Mary Louise Eklund

Tag: Deadpool

Tuesday Thoughts – Marvel Movies

The required US legal disclaimer: All images are the property of their owners I reproduce them here under the Fair Use Doctrine of the copyright law for commentary and critique The required US legal disclaimer: All images are the property of their owners I reproduce them here under the Fair Use Doctrine of the copyright law for commentary and critique

The required US legal disclaimer: All images are the property of their owners I reproduce them here under the Fair Use Doctrine of the copyright law for commentary and critique The required US legal disclaimer: All images are the property of their owners I reproduce them here under the Fair Use Doctrine of the copyright law for commentary and critique

The required US legal disclaimer: All images are the property of their owners I reproduce them here under the Fair Use Doctrine of the copyright law for commentary and critique The required US legal disclaimer: All images are the property of their owners I reproduce them here under the Fair Use Doctrine of the copyright law for commentary and critique

The required US legal disclaimer: All images are the property of their owners I reproduce them here under the Fair Use Doctrine of the copyright law for commentary and critique The required US legal disclaimer: All images are the property of their owners I reproduce them here under the Fair Use Doctrine of the copyright law for commentary and critique

The required US legal disclaimer: All images are the property of their owners I reproduce them here under the Fair Use Doctrine of the copyright law for commentary and critique The required US legal disclaimer: All images are the property of their owners I reproduce them here under the Fair Use Doctrine of the copyright law for commentary and critique

Since I gave up comic books for other things, like space in my home, I get my fix in comic book movies. I didn’t see Avengers 2, aka Ultron, in theaters because of all the moaning about how badly it dissed Hawkeye. I did see it in February on the cruise. Deadpool I was anxious to see but came out in a busy time in my life so saw it via DVD. This summer with little to do when camping in an apartment and waiting on a house to move into we went to movies regularly – saw Civil War and Apocalypse in a theater. Now I know those are two studios but for a comic book lover like me it’s one publisher Marvel. Thus I’ll give my short thoughts on each in one post about Marvel’s Movies. Warning SPOILERS ahead if you don’t want them for a particular movie skip to the next. I feel comfortable doing spoilers because it has been sometime since the movies were released and they were successes. Thus I feel those who care passionately about the story lines have already been exposed to the plots. (more…)

September 6, 2016
Movie Comments – An Action Movie For Deadpool Fans

The required US legal disclaimer: All images are the property of their owners I reproduce them here under the Fair Use Doctrine of the copyright law for commentary and critique

You know I like action movies. I want something to entertain me as I find most plots don’t keep me guessing but the action is where I get my thrills. Also you know I love wisecrackin’ Deadpool. Well in this movie I got them both! Action and a wise crackin’ reluctant hero. Not to mention a female lead that wasn’t the screaming damsel in distress. All in all good fun.

Sure there’s a lot to be desired in the plot. You see there’s a prison of the world worst criminals in orbit. Yep in space orbit around the earth. There they are put into hibernation. Why it requires the expense of putting them in orbit, moving the staff back and forth from earth to the platform and all I dunno. Harder to escape I’d guess but still the cost must be exorbitant per prisoner.

Then there’s this nonsense that they’d let the President’s daughter not only go to a prison like that but wake up and talk to one of the most psychotic prisoners of the bunch. Yeah like the Secret Service would agree to that. BUT they did and you can guess what goes wrong. Yep and our wonderfully quipping reluctant hero has to go in and save her. Only thing is this woman can save herself, she’s one tough cookie. True with trained help she does much better but she wasn’t some crying wilting flower either.

I’d put this movie down as a popcorn watcher that was kinda fun but not great if it wasn’t for the character Snow. He was awesome, no awesomesauce! He cracked the funny one liner I adored in the craptastic 80s action flicks and that make Deadpool the nutty merc with a mouth that’s dear to my soul. His character alone pumped this up to a B movie from a D. Just because he could make this girl laugh. Really guys don’t wasn’t money on covering your grey, learn to make a girl laugh that’ll bring them in more than dyed hair.

There is nothing to this movie beyond action and quips. The insane inmate character is over played. The inmate rebellion leader has no where to go but down in firey debris as they crash into the atmosphere or starve to death in orbit so naturally he wakes ALL the prisoners. For some reason the prisoners are identifiable by bad Scottish accents. Not much to recommend this beyond the joy of silly word play and some good ole fighting. Oh and Guy Pierce isn’t hard on the eyes…

Until next time!

