Limbo. Illyana’s Lair. Colossus, finally at the spot where he failed a year ago – stands before Illyana’s black onyx door.
There is an ad for the Powers Season 1 BluRay, now I can watch that show! I do like how Michael Avon Oeming’s name comes before Brian Michael Bendis’, that is a nice touch.
The problem is that Darkchild is not at home. Madelyne Prior is also surprised that Darkchild is not sitting on her throne but she doesn’t care. The empty seat is ripe for the taking, and that’s all Maddie wanted.
Colossus and Domino share a moment, he is worried about their limited time in Limbo. Domino is whispering but that is pointless as Maddie has telepathic powers. Maddie can see what Darkchild is up to.
X-Headquarters. Unfortunately, Darkchild is about to switch targets in this war.
Scott shits himself, as the demons and their leader, are right outside his door.
Colossus wants to take everyone home to fight off his sister’s army. Havok and Maddie (and the others) laugh at the idiot. There is a giant forcefield that is keeping everyone inside Limbo. Darkchild and her army are no longer stuck, as they can use Nightcrawler, who is soulless now and being ridden like He-Man’s Battlecat. Colossus is sadden over Kurt’s current state.
Pryor tries to draw attention to the bright side of this. She is the new Queen of Limbo and Colossus got his evil sister, out of Limbo. Maddie implies that Darkchild was all powerful in Limbo, but out there, she is limited in her resources.
See an inch below Banshee? That’s Shadowcat, taking names!
Jean, who apparently didn’t die in the first issue, refers to the Nightcrawler themed creature as, Bamf Dragon. She reads its mind and realizes that it is Nightcrawler. This information stuns Scott.
Darkchild makes short work of both Captain Britain and Rogue. I sort of love this Illyana, completely free of her good side and playing for keeps.
Scott calls his X-Men, to him. They must keep the forcefield up or the entire city will be destroyed. The magic crew – Brother Voodoo, Forge, Nico, Vision and Broo come onto the scene. Scott isn’t happy as they are needed to keep the magical forces at bay. Forge claims that Beast and Doctor Strange can hold the forcefield together. That is when Scott realizes that Darkchild is not on the battlefield. With the protection spells, in place, Illyana can’t teleport into the building.
Beast and Doctor Strange are taken by surprised when Darkchild, riding Nightcrawler, comes into their room.
Domino has a quick chat with Colossus. She tries to finally get him to recognize that his sister is lost. Colossus has to realize that their fight is over. They kiss, as that’s all that they really can do.
Maddie calls the lovers’ attention to outside, as the forcefield crumbles.
Scott can’t believe that Darkchild has allowed this to happen. He asks her, foolishly, what is she doing. Her response is so awesome – I’ve won. Next issue is going to be intense!
Meanwhile, the issue ends with the reveal that Mister Sinister is the puppet master. It makes sense that he will show up, in this series, as he is the only player from the original crossover that hasn’t appeared yet.
In the same vein of Punisher Kills the Marvel Universe (a one shot I have to rebuy one of these days), comes this miniseries. I only read this issue, as this is the X-Men issue.
Here is what happened in the previous two issues. Deadpool has already killed – The Fantastic Four, Spider-Man, Avengers and the Hulk. Taskmaster has been hired to stop Deadpool, who is feeling compelled to keep murdering heroes.
Taskmaster is following the path of destruction that Deadpool has left. Taskmaster comes across several of Multiple Man’s bodies, a beheaded Green Goblin and have caused Power Pack’s ship to crash. The death of Power Pack spurs Taskmaster to make sure Deadpool dies for this. I’m sure that makes Brian Perillo happy.
We catch up with Deadpool, who is currently torturing Xavier, who is sitting in front of thirty television sets. Deadpool stabs Xavier in the leg, forcing him to summon his X-Men with his classic “to me, my X-Men.” To they come, as why wouldn’t they?
Cyclops is leading Emma Frost, Cannonball and Pixie – when he gets a red glob thrown at his head. Cyclops, foolishly, tries to blast it off his face and his entire head explodes. It was worth a shot, I suppose. Emma, Sam and Pixie die in the fallout.
We get hints that Deapdool is killing everybody, as he knows they are all fictional characters.
Next up is Colossus, Gambit and Rogue – so one of these should be getting a great death. Colossus is trying to hold up a falling door when the floor electrocutes the three of them. That was a twist!
Xavier tries to read or control Deadpool’s mind but he’s never really been able to, in the past.
Deadpool decides to let Xavier in on the secret. In issue one, I imagine, Psycho Man messed with Deadpool’s head. Deadpool has known he’s been breaking the fourth wall but he finally realizes what is beyond the fourth way.
Xavier is done with the madness and shuts down Deadpool’s head, well tries to, anyway as whatever he saw, kills him.
Deadpool is disappointed in Xavier’s easy death. He checks in on Magneto, who is dead inside jellified acid.
Finally, is Kitty Pryde. Here we go. That isn’t a bad costume design, pretty much her classic outfit with a stylish red headband.
Deadpool couldn’t quite figure out how to kill Kitty so he contains her, and she’ll probably starve in there. I like to think, that after this issue – she makes it out and is sad about what she finds, outside of her cage.
Wolverine is still running around, Deadpool thought he killed him already. Wolverine runs into Arcade, who is crying about the use of his MurderWorld. Wolverine straight kills Arcade, for his involvement.
Wolverine enters another room. He sees X23 and Daken, dangling from wires. Deadpool informs Wolverine that the computer is set up, so whenever their healing factors kick in, flamethrowers turn on.
We get another Deadpool v Wolverine fight. Deadpool is armed with a carbonadium blade, so Wolverine’s wounds are going to stick. Deadpool explains to Wolverine that it isn’t his healing factor that keeps Wolverine coming back. It is his popularity.
There is a two page ad for Hickman’s two-part crossover involving The Wizard. Fantastic Four 610 (art by Stegman) and FF 22 (art by Dragotta). Something to do with Bad Father / Worse Son.
