The Unbelievable Gwenpool #24 Review

The Unbelievable Gwenpool #24

Publisher: Marvel Comics
Writer: Christopher Hastings
Artist: Gurihiru
Letterer: VC’s Clayton Cowles

Review by Anelise Farris

The Unbelievable Gwenpool #24 begins a new arc for our fierce pink-haired Gwenpool. Lots of changes are underfoot for Gwenpool as she is struggling to figure out how to cope with her destiny to become a supervillain. After trying but ultimately realizing that being a superhero doesn’t seem to be in the cards for her, she considers accepting her destiny after all.

Here, in The Unbelievable Gwenpool #24, Gwenpool teams up with Batroc to learn the tricks of the supervillain trade. We follow them to one of Manhattan’s high-class casinos where the wealthiest of the wealthy come to pass the time. Gwen and Batroc sneak their way inside to rob the casino of a whole lot of gold.

To be honest, this is my first foray into The Unbelievable Gwenpool. One of my pop-culture related resolutions was to dive more into the MU and DCU, as I tend to read smaller comic publications. So, here I am. I’m intrigued by the themes of fate and free-choice, but the comic chooses to remain lighthearted rather than allowing for any depth. Similarly, Gwenpool’s attempts at supervillainy, as well as the meta-commentary about comics themselves, are humorous.

The art in The Unbelievable Gwenpool #24 is crisp and clean, with cool colors and just the right amount of bubblegum punk. The way Gweenpool navigates outside of the panels and her signature pink speech balloons are fun. Gwenpool is drawn in almost a westernized Manga style—which is heightened by her choppy blond bob, pink tips, and ridiculously cute penguin backpack. Yet, the rest of the art lacks this style while makes the whole thing feel a bit incoherent. Additionally, there are a few proofreading errors which took me out of the story.

Verdict:
Skip it. My first dive into The Unbelievable Gwenpool was fun, but it lacked the substance I was craving. Additionally, as someone unfamiliar with the series, I lacked any knowledge about the past relationship between Batroc and Gwenpool—which seems to be an important part of The Unbelievable Gwenpool #24. If you’re enjoying the series thus far, you might be happy with this new arc. However, for new readers like myself, I suggest skipping it.