Written By: Gerry Duggan and Brian Posehn
Art By: Reilly Brown
Published By: Marvel
Perhaps the best thing about this little series (That was originally part of Marvel’s digital-only Infinite Comics collection) is that the issue contains a nice recap of events which makes it familiar for anyone who just wants to pick it up and start reading without worrying about the overall arc. To catch you up, Deadpool has basically been hired by Dracula to bring his undead bride-to-be to him in New York. And, with Deadpool being Deadpool, everything is probably going to go horribly and hilariously wrong.
The reason this short series is so great is because Gerry Duggan and Brian Posehn write Deadpool so well and really know how to nail his character. Deadpool relies on the ridiculousness of his character and Duggan and Posehn bring it out in the best ways. Deadpool drops one of the funniest jokes regarding the Marvel Universe I’ve ever seen and it really does wonders in setting the general mood of the series. As in the story is funny and kind of dark, but mostly really really funny.
The biggest thing about this series is its introduction of Shiklah. Deadpool fans will recognize her as Deadpool’s wife and this limited series marks her first appearance. It makes a great companion piece if you’re reading the ongoing Deadpool series since there’s a pretty significant amount of back story to be found regarding Shiklah and her family as well as Deadpool’s role in the whole Dracula thing. The action is a bit limited, especially considering the fact that Deadpool’s job at the moment is to basically make sure Dracula’s bride-to-be isn’t harmed, but it’s easy to see how its going to ramp up. Most of the action in this issue, for example, is on behalf of a fantastic cameo by Blade who seems to know a bit more about Dracula and the problem with Shiklah being on her way to marry him. Cameos within Deadpool series are great not just because they’re used so well (it’s nice seeing someone in a universe rip on other characters) but because Deadpool always trots out a small bio for those who are unfamiliar. In fact, I really can’t think of a character who’s so friendly to novice readers. For example, if you had no idea who Blade was, you’d at least leave this issue understanding his powers and a brief bio.
Reilly Brown’s artwork suits Deadpool extremely well. It’s bright and clean and he completely nails facial expressions for just about everything in this series (including a zebra). It would be perfectly suited for an animated series and his attention to detail (such as Shiklah’s first appearance) is gorgeous. But really the big thing within a Deadpool comic is that the artist also keeps in mind that its a character with a very large focus on humor. Brown having a bit more of a “pop” style fits it perfectly but he also knows when to dial it down and get a little darker when the focus shifts to another character or event.
This is definitely one of the best limited series you can pick up and it’s a must for any Deadpool fans who didn’t have the chance to read this when it was digital only.