February 25, 2013
Comic Comments – The Salted Earth

The Marvel Universe Deadpool is coming to an end of a Volume. Don’t worry our beloved Merc with a Mouth isn’t going away but like many titles he’s relaunching the next volume with the Marvel Now banner. The arc is entitled The Salted Earth and includes issues 61-63. Here we learn how Agent Alison Kemp came to be in that wheelchair and just why she has it out Deadpool himself. Oh and he faces Hit Monkey!

Now for the ever present US legal disclaimer: All images are the property of their owners I reproduce them here under the Fair Use Doctrine of the copyright law for commentary and critique. No more than three pages total from any one issue is reproduced.

Now to give credit to the final creative team of this volume : Daniel Way, Writer – Ale Garza, Pencils issue #62 and with Matteo Lolli in issue #62 – Filipe Andrade, Pencils issue #63 – Sean Parsons, Inks Issue 61 with Don Ho (who knew he could sing and ink?) issue 62, with Jeff Huet in issue 63 – Guru eFX, Colors – VC’s Joe Sabino, Letterer – Dave Johnson, Covers – Jordan D. White, Editor – Nick Lowe, Senior Editor – Axel Alonso, Editor In Chief – Joe Quesada, Chief Creative Officer – Dan Buckley, Publisher – Alan, Fine Executive Producer.

If you remember back in previous Deadpool arcs – he deliberately lost his ability to heal. He thought he wanted to die but learned that Lady Death wasn’t real. So he wanted to LIVE. Only thing is he doesn’t have that healing factor any more. So in the course of adventures he’s suffered severe burns all over his body and lost a finger.

Now Agent Kemp has retired and is out to get DP for inadvertently making her a paraplegic. Hit Monkey is also out to get him. Some how in all of this Deadpool matures, he sees a few things about himself and what he’s done in the past. Sure he’s still got that yellow box inner dialogue going but in the long run a diner’s meatloaf dinner becomes a zeitgeist moment for him. Never did say the man became sane – most don’t find their defining moment in meatloaf this is DP we’re talking about. Some how for him it makes total and perfect sense. In an odd way once he’s had his meatloaf moment and accepts that Lady Death isn’t real – he’s free to reach other disturbed people. Again this is an off beat DP sense of right here.

The arc had it’s funny moments but all in all it was kinda sad. Many broken people trying to be the super villain and beautiful hero people we see in other Marvel titles. No one quite makes the cut, they aren’t the B listers but more the Kathy Griffin’s D listers. Which is sad when they realize that, not so sad if they knew it but didn’t care. The trademark quips are there but not as off the wall silly this time. The final line has some brutal alternate meaning that just leaves the reader stunned but satisfied It was a good ending for the DP volume. The attraction of Deadpool is that he isn’t so serious, is crazy, and makes no bones about it or attempts to hide it. Instead he revels in it and we with him. However, characters in order to be good have to grow. Deadpool’s growth from insane Merc with a Mouth isn’t ever going to be a happy ending. He’s severely disfigured. He’s killed people for money. He’s hurt others without noticing. To top it all off he’s losing his mind. The saddest lecture I ever sat through was a mentally ill man whose disorder was controlled with medication explain what it was like to come to the realization that without treatment you have lost your mind. So any DP volume is eventually going to reach this gestalt moment when the fun stops and the pain begins. That’s when a volume reset is needed in this character’s case because following him to an asylum isn’t so fun but going back to the wacky Merc with a Mouth that rattles a stream of conscious while going after bad guys is fun.

The art was great for Deadpool’s hi-jinx and fitting to the end. I enjoyed the odd visualizations of what DP imagines as he works things out for himself. The over the top almost cartoony effects suit how our hero see the world. I enjoyed the highlight of the physical flaws of the heroes and villains in the story it fits well the meatloaf moment.

This arc was a fitting end and I raise my tear stained beer to the team that pulled it all off so well. Here’s mud in your eye guys and gals!

***** Just a few scans***Maybe Spoilery*** Warning*****

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December 28, 2012
Comic Comments – Everyone DIES!

When the title says Deadpool Kills The Marvel Universe it ain’t kidding. When Marvel says PARENTAL ADVISORY NOT FOR KIDS they aren’t kidding either. Our comic relief Deadpool takes on a darker new persona that’s more not the quipping funny guy with battle skills any more. His inner dialogue is more philosophical than campy. This is not the usual Deadpool but this isn’t part of the normal Marvel universe where AVX interruptus is going on any way.

