Writer: Cody Ziglar
Artist: Rogê Antônio
Colorist: Guru-eFX
Letterer: Joe Sabino
Cover Artists: Taurin Clarke; David Baldeón & Jesus Aburtov; Jessica Fong (Ellie Deadpool); Sean “Cheeks” Galloway (April Pool’s Day)
Graphic Designer: Kat Walkington
Editors: Cy Pedro Beltran, Mark Basso & CB Cebulski
Publisher: Marvel
Price: $3.99
Release Date: April 2, 2025
Deadpool broke his code of not killing superheroes. In return, he got an adventure, battled new villains, and fought shoulder-to-shoulder with Spider-Man. Shift may not forgive Deadpool for shooting him. Still, Miles Morales called him Bro.
Now, Wade has a weapon that might solve his Death Grip problem. Ellie can teleport him to his appointment with Destiny but needs coordinates. Can Deadpool find Death Grip’s new lair? And how will the writers pay off Agent Gao's classic flash-bang? Let's grab our Hephaestus-forged weapons, leap into Deadpool #13, and find out!
Story
When you kill people for money and five-star reviews, it's easy to lose your moral compass. After taking a job from Agent Gao, Deadpool isn't judging anyone. Still, he wants to know who he can count on in an emergency, even if it’s only to stand on the sidelines. Wolverine isn’t squeamish about inflicting pain on his degenerate friend now and then. Still, Wolverine professes innocence with Wade's recent dance with death. When Wolverine gives him a lead, Deadpool postpones judgment day.
If Deadpool is a man on a mission, Solem luxuriates in his pleasure dome. Wolverine may have Adamantium bones, but Solem has indestructible alloy skin. The Arakkii mutant lives for pleasure. When Death Grip came calling, Solem gave him the Muramasa Blade. All the mutant asked for in return was to hear how Death Grip used it. But the leader of The Touch reneged on his bargain. So, in Deadpool #13, Solem offers to give the Merc With A Mouth Death Grip’s location. But this time, he won’t accept credit.
If Deadpool worries about not being around for Ellie, Death Grip grapples with who he has become. Death Grip was a cult leader who taught his followers to worship death. When he ingested the Muramasa Blade, Death Grip merged with death, allowing him to return from the afterlife and murder Deadpool. Death Grip has become a poster boy for Thanos in Cody Ziglar’s story. But when you are half dead and half alive, which part of you is in control? Are you even a person anymore?
Art
Rogê Antônio portrays The Touch running between blue columns. The green-robed priests stumble as white smoke separates bodies and appendages. A blue-green mist hangs in the forest as Deadpool visits Wolverine. Deadpool cloaks his red costume in a gray parka as the living weapons talk. A purple shadow underlines the link between Wolverine and Death Grip. Guru-eFX paints the briefing room blue as Doug presents a slide show to his Chief Financial Officer. The red, pink, and orange slide suggests Wade and Ellie belong more to Death Grip’s chaotic world than Taskmaster’s practical one.
Yellow smoke rises from bronze braziers that match the symbol dominating the wall. Solem sits amid gold-masked attendants and writhing flesh tones in Deadpool #13. The gold masks make it as hard for Solem to identify servants as for crime bosses to recognize Madame Masque. But the red cushions filling the pleasure dome suggest that Solem has more in common with Deadpool, Ellie, and Princess than any of them realize.
White and yellow balloons feature uppercase black text, while Joe Sabino fills red ones with Princess's white dialogue. Magenta words in blue boxes represent Death Grip’s inner turmoil. Words shrink for lowered or distant voices and grow bold for inflection. Giant red words and musical notes promise that someone will get spanked. Sound effects help us hear Death Grip lose control, blades snap against Tron-like skin, and Deadpool proves he's a lumberjack (and he's okay) in Deadpool #13. Thanks to Marvel for providing a copy for review.
Final Thoughts
As Ellie demonstrates she's growing up, Princess proves a capable strategist, their father falls in love, and Taskmaster bills Wade for quadruple overtime in Deadpool #13.
Rating 9.4/10
To look inside see my review at Comic Book Dispatch.
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