by Kevin Gaussoin, Editor-in-Chief

Batman and Deadpool are back together again for a second time this year? Of course they are. This formula is magic!

I was looking for audiobooks on Audible today, trying to figure out what books I should spend my remaining credits on before I once again cancel my monthly account with them (because the credits you get monthly with the paid account are use-or-lose if you drop down to the free account). Since I was making sure I grabbed the latest books from Cullen Bunn and Brad Meltzer, I thought I’d search some other favorite comic book writers to see what they had to offer and I came across Grant Morrison’s Supergods. The reviews for this audiobook seemed to be all of one mind: Sure, this is about the history of comic books, but it’s just as much about Grant Morrison’s personal history with comic books. 

Back when I was a teenager, Grant Morrison wrote Animal Man #26, where Morrison himself appeared as “The Writer” a meta experiment where the fourth wall was pierced and Buddy Baker learns the nature of his comic book existence. This level of self-awareness has also been seen in many other comic characters over the years, notably as this issue flagrantly indicates: She-Hulk, Zatanna, Ambush Bug, Gwenpool, Joker, Loki, Rick Jones, and somehow also artist Dan Mora. 

But dear readers, the master of the constant fourth wall break these days is certainly Deadpool and Morrison makes sure you know that, and I &%^*ing love it! Deadpool can see you and I can see you too! Thanks so much for showing up and reading my review. It means a lot. 

Ultimately (or is that Absolutely?) like with Marvel’s Deadpool Batman a couple of months ago, “DC’s turn” Batman Deadpool #1 satisfies my love of these characters simply being themselves fully and perfectly. Grant Morrison was the ideal writer for this story and I can see that you already agree. 

As far as what happens in this story? Well let’s just tease it a bit by naming some guest stars: First of course Grant Morrison is back as a new shaved-headed edition of The Writer, then we have Cassandra Nova, Damian Wayne, a bit of the evil permitting the real world, and an Amalgam Comics character we thought we’d never see again. 

Likewise, Dan Mora, whose impressively huge volume of art each month makes me think he’s not actually just one human, but instead maybe a sweatshop of Mora triplets shackled in DC Comics’ basement, is the perfect choice for this and frankly all DC Comics. Dan Mora! Blink twice if you need a rescue!

On top of this beautiful Batman Deadpool story, we have some backup stories that delighted me and I know you’ll enjoy them as well. 

First there’s a Constantine/Doctor Strange story that was pretty satisfying even if I didn’t particularly love the line art style choice. The colorist was on point though.

Next is a Nightwing and Laura Kinney Wolverine story that was so damn good (Matt Sernaker agrees) that it may have outshined even the main event. It was heartfelt, maxing out the pathos. I would love to read a miniseries about this teamup.

Then there’s a slap-happy silly Harley Quinn and Hulk story that while it lacks much substance beyond being a palate cleanser, It totally made me smile. 

Finally we come to a Static and Ms Marvel story that felt like it could easily belong in either universe permanently. Actually, besides the goofy story, I think that can easily be said of each of these bonus stories, even the wrap-around one featuring Eternity and Kismet, tongue-in-cheek as it was. (Hey, we don’t know for sure what was going on between the intro and outro. There could have been a lot of that. 

So in the end, multiple (if not all) iterations of Batman liked it, Deadpool definitely liked it, Grant Morrison liked it, I liked it, and I can see you liked it too. What I still need to know is, which out of the TWENTY covers are you gonna get? And being as though this review was made about me to mock the great Grant Morrison making things about himself: What covers do you think are Grant’s favorites? You know it’s the law that I get the Sienkiewicz cover, but which other one(s) should I get?

Rating:
ComicsOnline gives Batman Deadpool #1 five out of five crossovers where “I’m So Meta, Even This Acronym!”

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