The Unbelievable Gwenpool #17 Review: A Spectacular Second Chapter

It's official, The Unbelievable Gwenpool has transcended genres and turned into a cosmic horror story. Oh, it started innocently enough. We all laughed at the wacky adventures of someone from the real world wreaking havoc in a fictional universe. In the beginning, we were entertained by some lighthearted crossovers and stories rife with in-jokes. The art felt playful and the comic was a gentle escape from life's woes. Not anymore.

I wish I could just set aside a chunk of time and have a roundtable discussion with Christopher Hastings, Gurihiru, Clayton Cowles, Heather Antos, and everyone else involved of the production of this arc. Even just being a fly on the wall during the initial discussions would suffice, as it would allow me a glimpse into just how this arc was conceived. It's honestly one of the most innovative Marvel arcs that I've read in a long time, possibly with the exception of Jeff Lemire's Moon Knight. Even so, it never reached the levels of metatextual plots brought into play here.

Gurihiru's art enhances the story, adding whole new dimensions of meaning to the issue. At the issue goes on, you'll see what I mean, especially in regards to the Marvel multiverse. The art and lettering styles could be taught in comic classes as a lesson on how to properly write a comic. Back when I was lucky enough to interview Christopher Hastings, he described this arc as 'bananas' and I have to agree. It's fantastic on a number of levels. I'm not going to describe any plot details, you have to read it for yourself. It's worth an immediate read.

The Unbelievable Gwenpool #17 is written by Christopher Hastings, drawn by Gurihiru, lettered by and VC's Clayton Cowles. You can find it at your local comic book shop.

Zachary Krishef is an evil genius. Do not question his knowledge of Saturday Night Live trivia or Harry Potter books.