First let’s give the crazy guys who created this nightmare credit. Cullen Bunn, Writer – Dalibor Talajic’, Artist – Lee Loughridge, Colorist, VC’s Joe Sabino, Letterer – Kaare Andrews, Cover Artist – Jordan D. White, Editor – Nick Lowe, Senior Editor – Axel Alonso, Editor in Chief – Joe Quesada, Chief Creative Officer – Dan Buckley, Publisher – Alan Fine, Executive Producer.

Next the required legal statement – All images are the property of their owners I reproduce them here under the Fair Use Doctrine of the copyright law for commentary and critique. No more than three pages total from any one issue is reproduced.

I have to say I went into this not knowing what to expect and came out oddly conflicted but liking it.

What I don’t like about it is what makes it the have the parental advisory – the gore. Comic books often show fighting, often show deaths of heroes and villains (most of the time death doesn’t last) but generally it’s not gory it’s more like the old Westerns where the violence was cleaned up. Someone gets shot they just fly against the bar and slump kind of thing. Here it’s not that clean – though why it isn’t I don’t know. It could have been. I can only guess it isn’t because it doesn’t have to be being a stand-alone short.

I have to tread lightly here about what I like about it so I don’t spoiler it too much. I like DP’s motivation and the whole concept of why he’s doing it. It’s developed and unveiled well over the four issues. Though I have to say I got it before it became hammer proportions as it is in the final issue. The reason suits Deadpool in the end.

Once I let go of my dislike of the graphic nature of it I did find amusement in how DP went about killing off both heroes and villains alike. He makes endings that oddly suit the victims. His prattle contains the clues to his motivation.

As for the art – leaving the goriness aside – it’s awesome. I like it very much for me Talajic hits a home run on it. It actually reminds me of the Walking Dead art which I like very much. Only this is colorized. A good grounded in reality comic book artist is what this story needed being so graphic and dark. It is exactly what it got.

Now for the final test – would I recommend it? Not everyone no by a LONG shot. I think this only appeals to hardcore Marvel fans. You’ve got to know the victims to get a lot of the story. You have to know Deadpool to understand the irony of him. Given that I’m still not sure I’d say buy it – maybe borrow it or check it out of the adult section of the library (ours has an adult graphic novel section bet yours does too). IF you are a Deadpool fan as I am a Wolverine fan – then yes I’d say you need this. Otherwise – take it or leave it.

*** NOTICE FROM ON SPOILER SCANS*** I did choose scans that were NOT graphic or gory. Being me I looked for more story and character related moments.

I would just like it noted that my Wolverine said it wasn’t a good idea to do what started it all. Just please take note he’s the only one! He knew this wasn’t a good idea and boy it wasn’t.

For those who don’t know this is an Observer – Marvel has had them as narrators on and off for years. I hate them. I don’t know why but I don’t like an omnipresent narrator. It’s lazy writing. It’s telling not showing. So I did enjoy the fact that DP got one as one of his first victims!

Okay maybe this is graphic – Howard The Duck with his goose cooked. I’m sorry I thought it was funny. Does that mean I’m perverse? Nah just have a good sense of humor.

Here’s where the hints of his motive is becoming hammer. Really Chuck you shouldn’t have put DP in an institution.

In the final books DP spells out his motivation. Makes you think about all we put our favorite characters through just for our own entertainment. I have to say I do enjoy it as a reader and thinking up such things as a writer.

Until next time!

October 25, 2012
Comic Comments – Deadpool Can Die

When we left Deadpool he was ‘cured’ of his healing factor and handsome again. Now he’s honing his skills as he got soft healing from injuries. BUT now that he is killable his enemies would like to oblige. Thus starts this three issue arc entitled Blacklisted.

First the legal stuff: All images are the property of their owners I reproduce them here under the Fair Use Doctrine of the copyright law for commentary and critique. No more than three pages total from any one issue is reproduced.

Next credit where credit is due: Daniel Way, Writer – Salva Espin, Artist – Dommo Sanchez Aymara, Colorist Issues 58 & 59, Guru eFX, Colorist Issue 60 – VC’S Joe Sabino, Letterer – Dave Johnson, Covers – Jordan D. White, Editor – Nick Lowe, Senior Editor – Axel Alonso, Editor In Chief – Joe Quesada, Chief Creative Officer – Dan Buckley, Publisher – Alan Fine, Executive Producer.

