Deadpool, Vol. 1: Dead Presidents  (Deadpool: Marvel Now)
Face sores and severed ears ago, Deadpool was unleashed on the Marvel universe to rid the world of U.S. presidents raised from the dead and wreaking havoc on earth. In an over-the-top punch-up written by Duggan (Attack of the Show!) and comedian-actor Posehn, cult-favorite Deadpool gets the Marvel NOW! treatment, and this first collection does not disappoint. The premise is as simple as it is humorous: Deadpool is reluctantly commissioned by the global police force, S.H.I.E.L.D.,  to locate and rekill zombie presidents magically reborn, thanks to a misguided patriotic necromancer. A classic Deadpool comic comes preloaded with quips, banter, and revelry, but what makes this book truly shine is the intricate artwork by Moore (The Walking Dead, v.1, 2006). Moore’s elaborate spreads are often full of multiple moving parts with detail to spare, but he manages it all without the art feeling cramped. Duggan and Posehn provide an undead playground for Moore to sketch, from a bare-knuckle boxing match with Abe Lincoln to a zero-gravity romp with Nixon in space. This book should come with a ripcord. --Ben Spanner