Roosevelt II: Presidential Succession
Just like the first issue, this one has a spectacularly definitive 'Deadpoll' cover. The lack of a background actually works very well, and everything is very well balanced out. And the elephant with the gun in his trunk is the icing on the cake. And right after the cover we get perhaps the best 'previous issue recaps' I've ever seen. It's so funny.
This issue is a lot better than the first one, and I actually definitely really enjoyed the first issue. What was missing from the first issue was a sense that Deadpool was actually a character, and not just a picture that delivered one-liners and jokes. This issue actually has Deadpool engage in some regular dialogue, I actually feel like he's connected to the events and to the issue. He still has a few lines that feel forced, but overall he's even funnier in this issue because we know there's a person underneath those jokes. In addition to that, Posehn and Duggan do more with Deadpool's crazinss. The issue opens with a fantasy about various Marvel Girls, and by the end of the issue Deadpool references his history of talking to himself and talks about what sound effects are representing his actions. On top of that he just interacts with the other characters more genuinely.
And the craziness is ramped up. Sure, ok, the first issue had Deadpool and Thor rip their way out of the stomach of some Godzilla monster.... but this one has the greatest horn stab ever, the ghost of Benjamin Franklin, and Teddy Roosevelt punching a bear. Ghost Benjamin Franklin is a great character, he creates a back and forth with Deadpool that really helps DP feel more real, and inspires some of the best jokes of the issue. On top of that, he really brings about that sense of Deadpool talking to himself in a way that we haven't really seen before. It's less 4th wall-y, but it's still so damn funny, and makes you wonder if it's Deadpool's insanity or a real ghost.
I don't really like the end of this issue, S.H.I.E.L.D. finally decides they need more than just Deadpool's help on this, and not only am I not that interested in who they call, I just don't feel like we need another hero so soon. I was really enjoying Deadpool (relatively) on his own in this issue.
In Conclusion: 5/5
This issue pretty much fixed up any concerns I had about this series by adding some depth to round out Deadpool as a character, and tether him to the story and the reader. A few jokes were groaners, but overall there were so many hilarious ones I could forgive the bad. Plus having a few unfunny jokes is kind in character for Deadpool.
