Deadpool & Cable: Ultimate Collection, Book 1

Cable & Deadpool (Collected Editions) #1-3

by Fabian Nicieza, Patrick Zircher (Illustrator), Shane Law (Illustrator)

Collects Cable & Deadpool (2004) #1-18

Marvel's mightiest mercs are back - and stuck with each other! Can two grown men armed to the teeth with deadly genetic weaponry live together without driving each other crazy?! Action, adventure, black humor, black ops, face-changing viruses and lots of gunfire mark this legendary pairing of two of Marvel's fan-favorite antiheroes, Wade Wilson and Nathan Summers! Fabian Nicieza, co-creator of Deadpool and the writer who defined Cable for a generation, returns to the characters he made famous - okay, infamous - in a sweeping and hilarious epic for the ages!

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Marvel, Graphic Novels Comics, X Men, Comic Book, Superheroes

424 pages, Paperback

Published February 23, 2010

About the author

Fabian Nicieza is a writer and editor who is best known as the co-creator of DEADPOOL and for his work on Marvel titles such as X-Men, X-Force, New Warriors, and Robin.

His first novel, the Edgar Award-nominated SUBURBAN DICKS, a sarcastic murder mystery, is on sale now from Putnam Books.

The Dicks will return in THE SELF-MADE WIDOW, coming June 21st.

Reviews

[Baba · Rating 2 out of 5]

Plotting = OK.
Cable = yawn.
Deadpool's dialogue = splendid.
A quirk of fate means that these two character's lives are entwined. I read Cable & Deadpool # 1 - 21.
6 out of 12

[RG · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ive only come across a couple of Deadpool stories which I like. The art here was very good but the story a little meh

[Sesana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cable and Deadpool is, on the surface, an almost entirely nonsensical idea for a teamup book. Luckily, Nicieza seems to have understood that. Most of this large (18 issues) collection is dedicated to sorting out why they're Cable and Deadpool are together in the first place. There are issues, of course. Cable's power level seems to be really overreaching to me, for one. Also, this isn't quite the Deadpool I'm used to. It may be because we aren't so much in his head from a narration standpoint, but I also think that he's missing some of his usual zest. But the recap pages, when they start showing up, are great, and there are some truly priceless scenes (Sinister's entire appearance is gold). This particular trade also reprints the letter columns, which is of highly variable interest.

[Vakaris the Nosferatu · Rating 5 out of 5]

all reviews in one place:
night mode reading ;
skaitom nakties rezimu

About the Book: Cable returns in time, having destroyed his own reality, and decides he’ll not let humanity fall again. Second chances, and all that. Deadpool, meantime, you could say, is not a great fan of utopias where everything’s so nice and tidy that there’s nothing to do for the likes of him. Luckily, he’s not alone, and thus comes his perfect chance to finally become one of the X-Men… Uniform and all.

My Opinion: Deadpool shouldn’t need an explanation. This was hilarious, and beautiful, full of insanity driven adventures, and very many very interesting characters who both helped, and hindered our unlikely hero. Well written, superb art, good time overall.

[shay૮₍ ˃ ⤙ ˂ ₎ა · Rating 4 out of 5]

art is great plus dp’s dialogue is always something to behold. also enjoyed his interactions with cable a lot

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kind of uneven. Lots of pretty crazy stories. Often read like I was missing parts - were there linked episodes in X-Force or Cable or some other title? Did get the feeling that the rest of the series would improve so I'll continue reading the collections. But for the most part this collection was not all that great.

[Alex · Rating 3 out of 5]

It took me a while to get into this. I initially found Cable to be uninteresting, mainly because he has no personal flaws. He's brave, intelligent and genuinely wants what's best for the planet. He seems to have no petty desires or whims, and that didn't hold my interest. But when he started realising the limits of his powers, he became more interesting. And I was intrigued to see his friendship with Wade develop. Wade and Nate are total opposites but by the end of the collection, they care about each other and there is a thread of loyalty there. This collection showed some good character development for Wade. He's often thought of as being a very uncomplicated person who doesn't think deeply about things, but in this collection, he was shown to have legitimate worries and insecurities. There were a few scenes where he and Nate discussed topics like religion, Wade's brain injuries, etc. It was nice to see a bit of Wade's vulnerability. I do wonder what the future (or the past?) holds for Nathan Summers, the saviour...

[Shannon Appelcline · Rating 4 out of 5]

The initial “blue men” arc proves that Nicieza is a lot more adept at writing Deadpool than the hacks of the ‘90s. He’s actually funny and that combines well with Cable. Cable’s movement toward saving the world at any costs is also an interesting direction for the series [7/10]. The 4-parter that follows is if anything stronger because of its willingness to go so big picture with Cable. It also really shows off his character well [8/10]. “Thirty Pieces” neatly advances the plot to its next place and has some humor, but it’s a pretty minor story [6.5/10]. “A Murder in Paradise” is great for its murder mystery, for its humor, and for its insight into Deadpool’s character [9/10]. Sadly the last four issues don’t hold up. They’ve got some nice plot movement, but the parallel worlds thing has been done so many time, and I’m not even sure what to make of the whole Baby Nate thing [6/10]. Overall, this was a good volume that occasional verges on greatness.

