The series that began publishing in 2004, "If Looks Could Kill" (issues #1-6) brings Cable and Deadpool together (literally) after the cancellation of their respective solo titles. In this first story arc, Deadpool is hired by "The One World Church" to steal a virus that will allow them to turn everyone on Earth blue. Meanwhile, Cable is trying to figure how to best use his newly enhanced mutant powers to help change the world. Through a series of events, both Cable and Deadpool end up back at "The One World Church" where they are both infected by the virus. Both anti-heroes will have to work together in order to survive, both the church, and the effects the virus will unleash on each one of them, meaning life or death for the two of them.
Written by veteran “X-Men” writer, Fabian Nicieza, and illustrated by recurrent Marvel artists, Mark Brooks, and Patrick Zircher (the last four issues), this first volume in the first official team-up series of these two characters starts with a blast, and solidifying the fan favorite duo in the industry, resulting in one of the better remembered “buddy teams” in comics.
In good Nicieza fashion, the plot might feel all over the place, and in many occasions quite convoluted, which could benefit from a re-read, but the entire plotline regarding the cult, the virus, and the way it affects both, Cable, and Deadpool, saturates the whole pacing of the 6 issues. While most of the volume is filled with tons of jokes, and dark humor, the overall interaction between Nathan and Wade Wilson is enjoyable enough to get through this, and the action does deliver, mostly thanks to the skills of both, Brooks, and Zircher as the main artists in here. Both shared- back in the day- a similar pencil-style, and the way both artists worked the colors with their respective colorists was consistent with the final art. Rob Liefeld worked also on the main covers of the first four, and its always a blast to see him involved in anything related to the characters he created. A part of me- if I am being honest- would have loved to see Liefeld as the interiors’ artist of this series, however I do see why Marvel kind of limits his contributions to cover-art almost to an exclusive matter.
As for the story presented in these 6 issues there isn’t much I could say, both Cable and Deadpool clash, fight, and team-up as expected, and we get to see appearances of few other familiar faces, such as Charles Xaviar, Nick Fury, even the X-Men. The conclusion of the volume obviously clears the pathway for more conflict with the use of a cliffhanger, but all in all, this is a self-conclusive story. For anyone willing to give this a try just so they can check a title crossovering these two characters, this is a great place to start. Not really a groundbreaking or astonishing work, by all means, but it delivers exactly what its title promises, and seeing these two legends of the 90s together, with tons of action, an irreverently inside premise, and with fairly serviceable artwork, it’s more than enough to give this a pass.