Meanwhile, over at 177A Bleecker Street. Taskmaster is inside Doctor Strange’s home. He isn’t impressed with the detour. Doctor Strange has been killed but clearly Deadpool was looking for something, as books are thrown in every direction. Even upside down!
Issue ends with what Deadpool was looking for, the directions to . . . the Nexus of All Realities! Next issue is going to have Man-Thing, ya’ll!
There is a full page ad for Punisher 16, Prepare for the War Zone by Greg Rucka and Marco Checchetto.
Also next issue, Punisher gets Punished!
Not that many X-Men actually die in this issue, Ten for sure, and three more eventually and maybe four if Kitty doesn’t make it out.
I must have been reading this series, but I don’t recall much about it.
Here is what happened in Part One. Essentially, it tied up anything from the previous storyline and ended with Deadpool watching Cyclops’ big speech that all mutants are welcomed on Utopia. Deadpool wants to be an X-Man!
Right off the bat, with the first page, we have the reason why I bought it and maybe the reason why I shouldn’t. This goes back to my issue with how Magma and Magik look similar, from a distance. Typically, Magik has bangs and Magma doesn’t. Magma usually has basketball sized breasts and Magik . . . doesn’t. The Blonde, in the New Mutants costume, looks like the confusing combination of both, that we get from time to time. She doesn’t appear later, so this is one of those, take it or leave it, situations.
comicbookdb agrees with me but Marvel Database believes it is Magma. Now, to be honest, I was probably the guy who listed Magik, on the comicbookdb but no one has corrected that, so I still stand by it.
Deadpool asks Cyclops if he can stay on Utopia. Cyclops says “hello no” which is super understandable.
Later That Day. Wolverine tells Cyclops that wasn’t the way to handle Deadpool. Dagger is there, as this is after the Dark X-Men. Has her costume always been that revealing? I know it has been but Medina has drawn her with larger breasts so it seems even more mature.
Deadpool is too volatile to be trusted on a small island nation but he is too dangerous to not be contained on a small island. Dagger, who doesn’t know of Deadpool, wonders what is so bad about him. Cyclops and Wolverine, in a fun moment, say at the same time “everything.” I missed these days of Cyclops and Wolverine.
Dagger, proving how much of an outsider she is, says that people say the same thing about Wolverine. How she is even in the same room with these two, I’m not even sure. Dagger further points out that isn’t this the point of Utopia, to take in those who the world doesn’t want. Dagger, looking outside, states that most mutants (at this point) have checkered pasts, and they are accepted here.
Meanwhile. Deadpool is upset as the X-Men are hypocrites. I’m reminded of why I didn’t like Way’s run. Deadpool has his classic yellow narration boxes but now he has this second white narration box, running commentary as well.
which seems confusing to me but I’m not aware of who Madcap is.
Deadpool decides he’ll show Cyclops some of his sweet moves. Just then, Mercury’s father – Ellis Kincaid – goes on live television and declares that the X-Men are keeping him away from his daughter. The United States government are powerless to do anything, so he is trying to bring media awareness.
Cyclops is watching this, standing behind a sitting Prodigy. Prodigy explains how Mr. Kincaid has been on financial hard times. That is, until Norman Osborn bought out his businesses. So Kincaid is working for Osborn, who is still upset about losing to Cyclops. Cyclops doesn’t recognize the last name, Kincaid. Luckily, Mercury comes into the room, apologizing for her father. Turns out, Ellis has been the definition of a deadbeat father and barely has any connection to Mercury. She’s afraid of being kicked off Utopia but Cyclops isn’t going to play that game. It is a simple matter of having Mercury emancipated. He’s going to call Angel’s lawyers and get them working on that. A couple exchanges of paperwork and this shouldn’t be a story, after a few days.
There is an ad for Halo 3 ODST, I only played a little bit of it – I didn’t see the big attraction to the game franchise.
Deadpool has found an abandon warehouse and starts preparing to take out Mr. Kincaid.
Cyclops and Wolverine enlist Domino to seek out Deadpool. These Domino pages, the bulk of the rest of the issue, are delightful! Domino is confused, as she has bad history with Deadpool but Wolverine believes that makes her perfect candidate.
Deadpool is sitting up his sniper post and completely ignores Domino, as she tries to offer him a place on Utopia.
Utopia, later that day. Domino is telling Cyclops the story of what happened next – as we see the events unfold. Deadpool takes note of Domino, finally, and threatens to kill her. He is under the impression that she was sent here to kill him.
There is a half page ad for Sentry’s guest spot in Moon Knight 2, by Gregg Hurwitz and Jerome Opena. Coming in October 2009. There is a full page ad for Wolverine : Weapon X 6 by Jason Aaron and Yanick Paquette.
Early that morning. We see Deadpool is making 372,944 pancakes. Back to Domino, Deadpool forces her to walk on top of a sky light. He breaks the glass under her feet and we see her land on the pancakes. To which, she slaps Cyclops for making her even go through any of this nonsense.
Domino asks about the motivation of the pancakes. Either, Deadpool would have ate pancakes with an old friend or he would have killed an old friend and ate pancakes afterwards. I like how they both do end up eating pancakes together.
One of Deadpool’s conditions of joining the X-Men, is that he wants to be able to wear his own X-Uniform. Essentially it is one of the New Mutants costumes, but with Deadpool’s name on the back – like a jersey.
Deadpool still wants to show Cyclops his moves, so he reveals to Domino that he still plans on killing Mr. Kincaid.
There is a full page ad for Incredible Hulk 603, by Greg Pak and Ariel Olivetti – which has Bruce Banner, Hulk’s son Skaar, Wolverine and his son, Daken.
Either the next issue or the conclusion has this fun moment when Deadpool makes a reference that Domino completely gets and this frightens her because she is getting a glimpse of how his brain works. I no longer own that issue but this was a fun arc.
