Deadpool #4: Olly Olly Oxen Free, Kraven!

Kelly Thompson and company might not be telling the most hilarious Deadpool story, but they sure have captured a complex vision of the character in this new series. Deadpool #4 brings plenty of action, but it’s focused on an actual emotional goal for Wade Wilson, which is something you just don’t see all that often.

As King of the Monsters, Deadpool’s reign has been rocky at best, but taking on villains like Kraven is something he has experience in. Now with a drive to actually do something for this strange and whimsical kingdom, the creative team is able to give a fresh take on the character that feels meaningful. With Thompson on board, I wasn’t sure what to expect with the more wacky elements of the character, and the Kingdom of Monsters helps to give the right mood to every issue, but this one does fall back on baddy punch-em-up tropes. It’s a minor complaint, and while Kraven is cool, there was an opportunity to do more with Deadpool’s reign instead of making an admittedly funny Captain America joke.

The artwork is absolutely a love it or hate it situation, and while it took some getting used to, I can say that I do love it. Bachalo, the team of inkers and Curiel on colors have formed a dynamic aesthetic that is certainly unique. The fast paced action sequences lend themselves to this stylized approach quite well, and Deadpool #4 capitalizes on this. But it isn’t perfect. We also see more instances of muddled layouts comparable to the first issue. Despite this, it’s an awesome book to look at, featuring one of my favorite near full-page depictions of DP and Jeff!

This feels like something of a conclusion to an arc with Kraven handled for the moment, but it also helps to lead into what’s next. It’s not your typical Deadpool by any means, and fans of Kraven absolutely won’t want to miss this. The real star, though?

JEFF!

That’s right, after all the spectacle of Kraven v. Deadpool, putting Bellus to rest and DP even trying to pass the crown to Elsa Bloodstone, we are finally treated to an incredibly cute and heartwarming short featuring Wade and Jeff. Sure it’s only a couple pages, but it’s enough to make me smile every time I look at it. Wade and Jeff make a great team and I can’t wait to see more of them together.