Avenging Spider-Man #13

Oct 27

Oct 27 Avenging Spider-Man #13

Using hypnosis, Deadpool has tricked Spider-Man into helping him break the Hypno-Hustler out of prison. This is all because the Hustler has offered Deadpool with the means to finally end his life.[1]

As Deadpool cuts Hypno-Hustler’s shackles his cellmate, the Tinkerer, tells them to keep it down because he is trying to read. The Hustler then activates his hypnotic device, making him appear in a suit of bulked up armor. He tries attacking Spider-Man, but the web-slinger is too fast.[2] Ordering Deadpool to kill the wall-crawler, Spider-Man flees the cell before he can get shot. However, the Hustler is confident they’ll get Spider-Man eventually since the transmitter Deadpool planted on the wall-crawler’s head allows him to reach the hero wherever he is hiding.

Elsewhere in the prison, Spider-Man is assessing the situation and determines that all the guards have been knocked out. Unaware that the Hypno-Hustler can still alter his perceptions, Spider-Man is horrified when his greatest foes suddenly start emerging from the cells. Spider-Man tries to remind himself that these are only illusions but when he is struck in the face by someone who appears to be Kraven the Hunter, the web-head realizes that they are real attackers, but they aren’t who they appear to be. As he battles these attackers he soon learns that one is Boomerang, and another is the Painter. Spider-Man quickly becomes embarrassed that he is fighting d-list super-villains.

This battle is being observed by Hypno-Hustler and Deadpool up in the security station. As it becomes apparent that Spider-Man is going to win the battle, the Hypno-Hustler uses his hypnotic powers to force Deadpool to go down and kill the wall-crawler. Deadpool attacks Spider-Man as he also resists that Hypno-Hustler’s mental control. As Spider-Man evades Deadpool’s attacks he hopes there is some kind of verbal cue to snap Deadpool out of Hypno-Hustler’s control. Surprisingly, the word turns out to be the name of actor Ryan Reynolds.[3] However, this turns out to be a ruse to get Spider-Man close enough for Deadpool to come at him with his sword.

By this time, the Hypno-Hustler has gathered his personal belongings and is about to make his escape when Deadpool enters the cell with Spider-Man impaled on his sword. The Hustler can hardly believe that he was the one who finally killed Spider-Man. However, when he gets close enough, “Spider-Man” kicks him in the face, knocking off his hypno-goggles. As it turns out. Deadpool and Spider-Man switched costumes in order to pull off this macabre display. With Hypno-Hustler knocked out, Deadpool apologizes for tricking Spider-Man into doing all of this.

However, the web-slinger isn’t very forgiving and after webbing Deadpool’s feet to the ground uses the Hypno-Hustler’s goggles to make him willingly do time for his part in this botched jailbreak. As Deadpool goes into a Rocky Horror Picture Show themed hallucination, Spider-Man decides to leave as he is not the least bit interested in seeing whatever it is Deadpool is imagining.

Recurring Characters

Spider-Man, Deadpool, Hypno-Hustler, Boomerang, Painter of 1000 Perils, Tinkerer, Madcap (unidentified)

Continuity Notes

It should be noted that Deadpool’s internal monologue is joined by a third voice. This is later revealed to be Madcap who is trapped in Deadpool’s mind at the time of this story, see Deadpool Annual #1 for details. Also, this story takes place before Deadpool (vol. 2) #50.
Spider-Man recounts the last time he fought the Hypno-Hustler. This was back in Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man #24.
This is a nod to the fact that Reynolds has played Deadpool various movies. At the time this story was published Reynolds had portrayed the character in X-Men Origins: Wolverine and was well as the then upcoming Deadpool film.