Now. Battleworld. Deadpool is still under the impression that the heroes are dead. Just then the Lizard jumps at him, as Lizard is under the impression that Deadpool may be the one who broke Wasp’s heart. So did Deadpool get Magneto’s role from the original Secret Wars story? Deadpool admits to Wasp using and seducing him, so that doesn’t help matters. Deadpool ends up ripping off Lizard’s tail, which seems rather harsh.
A Few Days Earlier. Deadpool is with the X-Men as they prepare to leave the hero’s base for Magneto’s. We get some funny comments from Deadpool here. Storm states that they will bear no oppression and Deadpool chimes in that they will also not oppress any bears. Wolverine sees where this is heading and tells Deadpool that he isn’t a mutant, thus he shouldn’t be there. Deadpool defends himself – Wolverine stabs things, so does he. Storm has control over lightning but he can sense the electricity. Strangely, he states that he can’t teleport like Nightcrawler, which throughout his first ongoing, he was teleporting all over the place – so maybe that came with the Joe Kelly’s legendary run?
Xavier senses Spider-Man and we get that quick fight where Spider-Man defends himself against the entire X-Men, which still seems out of place.
Brian Cronin of Comics Should Be Good, writes more about it her e-
or really, whenever he can bring up Spider-Man, he mentions how Spider-Man trounced the X-Men to great humorous effect.
Spider-Man runs off and Deadpool gives chase. Spider-Man wants to find the other heroes and snitch on the defectors.
Spider-Man enters a room full with shields, with images of events the series, both of the past and yet to come scenarios.
We get a pretty nice Deadpool v Spider-Man fight sequence. The fight ends with Spider-Man swinging Deadpool into the shields and he webslings away.
Deadpool grabs a shield and meets back up with Xavier and Wolverine. Xavier has mind wiped Spider-Man, so the X-Men’s plan is okay. Xavier senses some sort of psychic energy off of Deadpool’s sword. We get the image of Ryan Reynolds, as Deadpool, spoofing Burt Reynolds’ pose on the carpet in front of a fireplace.
Now. Deadpool is trying to talk sense into Lizard. Deadpool tells Lizard that he is trying to save the Wasp, which calms Lizard down.
That Time With The Mountain. The classic moment from Secret Wars 4, with the mountain being dropped on the heroes, including Deadpool. Hulk is holing it up as Reed tries to make a machine to free them. Deadpool takes on the role of angering the Hulk, which frees up Reed.
There is a fun gag about Deadpool trying to make Captain America jealous as Deadpool’s shield showed him pictures and all Cap’s shield does is be thrown. Reed takes the machinery out of Deadpool’s shield, which Deadpool is sure that Cap must be happy about that.
Now. Lizard tells Deadpool that Wasp fixed up Lizard’s arm, which is why he is so protective of her.
Earlier. Zsaji, the healer, is healing She-Hulk. She-Hulk sees that Deadpool is hurting but he is only hurting emotionally as he misses his shield. She tells him to go get healed, which Zsaji is just finishing up with Human Torch. She heals Deadpool, and with the cancer gone, he is handsome and mustachio. He picks her up and proclaims his love for her. We can see that Human Torch never got to bag her, so that probably means Colossus will not be falling for her either.
The issue ends with the shield flickering to life and showing Deadpool holding Zsaji in that classic Pieta pose.
Next issue promises to deal with Secret Wars 8 with the symbiotic black costume but on Deadpool! of course
Issue opens with a Morlock looking dude dragging Meltdown’s almost dead body to his master. Who is a scientist.
Goblin District, Inferno. Maddie Pryor has summoned the bulk of her horde. She introduces Colossus to them and then throws him down at them. I love her insults about Colossus, and his tiny red shorts.
S’ym and Havok have a quick discussion, explaining (to us, I imagine) what the Goblin Queen’s true intentions are. She is hoping to incite a riot and force Colossus to fight back the masses and earn their respect.
One of the demons, riding a giant green T-Rex like demon, takes the first shot at Colossus. The goblin has the ability to possess anything demonic – so he is able to control Colossus’ right arm that Darkchild twisted and corrupted.
Colossus has already spent six of his allotted twenty four hours. I don’t quite recall what happens at the twenty four hour period, besides Cyclops getting to say, I told you so. Colossus gets mad enough to drop the goblin.
Maddie Pryor is happy that her scheme is working. Colossus discovered Illyana’s soulsword and grabs it. His Rasputin blood makes it so that he can wield it. It helps that he uses his demon enchanted hand. It makes him radically stronger (and cooler). The horde now both fear and respect him. He can be the leader now.
The Goblin Queen’s Prision. Meanwhile . . . Domino runs into young Nate Summers, whose Techno-Organic virus is running rampant over his left side of his body. They are getting along nicely, which is an awesome call back to their friendship in the former Marvel Universe. They bond over their mutual love for armory.
The Darkchild’s Base of Operations. We see what Darkchild is up to with Nightcrawler, it isn’t good.
Darkchild has been torturing her former friend (it has been five years so the friendship is probably waning). as another demon watches and enjoys the show. The demon’s name is, N’astirh. Kurt makes the mistake of referring to his soul, which Darkchild is attempting to break.
Poor poor Kurt. He gets his soul ripped out of him! This title just got even more intense!
Colossus wants to know where Maddie got his sister’s sword. Illyana, apparently, got cocky and dropped it and never came back for it. Colossus starts to have a running commentary in his head but Pryor can read his mind, which is new.
The Goblin Queen suggests a partnership, as they both want the same thing – Illyana Rasputin, back to the way she was.
Colossus wants Illyana alive and Pyror doesn’t necessarily need that to be the case. She explains that the soulsword, used against the Darkchild, should save her.
A grenade is dropped into the room and Colossus takes the blunt of it. Domino comes in, armed and Nate can’t believe what his new friend is attempting to do. Nathan is upset as he doesn’t want his mother to be harmed. Colossus strikes Nathan, which is harsh as he is a man and Nathan is barely a teenager.
