By Victor Gischler (Writer), Bong Dazo (Pencils), Jose Pimentel (Inks), and Matt Milla (Colors)
Some Thoughts Before The Review: There’s definitely room for another Deadpool series. The problem, however, is that Merc with a Mouth just can’t compare with the Daniel Way series. M.w.a.M. is entertaining enough and Bong Dazo is a great fit for a Deadpool comic. but it’s next to impossible to forget about cool Way’s take on the twisted character is.
The Story: Hydra, Deadpool, cavemen, and, thanks to Ka-Zar, a T-Rex battle it out as the Zombiepool head gets tossed around.
What’s Good: Deadpool: Merc with a Mouth #3 is, in nearly every way, a step forward in the right direction for the series. It’s not perfect, but it definitely hits far more than it misses. The premise lives up to its promise, the chaotic situation finally explodes in a fun, violent way (as it turns out, guns, two ‘pools, a dinosaur, and crazy cavemen make for a good mix), and the creative team manages to find a nice rhythm with the visual and dialogue-based humor (“Where’s Waldo?” on a splash page, for instance)
Writer Victor Gischler seems to take more from the Daniel Way school of Deadpool writing than he has before in Merc with a Mouth #3. As a result, the funny stuff is more satisfying all around. In addition, there’s a buddy-comedy feel to the humor that works really well. Deadpool and the zombie severed head make a pretty good team and I’m now looking forward to seeing how much Gischler can squeeze out of the pairing before real sense of Deadpool overdose sets in.
There’s a hell of a lot happening on every single page of the latest Deadpool comic. Bong Dazo and his art team handle it extremely well. Dazo’s shockingly detailed (considering how much is going on) pencil work is just the right type of crazy for what the script demands. You want an insane splash that features Hydra, a rampaging dinosaur, cavemen, a talking severed head, Deadpool, Zabu, Ka-Zar, and the sexy A.I.M. agent? You got it. Thanks to some excellent (though sometimes heavy) inking by Jose Pimentel, the chaos never gets out of control. The action is easy to follow, individual characters stand out as needed, and you never get the feeling of the visuals overwhelming the storytelling. Special mention must also go out to Matt Milla for making Deadpool: Merc with a Mouth #3 one of the most colorful, vibrant comic books I’ve seen in quite some time.
What’s Not So Good: Remember how I said that Gischler seems to take a lot from the “Daniel Way school of Deadpool writing?” That’s something of a double-edged sword because it stops Gischler’s series from feeling as though it’s truly standing out on its own merits. In addition, I wouldn’t be doing my job if I didn’t mention that, as a whole, Gischler’s take on Deadpool seems like a tiny step backward in light of what Way is doing with the character in the main series. Wade’s actually getting some depth thanks to Way, so Gischler’s back-to-basics approach must be noted.
Conclusion: If you’re in the mood for a bit more Deadpool, Merc with a Mouth #3 is definitely worth checking out. The book is a whole lot of fun and a solid addition to your weekly reading list.
Grade: B
-Kyle Posluszny