#deadpool reread

″I don’t think he has any idea, Preston.” ″No, he doesn’t.” Deadpool (2012) #34

This "family member" view from Preston makes such a big difference to the emotional dynamic of this run vs that of the others. Watching from her perspective as Wade just shows up with a woman he met days ago as far as she knows, innocently excited to marry her and introduce her to everyone, momentarily convinced that just this once his life has changed and that everything will be okay, is totally different from her perspective than it would have been exclusively from his. The outside perspective helps with all the times he's convinced he's fine and clearly isn't, her reactions to him highlight what we're supposed to be feeling about what he's doing (e.g. HE makes light of sleeping at murder scenes, but because Preston is there providing a point of reference, horrified, we quickly get through to the idea that it's a vulnerable stress thing), and there are all these moments from her perspective that play up this intense protective feeling for the readers. Preston shushes Adsit at Wade's wedding when he says that the marriage won't last, she prays for Wade to just get this "one day" when it starts raining on his wedding, she watches him innocently play with his daughter after learning that he murdered his parents and decides that she has to keep it a secret from him to protect him, and more. ‘Look at him. He’s happy. He doesn’t know. He’s so happy and vulnerable and knowing this would hurt him.’

He’s sympathetic in the other runs, but this is the only one that plays efficiently with that outside perspective. Nails you with it, in fact. By reading you aren’t just walking in Deadpool’s shoes, you’re looking at him through Preston’s (and others’!) eyes and longing for him to be happy. Cable & Deadpool played a little with other perspectives, of course, but its strength was still overwhelmingly scenes about either Cable from Cable’s perspective or Deadpool from Deadpool’s perspective. Its emotional weight was placed differently.

″You know, Logan always hid the cost of his injuries well.” Deadpool (2012) #36

“Great. Another lab.” Deadpool (2012) #35

Example #327 of this series taking consequences seriously well after the incident that incited them, even between crisis peaks. “Little” things like Wade and Kim getting nervous walking into a lab bring home the reality of what happened to them before and heighten the upcoming stakes. The emotions just feel real, guys.

″You want to see how truly empty his mind is? Send him after his parents. Let’s see if he even notices.” Deadpool (2012) #34

Deadpool (2012) #37