This may be my favorite page of the issue. I sort of love seeing Maddie being a mother to Nathaniel, we barely got to see that in the proper issues.
Nathan wants to be called, Cable and the look on Maddie’s face is awesome and priceless.
Colossus is reunited with his girlfriend, Domino, so he only needs to find Kurt and Meltdown now.
Gagzee, a spy – I imagine – quickly tells Darkchild that her brother not only has her souldsword but has aligned himself with the Goblin Queen.
Darkchild isn’t even breaking a sweat.
The issue ends with Darkchild revealing Nightcrawler’s current state, which looks like an awesome dragon thing. It most likely resembles a proper nightcrawler, but larger. Shit is getting real, yo!
It isn’t that as a nightcrawler is a worm, which I forget that.
I had to add the Adi Granov variant to my wishlist as Hastings didn’t get the variant for this issue or Secret War Journal.
In this region of Battleworld (but it doesn’t have the Battleworld banner, for some reason), Limbo won Inferno instead of the X-Men. Now it is five years later.
Inferno : Year Four. Empire State Building. Colossus is Cyclops’ perfect soldier, all year long. But on the anniversary of the X-Men’s defeat, Colossus gets to lead a team into the Limbo controlled section of the realm and attempt to save Illyana.
On the fourth year, the X-Men got closer than they have ever been before. This level’s boss fight is with N’astiah — Silver-tongued demon lord. The X-Men on this mission are – Nightcrawler, Boomer, Cyclops, Jean, Beast and Colossus.
Jean uses her telekinesis to throw Cyclops at N’astiah. In a counter attack, N’Astiah deeply hurts Cyclops. This enrages Jean and it blows up the top of the building.
Colossus sees his younger sister, for the first time in four years. Instead of being a baby, she is still a teenager. Illyana plays sweet and innocent to get him closer and then she turns all types of evil.
Illyana converts to Darkchild, Illyana Raputin’s demon form, ruler of Inferno. In doing so, she twists Colossus’ dumb arm so much that it is no longer functional.
364 Days Later. (so the present day).
6am – Colossus has been awake and his girlfriend, Domino, is now waking up. I do enjoy the Colossus / Domino relationship, I’m glad that their relationship has survived into Secret Wars 2015.
6:01am – They talk about how tomorrow this the big day.
6:13am – They bone in the shower
6:48am – Colossus is reviewing his former paintings of his sister. Domino rather they used the room as a guest room or a gym.
7:23am – The couple go on patrol.
11:45am – They fight Inferno-infused Omega Red.
1:19pm – They chase down Pyro.
5:32pm – Boomer can’t wait for tomorrow.
11:11pm – Colossus has marked the day off.
3am – Colossus can’t sleep.
Inferno. Year Five. X-Headquarters. The couple, plus, Boomer, are excited about who the team and what supplies will they be bringing. The X-Men have learned that they need to combined magic with technology, if they are to ever stand a chance. Doctor Strange, Wiccan, Nico (of Runaways fame) and a fourth person, make up the magic side of the research time.
Colossus asks Beast about what tech they are bringing. Beast doesn’t know how to respond. Turns out, earlier, when the narration box states that Scott’s sacrifice was enough to set Jean off, they just meant his use of his legs. Scott, of course, is in a hoverchair, just like Professor X, but he gets to keep his hair. Scott says that last year’s price was too high and they are no longer going to do this. Which seems like a dick move, to not tell Colossus prior to this day.
Scott also mentions how he is the baron of the region, which I’m surprised it isn’t Magik. I imagine Doom can work easier with Scott.
Kitty, according to Marvel Database – but I agree it has to be her, but why she isn’t more interested in pursuing the rescue mission, or on the mission itself, is beyond me. Kitty tells Scott that is is a dick move and he agrees to allow Colossus to go, but he is on his own and with any other fools who want to go with him.
Later. Colossus, Domino, Boomer and Nightcrawler are in Inferno. Kurt had to come to get them in and out of the dome. They take out the first wave of demons, rather easily. Too easily as thousands of demons come at them. Boomer is killed by N’astirh – via arm through her chest.
Darkchild is thrilled to have Kurt, as a prisoner, as he can teleport. I imagine, since Limbo is a place on Earth, that Illyana can’t teleport as she can’t access the other dimension. Darkchild, her right hand demon and Kurt leave.
Colossus attempts to fight his way away from the demons. The day is lost but he won’t know by how much until it is too late. Domino starts being dog piled on by the demons.
The issue ends with Madelyn Pryor — Jean Grey Clone and Goblin Queen, arriving and has grabbed Domino. With her is Alex Summers — former X-Man, current Goblin Prince and Queen’s concubine. Which gives me an awesome Mutant X vibe, and I’m all for that.
This series seems to be about the darker aspects of Battleworld, and i’m all for that. I can only imagine that Magik keeps playing a major role in the series, so I imagine I will be getting all of the issues and I can’t wait!
This miniseries has an awesome premise – What If Deadpool was involved in the Original Secret Wars? And the story is pretty great.
The Surface of Battleworld. Now… (Circa 1984…) Deadpool is surrounded by the remmants of Cap’s shield and Thor’s arm and hand grasping for Mjolnir. Deadpool is healing, so this scene takes place around the third issue or so.
Days Earlier. We get the recreation of the top panel of the page below from the first issue of Secret Wars. I like that the introduction scene is giving the double page splash page – it seems like a moment that should be highlighted.
Plus we get some additional scenes and dialogue (as Deadpool is now there). Points still go out to Colossus for making sure that Lockheed is introduced. I’m sure the Avengers are pretty impressed with the X-Men having a purple space dragon counted amongst them.
Magneto has an awesome introduction, he should present himself more often.
Deadpool comments Wasp on her big balloons, her word balloons. Secret Wars really should have been funnier than it was. The stakes were not that high. Deadpool is just like Spider-Man but with guns and charm. Just to let everybody know how ‘off’ this issue is – Secret Wars 1 came out in May 1984 (cover dated) and New Mutants Volume One 98 is cover dated, February 1991. Which is seven years before Deadpool’s first appearance.
