All-New Ultimates 2
Fiffe (w) and Pinna (a) and Woodard (c) and Cowles (l)
The new Ultimates find themselves fighting the Serpent Skulls (led by Diamondback and just, like, so many others) as the police try to sort everything out. At a breaking point (which is to say "after there have been like, seven pages of introductions"), the Skulls flee and the Ultimates disappear into Cloak's cape and are transported back to Hell's Kitchen, but not before one of the Skulls stabs Black Widow with a poison syringe. Bombshell quits the team and Black Widow, back home with Kitty, passes out. Meanwhile, a new character (Scourge) is on his own path of vengeance, shooting just a bunch of people.
I kept thinking all week that this book was ULTIMATE FF and I was more excited about that, which should tell you a bit about both books even this early on. There's a real weirdness to the tone on this one that makes it feel like it wants to be an '80s action movie. Even the look of the Serpent Skulls (and Black Widow's ridiculous new costume) and the way the villains talk harkens back to Stallone, not really a place you want to be (or, at least, not really a place I want you to be). Also, the book really did kick off with about seven pages of introducing characters. PRO-TIP, don't do that.
Total Score: 2/5
Deadpool 28
Posehn and Duggan (w) and Koblish (a) and Staples (c) and Sabino (l)
Deadpool and Shiklah journey to Japan for the first leg of their honeymoon, despite the protestations of Shiklah, who cannot understand why they've gone to Japan. Deadpool is adamant about it though and things start to go crazy when a young street urchin steals his super important briefcase and two imagination-based monsters (controlled by two other kids) attack the husband and wife to distract them. Shiklah deals with them as her little pet dragon traces the kid, eventually pitting them against the Yakuza and the Hand (who see the briefcase and figure it must be worthwhile) and drawing the (f)ire of Sunfire (enraged that Deadpool is in town). Finally, with the briefcase back in hand, Deadpool delivers it (and the money inside) to Kim, the Nightcrawler-like refugee from North Korea, hoping that this will help him start his life and find his family.
It's a fun little story that turns into a sweet little story. As fun as the chase is and as creative as the villains are (there's a particularly nice beat where the leader of the children, an adult, realizes they stole from Deadpool and immediately understands the implications, plus another one where the Yakuza simply see the chase below a window and decide that's probably something they should get in on), the story turns on its emotional beat of Deadpool doing what he can to help Kim and the other North Korean refugees. It's not all well and good, though, as it seems Kim is sick as the issue ends, coughing and wheezing after he leaves Deadpool. Still a sweet issue that manages not to get all maudlin.
Total Score: 4/5
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