In King in Black: Savage Avengers #17 Deadpool and Conan the Barbarian are working side-by-side to stop the symbiotes. However, Conan has another mission to deal with.
As the King of Symbiotes, Knull continues to wreak havoc across the cosmos, he easily takes over the earth. Many of Marvel’s heroes and villains banded together. Yet, the god was able to stop most of them. After aiding Doctor Strange and celebrating his win, Conan is arrested for assault on a police dog. He is brought to Rikers Island, where he meets Deadpool. The two instantly hit it off and plan for an escape.
We start with a brief narration from an unfamiliar character. Then, we are shown the Barbarian being thrown in a cell with the narrator and a few other prisoners. During this commotion, Deadpool steals a set of keys from one of the guards. He doesn’t notice as Deadpool bothers him. So much so that the guard ends up breaking the anti-hero’s hand.
The guard leaves stressed, stating that he is trying to protect them. Soon after, Conan tells Deadpool that he saw what he did. While introducing himself, Deadpool puts his hand back in place, making another prisoner sick. Joking about Dungeons and Dragons, the Merk with a Mouth realized that he got the wrong set of keys. Feeling defeated, Conan mentions Logan and Deadpool talks about how he also knows him.
This excites Conan as he needs Logan’s claws to kill a wizard. The wizard’s name is Kulan Gath. So, the pair strategizes an escape plan. Deadpool tells his new ally that he has a better healing factor than Logan. Conan basically says “say less” and processed to beat Deadpool. He is making his body as limber as possible so that he can slide through the cell’s bars. Once again, the prisoners as shocked and grossed out. Deadpool’s mutilated, but alive body is on the other side of the cell.
Deadpool makes his way to an oncoming guard, who heard some noise. The guard slips on Deadpool’s blood and eats an elbow from him. That was Deadpool’s words, not mine. He then gets the real set of keys and passes them off to Conan. The narrator from earlier introduces himself to Conan and offers his assistance. We then find out that his name is Night Flyer. Seven minutes later, the trio is in the file room retrieving weapons. They then escape the prison with Deadpool and Conan on horses and Night Flyer flying.
During the escape, Deadpool knows that a horse will die. He takes about how his horse will make a sacrifice while fighting off Knull’s forces. He then names his horse after his uncle, Sharon. The three are then attacked by one of the symbiotic dragons. Conan is thrown off his horse, with Deadpool yelling that he knew this would happen. Night Flyer comes in and catches Conan. However, while cutting into the face of a dragon, he is swallowed whole by it.
The Barbarian is then brought back to Cimmeria as he looks upon a sword. He is spoken to by a spirit within the weapon. It once knew Conan and he had believed it died. Yet, their brothers and sister helped bring them back. Even the spirit’s codex was embedded into Conan. The spirit called on the Barbarian to grant him the weapon needed to kill Kulan Gath. Refusing the offer would mean certain death to the warrior. As for Flyer and Deadpool, they continue fighting off the dragons.
Gerry Duggan’s work on the story was very entertaining. Most of it was Deadpool being Deadpool. As usual, it was a great read because of his involvement. The conversation with Deadpool and Conan was great! I see a beautiful friendship between the pair. My favorite moments would have to be the pair talking with each other and their plan of escape. Also, Night Flyer was an interesting presence in the story as well. Although he is unfamiliar with us readers, he seems like a character that has a lot of potential. He is working alongside a Barbarian and Deadpool. Not to mention that he fighting during one of Marvel’s biggest stories.
As for the art, Kev Walker and Jave Tartagua did a fantastic job! Once more, detailing was knocked out of the park. From Deadpool’s design and mutilation to the dragons, it was well done. The detailing for the symbiotes was once again my favorite part of these stories. I see good things for this tie-in, in both visuals and plot.
For more comic book news and reviews make sure to keep it locked right here at The Nerdy Basement. And while you’re here, consider supporting us on Patreon. It’s a simple way of supporting us so we can keep on providing you with your Nerdy News!