Deadpool makes a reference to Iron Man but he doesn’t know that the man in the iron mask is Rhody and not Tony Stark.
Deadpool asks if the X-Men recognize him and no one does, including Wolverine. Captain America states that everyone is noble and just and Deadpool points out that Magneto is on their ship.
We see the ships that the two groups of costumed individuals are on. It was pointed out to me that the ships they are on (seen in the image above) is the same style ship that the Proper Marvel characters used as their Life Raft in Secret Wars 2015 1.
Xavier senses that there is overwhelming evil from the other ship. Deadpool doesn’t miss a beat to point out how he is on the hero ship.
The Beyonder announces the goal of the miniseries (and the maxiseries) slay your enemies and what you desire is yours. Deadpool whips out his swords and wants to murder the villains so quickly. This scares the assembled heroes. Deadpool whispers to Wolverine, I love all of Deadpool’s asides in the issue – and asks how Wolverine can tolerate all of this goody good shoes. Wolverine states that the bulk of his healing factor is used to repair his pride. It is this page that I realize that Deadpool has a “DP” in the same style of Daredevil’s DD – and he isn’t in this series.
The heroes, including Lockheed!, teleport to the surface of this, Battleworld. Reed doesn’t see any villains but Wasp points out that Magneto is standing right over the hill. Magneto is tired of all of this finger pointing, and knocks the heroes backwards. He flies off after stating that only Thor deserves to stand counted amongst him.
Xavier asks who should be their leader, he is in a wheelchair. Reed turns it down, as he is distracted as his wife is pregnant with their second child, and back at home. Hulk isn’t interested. Wasp defers to Captain America, who accepts the role. Wolverine won’t follow a mere human but Deadpool tells him to get in line as you don’t want to be seen as Anti-American.
Now… Deadpool is resting and healing.
The first battle. Look who Lockheed is bravely taking on! The Absorbing Man! That Lockheed, he goes for the tough foes.
Cyclops is tending to Colossus, as he is the worst. Wolverine v Wrecker. Cap v Thunderball. Spider-Man v Doctor Octopus, careful! I forget that Kang is involved in Secret Wars. He doesn’t do much, from what I can remember.
Deadpool fights Lizard, who scratches his outfit. This enrages Deadpool as there isn’t a machine that repairs clothes here – which there is and Deadpool knows in a fourth wall breaking fashion. Deadpool flirts with Enchantress and She-Hulk. Enchantress is disgusted and She-Hulk wants him to focus up.
Absorbing Man absorbs Deadpool, hoping to learn what his powers are. That isn’t how Absorbing Man works, right? It has to be inanimate objects – that is how I know his powerset. Absorbing Man absorbs Deadpool’s cancer, so that isn’t great.
Deadpool takes out Kang, single handedly – which is up there with Squirrel Girl’s abilities!
The heroes are getting the unconscious villains ready to be their prisoners. Cap sends Storm to do some recon.
Now. Deadpool is feeling better and starts heading outside. As this section of the issue ends with us seeing Deadpool, fully healed, shirtless and with a beautiful head of blonde hair and a mustache to match!
Here is hoping that Lockheed keeps showing up in this! He appears in three issues of the original Secret Wars and in two issues of the four of Spider-Man & Secret Wars. So if his track record holds, he should appear in one more issue of this. I imagine it will be the final and fourth issue.
. . .
Contest of Champions : Bonus Round
Writer Cullen Bunn
Artist Jacopo Camagni
Colorist Veronica Gandini
Letterer VC’s Joe Sabino
Contest of Champions’ first issue came out in June 1982, two years prior to Secret Wars; thus nine years before Deadpool was a thing.
Camagni really likes to draw Kitty from behind!
Can’t really blame the art team for not making sure costumes match from the original series. It shouldn’t have been hard to get it right, as the trade is still in print – I believe. Shamrock and Kitty both should have a full head mask, but that’s okay.
Deadpool is speaking on the behalf of the the B-Level characters (perhaps C-Level) as the Grandmaster and Death have chosen their champions. So the two contestants make a bonus round.
In addition to their proper champions –
Grandmaster’s Team is – Captain America, Talisman, Darkstar, Wolverine, Captain Britain, Defensor, Sasquatch, Daredevil, She-Hulk, le Peregine, Blitzkrieg and Thing.
Deaths’ team is – Iron Man, Vanguard, Shamrock, Iron Fist, Storm, Arabian Knight, Sabra, Angel, Invisible Woman, Black Panther, Sunfire and the Collective Man.
For the bonus round, their champions are –
Grandmaster’s Team – Rocket Racer, She-Man-Thing, Vile Tapeworm and Frogman
Death’s Team – Deadpool, Howard the Duck, Doop and Pink Sphinx
She-Man-Thing is terffic in this issue, I wish she was a real character – or that she became a bigger character now. I’m all for Death’s team. I forget that I actually do enjoy Doop.
Deadpool wants to split up, immediately but Howard tells him that is foolish. Pink Sphinx, also a new character (along with Vile Tapewom) reveals the hidden object is in Patricia’s Platinum Playroom. Deadpool wishes she just whispered the information as now the other side knows where to look. Deadpool knows where that location is, in St. Louis so he will seek it out and asks Doop and Howard to hold back the other side. Essentially splitting from the group.
Deadpool grabs the object and the issue ends with the object just being a Participant globe, which upsets everybody. Well, except for Death who makes out with Deadpool – in an awesome reference to Joe Kelly’s run on Deadpool, wherein Death is attracted to Deadpool. Which, yes, Kelly does involved Thanos eventually, which may be my favorite Thanos appearance.
This is another comic that I got in Great Falls from Kelly’s Komix. With this purchase, I now own all of the regular issues of this series. Now my Wishlist, only has the two variants for the first issue, and the variants for issues 13 and 29.
