When Marvel and DC announced their first crossover comics in two decades, readers were ecstatic. Generally, even the most lackluster of team-ups between the two titans of American comics have been well worth reading. The same is true of Deadpool/Batman #1. However, the best this long-awaited union has to offer is to be found after the book’s main event.
The central story finds Deadpool transported across reality to Gotham City for a gig. His assignment: take down the Batman. This proves to be far easier said than done, even with that big signal in the sky showing where he will be. Despite a less-than-friendly start, a reluctant Deadpool/Batman partnership is formed after Wade agrees to help hunt The Joker.
The artwork by Greg Capullo is gorgeous, as one would expect. Few artists draw gritty action so well and Zeb Wells‘ script makes space for it. Unfortunately, the humor is also overly meta and juvenile, even for Deadpool. At one point, Wade jokes about all the dirty jokes he could be making but won’t.
To quote a much better Batman story, “if you have to explain a joke, there is no joke.” The plot and resolution of Deadpool/Batman are similarly predictable, and that is the last thing a story involving Deadpool or The Joker should ever be.
Deadpool/Batman’s A-Game comes through B-Stories
Thankfully, uneven as the Deadpool/Batman team-up is, the rest of the anthology more than makes up for its shortcomings. Most of these stories are set in an alternate universes where the Marvel and DC heroes coexist, rather than being dragged across reality to another world. This results in some truly thoughtful analysis of the characters involved.
There is something truly magical about a Captain America and Wonder Woman friendship that reinforces each’s better natures. Green Arrow and Daredevil make a surprisingly effective team given their usual issues with other superheroes. The story featuring Jeff the Land Shark and Krypto the Superdog just playing as pets do is pure fun. And I would pay good money for a full comic based around Rocket Raccoon taking on Hal Jordan‘s role in an alternate reality Hard Traveling Heroes. Any one of these would make for a more engaging miniseries than Deadpool/Batman.
Deadpool/Batman #1 is a must-read for any fan of Marvel and DC. However, the best parts of the book are those that see these classic characters working together rather than fighting for the sake of fighting. Still, there is far more good than bad to be found here and I hope that this will be start of a more regular series of crossover comics.
Grade: 7/10
Marvel/DC: Deadpool/Batman #1 is now available at comic shops everywhere.
