 is that it’s so good, it really bothers me that Wade Wilson might be going away.
Regardless, read this book now… while you can. It’s as good as Deadpool gets.
ART:
http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xfull.jpghttp://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xfull.jpghttp://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xfull.jpghttp://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xhalf.jpghttp://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xnone.jpg
STORY:
http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xfull.jpghttp://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xfull.jpghttp://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xfull.jpghttp://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xfull.jpghttp://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xfull.jpg
OVERALL:
http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xfull.jpghttp://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xfull.jpghttp://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xfull.jpghttp://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xfull.jpghttp://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xnone.jpg
Buy this issue online now from X-World Comics (http://www.x-worldcomics.com/x/bstore/newbooksmain.html) and save!
Quick Rating: Excellent!
Story Title: I Forget
Deadpool goes after the Rhino as he slowly loses his mind… well, more than he usually does, anyway.
Written by: Gail Simone
Art by: UDON with Alvin Lee, Rob Ross, Eric Vedder, A-Zero, & TRZ
UDON Chief: Eric Ko
Lettered by: Dave Sharpe
Assistant Editor: Mike Raicht
Editor: Mike Marts
Editor-in-Chief: Joe Quesada
President: Bill Jemas
Gail Simone and UDON have a lot in common: both are among the comic world’s hottest new talents. Both are best known for their work at Marvel. Both have a history of doing stories with television cartoon tie-in’s. Both are phenomenally talented. Now, both are working on what I’ve always argued is Marvel’s most unique book: Deadpool.
One thing that I wanted to be convinced of, though was whether or not either of them were a good fit for our favorite mercenary. Here I’m seeing a difference: Simone is without a doubt the best Deadpool scribe since Joe Kelly. UDON, on the other hand… I just don’t know. Don’t get me wrong, these guys are outstanding artists. But while I was impressed with beautiful artwork throughout this issue (just as I was with #65), I’m not quite sure that UDON are the right artists for Deadpool.
Before I get into this argument, though, let me make one thing perfectly clear: this was an outstanding issue of Deadpool for both story and art, and I’d highly recommend it to just about anybody, because it’s hard not to love it. To test this theory, I convinced somebody who doesn’t even read comics to try this issue of Deadpool, and she thought it was great! If the uninitiated will say that about a single issue of a comic, that’s a wonderful testimony to how far Marvel is progressing in making their comics more mainstream without sacrificing quality. That said, allow me to make what I hope is constructive criticism, and point out some of my favorite aspects of the book.
It may sound like nitpicking, but UDON’s rendition of Deadpool just doesn’t wash with me. With some exceptions, his body language and facial expressions don’t seem to convey the insanity and surrealism that the script show. Look at the pages where his mask is torn and we can actually see Wade’s face. His facial expressions are almost always standard super-hero stuff; serious, brave, and courageous are all adjectives that pop to mind. Those aren’t the words I want to pop into my head. What about “twisted”, “weird”, or even “homicidal”? UDON does come through for us on scenes revolving insecurity on ‘Pool’s part, though… I present as evidence the panels with Wade munching coffee, and the outstanding sequence when he gets to watch the Whittaker’s making out. I’m still laughing out loud at that last one, and I’ve read the book four times now.
Then there’s the book’s manga styling. I’ll admit, I’m not exactly the world’s biggest fan of this style of art, but contrary to what you may be thinking, that doesn’t mean I dislike UDON. Quite the opposite, they’re really turning me on to it. But one of the problems with this style is that it glamorizes… well… everybody. All of the characters look extremely handsome (for guys) or drop-dead gorgeous (for gals). Deadpool, though, is a book about ugliness… the ugly side of the soul, ugly urges, and ugly people. In this issue, contrarily, even the most unlikely people are beautiful. The Rhino, who has always been given a “stupid face” and simple pug-ugliness, looks intelligent, brave, and handsome. Assorted gangsters and miscellaneous bad guys throughout this book have movie-star features. Deadpool himself looks like a very handsome man with only a few unsightly sores. Even Old Man Whittaker would look all right if you erased two or three wrinkles.
So I have my doubts about UDON. The book just doesn’t seem right to me. Still, I’d be remiss if I didn’t give credit where credit’s due: these guys are fantastic. The art, the backgrounds, the coloring… it’s all beautiful, truly top-notch comic art, that raises the bar as far as effects go for just about every other artist out there. That’s something you have to acknowledge and recognize, whether or not you think the style fits the book. And that’s why despite personal reservations, I’ll give this book a high rating on art.
But as good as the art is, not even it can hold a candle to the saga that Gail Simone crafts in Deadpool #66. I’m a ‘Pool fan from way back in the early days, and words simply cannot express how good it is to read this book again and actually laugh out loud, several times. Simone has shown in two issues that she is without a doubt at least the second best writer to ever tackle Wade Wilson… and please keep an open-mind here, Kelly-fans, but she may even be the best. Her opening quotes are delightful (I’m a big fan of that old coyote line). Her supporting characters are fantastic. Her plots contain thinly-veiled slaps in the face to our culture. And Wade himself is funnier than he’s been in years.
I’ve read through the book several times trying to find some places to nitpick the story, and at least offer some criticism up… but darned if I could find anything. What I found, instead, were awesome lines (“You tried to foment me!”), outstanding irony (that gunshot at the end was classic), and amazing humour (“I love the night life. I’ve got a booger.”) OK, OK, I suppose I could nitpick: I would have liked to see more of Ratbag. He’s funny. Oh, and Hawkeye’s boxing glove arrow. As a big fan of the Avenging Archer, I’ve gotta point out that he would never, ever use one of those. That’s that other bow-and-arrow type, the teal-ish one.
However, there is one huge negative that I have to bring up about this book; like last issue, reading Deadpool #66 leaves a pit of fear in my stomach. Here we have some of the finest adventures of one of mainstream comicdom’s most unique and enjoyable characters. Deadpool is finally as good as he should be, and life is great… except for the fact that it’s all coming to an end soon. Who is Agent X? Where is Deadpool? What’s happening to the awesome costume and the amazing banter that could make Spider-Man cry? Why, oh why, after we finally get the Deadpool we want, is it being snatched from us?
But hey, Agent X will be by the same great creative team, right? So I should have faith in them. And I do. Still, perhaps the nicest thing I can say about Deadpool #66 is that it’s so good, it really bothers me that Wade Wilson might be going away.
Regardless, read this book now… while you can. It’s as good as Deadpool gets.
ART:
http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xfull.jpghttp://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xfull.jpghttp://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xfull.jpghttp://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xhalf.jpghttp://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xnone.jpg
STORY:
http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xfull.jpghttp://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xfull.jpghttp://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xfull.jpghttp://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xfull.jpghttp://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xfull.jpg
OVERALL:
http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xfull.jpghttp://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xfull.jpghttp://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xfull.jpghttp://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xfull.jpghttp://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xnone.jpg
Buy this issue online now from X-World Comics (http://www.x-worldcomics.com/x/bstore/newbooksmain.html) and save!