Just A Bit Of Blood Magic: Reviewing ‘Deadpool’ #9
by Scott Redmond
Overview
Family business is at the top of the list as the newest masked merc with a mouth takes on one of Marvel’s biggest heads in ‘Deadpool’ #9. Just like past issues, this series keeps finding the right way to handle the title character and those around him. Not too little, not too much, but right in that sweet spot where Deadpool actually works.
Overall
9/10Dead means dead, except when it actually doesn’t. Especially when family is willing to make one of the greatest sacrifices.
Deadpool is gone, but Deadpool and company are going to make sure that doesn’t stay the truth in Deadpool #9. Cody Ziglar, Alexis Quasarano, Andrea Di Vito, Guru-eFX, and Joe Sabino deliver the latest chapter in the merc with a mouth’s saga.
Ziglar and Quasarano continue to nail the work here, giving us some really hefty and delicious family character development stuff as well as some top tier M.O.D.O.K. fighting. Loved the zingers between Deadpool and M.O.D.O.K. as Ellie really tapped into the same — yet different — wells as her father. Plenty of action kept the issue flowing so it could fall right into the more serious stuff with the return of Deadpool.
We get one of those patented comic book moments of secrets whispered in a way that we, the reader, can’t understand. Were this some other writers, I would worry that the reveal might not live up to the mystery hype to come, but I trust Ziglar.
Using Ellie’s blood to fix up Wade, while tying them even closer together (because he needs more of her blood) was an inspired choice. I’m also glad that the stuff with Valentine wasn’t just waved away, as there is still work to be done if the duo are to be a couple again one day. Not all things can be fixed with magical rituals. Lastly, there is a character that appears here which we’ve barely seen in the past and it’s about time they had some screen time. Rather than just being a concept that was killed off before we even fully met them.
Di Vito’s art style is always so fun and heavy, just right for superheroics. There is a reason his work keeps finding its way into a lot of hero books.
It’s energetic with the right amount of whimsy and weighty depth. Characters are emotionally vibrant and move around the space with ease, as the scale of the spaces feels accurate and wide. It’s also paired well with the Guru-eFX’s heavier and darker style of colors; still chock full of vibrant lighter colors to highlight the fantastic elements. Dark shadows sprinkled throughout to heighten things and keep the rougher darker textures born of the regular art from Rogê Antônio.
Plenty of emotional bandwidth is spent here and Sabino pumps it all into each word on the page. Capturing all the voices, manipulating volume and tone through repeated changes to bubbles, fonts, and more in the moment.
Deadpool #9 is now available from Marvel Comics.
