- Written by: Cody Ziglar
- Art by: Rogê Antônio
- Colors by: GURU-eFX
- Letters by: VC’s Joe Sabino
- Cover art by: Taurin Clarke
- Cover price: $4.99
- Release date: April 3, 2024
Deadpool #1 finds Deadpool down in the dumps after a recent breakup, so he buries himself in his work, which leads to a chance encounter with a powerful sorcerer.
Is Deadpool #1 Good?
Well, here we are again. A new #1 with a new creative team to keep Deadpool at the forefront as Deadpool 3, aka Deadpool & Wolverine, draws closer to release in movie theaters this Summer. Does Cody Ziglar’s crack at the Merc with a Mouth land any better than the previous run by Alyssa Wong? Yes, but not by much.
Despite the #1 on the cover, this issue picks up months after the previous run left off. This time, Deadpool is nursing a broken heart after he and Valentine broke up. Lamenting his lack of romance in his life, Deadpool throws himself into his work with Princess (his symbiote dog, birthed in Alyssa Wong’s run) by his side. Wade hacks, slashes, and shoots his way to reach his current bounty, a tech genius with portal powers, in Canada.
When Wade finally corners the slippery target, he’s beaten to the punch by some kind of sorcerer who quickly finds interest in Deadpool’s immortality. The issue ends with the promise of more to come from the mysterious magic wielder.
What’s great about Deadpool #1? If you’re a fan of Deadpool’s cavalier method of contract killing, this issue is (almost) wall-to-wall action. Deadpool loses limbs, guts, and flesh while he tears through the opposition. And to be fair, the potential villain of this story is curious.
What’s not so great about Deadpool #1? Cody Ziglar stumbles badly getting Wade’s voice right. Deadpool has a sharp, manic, outrageousness to his character that makes him funny without being annoying or obnoxious. Ziglar slathers on the heartbreak to make Deadpool glum with a sad patina of sarcasm. Alyssa Wong’s run quickly went bad and fell off a cliff, so the wrong choice to make is to try and build on Wong’s faulty foundation while presenting an unfunny and unfun personality to boot.
In short, Deadpool works because he makes killing fun. There is no fun in what Ziglar gives readers, so all you’re left with is that friend from work who can’t stop moping after a bad relationship experience. You feel bad for the guy, but you don’t want to hang out with him either.
How’s the art? Rock solid. Rogê Antônio does a fine job with the action choreography, firefights, and the overall violence. That said, Rogê Antônio missed an opportunity to compensate for Ziglar’s lack of humor by having Deadpool’s severed legs grow back with pants fully intact.
About The Reviewer: Gabriel Hernandez is the Publisher & EIC of ComicalOpinions.com, a comics review site dedicated to indie, small, and mid-sized publishers.
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Bits and Pieces
Deadpool #1 gives readers plenty of action, but Ziglar misses the boat by delivering a Deadpool who is more sarcastic sadsack than the Merc with a Mouth. Deadpool’s personality sets him apart, so missing out on what makes Deadpool special, building the story on Alyssa Wong’s fatally flawed run, makes this issue feel like a non-starter.
Weird Science Marvel Comics 