What I Bought 2/14/2018 - Part 1

It was 70 yesterday, and it's right around freezing today. I thought spring didn't start for another month? I actually found all the books I was looking for this week, so let's get to it.

Deadpool #294, by Gerry Duggan (writer), Scott Koblish (artist), Ruth Redmond (colorist), Joe Sabino (letterer) - The pin with the wicked grin on Madcap's cloak is a nice touch.

Madcap has pulled himself together and come looking for revenge. But Wade's life is already burned to the ground, so by the time Wade finds him and they start to fight, Madcap's already a little bored. When Wade's master plan for taking Madcap off the board reveals itself, Madcap's actually grateful for the change in scenery. Which leaves Wade, once again, alone in the wreckage of his life, as Stryfe hounds him to hurry up and kill Evan.

Wade's solution was pretty clever, and even plays off his recent appearance in Rocket Raccoon's book, I assume. Maybe Deadpool made some other trip to outer space I don't know about. Koblish drew Madcap more simplified than Hawthorne had been. Big open blank eyes and a big empty mouth. It reminds me more of how Madcap typically looks, in the few older appearances of his I've seen. He's getting off his pointless obsession with destroying Deadpool, and back to. . . whatever the hell it was he did prior to that. Annoying everyone, I think.

There's not anything else I have to say. I appreciate Duggan providing some sort of resolution to the Madcap subplot, considering how pissed I was when he kicked the can down the road prior to Secret Empire. But, as he touches on here, everything has moved on. Wade has bigger problems, and there's not much weight to dealing with Madcap now. Nothing's at risk if he fails. Wade was desperate for the win, really needed to see someone he didn't like miserable for a change, and he can't even manage that. Next issue we get to see if Wade really does have a plan to trick Stryfe and save Evan. The way things are going, I wouldn't bet on it.

Ms. Marvel #27, by G. Willow Wilson (writer), Nico Leon (artist), Ian Herring (color artist), Joe Caramagna (letterer) - A strange lightning bolt appears, and Kamala now has to contend with a bunch of miniature, alternate versions of herself. Just another Wednesday in the Marvel Universe.

Red Dagger and the Legion of Substitute Marvels track Zoe's phone to the Inventor's lair, where he's busy monologing about how he's going to use the elderly for an energy source because they contribute nothing. Zoe's not OK with that, and neither are her friends, but their opponent has created a giant turtle who nearly stomps on Nakia, only for Zoe to push her to safety (and nearly be squashed herself). The bad guy escapes, but our heroes realize they're out of their league. But there just so happens to be one other Ms. Marvel they could call.

So, Carol Danvers for the first time since Civil War II ended. Damn, now I remember that Civil War II is something that existed. Boooooo. It makes sense, at least. I know Danvers was portrayed in at least a couple of other titles after that event as not wanting to lose her friends over philosophical differences (Spider-Woman was one, probably whatever Danvers' book was called at the time, too). So she wouldn't take the approach of Kamala being dead to her, but she's been smart enough to let Kamala decide when she wants to see Carol again. It just so happens someone else is contacting her.

I'm expecting Gabe is going to get a chance to shine next issue. It feels like the others have all had the chance to do something at least a little cool. Mike with the inflatable fist, Zoe working with Harold to find his friends, Nakia being the one smart enough to track Zoe by her phone. Gabe was sort of cool jumping on the giant turtle - although that poor turtle looked like it was in agony when it first popped up, it doesn't know what the hell is going on - so maybe that qualifies. We'll see. Leon did give Gabe a funny reaction shot when Carol made her big entrance. And he gets to bag on Red Dagger's hero dialogue. Perhaps Gabe is the "Meat and Sarcasm" guy. Being a superteam's Sokka isn't the worst thing in the world.

My favorite panel in this issue is after Red Dagger and the Marvels make their big entrance, they all strike poses. I don't think they're deliberately mimicking the Ginyu Force, but I wouldn't be surprised if that was Leon's inspiration. Then the Inventor counters with the classic, "arms folded across chest while minions swarm the heroes" stance. He's kind of a goof, but he has at least some of the villain style down pat. Although it's hard for me to believe he was able to escape Red Dagger, a guy used to running across rooftops with ease.