The merc with the mouth goes multimedia with Deadpool: The Gauntlet #1, the latest Marvel Infinite book to hit your screens.

Publisher: Marvel Comics
Writer: Gerry Duggan, Brian Posehn
Artist: Reilly Brown
Price: £1.99/$2.99 from ComiXology or the Marvel Comics app

There are certain characters and stories who suit the slightly quirky world of digital comics better than others. The smart ass, self-aware world of Wade Wilson is a prime example, because he is absolutely perfect for Marvel Infinite! Just as Batman is much more enjoyable in the campy world of 1966 than the gritty world Arkham Origins, Deadpool’s wise cracking witticisms can’t always be contained in the conservative world of printed pages. As he persistently breaks the fourth wall (or should that be screen in this instance) he gives the world of digital comics the kind of comedic kick in the pants we haven’t seen since Atomic Robo: Two Fisted Tales!

Jerry Duggan & Brian Posehn’s script zings along as Deadpool attempts to thwart a Latverian assassin before chasing down an undead minion of the night across the busy streets of London. With a certain Prince of Darkness making an appearance towards the end and hiring Wade to deliver a particular package safely, we’re told this will feed directly into the main Deadpool continuity, with major ramification, so who knows where this will all end up?! However based on this first issue it should be damn good fun finding out.

Visually the book looks awesome, with Powerplay’s Reilly Brown uses all the experience he’s gained in his own title to give the book some truly awesome touches, doing layouts as well as final artwork. Alongside some really clever uses of Guided View to showcase Wilson’s healing factor (especially the scene with the bullet at the beginning) as well as some cool action set pieces, the true master stroke is a James Bond inspired credit sequence/ musical number half way through which sees Wilson serenade himself while silhouettes of glamourous ladies and bullets scroll past – perfect for ‘the man who blew too much’.

Up until this point the book was just another above average guided view title but with this central sequence it upped its game to new heights and made it something rather special! If this is the standard of Infjnite books we can expect from 2014 we are in for a bumper year!

“A brilliant combination of smart ass script from Duggan and Posehn, with quirky visuals and imaginative layout from Powerplay artist Reilly Brown (especially in the stunning musical number in the middle!) makes Deadpool: The Gauntlet #1 the most fun Marvel Infinite book to date!”