Start The Music, It’s A Training Montage: Reviewing ‘Deadpool’ #4

While stretching his mercenary muscles, Taskmaster — the skull mask wearing master of movement — is returning to a former title: teacher. That’s right, Deadpool’s got a favor to ask, and good old Tony is ready to dole out some hard knock learning.

Wade Wilson’s new business becomes a family affair as Deadpool #4 brings daughter Ellie deeper into the fold, as the villainous Death Grip makes a huge move. Cody Ziglar, Rogê Antônio, Eric Gapstur, Jonas Trindade, Guru-eFX, and Joe Sabino deliver the penultimate chapter in the first arc of the Merc with a Mouth’s latest series.

This is one of those issues where I find myself a bit torn.

On the Ellie/Deadpool/Taskmaster front, I like what we get here. Usually having children inherit powers and be dragged into a parent’s world feels overdone and cliché. It works here, though, because it means actually getting Ellie in the book and Wade having to confront his role as a father. Especially since the last handful of books since her debut have found ways to shelve her or ignore her existence.

Good character beats, especially the slightly more serious and contemplative Wade. I keep mentioning how much I like this version of Wade. When the issue moved to action, and he fell into a fourth wall breaking hole, I was a bit less into things. Just not huge on the fourth wall being obliterated as we get with far too much modern Wade.

That’s where I’m of two minds. Alongside the overall stuff with Death Grip feeling a bit too quick and still not fully fleshed out. Like we get his gimmick, but also the good character stuff takes up most of the real estate. Which again, I like, but it does make it hard to care all too much about the villain stuff. Especially since the solicitations seem to point to the (not all too surprising) outcome of this whole thing.

We get more artistic hands on this one. While the two styles are very noticeable in switching, they seem to carry a lot of the same qualities. A bit of roughness, smooth action, and good expression work. There are some differences to the faces overall and how characters move, but that is to be expected.

Both Antônio and Gapstur bring in very solid intriguing choices for paneling, allowing the most space possible for every moment. Be they the smaller more intimate ones, or the bigger action-packed ones. Plenty of depth and solid heaviness, thanks to the inks provided by Trindade and Gapstur respectively.

Being the book that it is, Guru-eFX brings a darker choice of palette to play. A lot of shadowy or colder colors, that really make sure the grounded and harsh vibes are strong. Plenty of splashes of brighter colors are popping up since Deadpool and others have bright super suits. Not to mention one of the characters is a big symbiote dog.

My feelings about the fourth wall breaking put aside, the voice that Ziglar and Sabino are creating for the character is a good one. Distinct, very colorful, and flows smoothly as peanut butter. Plenty of little things are dropped in by Sabino to make sure these voices resonate for the reader, while being clear and easy to follow. All the while still giving it that little visual spice that makes things even nicer.

Deadpool #4 is now available from Marvel Comics.