The feud between Thanos and Deadpool might not be as well-known or widely explored as say, Wolverine and Sabretooth or Daredevil and Kingpin, but the Mad Titan and the Merc With a Mouth have a real beef going. And it all stems from their mutual affection for the fair lady Death and that one time Thanos cursed Deadpool with life unending. As one does. At long last, Marvel has commissioned a mini-series specifically devoted to this rivalry. It’s one that provides plenty of entertainment in its first issue, but also hints at a deeper, more somber core.
Writer Tim Seeley quickly settles into Deadpool’s world in this issue. Similar to the recent Deadpool’s Secret Secret Wars, there’s a jumbled chronology approach to the story that cuts between a hyper-violent reunion between the two characters and the events leading up to that encounter. It does seem like that approach is more trouble than it’s worth in terms of setting up up this pairing. This is more a team-up story than a real, extended battle between Deadpool and Thanos, but this entire opening chapter is devoted to setting the stage for said team-up. The conflict could be moving at a more brisk pace, especially in light of an opening scene that, while amusing, doesn’t really add anything to the story.
There’s a delicate balance to maintain in terms of respecting Thanos’ villainous reputation while also delivering the wacky antics readers expect from a Deadpool story, and that’s where Seeley shines in this issue. His Deadpool is amusing yet burdened by a purpose greater than a desire for money or chimichangas. His Thanos is imposing but clearly disarmed by Wade’s insane personality. The combination of the two characters is basically peanut butter and chocolate. Theoretically the book will only get better as these heated enemies spend more time together.
Artist Elmo Bondoc keeps this series fairly close in line with what we saw from Gerry Duggan and Brian Posehn’s ongoing series. The emphasis is on lighthearted but violent superhero action, with a bit of cosmic spectacle and drama thrown in for good measure. Bondoc’s art is dynamic, though at times his figures are a little too flat or distorted.
