Undeadpool #1: Wade-ing Through Rough Waters

Undeadpool #1 is a strange fusion of slasher horror and teen drama centered around four largely forgettable characters and everyone’s favorite merc with a mouth. The issue’s story is framed almost entirely through Deadpool’s inner monologue, using his trademark sardonic humor to mask the horror of being a powerless passenger in his own body as he unwillingly plays the role of a slasher villain targeting four young would-be superheroes.

Tim Seeley (Nightwing) is well known for writing fantastic solo series with great guest characters. The first issue of Undeadpool only reinforces that reputation by bringing together a group of guest characters you know from the beginning will likely be pointless but still making you care about them anyway. Something that seems very on-brand for the character of Deadpool following his slight rebranding in recent years with three successful films that have loosely shaped contemporary Deadpool comics.

The art by Carlos Magno (Captain America), with colors by Guru Efx (X-Force), is also remarkable. While Magno draws great character designs that avoid being too silly even while wearing their literal inspirations on their sleeves, Efx’s colors make the texture of broken-down cars and dimly lit campfires really pop out from the page. Together, the duo simultaneously brings out both the eeriness (as well as the despair) of a slasher horror and the dark overgrown wasteland of the Revelation Territories in a way that complements each other perfectly and elevates the story and action. Also worth mentioning, Joe Sabino (Thor) nails the letters for Deadpool’s internal monologue and keeps them from cluttering the page even during moments of exposition.