[zxvasdf · Rating 4 out of 5]

IT has one of the coolest openings in a comic book. In a series of panels on one page, Deadpool watches TV in his disfigured glory. He's watching TV day and night, day and night. Then the phone rings, and a voice asks for Deadpool. Wade Wilson, in just boxers, goes off panel and returns still in boxers, but is now wearing his mask. Commitment to the job, man!

[Tacitus · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the better collections I've read, especially of contemporary comics. Nicieza's writing has clearly evolved since the 1990s, as it's generally sharp, short, and captures each character well. Zircher's artwork was also consistently appealing, and the team worked together well to tell good stories each issue.

The collection works well in that that there are 2 main story arcs in the 18 issues. The first involves a somewhat OP Cable who becomes a godlike figure on earth. The second involves Deadpool kidnapping baby Cable from Sinister into the current timeline.

Throughout, Nicieza keeps focused on a tight cast of characters, which made the stories easy to follow. He also attempts in each issue to establish the characters, their powers, and the current situation, enabling a new reader to pick up at any point of the series and jump in. Even so, the later issues contain page-one recap expositions that seem a little ham-fisted and essay like, despite their self-referential jokes. The series features a bunch of cameo appearances and supporting characters, ranging from the X-men, Silver Surfer, Cannonball, Siryn, and Forge, all of which seem well thought out and help flesh out the stories.

Cable was probably the most interesting character, as he shows the most promise in terms of fully realizing his potential and taking it somewhere bigger, but it never really does, at least in this collection. Deadpool shows some twists, and reveals a heart, although I found his jokes somewhat repetitive and growing stale with time. I could imagine trying to make joke at work using a dated reference (about, say, The Love Boat, Anna Nicole, or Balco) at work and hold back for fear that it would fall flat because no one gets it. That's how some of Deadpool's jokes feel now, and while no sane person would attempt them in the real world, Deadpool does. And maybe that is exactly the point. Deadpool is a likeable idiot, and delightfully wrong at times, and for all of that, he has a certain charm and definitely stands out as a unique superhero.

The collection lacks a strong theme or some other factor that would make it "important" as a series or arc and take it to the stratosphere. But on balance, it succeeds precisely because it aims to be an entertaining series that never takes itself too seriously. There's a lesson in this for other superhero comics creators.

[Ian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beginning when Deadpool is hired by the One World Church and Cable sets out to foil their plans, this book intertwines the lives of the title characters as they develop a bond of both respect and antagonism. When Cable attempts to force the world into being a compliant utopia, it is Deadpool who stands in his way, but when Cable himself needs saving, Wade Wilson is the man to do it.

I enjoyed seeing how the sanctimonious Cable copes with achieving godlike powers and how it is Deadpool's inherent chaos that provides the yin to his yang. And it's not just a narrative theme, either. Cable's philosophical conundrums and Deadpool's constant off-colour quipping would both rapidly become tedious if not for the fact that they balance each other out.

The downside to this book is the fact that Cable gaining ultimate power, 'dying', being resurrected, 'dying' again, only to be resurrected again, all feels very repetitive. This is also a problem with Deadpool's flip-flopping loyalties and agenda, although that at least is a narrative feature regarding his brain damage.

* More reviews here: https://fsfh-book-review2.webnode.page *

[Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Deadpool and Cable have long been two of my favorites, so it was nice to sink my teeth into a storyline of theirs that I hadn't yet read. Deadpool's humor is, as always, very well written and the main story is quite engaging. Cable's mutant powers increase dramatically and he becomes a benevolent, godlike figure who sets out to create peace in the world. However, not everyone trusts this and so some set out to take him down. Deadpool is caught in the middle of all this and must decide whether his long time best frenemy is actually telling the truth about his motives. Cable is often very grim and Deadpool is completely unhinged, but here they're presented in a very different, more human way that allows you to really feel for both of them even when Deadpool is doing something horrible. The art is also fantastic. There's one sequence in particular that was so unsettling and detailed that it could easily have been its own separate horror comic.

[Brady John Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

A satisfying comic book romp from the early 2000’s
Not a single whiff of cheese anywhere considering the time of its release and coming off the back of the 90’s.
I never really understood Cable’s character so was set back initially but got myself up to speed which made the stories far more enjoyable.
Deadpool may be rather ‘bland’ in terms of how we know him now but still very enjoyable and full of character, lots of jokes and random silliness in during high stress/action moments.
Each story arc is satisfying and always intertwines the two (literally at one point) and whilst at times things can get abit confusing they have plenty of re-caps.
It’s not one I’ll come back to in a hurry but a series I’m glad I’ve read and has earnt its place on the shelf. It’s also got me interested in the X-men which is something I’ve managed to ignore over 25 years of reading comics! Bugger!

