Deadpool: Monkey Business

Deadpool (2008) (Collected Editions)

by Daniel Way

Collects Deadpool (2008) #19-22 & Hit-Monkey. Not many people - hero, villain, mercenary or otherwise - are going to upstage the Amazing Spider-Man in a team-up. But Deadpool will have to if he'll survive the most dangerous threat he's ever faced - Hit-Monkey! Plus: The origin of Hit-Monkey revealed!

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Marvel, Graphic Novels Comics, Humor, Fiction, Comic Book

120 pages, Paperback

First published June 29, 2010

Reviews

[Kemper]

Deadpool wants to be a good guy so he goes to New York to partner up with Spider-Man and learn how it's done. Spidey is less than enthused about the idea, but he reluctantly accepts Deadpool's help when Hit Monkey shows up and starts killing people. Then Wade takes a bus trip and runs afoul of some crooked rural cops.

I was sold on this one as soon as I saw an armed monkey wearing a suit.

[Sam Quixote]

A legendary gun-for-hire is in New York City, killing targets and making Spider-Man nervous. Also Deadpool’s in town to have a team-up for shits and giggles and eat tons of hot dogs for the same reason. But if this super-assassin isn’t the Merc with a Mouth, who could it be? It’s a monkey, but not just any monkey: Hit-Monkey!

Deadpool: Monkey Business is so much silly fun! I’ve never heard of Hit-Monkey before but he’s a great, cute character who manages to brew up some challenging carnage for Spidey and ‘pool to keep the reader entertained.

Daniel Way writes Deadpool perfectly and I loved how in one scene Wade randomly rocks up in a sexy maid outfit and no-one says anything - Spidey just accepts that’s how Deadpool rolls! The two characters have great chemistry too - it’s rare that Spidey’s the one getting rubbed the wrong way, and it’s funny to see him be the wound-up one for a change!

Also included is a one issue story where Deadpool deals with corrupt redneck cops in a small town that was just ok but didn’t compare well to the brilliance that preceded it. I also really didn’t care for Tan Eng Huat’s weirdly rubbery artwork. The book closes out with Hit-Monkey’s origins which are as bizarre as you’d expect for a character called Hit-Monkey!

This one’s a super-entertaining read - a fast-moving, amusing action romp that makes it easy to see why Marvel have recently paired up Deadpool and Spidey again for their own series. Don’t monkey around - check out Deadpool: Monkey Business if you haven’t already!

[Sesana]

Ok. So Deadpool comes to New York specifically to try and team up with Spider-Man. Which he does, when they discover that Hit Monkey is in town, and out for Deadpool's head. Hit Monkey is, of course, a monkey assassin. Seriously, that's the actual plot. In any other book that premise would fall completely flat, but this is Deadpool, so it ends up being hilarious, at the same time that Hit Monkey is an actual threat. Also includes Hit Monkey's tragic origin!

[Melki]

Deadpool and Spider-Man team up to stop an assassin who shoots with not only both hands, but both feet, as well. Loads of irreverent fun!

[Danger]

I'm tapping out. I was planning on reading this whole run but it's just too chaotic and not in a good way. Plus all of Deadpool's sass has worn thin for me.

[Nicole Bunge]

This is probably my favorite Deadpool collection to date.
That has a lot to do with Hit Monkey. And Deadpool trying to explain to Spiderman that he is NOT MAKING UP Hit Monkey.
If you can get through this without giggling, you have NO sense of humor, and should be SHOT, repeatedly, with a large-caliber weapon, which oh, look! I happen to have right here...

And Thor has pretty, pretty girl hair.

:P
Deadpool is the man. About the only thing this good is the "Marvel/DC" youtube videos with Deadpool vs the Watchmen. (google ItsJustSomeRandomGuy's youtube channel.)

[Asmaa]

Deadpool is definitely my most favorite Marvel superhero EVER.

I mean who can hate a guy who does this:

[Teresa]

Whatever a Spider Can Parts 1-3 4.5*
Do Idiots Dream of Electric Stupidity 3*
Hit-Monkey #1 3.5*

[Jedhua]

ABSOLUTE RATING: {3+/5 stars}

STANDARDIZED RATING: <3/5 stars>

[Ian]

Book 4.
Deadpool travels to New York in order to learn how to be a hero from none other than Spider-Man. However, his sincerity is called into question when a series of professional assassinations take place around the city.

I'm not a huge fan of when Deadpool is just chaotic and violent, finding that to be pretty repetitive and boring. What I want out of a Deadpool story is something with some actual heart behind the chaotic violence (which is why the Deadpool movies are so good, because they get that).
I was pleased therefore that this book falls into the latter category, with Deadpool genuinely wanting to be friends with Spidey and honestly wanting to know how and why heroes do what they do. This carries nicely into a standalone segment in the middle where Deadpool has to take down a ring of corrupt cops in rural Georgia.

The real surprise of this book, however, is an element that easily could have fallen into the trap of being silly, but once again has some actual pathos to it; the introduction of Hit-Monkey.
As well as his appearance going toe-to-monkey-toes with Spidey and Deadpool in the main story, we also get his origin story as a bonus at the end of the book. As I say, the character carries a great deal of pathos and that cuts through the potential he could have had of just being silly. Think of how Rocket Raccoon is treated in the modern era of Marvel and you'll have some idea of what to expect.

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

[C.E.C.]