This the conclusion of the American military invading Utopia (a plot of dead land given to the mutants, in New Mexico – that they turn it around and made into a living and thriving land). It also sets up the next storyline, Utopia (Shadowcat) v Tian (Jean Grey).
No wonder Bendis wanted Asrar for his All New X-Men visiting the Ultimate X-Men storyline.
This issue opens with Rogue, who has always been close to “Utopia” the greenery of the land. She speaks to it and believes it speaks to her, and she sics the foliage onto the invading military. It does so, with ease.
Jean is with a dying Psylocke, or whoever this is suppose to be as Psylocke has died twice already, in the Ultimate Universe. The first time, she switched bodies with a Japanese gal (of course) and then some time again, after that. Before she dies, she tells Jean that her mission was to perverse the end of the mutant race. She entrusts Jean with this mission. Farbird, who is Jean’s right hand flying metal spy fella, is Jean’s companion here.
I do like how Wood, throughout his run on this title, choose to skip big fight scenes and just show the beginning and the tail end of them. We don’t need to waste a page or four, with people throwing punches and kicks. General Ross (that one) calls for a cease fire. With Psylocke’s death, the mutants she was controlling are now free.
Shadowcat, now that the fighting is over, allows Ross to approach her.
I do miss seeing Ultimate Shadowcat, dressed all in white. I still say that it is an odd choice for someone is essentially living out in the desert and on the land, but she rarely gets dirty, so she makes it work. The clothes really make her stand out. Plus, it is always good to have a color scheme. Not sure why that idea was dropped for All New Ultimates, probably because not many people read Ultimate Comics X-Men, especially not those who work for Ultimate Marvel, as nothing in this run is ever referenced in All New Ultimates nor anything that Bendis wrote.
Ross has ordered a full retreat and withdrawal. Ross offers some advice, Shadowcat has won their independence, they own their land and an ideology. His advice is that she should try to not reminding humans how scary mutants can be. Mutants should lay low, which is the opposite of what Jean will be doing next.
Shadowcat informs Ross, that that was never mutants intentions. Mutants are the victims and the “let’s blame the victims” mentality needs to end. Mutants have tried to hide and they are always chased from the shadows. Ross tries to turn it around, saying that they are young and should live life and enjoy life. Shadowcat informs him, and I love how she isn’t just going to allow him to talk in generalities – she tells him that they all wish they could have had childhoods.
Once the military is gone, the X-Men try to rebuild. Mach Two and Shadowcat hug it out, as they no longer need to be fighting over leadership – especially as Mach Two isn’t being mind controlled. Which explains why Mach Two had such a drastic character change from the scared little girl Shadowcat found in the old Morlock tunnels, to being so confident and causing a rift in the mutant community of Utopia.
The mutants have grown, Shadowcat’s ideology was never compromised, they stayed on target. The mutants are proud, pleased and loyal.
Jean and Farbird are discussing their next plans. She orders him to go to Tian, in under two hours (he would prefer three) and access her Operation : Supersonic project. Jean is hoping to not go this far but if she must, she will.
There is an ad for Guardians of the Galaxy 5, Angela (from the pages of Spawn) is joining the title. Brought to us by Bendis, Gaiman and Pichelli – but Gaiman is mostly there for the copyright issue. The issue came out in July 2013, and Angela is in the Marvel Universe due to the events of Age of Ultron.
Shadowcat and Jean are having an official meeting. Shadowcat is pleased to see that Jean is no longer pretending to be “Karen Grant.” Jean can’t believe that Shadowcat could see through that disguise. Shadowcat states it is due to the sentient seed, which I was tempted to refer to the jungle as “the seed” which should teach me to not read the full issue before doing the review for it. But I sort of like reading the comic and writing the review at the same time. Shadowcat was never fooled by the disguise.
I love how Shadowcat crosses the room, with such confidence. She refuses to let Utopia fall under the umbrella of the hateful, Tian. Shadowcat wants Utopia to be a save haven for mutants and humans, to co-exist. Especially as segregated societies have never worked, anywhere nor anytime.
Jean will never understand Utopia and should just leave.
Jean grabs Shadowcat, by the neck, and shouts at her. I’m reminded that Jean and Kitty barely had any real scenes together, so it isn’t like they were ever best friends. Jean was always on the A-Team and Kitty ran with the B-Team, hence why she survived post Ultimatum.
Jean calls Utopia an embarrassment to mutants and Shadowcat just phases Jean’s hand always from her – so great. Shadowcat is not prone to fighting, as it is mostly pointless.
Jean is finally willing to listen to reason. I like how slyly Shadowat hints that Jean doesn’t have her telepathy here, the jungle shuts it down. Shadowcat wouldn’t have minded a Sister Nation partnership between the two communities but she refuses to work with Jean.
I get why Bendis didn’t want to use this Jean in his All New / Ultimate crossover and Wood did try to calm her down at the end of his run on this title, but I can never forget that Ultimate Jean was practically all powerful, at one point in time.
Jean tries to intimidate Shadowcat, by going full Phoenix but Shadowcat doesn’t blink. It is clearly a desperation move.
Kitty tells Jean to go home, which is so great. Jimmy James is impress that Utopia, once again, didn’t have to fight to win the battle.
The issue ends with World War X being teased as Project : Supersonic is brought to ‘stand by status’
I have reviewed, World War X, already, which is pretty handy and not usually how it works here at S&FwM.
The previous issues, Deadpool has helped Loki lead a battle to Asgard. After conquering that realm, they came to Earth, which upsets Thor and all of the combined heroes.
I tried reading, Sun Tzu’s Art of War, but I just couldn’t get into it. Deadpool’s writing of the book, reveals to me that I’m still not ready to read it. Deadpool is having to rewrite the book, as he apparently killed Sun Tzu, in the past.
Onto the issue. Loki has brought some Orges to New York City and Loki, himself, is standing on a walking giant Whale. All the whale needs is a pair of overalls and it could have been Blow-Hole from The Tick.
