In this review of Deadpool/Wolverine #4, it appears that former X-Men villain Stryfe’s solution to save the future involves a mind-control virus, as zombies crash Deadpool and Wolverine’s bloody bromance.
DEADPOOL/WOLVERINE #4
Writer: BENJAMIN PERCY
Art and Main Cover: JOSHUA CASSARA
Variant Covers: IAN CHURCHILL, SALVADOR LARROCA
Page Count: 32 pages
Release Date: April 23, 2025
This review contains spoilers
Deadpool/Wolverine #4 begins as Wolverine (Logan) barricades the abandoned old-timey saloon from the approaching zombie horde (infected with Cable-clone Stryfe’s Legacy Virus 2.0, the good kind apparently). Deadpool (Wade Wilson), currently impaled on a set of wall-mounted antlers, is curious by this. Logan explains that Stryfe had once infected both Deadpool and Wolverine with Legacy 2.0, and is trying to do so again (using the zombies).
Deadpool un-impales himself from the antlers, but inadvertently attracts the zombies’ attention outside, resulting in the classic horror trope of zombies breaking through the barricades. Deadpool and Logan are weary but still willing to fight. Countless invading zombies collapse under a hail of bullets and razor-sharp claws. After a pages-long montage of “snikt, snikt, bang, bang,” the zombies suddenly stop moving.
Wolverine believes that a weakened Stryfe has lost telepathic control. Stryfe indeed has crashed his flying bone dinosaur, and crawled back to his underground lair where he undergoes another painful mystery “infusion” to regain his telepathy.
Back in the saloon, Stryfe has recovered and speaks to Wade and Logan through the zombies (a strange sound system for sure), explaining his motivations (anti-villain monologue?) Stryfe describes his devastated future that prompted him to time-travel into the past and recruit Wade and Logan (willingly according to Stryfe). Wade and Logan’s unique skills and abilities made them ideal candidates. Stryfe’s plan was interrupted by the arrival of Nick Fury and SHIELD after detecting Stryfe’s temporal disturbance.
Stryfe was then imprisoned by Fury, (he was freed in Deadpool Wolverine #1). Present-day Stryfe then orders Wade and Logan to track down his helmet so he can complete his plan to avert the future catastrophe. Wade and Logan ignore Stryfe’s commands, instead attacking the zombies, and setting them on fire.
Deadpool/Wolverine #4 ends in shocking fashion as Wolverine is re-infected with Legacy 2.0 from a zombie scratch, and he turns on Deadpool, citing his allegiance to Stryfe.
Analysis
Deadpool/Wolverine #4 is violent, bloody and at points silly, but it is also a lot of fun to read. There is a lot for comic fans to enjoy including wanton, over-the-top violence between zombie cowboys and fast-healing anti-heroes in an old west saloon, funny one-liners, a requisite (maybe not villain) monologue, and a final page plot twist. Deadpool Wolverine #4 is a middle chapter, with plot and character moving around. We also have to wonder if we can trust Stryfe, even if we disapprove of his methods.
Writer Benjamin Percy keeps the fun coming after the bloody interrogation/deprogramming session of last issue. In Deadpool/Wolverine #4, zombies are slashed, sliced, stomped, blasted and set on fire, but the gruesomeness is muted as they all leak Stryfe’s weird mind-control energy instead of blood and guts. The callback to classic Nick Fury is nice, and also indicates how long ago Wade and Logan were recruited.
Stryfe’s approach to recruiting the title characters is unique at best, possibly pragmatic but likely inappropriate (it involves mind-control from a virus). Wolverine was freed from the Legacy 2.0 during the Krakoa-era (as Percy’s writing subjected Logan to the resurrection protocols, as Logan was repeatedly murdered and revived by former ally Beast). Stryfe’s unorthodox actions continue these violations.
The story for Deadpool/Wolverine #4 moves along and introduces the next piece of the Stryfe puzzle, namely stealing back Stryfe’s helmet from wherever SHIELD put it. Also, next issue, a freed Deadpool faces down Wolverine as a mind-controlled thrall. There is a lot of action and violence in Deadpool Wolverine #4 , but it is part of the plot rather than just gratuitous. Percy just gets to let artist Joshua Cassara cut loose
Artist/colorist Joshua Cassara’s gritty style and bright palette continues to suit the story, mixing stylized action sequences with over-the-top zombie kills, while depicting emotions through recognizable facial expressions: from Stryfe’s agony in his lair, to the open-mouthed zombies’ haunting skull-like faces, as well as Nick Fury and Wolverine’s grim and gritty scowls. The zombie horror tropes are also effective and creepy.
The final splash page of Deadpool/Wolverine #4 featuring a mind-controlled Wolverine who is literally “turning on” his ally Deadpool, shows vigor in Logan’s body, and a literal gleam in his eye (where before he was exhausted). This page is a nice cliffhanger image and is as “pin-up worthy” as the shot of Wade and Logan preparing to fight on page five.
Final Thoughts
Deadpool/Wolverine #4 is formulaic, but the creative team’s over-the-top, top shelf execution makes for a rousing adventure that mixes in the action comedy dynamic, horror tropes and an intriguing mystery focusing on the story’s central villain (or savior).
