Deadpool #6: YOU’RE ALL FASCISTS!!!

Deadpool FINALLY enters Krakoa! In a move that is quite frankly long overdue, Deadpool finally takes on the Dawn of X and the new status quo for X-Men following the relaunch from Hickman. It’s pure satire, putting Wilson in a place to carry out plenty of his classic antics, but in typical fashion from Kelly Thompson, there is a sense of heart hidden amidst all the jokes.

I honestly didn’t expect much from Deadpool #6. It was obvious that Marvel had no intentions of including him in the greater scheme of things during the relaunch so a one-and-done issue featuring everyone’s favorite mutants didn’t feel likely to surprise. And while it’s true that the story itself doesn’t take a lot of chances, I was shocked to see just how much heart was injected into the character as we explore the events surrounding Deadpool’s first steps into Krakoa.

Before we get too deep into the issue, it’s important to note just how freaking adorable Jeff the Land Shark is in this issue. He undoubtedly stands out at the cute little star he is in Deadpool #6. The dynamic that has formed between him and Deadpool is super entertaining and helps to bring a lighthearted flair to some of the more dramatic events unfolding. As we dig into the complicated mess that is the X-Men, Thompson and company do a great job in never letting up on that incredibly cute land shark.

What’s meant to be the main attraction in this issue, the X-Men, ends up fading into the background unfortunately. It’s great to see Wolvie, Storm and even Rogue pop up, but their characterizations have all morphed into one representative of Krakoa and the new ways of life there. It fits with the grand scheme but their personalities all felt interchangeable, meant to serve the purpose of going against Deadpool in an exploration of friendship. This works wonders for adding heart to the journey Deadpool undertakes in attempting to rejoin the mutants, but diminishes the narrative impact of the X-Men’s inclusion.

While I expected the issue to act as a long explanation as to why we haven’t seen Deadpool, we really don’t get a lot of information on this which is both good and bad. There are a couple of hilariously long-winded explanations from Deadpool himself seemingly to catch readers up quickly on the current status of the X-Men but it just doesn’t take the concept far enough to land with substantial weight. I will say, however, the insistence on calling the mutants of Krakoa fascists was uniquely funny. Letterer Joe Sabino certainly had a large task with so much explaining mixed into the jokes, but somehow manages to find an enjoyable pacing with some great clarity.

The visuals from Libranda and Sotomayor are consistent, though not particularly all that exciting given the premise of the story. The splash page we do get showing the X-Men in their full glory is arguably the best moment in the issue, adding some welcome excitement. The expressions from everyone help to sell the emotional undercurrent of the issue though, which gives the issue more of an impact.

Deadpool #6 is a remarkably fun and entertaining issue exploring just why Wade Wilson hasn’t been involved in the X-Men relaunch, but the narrative hurdles prove to just be a little too much for the issue to be as successful as it could’ve been. It acutely avoids some of the larger questions while giving a halfhearted response to allowing him into Krakoa in the future, setting up a plot point that could just as easily be forgotten as it could continued. While that is something we will just have to wait and see about, the upcoming drama between Wade and Elsa is something that could help to push the series in a much more heartfelt direction.