
After five issues of the new Deadpool series, I am starting to be reminded of why I have never stuck with the character in any of his incarnations.
This initial story arc by writers Brian Posehn and Gerry Duggan hasn’t been bad, but it’s getting tired already.
The premise is that a misguided necromancer raised the former Presidents of the US from the dead in order to restore the country to former glory. Unfortunately, the Presidents go rogue, and are more interested in destroying everything and starting from scratch than fixing what’s wrong with the country right now. Deadpool is hired by SHIELD to return the former leaders to the grave, with the aid of Ben Franklin’s ghost and a magic sword.
Now, don’t get me wrong. The premise of this arc is great, the artwork by Tony Moore is excellent and it’s clear that Posehn and Duggan understand what makes the character of Deadpool work. BUT, much like Deadpool’s humor can fall flat sometimes, this storyline reads like a joke that has gone on too long, and thus lost any of it’s appeal. This entire arc could easily have been told in three issues, and we are now heading to a sixth. I can only see so many dead presidents dismembered before it becomes boring.
Duggan and Posehn began this series with an interesting premise, but have mined it dry. The next issue wraps up the first arc, and from there I’d really like to see shorter stories that focus on Deadpool being placed in absurd situations for one or two issues, but moving on before he overstays his welcome. The pace of this book needs to be like the humor--fast and furious. Because when Deadpool slows down, you realize what a one-trick pony he really is.
2.5 out of 5 Let’s Wrap It Ups