Mercenaries and Vampires: Review of Deadpool: Dracula’s Gauntlet #1 and 2

The latest Deadpool title to hit the shelves is Deadpool: Dracula’s Gauntlet, a seven-issue weekly mini-series which is the hard-copy version of the Marvel Infinite digital comic titled Deadpool: The Gauntlet.  Each printed issue of this series features two of the digital-version chapters.

While this story line is not exactly new, (the digital version came out a few months ago), for those who missed the online version prior to Deadpool’s marriage or those who are completist comic collectors of Deadpool, these comic books are worth picking up.

Deadpool: Dracula’s Gauntlet #1 Cover

If you have been reading the latest Deadpools (say, from issue #27 on), you are aware that our hero Wade Wilson got married to a succubus (no, really), and queen of the monster underworld named Shiklah. This marriage led to a war between the forces of Mrs. Shiklah Deadpool and her former (and very unhappy) fiancé, Dracula.  Yes, THAT Dracula! This Gauntlet story is basically the prequel to the whole “Deadpool is getting married” story arc.

So, here we go  (mild spoilers here, but we assume you already know who Shiklah is and the whole Dracula thing if  you are following the regular Deadpool series):

The story opens with Wade rescuing a girl from the clutches of a Latverian assassin in London, and quickly evolves into a running battle with a vampire.  This leads to Deadpool taking a job offer from Dracula (but not accepting a drink!) to deliver a package from the Middle East to New York. The package is a coffin containing the presumed heir to the Monster Underworld, who is to marry Dracula and thus end a very long war between the Vampires and the forces of the fiance’s family.

So what could go wrong?  Nearly everything. Our Merc with a Mouth rescues said coffin from some assassins and, at the end of issue #1 is seen sailing away with his still-unopened prize.

Deadpool: Dracula’s Gauntlet #1 Cover

Deadpool in the Desert in Dracula’s Gauntlet #1

Deadpool: Dracula’s Gauntlet #2 opens in typical crazed Deadpool fashion with our hero busting loose the animals from a zoo in Greece in order to hitch the zoo’s zebra (named Mustafa), to a cart containing the aforementioned coffin.  Oh, and how do we know the zebra is named Mustafa?  Because in Deadpool’s crazy world, even wild animals have thought balloons, and we see that this animal does not think too highly of Wade.  Anyway, back to our tale: While scaring off the local Greeks with his tales of vampires, Deadpool awakens a Minotaur who feels he needs to rid his village of Deadpool and his package. Hint to Deadpool: Did you notice the Minotaur said he can sense EVIL?  And he was not referring to you or to poor Mustafa.

Deadpool and Mustafa the Zebra in Dracula’s Gauntlet #2

After the requisite Deadpool/Minotaur battle and chase, we finally get to see the contents of the coffin.  This is our first glimpse of Shiklah!  Dracula’s fiance, the evilly beautiful Shiklah!

And as we hear her tell Deadpool her origin story, and the mention of the word “vampires” many times, who do you think shows up?

Blade, of course!  He has good reason to try to stop the impending Dracula-Shiklah nuptials, but if he kills the package, Deadpool does not get paid!  Cue in a decent Blade/Deadpool fight, and some monstrous intervention by Shiklah.

All in all, this is a pretty good Deadpool story. Zany, crazy, and yet, all the wackiness is centered around a real story that we now know will have major ramifications in the life of Deadpool .

You Had One Job, Deadpool…

The story is by Brian Posehn and Gerry Duggan, with Duggan taking on the actual writing chores.  The art is by Reilly Brown.  Posehn and Duggan have a good handle on what Deadpool is all about.  This is a well-done story and ‘Pool stays in character.  Plus he is funny.

Reilly Brown does a great job with the art.  Deadpool looks like Deadpool should (as opposed to the not-very-good art of John Lucas in the regular Deadpool comics title), and Shiklah is drawn in a very beautiful manner.  Blade looks good, and so does the Minotaur.

A couple of questions do come up in the story, more the sense of continuity with Marvel history.  Dracula was first introduced to modern Marvel fans in 1972, with Tomb of Dracula, by Marv Wolfman and Gene Colan.  They styled their Dracula in the classic Bela Lugosi style, and to a lot of fans of that title, that is how the comic book Dracula looks.  Now, the Dracula that hires Deadpool looks like a take-off on the vampires in Interview with a Vampire, as played by Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt. Why would an undying lord change his hair from black to whitish-blonde?  Is this supposed to be the same character? Since even Marvel would have trouble explaining two guys calling themselves Dracula, this probably is THE Dracula.  Blade seemed to think so.  How about some continuity here?  Other than that, this is a good read!

Gene Colan’s Dracula in Tomb of Dracula #48

Check back next week as we review Deadpool: Dracula’s Gauntlet #3, where we hopefully find out what happens with Deadpool and Shiklah; and does Blade give up, or will he return to battle our Merc with a Mouth?  And will Mustafa ever make it back to the plains of his homeland?  We can only hope!

If you like Deadpool (and just want to see the pre-story to Deadpool’s marriage), or you like vampires, minotaurs, or zebras, pick this series up and read it!