Written by: Peter David
Art by: Scott Koblish
Publisher: Marvel
Wade Wilson wreaking havoc with space, time, the 4th wall, and Marvel’s continuity in an effort to get his own version of Sun Tzu’s Art of War published? Absurd, you say? Of course it’s absurd, this is Deadpool we’re talking about. Whether it’s bandied about as adoration or derision, “absurd” is a universal descriptor when we’re talking about Wade. So, it shouldn’t be surprising when Peter David writes a story about him attempting to start an Asgardian war just to guarantee a publishing deal. Does Deadpool’s Art of War have what it takes to make the best seller list though, or is this one of those times that Wade deserves to end up in the slush pile?
There’s a moment in this issue in which David pokes fun at Marvel’s assortment of Loki iterations; this is the sequence where the book actually clicked for me. You see, the Deadpool in this issue, while still absurd, is not the take we see most often in modern comics. He’s wacky, but, compared to current Wade, it’s a rather subdued wacky. Similarly, David is choosing to write this book with the Deadpool iteration of his choosing. So, if you go into this book demanding endless non sequiturs and wall to wall chimichanga references then you may be let down, but, if you appreciate some of the more subtle moments that David and Koblish are working with here, then this could be an enjoyable, out of continuity story. Throwing Deadpool into fish out of water situations like this is generally good for some laughs, and his interactions with Loki and the other Asgardians provide much of the comedic material here. Also, if we see Wade follow through on his attempts then this series could prove to serve as a nice lampoon of event comics.
The art in the book has a look that is ideal for the settings, which in this issue are mainly ancient China and Asgard. Koblish’s lines and the dappled coloring by Val Staples feel right at home in both. Koblish has effectively altered his technique so that the opening portion has its own aesthetic. However, the visuals do get a bit vague in the battle scene that serves as the issue’s climax.
If this first issue is any indication, this serird should be an entertaining read, but it may prove to be too subdued for its own good, something that stands to prevent it from doing anything truly memorable.