This story has all of Deadpool’s enemies who have Black in their name going after him. Black Box a villain that can control electronics uses social media to notify the villain world that our beloved Merc with a Mouth can die. The hi-jinx ensue from that.

This was what I look for in a Deadpool comic – comic relief poking fun at the superhero/supervillain genre while loving it too. Deadpool is crazy and clueless but talented fighter. His villains are bumbling and would be dangerous if only they could get it together. Inter cut with all of this is the constant inner dialogue of Deadpool himself the sane and the insane. Then add his 1980s action movie quips based on current pop culture and you have a fun read.

No when I come to a Deadpool comic I don’t want to see character growth. I don’t want a tight story. I don’t want top shelf art. I want DP to be himself, just like Roadrunner is always himself. I want a romp of a story that’s amusing, fun, and has action. I want art that’s a bit cartoony or comical at times. I have to say this arc gave me all of that. I walked away from the story contented. I got exactly what I came for and it was fun!

**Warning** Warning**Scrolling further MAY result in spoilers as I chat about some particular pages from issues **WARNING**WARNING

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October 22, 2012
Comic Comments – Reborn

We join Deadpool in issues 55 -57. The arc is Reborn and Deadpool is. He’s gotten his wish for Death in a way – he can now die which makes life sweeter. However being Deadpool he’s not thought about what the other consequence would be. Some are great others not so great, he sets out to fix one of the not so great ones.

Now for the legalise and credit. All images are the property of their owners I reproduce them here under the Fair Use Doctrine of the copyright law for commentary and critique. No more than three pages total from any one issue is reproduced. The credit for this arc is as follows: Daniel Way, Writer; Shawn Crystal, Artist; John Rauch, Colors; VC’s Joe Sabino, Letterer; Dave Johnson, Cover; Jordan D. White, Editor; Nick Lowe, Senior Editor; Axel Alonso, Editor In Chief; Joe Quesada, Chief Creative Officer; Dan Buckley, Publisher; and Alan Fine, Executive Producer.

One of the good things that resulted from Deadpool losing his regeneration ability. He’s got his rugged good looks back! He’s pleased with that. He’s just not comfortable without his face covered after having it covered for years. Understandable and tragic in any one else but in this case it’s funny, being DP and all.

One of the downsides is he can now be killed. Even worse he’s lost his edge in fighting because he could always rely on regeneration to fix any damage. Now it’s not true and a simple low class supervillain wanna be can kick his ass. His answer is to go get more training to hone his skills. That leads to an attempted heist of Pym Particles from SHIELD. Except things don’t go as planned, Deadpool is set up but the tables turn and he winds up saving the one who set him up and the wanna be supervillain that attacked him. I love it when Deadpool’s plans come together.

The other downside is that word has gotten out to DPs various enemies that he can now be killed. So once our insane hero had again honed his fighting edge to go save Bob in the three days Wolverine gave him. Except now he has people gunning for him that just might take up his time.

The story is fun and DP is as crazy as ever. He’s good in that he couldn’t let someone who double crossed him die nor could he let a guy that brings a glue gun to a real gun fight get killed. That’s the endearing part of DP. The amusing part is his prattle. That’s classic here from his trying to remember how to shave to wondering why the Trickster wants to work with him. Great DP story – not too heavy but amusing all the way through. This is a great read for the laughs. DP bumbles through like the Mr. Magoo of superheroes. Not only does he save the two but he also foils the robbery. Well worth reading, I’m surprised at the end he didn’t say “I love it when a plan comes together.” LOL!

The art is strong for me. It’s got a slight cartoonish edge but that works well for DP given his take on the world. The covers are pretty. Issue 56 has a 1960s feel to me kinda invoking Fury Max covers but with a comical DP twist. I like that. Issue 55 cover has women in the back ground and while I don’t disagree with the concept women would find the newly restored DP handsome it’s not really addressed in the book. His restored looks are addressed but women’s response isn’t. Again a pet peeve of mine, I’d been happier with just him making love hearts to his own reflection. Still it’s a pretty cover.

That concludes our visit with Deadpool for now. We’ll leave him with Dresden Files and Fables to finish their arcs before I write a Comic Comment on them. Up next will be the first arc of Vertigo‘s Fairest entitled Wide Awake.

