One of the bestselling Marvel series of the past twenty years wraps up as Cullen Bunn and Dalibor Talajic present the final chapter in their trilogy – Deadpool Kills The Marvel Universe One Last Time. The murderous Merc with a Mouth at a low ebb – alone, broken, bereft of purpose. Far from the sassin’ assassin fans know and love – until a multiversal explorer arrives with a mission across realities that only Deadpool can complete.
The original Deadpool Kills The Marvel Universe was the first chapter in a series of limited series under the Deadpool Killology umbrella which was followed up with Deadpool Killustrated and Deadpool Kills Deadpool. Deadpool Kills The Marvel Universe – where a brainwashed and nihilistic Deadpool goes on a hero killing spree – however was a huge hit and the trade paperback collection is one of Marvel’s highest selling collections of the modern era. This led to the aptly titled Deadpool Kills The Marvel Universe Again where Deadpool a brainwashed Deadpool would once again go on the hunt for Marvel heroes.
This final chapter rounds off the trilogy in an explosive fashion. Writer Cullen Bunn has extensive experience when it comes to Deadpool which covers over ten years’ worth of comics and has had placed Wade Wilson in almost every situation imaginable whether it be killing sprees, symbiote battles, sneaking into the original Secret Wars or becoming a zombie. He manages to keep a consistent voice for the character over these projects, even when Deadpool is pushed to his limits. This is particularly evident in this series with the unusually sombre Wade presenting a very sullen and more serious outer façade whilst still maintaining some of his trademark wit in his inner monologue – albeit tinged with a hint of melancholy. There are much higher stakes this time around as well, with Bunn giving the killing spree premise of the previous series a new twist as the despondent Deadpool’s cross dimensional mission has a more benevolent leaning,
But that’s not to say there’s less action or brutal battles as this series has them in spades. This gives returning artist Dalibor Talajic plenty of space to flex his considerable artistic talents. His super detailed style brings the storytelling up another level, and his battles are some of the best action sequences you’ll see – with Deadpool’s early encounter with the Superior Spider-Man being a key highlight. Even little details like Deadpool’s eyes being exposed to compensate for his silence go a long way.
Bunn and Talajic bring their trilogy to a conclusion in a suitably brutal style whilst giving the slaughter fest an epic quality. Fans who have followed the Killology since the beginning will be more than satisfied with this finale.
Deadpool Kills The Marvel Universe One Last Time is out now from Marvel (9781302963989, p/b, £16.99)
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