 |
| via Launchpad Comics |
From 2009.
Yeah, so, Deadpool.
Deadpool is the embodiment of how mainstream audiences view superheroes these days. And not just mainstream audiences anymore, it seems, but even comic books fans. Hence all the success of Harley Quinn.
Deadpool represents the idea of not taking the experience too seriously. Not in a Batman & Robin kind of way, but much more thoroughly. Deadpool is the superhero whose face under the mask literally couldn't matter less. Like Spawn, he's got an ugly, scarred mug. Unlike Spawn, there's no real reason for that, no deeper story to be explored. Deadpool is Spider-Man without any of that great responsibility crap.
And in consequence of all that, how you feel about Deadpool probably depends on how you feel about superheroes in general. And how you read Deadpool should depend on how he's written. Last year I managed to find Deadpool worth reading. Fully embraced, he's really no different from Atomic Robo. He's both a commentary on everything you know and a vehicle that drives itself, even though inherently there's not a lot going on. What I mean is, taken for what he is, Deadpool practically writes himself.
Unfortunately, Marvel likes Deadpool so much it's willing to do any and everything with him. And the fact is, Deadpool has limits. So when I don't like Deadpool, I mean I hate the lazy writers who've been allowed to waste time writing Deadpool stories that are the laziest stories those writers will ever tell.
I hate lazy writers, by the way.
Merc with a Mouth featured gimmick covers as demonstrated. And gimmick crossovers, which all lazy Deadpool stories do. This one with Ka-Zar, Marvel's Tarzan. There's actually a good Deadpool story in there somewhere, but it's completely buried by lazy Deadpool nonsense. I've seen good Deadpool nonsense. This is what happens when a company wants to tell a lot of stories with a character but doesn't really know how to do it, even though it seems obvious. Deadpool is not Wolverine, who was never Batman. You can't just tell any old story. Not with a character this limited.
And yes, the crazy thing is, Deadpool has no limits. But in the wrong hands, he's completely limited. If you have no idea what I'm talking about, read any random Deadpool comic.
Or if you still don't know what I'm talking about, you're Deadpool's target audience. And why we're exactly flirting with Batman & Robin territory again. Thanks, fans...
A little Deadpool goes a long way. Reading the first volume of Deadpool comics you could see how the character started in fits and starts with a limited series here and there, which makes it hard to have a clear view of what the character is supposed to be.
ReplyDelete