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Wednesday, February 12, 2025

X-amining Deadpool #5

May 1997

In a Nutshell
Deadpool's healing factor is restored, after which he must decide the fate of Doctor Killebrew.

Writer: Joe Kelly
Penciler: Ed McGuiness & Kevin Lau
Inkers: Nathan Massengill
Letters: Richard Starkings & Comicraft
Colors: Matthew Pain
Editor: Matt Idelson
Editor-in-Chief: Bob Harras
Separations: Digital Chameleon

Plot
In the wake of the gamma infusion, Doctor Killebrew declares that while Deadpool won't be quite as invincible as he was previously, he will make a full recovery. Happy to hear it, Deadpool plots his next move: killing Killebrew. Meanwhile, at the Hellhouse, Weasel is telling a story about Deadpool when T-Ray angrily enters, declaring his intent to kill Deadpool, whom he finds deeply annoying. His rant is interrupted when a new job comes over the wire; T-Ray is the only one of the mercs willing to take it. Back at Killebrew's house, Siryn appeals to Deadpool's better nature, and convinces him to let Killebrew live. Deadpool tells the doctor to seek out his other victims, and help them like he helped Deadpool. Back at the X-Mansion, Deadpool admits his feelings for Siryn. She tells him she's too busy leading X-Force, but believes he's on the right path, and they may have a future together. Elsewhere, T-Ray finishes his job, then sets his sights on Deadpool. 

Firsts and Other Notables
Deadpool's healing factor is restored in this issue, though Killebrew notes that it won't be as super-charged as it was previously (making it a more standard "he can fight and be okay, but not regrow limbs" kind of thing). While this seems like an effort to bring the character down to Earth, power-wise, I have no idea if it sticks in the short-term. In the long-term, of course, it doesn't. 


Artistic Achievements
Kevin Lau, who penciled X-Force #61-62, handles the T-Ray sequences in this issue. 

A text piece at the end of the issue explains the process involved in rendering the art in issues #4 and #5 directly from pencils to colors. A common practice nowadays, it was groundbreaking for the time.

A Work In Progress
T-Ray's back is shown to have a giant X tattoo on it, crossing out the names of the people he's killed. The name "Wilson" appears, but is not crossed off. 


Young Love
Deadpool and Siryn have a surprisingly straightforward conversation about their feelings, effectively agreeing to remain just friends but leaving things on good terms. 


Austin's Analysis
The crux of Deadpool #5 is something of a rarity for this madcap, violent, Looney Tunes-esque young series: a moral dilemma. It's not even something that plays out against the backdrop of an action sequence, or via metaphor. It's just Deadpool saying, "I'm going to kill Killebrew" and Siryn trying to convince him, just with words, that he's a better person than that. Unfortunately, while the relative zag is appreciated, it doesn't quite work. Certainly, plenty of drama and artistic verve can be generated simply from two characters talking. But the tonal whiplash relative to this series' usual energy is almost too much. And Ed McGuiness, despite clearly being a nascent superstar already in his young career, doesn't quite have the chops yet to liven up "two people having an honest conversation with deep, moral implications" (the later scene between Siryn and Deadpool on the X-Mansion works much better, because McGuiness has a more lively setting to work with than "generic room"). The series could benefit from taking it down a notch — this is probably the least schtick-y issue with the fewest pop culture references yet, and it's the better for it — but this is perhaps too many notches, too soon. 

Next Issue
The unending stream of ancillary content continues with Juggernaut #1!

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5 comments:

  1. "The unending stream of ancillary content"

    How many X-adjacent titles were being published per month in '97? Five hundred?

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    1. In March of 1997, there were 15 X-books or comics featuring an X-related character published (including the second "Lost Tales" issue reprinting a chunk of Classic X-Men backups), not counting a guest appearance by the O5 in Untold Tales of Spider-Man or Fantastic Four #7 that has Wolverine on the cover for some reason I can't remember.

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    2. Oh, for those simpler days. February 2025 features 19 X-titles, which isn’t including even less ancillary material like flashback books.

      The “Heroes Reborn” FF #7 had Wolverine on the cover because of something to do with the FF venturing into the Negative Zone. Considering it was “Heroes Reborn”, I don’t want to remember much more, but other Marvel-616 characters were seen, or something, but of course, in 1997 they’d want to prominently feature Wolverine on the cover.

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  2. I kinda wonder if this issue’s cover was done “Marvel-style” in that McGuinness just drew the scene and Kelly (or Harras, or whomever) dialogued it afterwards rather than it being drawn with the dialogue already in mind.

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    Replies
    1. Sure seems like it, especially given how thin the story is overall.

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