Review: Cullen Bunn’s “Deadpool & the Mercs for Money” – Mo Money Indeed

By: Nicholas Eskey

During the month of January we saw: Deadpool: Massacre, True Believers: Deadpool, Deapool Origins, Deadpool the Musical!, Deadpool the Variants, Evil Deadpool, Deadpool & Cable: Split Second, Groovy Deadpool, The Meaty Deadpool, The Wedding of Deadpool, Detective Deadpool, Uncanny Deadpool, and even the very fan-anticipated Spider-Man/Deadpool crossover.  The entire month might well have been renamed “Deadpool: The Month,” (I know, I fail miserably at creative naming). And to kick off the week in which the Deadpool movie is released, we have yet another delightful new comic about our favorite red-leather clad mercenary (surely a hit for Valentine’s Day).

Without further buildup, here’s the review:

Deadpool & the Mercs for Money #1

Writer: Cullen Bunn – Artist: Salva Espin

Colorist: Guru-eFX – Letterer: VC’s Joe Sabino

Cover Artists: Declan Shalvey & Jordie Bellaire

Deadpool has seen a surge in interest over the last couple years, especially with the release of his movie floating over everyone’s head. The X-Men villain, turned anti-hero mercenary, has seen a slew of spinoff comics, an okay videogame, and yes of course his own movie soon (I’m pretending his bit role in X-Men Origins: Wolverine never happened; the entire movie for that matter). Deadpool & Mercs for Money is yet another humorous comic to add to his ever growing arsenal. What’s the twist this time? Writer Cullen Bunn introduces us to Deadpool and his new “merc squad.”

Deadpool’s new team of mercenaries operates for the pursuit of one simple goal: coin, scratch, mullah, Benjamins… you get the point. Rather than a slew of new characters, Bunn brings together a group of Marvel castoffs from all over the various universes; Greg Salinger (AKA the Foolkiller), Slapstick (a living cartoon), Terror (immortal from Earth-88194), Stingray (a onetime Avenger), Solo (a teleporter), Masacre (a Spanish speaking Deadpool), and lastly Deadpool himself (AKA the Merc with the Mouth, Aka their leader). In the comic they are tasked with the highly mysterious and potentially profitable mission of retrieving a large box, of which they are also charged with not to looking into. What could go wrong?

Hilarious banter, bloody destruction, an encounter with a group that is as equally as badass and nuts, and much more fill this comic. Cullen Bunn doesn’t just take an action packed story and insert Deadpool into it. He writes a wacky narrative that suites the character’s style. His companions are equally as entertaining. They don’t detract from the main character, but create a great dynamic instead.

Artist Salva Espin has done well to balance the art between action-packed and cartoony without having one or the other being overbearing. Good detailing and facial expressions add further interest for readers. There’s nothing terribly eye-catching in terms of style or technique, but still very good visually nonetheless.

Verdict: A well-done addition to the Deadpool repertoire. It’s funny and entertaining just as the character is known for. Already released on February 3^rd, get Marvel’s Deadpool & the Mercs for Money at ye-old comic purveyor.