Deadpool's newest adventure is definitely not kid-friendly. Deadpool: Black, White & Blood #1 is the latest from Marvel's Black, White & Blood line of anthology books, which bring in a variety of comic book creators for new stories told in only black, white, and red. The limitation is tailor-made for showcasing brutal action and this unique format provides everybody's favorite regenerating degenerate with an opportunity to be a hero, wipe out the Marvel Universe, and everything in between. The first issue is a great example of Deadpool's versatility, as Marvel's finest writers and artists utilize the unique premise of Deadpool: Black, White & Blood #1 to create memorable stories that truly capture the spirit of the character.
Deadpool: Black, White & Blood #1 opens with "Red All Over" by writer Tom Taylor and artist Phil Noto. This is a loose continuation of Taylor's run on All-New Wolverine and sees Deadpool teaming up with Gabby Kinney. The two heroes set out to take down the villainous Palmive industries, but they have to slice their way through a horde of zombie animals to get there. It is gruesomely creative, with gratuitous cameos, grisly deaths, and groan-worthy puns on every page. Overall, the story is a strong start to the issue and should be extra rewarding for long-time fans who have been waiting to see Gabby and Deadpool finish their wild mission. Noto's art is a highlight, as the artist manipulates the readers' eye to draw them towards the vibrant splashes of red that coincide with the story's most violent moments.
"Hotline to Heaven" by writer Ed Brisson, artist Whilce Portacio, and colors by Rochelle Rosenberg, revolves around Deadpool's love of Bea Arthur. As the Merc' with a Mouth sits down to watch one of Bea's movies, he goes to absurd lengths to track down a VHS copy of the film. This is arguably the best short of the issue. Brisson captures Deadpool's voice well and plays up Wade's maniacal mood swings. The story keeps getting weirder and weirder, as Deadpool goes from his local video store all the way to North Valnon, an obscure country that also only exists within the Marvel Universe. Portacio's 90s style makes him an ideal partner for Brisson's script. The action is grim and gritty, leaning into its dynamic shadows. This allows Rachelle Rosenberg's sweeping reds to really stand out, making every moment feel substantially more dramatic. In her hands, red becomes an incredibly versatile color.
The issue closes with cartoonist James Stokoe's story, "Born in the USZORSUSR." In Stokoe's work, Deadpool goes deep into the Canadian wilderness, where longtime X-Men villain Omega Red has started his own country. Between the insane hook, the bizarre characters, and Stokoe's incredibly detailed art, it reads feels like a fever dream. Stokoe embraces the Cold War hysteria that inspired Omega Red's creation, cranking up the character's love of his country and turning it into a thinly-veiled way of covering up his own insecurities. Things only get more ridiculous with the appearance of Ursa Major, a character that can be best described as a super-Russian bear man. These vibrant personalities actually force Deadpool to be the straight man in the story, as Wade tries to sift through the contrived politics of going to war over a flag design. This kind of action could only work in a format with limited color, making it the perfect way to utilize the strengths of the Deadpool: Black, White & Blood series.
Deadpool: Black, White & Blood #1 is an absolute blast, with a mix of high-octane action and side-splitting comedy. Each feature highlights a different strength of the Merc' with a Mouth, whether that be his heart, depravity, or ingenuity. Tom Taylor, Phil Noto, Ed Brisson, Whilce Portacio, Rachelle Rosenberg, and James Stokoe all deliver work that they should be proud of, in digestible snippets that'll make fans hungry for more. While this probably shouldn't be the Deadpool series that parents hand to their kids, adult fans will love its chaos as Deadpool becomes the latest character to shine in Marvel's Black, White & Blood format.
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