Who would've thought that Deadpool would've become as big a star as he is right now? Not only does Merc With A Mouth represent the second ongoing series the character is involved in right now, but he's also got a miniseries happening, he's been involved with two crossovers, and he's got a starring movie coming in the future. It's a good time to be Deadpool, but is the new book a good series to pickup?

A great Deadpool book needs one thing above all others: humor. The Deadpool series – hilarious. Merc With A Mouth – mild chuckle. The book shares many similarities with the other Deadpool series, as both books sprinkle in an assortment of daydreams, plus Deadpool is often seen talking to and arguing with himself. There are a few humorous moments – Deadpool's Human Torch impression and references to Fallout 3 are the best – but as a whole it's just not as funny.

Merc With A Mouth #1

The story has Deadpool being sent into the Savage Land by AIM to retrieve a biological weapon that could be very useful, and it's not likely that Deadpool will suffer any harmful effects (strange since what he could become is what he's going to get since that version became that in the first place – aka zombie Deadpool). By the time the issue was finished, the only thing I had hope for was that zombie Deadpool (funny in books such as the Marvel Zombie minis) would still be around; whether he'll be a constant fixture remains to be seen.

It's bad enough that the writing isn't that hilarious, but the artwork is absolutely atrocious; I'm pretty sure it's the same guy who did the artwork in Deadpool during the Thunderbolts crossover, which I absolutely despised. The only thing he can draw is the curves of a woman, as Dr. Betty Swanson is smoking hot and looking at her is like looking at a pinup model. I wish the book were nothing but these sexy women then maybe it would be something worth looking at. As is, however, we've got Ka-Zar and his pet tiger looking like a kitty one minute and then a roaring tiger the next, action scene poses that seem implausible, and Deadpool looks like a fat, dumpy freaky, whose costume has the properties of a gooey gel with the way it stretches and wrinkles.

Besides a brand-new story, the book also reprints Deadpool #4 from way back in 1997 where he fought the Hulk. In fact, it's depressing that a book from so long ago not only looks better than the current book featuring it, but it's funnier too. You should never package another book within your comic where it ends up being better than the current one you're trying to sell.

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