Cable & Deadpool No. 30

Marvel Comics is making sure that you aren’t forgetting that there’s this big event called “Civil War” going on. Every Marvel Universe title is getting into the act. Some of those are absolutely vital parts of the story. Some are tertiary. Some are just pointless.

Many people might say that “Cable & Deadpool” No. 30 is one of those pointless ones, but not me. Instead, I hope it gets packed into the back of a “Civil War” compilation. Better yet, pack it into the front of every Civil War compilation.

I’m not too familiar with either character. I remember when they both showed up during Rob Liefeld’s run on New Mutants/X-Force. Back then, they were guys with guns, swords and robotic parts, and that’s all I can really tell you about them. But over the years, Cable has been turned into a mutant adventurer (I loved his crossover with the remnants of the Micronauts several years ago) and Deadpool was transformed into the infamous “merc with a mouth.”

This issue pits Deadpool against the Great Lakes Avengers, the D-listers of the Marvel Universe, as he hopes to make some cash rounding up those who won’t sign up for the Superhuman Registration Act.

As with her previous appearances, the always-underestimated Squirrel Girl (hey, I think that would make a great title for a solo series: The Always Underestimated Squirrel Girl) makes short work of Deadpool. At the same time, Cable has a rendevous with Captain America, offering to provide Cap and his anti-registration squad with safe haven.

The real treat here is Fabian Nicenzia’s hilarious dialogue and his play with comic-book conventions . In particular, poor Deadpool keeps having problems with his first-person narration bubbles, instead of them being inside his head, he keeps speaking them aloud.

Nicenzia also pokes fun at Marvel and DC’s efforts to trademark every concievable word that could be used to title a comic book. In fact it’s that and Nicenzia’s other playful jabs that makes this issue a must-have, a must-reprint and a must-remember book.

But it isn’t the dialogue that’s good, the art and the plot are right on the same level. Staz Johnson’s pencils provide solid, full-realized characters in an exciting and realistic environment. And Nicenzia’s plot gives just enough to keep the reader coming back for more with the next issue.

CABLE & DEADPOOL No. 30 (September 2006)
“The Hero Hunter”
Marvel Comics
Written by: Fabian Nicieza
Art by: Staz Johnson
$2.99
Four Stars out of Four (A clever mix of humor that ties in with the ‘Civil War’ story)