The clash of comic killers comes to its conclusion in this issue, and we see who is the final winner! The past four issues of “Deadpool Vs. The Punisher” have seen the two former Thunderbolts teammates working against each other, together, then against each other again, leaving a swath of destruction in their wake – so pretty much business as usual for comics. But here’s the important question: was it any good?
Written by Fred Van Lente
Illustrated by Pere Perez
Colors by Ruth Redmond• When the shells all hit the ground, who finally wins?
• I mean, aside from ammunition manufacturers.
• Find out inside – the last round is finally here!
So, let’s dive right in with a big ol’ spoiler! Last issue ended with Deadpool shooting Frank Castle right in the head, which hasn’t been a problem when it was the other way around, but Punisher lacks Deadpool’s healing factor. So how did Punisher survive?
The reason is… kind of nonsensical, actually. Apparently Taskmaster’s gun is so low-power, it could piece Castle’s skin but not his skull, then somehow travel directly around his head and come out the other side to make it look like he’d been properly shot. Now, I’m no gun expert, but I find it hard to believe that bullets work that way – feel free to link me to studies that prove that they can, of course. Aside from that, why would Taskmaster, a professional mercenary, carry a gun too weak to actually do the one thing guns are supposed to do?
That, however, is really my only major nitpick, and I’ve already spent more time harping on it than it deserves.
Once we get past that little plot hole, we can focus on what really matters – conflict! “Deadpool vs The Punisher” has done a great job setting up the motivations for each character – Deadpool wants revenge and to protect a family he cares about, Punisher wants to wreck the finances of multitudes of criminals, and The Bank wants to survive with his account numbers, money, and reputation. And Fred Van Lente does a great job getting into each of the characters heads and motivations.
There are some particularly nice speeches from both Deadpool and The Punisher, highlighting their contrasts. Sure, Deadpool is pretty messed up, but he’s aware of it and doesn’t want other people to end up like him. Compare that to Punisher, who also knows he’s messed up, but embraces it. Deadpool’s madness has a cause; Punisher’s has an excuse.
It’s a nice bit of character work, one that’s blended in with the wanton violence and bits of comedy quite well.
And yes, of course there’s plenty of comedy; it is a Deadpool comic, after all. It goes beyond quips and one-liners, and creates comedic scenes with rather nice timing. One instance worth noting is a shoot-out gone wrong, when Deadpool and Punisher both try shooting with unloaded guns. The next page is wordless, as the two dive for new guns only to find them equally empty twice in a row, with a perfect level of synchronization and parallel action. It’s wonderfully done.
Of course, scenes like that are only made possible by the great artwork by Pere Perez. The characters are well-defined and have just the right amount of detail, with excellent shading to really make them stand out without going overboard on the lines. The action is fluid, and each action panel is sized just right to get the speed across properly.
Perez’s art is also great at building up tension. During the Deadpool vs. The Punisher standoff, each panel switches between each character, adding a sense of motion to the otherwise still and dialogue-filled scenes. Spacing the panels apart with images of each character holding a gun, highlighted in their identifying colors, adds even more to the scene; it’s a fantastic standoff.
The color work by Ruth Redmond helps everything stand out as well. Most of the scenes on the ship utilize a nice blue background to make the reds and blacks of Deadpool and Punisher stand out even more, and when they change rooms, the shift to white and gold backdrops is all the more noticeable.
Continued belowIn fact, those make up the key colors throughout the comic; red, blue, yellow/gold, and black. Of course, there are shades of all types in-between, but the overall color scheme makes it easy on the eyes, and enhances Perez’s artwork.
Overall, this is one of the most visually satisfying comics this month. With great use of colors, wonderful detail that enhances each scene and character without becoming a distraction, and some well-angled shots, every page looks fantastic.
Now, as this is “Deadpool vs The Punisher,” we can’t exactly expect a happy ending. Yes, there will be blood, and yes, most of it will belong to Deadpool and Punisher (mostly Deadpool, due to his healing factor). But no one gets out unharmed, whether physically or emotionally, and that’s what we’ve come to expect from these characters. Thus, it can draw some nice humor and character moments from the way the characters react to the violence. Whether it’s with a casual shrug or sheer panic, each reaction is fitting for the character and the moment.
Of course, Punisher makes a perfect foil for Deadpool. Deadpool’s wisecracking an seemingly-random references go up against the perpetually-unhappy Punisher, creating a well-balanced duo of the straight man and the funny man. Deadpool referencing the “Martha” scene from Batman v. Superman is all well and good on its own, but it really works when we have The Punisher there to say “Are you doing a bit? Or are you serious? And do you even know?” Fred Van Lente knows just how to balance the two characters, whether it’s through action or dialogue, and he makes them work off each other so very well.
Lastly, “Deadpool Vs. The Punisher” ends on perhaps the most perfect note and quotes for such a comic. While I won’t spoil anything, it ties things up with a nice cynical bow.
Overall, “Deadpool Vs. The Punisher” is a violent comic, both comedically dark and darkly comedic. The art is great, the story flows well, and it mixes both the humor and violence into a perfect blend. If you’re a fan of either or both of these characters, or even just a fan of wanton comic book violence, you’ll love this comic. Sure, there are plenty of “Deadpool” team-up mini-series out there, but this ranks among the top.
Final Verdict: 7.9 – Lots of fun, great art, and surprisingly good character moments. It’s an enjoyable comic for anyone who likes wisecracks and head-shots.