Deadpool’s Art of War – Chapter 10 : There are six problems that can arise for an army that extend from poor leadership. Flight, Insubordination, Collapse, Ruin, Disorganization, Rout.
The gathered heroes, including Magik (making her sole appearance, this issue), Cyclops, and Tempus, of the New Xavier School. From the Jean Grey Schook, Warren and Storm are representing. Invisible Woman, back when the Fantastic Four were wearing red and black costumes. It isn’t a bad look, but I didn’t recognize her until I saw Reed Richards in the same color scheme.
Deadpool’s Art of War : There are six kinds of grounds to worry about : accessible, entangling,, narrow passes, temporizing, precipitous heights and great distance from the battle.
Deadpool is fighting Captain America, who is trying to calm Deadpool down. Deadpool is having to deal with making Loki all powerful and coming to Earth. Spider-Man successfully knocks Deadpool out.
Thor is leading the heroes of Asgard against Loki’s army.
Deadpool’s Art of War, Chapter Eleven : There are nine varieties of ground : Dispersive, Facile, Contentious, Open, Intersecting Highways, Serious, Difficult, Hemmed-in, and Desperate.
Deadpool is back in the fight but isn’t doing so well.
There is an ad for Black Vortex, I can’t recommend it enough.
Deadpool’s Art of War, Chapter Twelve : There are five ways to attack with fire – Burn soldiers in their camp / burn their stores / burn their baggage / burn their weaponry / drop fire among them
Deadpool writers this as Human Torch is fighting off some ogres but is taken out. Namor saves him before he can hit the ground.
Deadpool’s Art of War, Chapter Thirteen : Raising a hundred thousand men for battle can be a drain.
Reed, Spider-Man, Spider-Woman, Thing, Hulk, Iron Man, Storm, Beast, Jean Grey, Scott Summers and Wolverine are fighting a horde.
Thor and Loki are fighting, Thor goes down a moment. Deadpool, with swords, comes at Loki. Thor gets back up, grabs Mjolnir and strikes down lightning onto Loki – taking him out of the fight, for good.
Later, Deadpool is trying to sell his book. The first publisher laughs him out of her office. He takes it to Marvel and editor, Jordan D. White (who likes to put himself into comics, as he is in Deadpool Volume Three Issue 45 / 250). White recommends they get Peter David to write it, which he will later do.
Or issue 250 of Volume One, pending on who you ask. Since the Indicia states, 45, that’s the one I’m going with. I own this for
Deadpool Roasts the Marvel Universe
An Infinity Gauntlet Tie-In
Words Gerry Duggan & Brian Posehn
Lines Scott Koblish
Hues Val Staples
Balloons VC’s Joe Sabino
Special Thanks to David Mandell
How great is it that 24 years later, we are getting an Infinity Gauntlet tie-in!?! So great!
You can tell that we are about to begin a twenty page awesome story with just that title page above! I’m surprised the entire thing isn’t on the Internet yet (as oppose to other stories being fully available, maybe it is the length of it?)
“The writers chose to write bizarre versions of current characters and to include characters that had never been seen before. . . . wait 24 years” so great.
Then. Deadpool has just successfully stolen something. Inferno is coming, Spider-Man is a clone, Phoenix is dead – pretty much tells us where we are in the world of Marvel. Gosh, from 1991 to 2015, so much has happened!
Deadpool’s client is . . . Thanos, in his legendary Thanos-copter (of course). Thanos had Deadpool steal him a cosmic cube. Turns out, Deadpool didn’t give Thanos the real cube, he used it to snatch the Infinity Gauntlet from Thanos.
What does Deadpool do with the most powerful item in the universe? One Night One : Deadpool Roasts the Marvel Universe. This will be my second most favorite Marvel Roast. Deadpool does this so that he can get back at everybody that has kept him down. A lady mistakes him for Spider-Man, so he erases her from continuity. Before he can start, Howard the Duck arrives. Howard changes the marquee, as it is in his rider to – Deadpool Roasts the Marvel Universe Special, Guest MC : Howard the Duck.
Deadpool’s dais consists of – Hulk, Spider-Man, Thor and Nick Fury.
I own this entire $9.99 comic due to the one panel that Magik appears in above! Emma gets a line later in the comic and Illyana isn’t even in that panel!
Like any good roast, there is a common easy joke that everyone can make, in Deadpool’s case, it is his face. His face is pretty tore back, due to his cancer, which is pretty messed up to make fun of him for it.
Howard makes a great joke about how everyone only likes Deadpool when he graces their comic cover, as that is a boost to their sales.
There is a great panel of how the blind characters got horrible seats. There is Stick, Shroud, Daredevil, Blindfold, her mother, Destiny, Madame Web, Echo and Blind Al. I thought Echo was deaf and not blind.
The first roaster is Wolverine, wearing a Goblin Queen outfit, but he doesn’t know it. Elektra is enjoying herself. Sabretooth is not happy that he is trying to be the new Wolverine.
Storm is up next, she is surprised to see that Hitler is in attendance. Magneto isn’t happy to discovery that Hitler is sitting at the table behind his. Hitler gleefully says that he was the star of issue 26, the issue prior to Deadpool and Shiklah’s wedding.
Deadpool starts to grow tired of Howard’s antics and makes a reference to Howard’s after credits scene in Guardians of the Galaxy.
Thanks to YouTuber Eczavier Chaff for hosting this video.
Emma is tired of this silly business. I wish Magik got to be appear in that panel! Poor Phoebe, she still can’t get colorist to color her hair red, outside of Uncanny and All New.
Cable is up next and he is extremely tired of being paired with Deadpool. There is a second theme of the roast, that people are just plain tired of Deadpool.
Thor states that no one likes Deadpool, god or mortal. Deadpool’s face looks like Heidrun the Goat’s backside, which looks like Mangog’s backside. Magog does not appreciate that and makes fun of Thor via a Thunderstrike reference.
