REVIEW: ‘Deadpool Kills the Marvel Universe One Last Time’ Issue 1

Deadpool Kills the Marvel Universe One Last Time Issue 1 is published by Marvel Comics. Written by Cullen Bunn, art by Dalibor Talagić, colors by Lee Loughridge and letters by Joe Sabino.

Deadpool gets enlisted for murder once again, this time across the Multiverse.

Starting from the end of the previous edition of Deadpool Kills the Marvel Universe, this opening comic finds even more people to murder. It wastes little time, putting Deadpool in battle before much explosion arrives. It ramps the pace up and provides an example of what to expect from this series: extreme violence. But how does this concept refresh itself? By jumping between Earths.

Deadpool finds heroes and villains that were missed before. Unique takes on classic legacies and names. They’re all recognizable instead of brand new, and each fight brings a brutal end and an idea. From Superior Spider-Man to Franken-Castle, all face the wrath of a Deadpool that can now travel across the Multiverse. And through this extremely popular series, there has been a feeling that we can enjoy it because it’s not targeting any characters we know. Yet Deadpool Kills the Marvel Universe One Last Time Issue 1 shows how easy it is to cross into the wrong universe at the wrong time.

This is a very different Deadpool from the one we know and love. Bunn makes the character terrifying and ruthless. He is dangerous and cold, telling fewer jokes than his counterparts in other worlds. That is what makes him scary: he just kills. Anyone Wade comes up against, there is an expectation that he will win. This series is less about stakes and real motivation and more about the way Deadpool finds the upper hand and kills his opponent.

Another character leads all the exposition within Deadpool Kills the Marvel Universe One Last Time Issue 1. Investing in them is difficult, and I don’t think there’s any need to do so. He is there to give Deadpool the tools he needs and the mission that sparks the latest adventure. Halfway through this issue, Bunn returns one of the features that was a pivotal part of the character for decades but seemed to disappear from writing around the release of the first Deadpool movie. It makes the comic noisier and is a big surprise for Deadpool fans.

The art revels in gratuitous violence and action. The book’s first part is melancholy and dark, and Talagić captures the stillness well. This version of Deadpool has his eyes much more visible, drastically changing the character’s expressions. The dead sadness in his eyes can be seen clearly and in excellent detail. Each of the battles is exciting and terrifically executed. For hardcore comic fans, it can be easy to determine the differences in the characters just by looking at them.

The costume of Superior Spider-Man gives him away before he even touches down, but then out come the tentacles, and all is even clearer. Each fight occurs in a new area, unique battlefields that are just backdrops for slaughter. The first one against Spider-Man is a direct homage to the first series, as that is what kicked off Deadpool’s rampage in the original edition. What’s fascinating about the killing in this issue is that it happens so nonchalantly. They can happen off-panel or be barely visible. Deadpool and the creators themselves take a carefree attitude.

The colors are exceptional. The use of red is kept solely for Deadpool and other important superheroes or for when they bleed. This red is rich and vibrant, standing out against everything else in the issue. Much of Deadpool Kills the Marvel Universe One Last Time Issue 1 takes place in the dark, not letting what’s happening be seen in the light. The lettering brings back an important feature that hasn’t been seen in years. It fills the pages, making the story’s second half busier and more chaotic. The formatting and style are the same as they used to be.

The multiverse aspect of the story and the various other features added to the tale means the story feels like more than just a rehash of the same idea, genuinely trying to offer something different. But at its core, Bunn and Talagić focus on why this concept has been so popular: the killing.

Deadpool Kills the Marvel Universe One Last Time Issue 1 is a classic return. It would be a celebration of past stories and characters if those characters weren’t about to meet a gory, murderous fate. It delights in violence and dark jokes, but this version of Deadpool has a different writing style that sets him apart from others wearing the mask. He’s much more terrifying, both in terms of personality and visually.

Deadpool Kills the Marvel Universe One Last Time Issue 1 is available where comics are sold.