Deadpool: X Marks the Spot (Comics) | Review
Wade Wilson's misguided quest to join the X-Men reveals why good intentions and terrible execution make perfect bedfellows.
Moving away from Dark Reign to explore Wade's desperate need for acceptance and belonging, writer Daniel Way (Bullseye: Greatest Hits, Ghost Rider: Vicious Cycle) takes Deadpool in a completely different direction with this storyline.
Set during the X-Men's Utopia era, this latest storyline shows what happens when an unhinged mercenary decides he wants to be part of something bigger than himself. Of course, the results are predictably messy and entirely self-inflicted.
The premise works because it taps into something genuinely human about Wade Wilson beneath all the chaos and violence. His desire to join the X-Men isn't just another random whim but a reflection of his deeper need for family and purpose.
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Deadpool: X Marks the Spot (Comics) | Review |
Premise (Spoiler-Lite)
The setup is very simple: Deadpool wants to be an X-Man and he's willing to go to extreme lengths to prove his worth. When Mercury's father publicly claims that his daughter is being held captive on Utopia, Wade sees this as his golden opportunity to win the X-Men's respect and membership by assassinating the lying parent.
He genuinely wants to help the X-Men and protect mutant rights but his approach involves murder, property damage, and complete disregard for collateral damage. Its classic Deadpool logic: solve a public relations problem with maximum violence.
The volume opens with a two-part pirate adventure that initially seems disconnected from the main X-Men plot. However, Way uses this seemingly random detour to establish Wade's current mental state and his tendency to romanticize heroic ideals.
The pirate story becomes a lens through which we understand his later fixation on joining the X-Men. In latter adventure, Wade's interactions with individual members of X-Men team reveal different facets of his overtly chaotic character.
His attempts to impress Cyclops show his desperate need for authority figures to validate him, while his banter with other X-Men demonstrates his genuine affection for mutant community. These moments of vulnerability make his eventual rejection more impactful.
The Mercury sub-plot drives the main narrative tension. Wade's plan to eliminate her father stems from a twisted but sincere desire to protect mutant interests. His inability to understand why the X-Men won't welcome cold-blooded murder on their behalf highlights the fundamental disconnect between his worldview and theirs.
Way doesn't shy away from the darker implications of Deadpool's quest. He examines how good intentions can lead to terrible consequences when filtered through a damaged psyche. Wade's actions consistently make things worse for everyone involved, including himself.
Artwork and Writing
The artwork for this volume takes two very different approaches. Shawn Crystal handles the first two issues with a style that feels jarringly inappropriate for the material. His cartoonish character designs clash with the story's emotional weight, making serious moments feel unintentionally comedic and action sequences lose impact.
Crystal's work lacks the visual impact that makes Deadpool's combat sequences effective. His cramped panel layouts and overly silly character expressions make the pirate adventure feel more like Saturday morning cartoon than legitimate storytelling.
The dramatic shift occurs when Paco Medina (Legendary Star-Lord: Face It, I Rule, New X-Men: Mercury Falling) takes over from issue #15 onward. Medina's return brings back the visual consistency that made the previous storylines work so well.
His Deadpool feels genuinely dangerous and emotionally complex, while his X-Men designs maintain the proper heroic gravitas the story requires. Medina's strength lies in balancing the comedic and serious elements without undermining either.
His action sequences flow naturally, and his character work during emotional moments gives proper weight to Wade's internal struggles. The contrast between the two artists' approaches makes the collection feel like two different books entirely.
Way's writing maintains his characteristic balance between humor and genuine character development. His ability to find comedy in Wade's misguided heroism without mocking his desire for acceptance demonstrates real understanding of the character.
Final Verdict
X Marks the Spot storyline succeeds as a character study but struggles with execution issues that prevent it from reaching its full potential. The core concept of Deadpool desperately wanting to join the X-Men provides rich material for exploring Wade's psychology and his relationship with the broader Marvel Universe.
Crystal's first two issues feel like they belong in a different comic entirely while Medina's later work demonstrates what the entire story could have been. This shows a fundamental mismatch between artistic style and story requirements.
Way's exploration of Wade's need for belonging resonates throughout the book, making this essential reading for understanding the character's emotional development. Despite its flaws, the collection delivers insight into what makes Wade Wilson tick beneath the chaos.
Where to Read:
Deadpool: X Marks the Spot is available in print and digital formats, which is also a part of Deadpool by Daniel Way: The Complete Collection Vol. 2. You can also read it via Marvel Unlimited or purchase it on Kindle through Amazon.