The Merc with a Mouth and Spider-Man team up in this irreverent as you might expect story (at least for three of the issues featured here).
I don't think I'll ever get used to any of those hyper-muscled art styles so common in Marvel's more violent, "adult" franchises and stories (i.e., Deadpool, Venom, Max). I am well aware they don't use those kinds of styles in all of their more adult themed (and, that they use it in plenty of their teen-focused) works, but this isn't a case of getting used to it by force or constant exposure. I just can't get into it.
Taking that into consideration, it's the only real hang up I have with this volume: I love Wade and Peter's "relationship", always have, and I love reading anything including both of them. I quite liked the colors used in all the issues (reds and golds for the first three, lots of blues for the fourth, and I particularly loved the final issue). Plot wise, Hit-Monkey is so absurd it works, Deadpool dealing with a band of corrupt hillbillies was kinda funny, and I loved the origin story of Hit-Monkey, ok? Honestly, I really loved that last issue.

[Misbah]

Deadpool decides to visit Spiderman in New York city to learn how to be a good guy from one of the best. Peter runs into Deadpool without his Spidey suit on and doesn't say anything. Later on when one of the shops Peter frequented is shot, he assumes it was Deadpool. It isn't until Deadpool gives a solid alibi that Superman believes that it wasn't him.
We soon learn that a Monkey, whose also a hitman, is in town killing off other Hitmen... and Deadpools next. Spiderman reluctantly tries to keep Monkey from hurting to Deadpool too badly. At one point Wade dresses up as Spidey and they trick Monkey into thinking that Wade/Spiderman is dead, causing everyone to go into mourning.
When Monkey thinks its done he invites Spiderman to go sightseeing with him and they have fun around New York. Later when Monkey figures out he was tricked he comes back to finish the job. A gun battle kills Monkey and lands Deadpool in jail. Spiderman breaks him out and tells him to leave.


My favorite part is when Monkey and Spiderman go sight-seeing like old friend. 🤣

[Graham Barrett]

(Read in 2010, review from 2024)

Another Deadpool story I read at the height of my high school comic reading. This was very enjoyable. Deadpool’s humorous running commentary during combat is basically like Spidey’s but taken to the extreme/R-rated territory. So the team-up is definitely one I was eager to see and there’s a lot of good back-and-forth between them and interesting contrasts between Wade’s and Peter’s approach to their missions/crime-fighting. Also noteworthy of this volume was it acted as my introduction to Hit Monkey, a Marvel character that of course had to be introduced as part of a Deadpool story. This leads to some surprisingly emotional moments (i.e., Hit Monkey being upset about apparently killing Spidey). Overall this was a fun and inconsequential super hero team up story of two of my favorite marvel characters and like the best Deadpool comics did its job well.

[Pirl]

Okay so it might be the spideypool shipper in me, but I genuinely think this is some of the best content in the 2008 run so far. Deadpool wants to be more than he is, wants to be a hero - that is a decent motivator, way better than anything in vol. 1 or 2 of this run. The end of the team up has a great moment where spidey says to DP that he wants to be loved for being the good guy rather than actually be the good guy, and DP doesn't understand the difference. That's good stuff. Too bad it's immediately followed by an issue in which he... Idk, gets arrested while not shooting down corrupt cops? And then just sort of leaves? It made the spectacular ending of the previous issue fall flat for no real reason.

[47Time]

As soon as Deadpool arrives in New York, he is kicked around by Spidey who believes him responsible for murdering a friend. The killer is actually Hit-Monkey. Yes, a legendary monkey that uses guns to kill other hitmen. Deadpool is obviously on the list, but his healing factor saves him in the end. The monkey totally hands him his a$$. Spidey is just glad to see them both gone. Add to this a story set in the rural parts of North Georgia and you got yerself a volee-ume.

[superhero fan]

There was one problem with this book. It was to short. It needed one more issue, and no filler issue. Like come on I don’t know why authors think filler issues are a good idea. There’s a rare chance they ever are TRULY as good as the main story arcs.

[Amy Estridh]

"Kinda ironic, isn't it? This town loves you so much, they'd let you get away with murder. But me...? They'd never give me credit for so much as helping an old lady cross the street."

[Aiden Carter]

Love this book. First of all the dynamic between Peter and DP is always so fun. This was also my first time seeing Hitmonkey so that was cool. Love that the graphic novel includes Hitmonkeys backstory as a bonus issue!

[Sammy McGregor]

Brilliant! Loved the banter between Deadpool and Spidey!

[Eric]

Nothing to laugh out loud about but entertaining enough, even if the last issue has mediocre artwork.

[Terry Collins]

I'm ashamed at laughing about a story with a hitman monkey as much as I did. Side note: Interesting to know that Reed Richards can't stand Deadpool either.

[ctrloaltoa]

I loved the art style !!

[Dale]

Just wanted to catch up on Hit-Monkey before the Hulu animated series starts.

[Bekka]

TW for violence, cancer mentions, guns, blood, gore, sex jokes.

[Sally]

18min

[Mish]

OPENING UP WITH CALLING HIM BABY BOY??? HELLOO??
God bless spideypool. Hit-Monkey <3 I love Wade wilson!!!!

[ysa]

i suppose i understand the hype

[Heather D-G]

4.5 stars rounded up ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

Deadpool is trying, alright? Yeesh.

[Kamil Henri]

7.5/10

[Frankie Mazesky]

Hit Monkey rocks