[Tejas Illuri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Deadpool's dialogue was consistently hitting through the issues - the Providence arc is a little... undeveloped would be the best word. such as with the whole reality hopping. The portion with Cables lobotomy could be more in depth (such as, WHY is his mind a complete cartoon), but overall still pretty good. Its an enjoyable read for what it is.

[Jeni · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one is probably between a three and a four because there were parts of the story that were really good and parts that were stupid/confusing. Overall, I liked it though and may pick up Book 2, so that's a three.

[Burton Olivier · Rating 4 out of 5]

Giving it four stars more for nostalgic reasons than anything else but it's still a pretty fun read with cool ideas. I remember being so in awe of how powerful Cable was when I was reading this in high school. Like he broke the Surfer's board! How fucking wild is that!

[Josh Morgan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read it at the recommendation of a friend. It was good to read a comic series, but this particular story wasn't my cup of tea.

[Rix · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is that good Deadpool content. Cable is cool too

[Shawn M. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kinda shitty at first and some jokes haven't aged well at all but it did get better towards the end. I do got all 3 collections so I'm looking forward to see if it did get even better from here on.

[TK · Rating 3 out of 5]

The plot???

[Leeann Scaramuzza · Rating 3 out of 5]

The plot was okay at times. Really didn't like Cable in this one. Some of Deadpool's banter saved it from being boring. Good art work.

[Trigger Warning Database]

Trigger & Content Warnings

Ableism & ableist slur

[Viktor · Rating 3 out of 5]

the baddies are not gonna like this one

marvel comics on main :(

[WORM · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars! This was a fun read :)

[Charles Mennerick · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this collection overall. A couple moments in the later issues made me laugh out loud.

[Adam Spanos · Rating 2 out of 5]

So this is the "must read" series that every deadpool fun should read? I'm not feelin' it man! Pretty lame story, with boring characters and a deadpool being a lot different from what we are used to, mostly because there is a great lack of spot-on jokes (with the only exception to be the Sinister story which i admit it, was hilarious).

I expected a lot more from that but sadly i got dissapointed. For now i'm still having Posehn-Duggan run on top of every deadpool run.

[Tiffany · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like how Deadpool was in this comic, his personality was spot on but the storyline itself was interesting for the 1/4 of the book, then I felt like it just got dragged on.

[Ben · Rating 3 out of 5]

While enjoyable, I did not find this as good as Daniel Way's version, which was my previous foray into the world of Deadpool. I found the comedy was not quite as sharp; the internal monologues to be more in the nature of exposition and less of an internal dialogue, for example, and a lot of the meta jokes to be in reference to other comics I did not know about, and so less accessible. I also found the initial storyline to be a bit boring with Cable's level of power - however, I think things improved as the later parts of the collection begin to explore the implications of what went on before.

The artwork is mostly pretty good, and it is consistent through the volume, which is a big plus for me, and despite there being further volumes in this Ultimate Collection, this one itself forms as much of a fully self contained story arc as you can probably get with a Marvel title.

[Kevin Giebens · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first time I met Cable, was in the first volume of Deadpool Classic. It was a brief appearance (and the first appearance of Deadpool), so I didn't really know who Cable was or what he did in the Marvel Universe. So I was very excited to get this book and see what all the fuzz was about!

You can clearly see why this duo is the most unthinkable couple you could imagine. While Cable is the more serious hero, Deadpool is the complete opposite. Cable wants to protect humanity and help, while Deadpool just wants money and shoot everything.


In the beginning, Cable tries to ignore Deadpool as much as possible. He even makes his head explode a few times, just to make him shut up.
But this book gave me the impression Cable is a bit of a overpowered mutant. He thinks he can act like a god, which makes him not so likeable.
Luckily, Deadpool brings the laughs and most of the action in this book. And it's kind of sweet to see how Deadpool gets attached to Cable (both mentally and physically!).

[Klay · Rating 5 out of 5]

A bromance to last for all time, and timelines, and universes!

I loved them individually, but it took me a while to give the combination a shot ~ now I wish I had done so YEARS ago. Of course, for many years I was barely able to squeeze in pleasure reading. If you have that problem then learn from my mistake and put this collection at the top of your list!

Like any dichotomy, the one enhances the other; in this case they contrast delightfully. Also, there are so many other great characters throughout and massively full story arcs.

The artwork is superb and the writing is excellent ~ wish I could give this an extra bunch of stars for awesomeness ~