On to the panels and pages comments…

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August 28, 2012
Comic Comments – Dead

Ahh back to routine. We are now to another Marvel title – Deadpool. This 5 book arc is entitled Dead and takes issues 50 – 54. I like him because of his constant stream of conscious prattle. I enjoy it when it’s more pop culture centered. Still this story fits him to a T and I enjoyed it. The art was great and life is good in the Deadpool universe. Except he wants to die.

Let’ s do credits and legal statement. First off all images are the property of their owners I reproduce them here under the Fair Use Doctrine of the copyright law for commentary and critique. No more than three pages total from any one issue is reproduced. Now the legal is out of the off to give credit for the Merc with a Mouth Dead arc: Daniel Way, Writer; Carlo Barberi, Penciler Issue 50; Ale Garza, Penciller Issues 51-54; Walden Wong, Inker Issue 50; Sean Parsons, Inker Issues 51-54; Dommo, Colorist Issue 50; Dommo Sanchez Amara, Colorist Issues 51-54 (not sure if the same person since credit is listed differently); VC’s Joe Sabino, Letterer; Dave Johnson, Covers; Jordan D. White, Editor; Nick Lowe, Senior Editor; Axel Alonso, Editor in Chief; Joe Quesada, Chief Creative Officer; Dan Buckley, Publisher; and Alan Find, Executive Producer.

The covers for this arc are awesome. I do enjoy them and like how the hold true to the spirit of the content and reflect Deadpool’s style. The interior art is done by two artist and is very similar in style. I can’t say I prefer one over the other. There are things with each that I love and stuff I don’t care for but nothing I despise. The style leans a bit toward cartoonish at times but that suits Deadpool given his almost Road Runner like behavior at times. I think both the covers and interiors are solid comic book art that I enjoyed very much.

The story is one that builds on Evil Deadpool from the previous arc. For those of you who don’t know Deadpool has a regeneration ability so that makes him unkillable kinda like Logan in that fact. Except a mad scientist kept parts Deadpool had lost frozen and those were thawed out to grow together to make an EVIL Deadpool. Which in theory would also be unkillable. Except in the battle against Evil DP, someone shot him with a serum dart that killed him. Now the real Deadpool thought that was great! He can finally die! He wants the serum. Thus starts this arc where he’s trying to die.

Other mutants who have the regeneration/healing abilities aren’t so keen on the serum and want to control it. Deadpool being his crazy self drags his buddy Hydra Bob into the mess he creates trying to find the serum. DP goes to Fisk, the leader of a world-wide crime syndicate, and tells him about it. Fisk says he’s not interested then goes looking for himself. Which is also the response of Daken. Except Daken wants it to mess with his father Logan. Finally DP goes to the Uncanny X-Force who agree to work with him to find the threat.

What follows is a series of ever more complicated follies of trying to find the serum. Think A-Team when the plan comes together, well DP’s plan of dying is coming together. In the end, the serum isn’t exactly what they thought it was and DP decides he REALLY doesn’t want to die any way. He comes to that conclusion once Bob points out once DP is dead there won’t be anyone to protect Bob, DP’s BFF. Only problem is it’s a bit too late when DP changes his mind because everyone is out to kill him for stirring up more than needs to be stirred up.

Deadpool is classic Deadpool. His internal dialogue is sharp and witty. Everyone’s reaction to him adds a bit of humor to the classic superhero/supervillain match-up. I find it funny that we get what’s going on in his head because we have the stream of consciousness narration boxes in both his internal voices. Psylocke on the other hand is at a loss to make sense of his mind. In the end it is Logan who gets the guy, he knows what it’s like to stick around to save a friend, even when you are tired of sticking around.

I think this starts a new era for Deadpool. For once I’m hoping not too much changes. Sure there are some changes, some that are major but essentially I want him to remain the wacky not quite right reluctant hero. The one that annoys the heck out of everyone even Capt. America. We’ll see what’s up next for the Merc with a mouth, Wade Wilson aka Deadpool.

Up next is another Deadpool arc. This one takes issues 55-57 and is called Reborn. After that we’ll be leaving Deadpool to finish his current arc. That’ll take us out of Marvel for a while. We’ll pass over Dynamite’s Dresden Files and Vertigo’s Fables for the same reason – let them finish their arcs. We’ll settled into Fairest‘s first arc taking issues 1-6, it’s entitled Wide Awake. I think you’ll enjoy that one!

You know what’s after the jump! Panels and Pages Commentary!

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August 27, 2012