It's hard to believe Deadpool has been around for 25 years. I do remember when he first exploded on the scene. He really caught on pretty quickly with readers. Over the years, we have seen the comic market inundated with Deadpool comics. With multiple titles such as Deadpool Team-Up, Deadpool Corps, and others, it felt as if Marvel were pushing our tolerance for the character. It was possible to have too much of a good thing especially when some of the comics weren't all good.
Just like Deadpool heals from his wounds, he did make a comeback with ease and we're back to seeing him in many places. This oversized issue celebrates the character with a nice nod to some past moments in Deadpool's life. Gerry Duggan and Scott Koblish's main story has Deadpool looking back at moments which have lead him to seeking revenge. It's all handled in a typical Deadpool fashion.
What makes the issue oversized is the back up stories focusing on the different mercs he's currently employing. If you're curious about Terror Inc, Slapstick, Foolkiller, Stingray, Massacre, and Solo, you'll get some interesting looks into their characters.
I'll admit, when I saw the rest of the issue was dealing with Deadpool's mercs, I was a little turned off. We're paying $9.99 for a massive issue but I'm buying Deadpool mainly for Deadpool. It turned out the other stories were enjoyable. In some cases, we find out why and how the mercs started working for Deadpool. With the eight month gap after Secret Wars and the beginning of the All-New, All-Different Marvel titles, we've been left in the dark wondering how certain things happened.
While we do get quality stories filling up this anniversary issue, it's really a question of do you want to see spotlights on all these other characters? Each back up story was good, but it seems like a Deadpool oversized anniversary issue should really mainly focus on the main character. The creators for these stories have made me appreciate some of the others. For example, I'm not the biggest Terror, Inc fan but I found myself looking at him a little differently after reading his story. Because of this, the issue does add to the overall series. If you're invested in the characters and current story, you'll need to make sure you pick up this higher priced issue. The content is worth it.
Deadpool has survived 25 years and he's still riding high on his success. We've seen some highs and lows with the character over the years and he's never been more popular than he is now. There are some readers that frown upon the oversized and higher priced issues, but with so many great creators involved, it's worth the price of admission. The only downside is Deadpool is not the main focus in all of the stories. If you're enjoying Deadpool's Mercs for Money, this adds a lot in establishing their motives for working for Deadpool. Join in the celebration and throw down your ten dollars to party with Deadpool. There's a lot to enjoy here.
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