But what happens to Deadpool now?  Well, the good news is that he's getting an ongoing solo series, just like Cable.  The bad news it that it's by Daniel Way and Steve Dillon, the creators of Wolverine: Origins.  Their current storyline, "The Deep End", is a five-issue arc, presumably setting up the new series.

The plot: some villain or other has hired Deadpool to kill Wolverine.  So they fight for two issues and counting.  Really, that's it.

I can't say it's completely without good points.  There are a couple of moments here and there, largely due to Dillon's storytelling.  But taken as a whole, it's just depressing.  It's flat, it's banal, and there's virtually nothing to it other than two characters fighting.  Apparently next month we can look forward to more of the same, and I have a sinking feeling the whole five months is going to be devoted to a single turgid fight scene.

Way is writing Deadpool as a delusional maniac with multiple voices in his head - usually living in a cartoon world, but with the occasional contribution from voices that are a little more in touch with reality.  This seems like a gimmick rather than an interesting take on the character.  Way has either lost sight of the character's trademark flippancy, or simply can't write it.  (And it's not an easy voice to do, I'm sure.)  Nor does it work as pathos.  Instead, we have what seems to be a multiple personality version of Deadpool, and none of those personalities is especially interesting.

When I reviewed the last issue, I said that it was mildly entertaining and raised a few smiles.  And it did.  But this is a second straight issue of the same thing, which is both repetitious and exposes the fact that "The Deep End" doesn't have a plot.  And it pales in comparison to Cable & Deadpool, the title that is being cancelled to make way for it.

Five issues of this extended fight scene is an unenticing prospect; an entire series by the same creative team is downright terrifying.  Presumably Marvel see this as a step up for Deadpool, but for the life of me, I can't understand why.

Rating: C-

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