Spider-Man gets on the mic and bombs. He references seeing Gwen’s dead and her father, George Stacey’s death. He discusses the Venom symbiote, Agent Venom states that Spider-Man likes it. Spider-Man tries to fake that Doctor Octopus has controlled again. Doctor Octopus chimes in, that he is the superior joke teller.
Daredevil jokes that he has heard back things. Howard the Duck makes fun of the lame joke and Blind Al swears at him, again.
Kim, who has had forced surgery to look like a purple Nightcrawler (I reviewed an issue he was appeared in issue 38 of Volume Three). He compliments Deadpool, so Howard pushes him off the stage. Kurt, the real Nightcrawler, takes the stage and claims that being dead is funnier than listening to Deadpool.
Agent Adsit takes the stage. He chooses to not make any jokes about Deadpool’s face – instead, going after Little Deadpool. He describes it as being a hot dog that has been microwaved too long. Shiklah laughs so hard, as it is so true.
Michael the Necromancer states that he is no hero but neither is Deadpool, which isn’t the most untruthful thing to say.
Hulk is next. He starts strong, with stating that he is the strongest there is. Except in stink, Deadpool wins that. When the jokes don’t go over well, he smashes his way out of the room.
Nick Fury Jr. is next but he doesn’t know what to say, so his father steps in. Proper Nick (not the old guy from Original Sin, so this must be a LMD) states that Deadpool is the worst guy in the universe. Which, funny enough, insults Hitler.
Captain America (but also not old) states that he doesn’t get a lot of Deadpool’s jokes but ends with a cheesy joke about how Deadpool and Red Skull must share a dermatologist.
Doctor Strange says that Deadpool covers his pain with jokes and wishes that no one had to be present for this.
A giant lizard dude shows up but isn’t name checked, I was hoping he would be. Deadpool and Thor tore him a new one and now he shits in a bag, which he offers to show people. I wish we got the name and the issue number that happened in.
The Ghost of Benjamin Franklin gets a turn. He comments on how horrible Deadpool’s face is that people are ignoring the fact that he is a horrible friend and pretty shallow.
Shiklah (I can’t seem to remember how to spell her name) takes the microphone. She agrees that his face isn’t great, vampires even feel bad for him but he is the hottest man she has ever met. They have a rule, no matter how much they battle, their love making is that much more intense.
Agent Preston gets her turn, her son – Jeff – wrote the jokes. The jokes are all poop jokes but funny poop jokes. “Your face looks like a doody took a doody on it. Your face looks like a sewer farted on it. Your face caught on fire and someone tried to put it out with poop. You face looks like a wizard made a poop sword and a young knight pulled it out of a poop stone and stabbed your face with it.” Deadpool is very proud.
Deadpool finally gets to defend himself. He gets a swipe at Alpha Flight. Because he is wearing the Infinity Gauntlet, his jokes are super funny to those who hear them and everyone starts laughing. He starts taking shots at the guests. Man Thing’s table is giant size. Deadpool has never killed anyone in a wheelchair, unlike Cyclops. Though Xavier wasn’t in a wheelchair at that time. Deadpool says that once Domino is done with her guest panel, she will go back to obscurity. Nightcrawler isn’t able to teleport away, as people start noticing something is wrong.
Deadpool was making people laugh as nothing matter, as he thinks about his origins retold in five panels (the lights of the Infinity Gems). Due to him wearing the Infinity Gauntlet, he can see us, the reader. Deadpool is depress as he knows he isn’t real and his torments are due to us needing to be entertain. Howard the Duck knows who Deadpool is talking too, as Howard the Duck was breaking the fourth wall decades before Deadpool came out of Rob Liefeld’s pen.
Issue ends with Thanos, still in the Thanos-copter. Deadpool gives Thanos the Infinity Gauntlet and is kicked out of the copter.
The other stories in the issue are –
The main story, which is pretty fun.
Thanks to the Recap page, we learn that Deadpool has a daughter, Ellie, and Agent Preston has been raising her.
U.L.T.I.M.A.T.I.U.M. is going after Deadpool’s friends and family but they are being killed as they make their attempts. Agent Adsit is shot though. Flag Smasher suspects Deadpool is going to go the traditional route of over reacting and barge at them with the full fury of an animated wounded animal. Instead. Deadpool has a plan that pretty much goes as he planned it. Deadpool has everything finalized, including buying a farm in Kansas and he invites U.L.T.I.M.A.T.I.U.M. to attack him. Deadpool starts killing everyone of these foolish fools. He makes a AXIS reference by referring to his Zenpool identity. Deadpool saves Flag Smasher for last. Wade Wilson kills Deadpool, so that he can keep his friends safe and that he can spend time with his wife and child.
Six Days Later. Everyone is on a stolen yacht. Agent Adsit is in a wheelchair, so he lives.
The final Incursion between the Proper Marvel Earth and the Ultimate Earth. Wade thought all of this Incursion silliness was Avengers nonsense, which I thought so as well. Wade hugs his daughter one last time.
The main story ends with the Death of Deadpool but also, of everyone else as the Incursion of the Proper Marvel Earth and the Ultimate Earth begins.
There is a section of stories regarding Deadpool’s Pals ‘N’ Gals
Shiklah in Shiklah’s Catching Up (this credit page is what I kept referring back to so that I spelled her name right)
Agent Preston in The Family S.H.I.E.L.D.
Evan Sabahnur in What Do We Want? Apocalypse! When Do We Want It? Now!
Agent Scott Adsit in The Thwipster and the Quipster Battel the Hipsters!
Benjamin Franklin in All About the Benjamins
Michael the Necromancer in Parents : The Meeting
Then came the Roast
There is a three pages of #RIPdeadpool reprints that I wish I had known about so that I could have gotten involved.
Finally, a fun page of Clark Gregg yelling at editor Jordan D. White for killing off Deadpool.
Shadow and Flame with Magik 