Gwenpool: Head of M.O.D.O.K.


"Gwenpool: Head of M.O.D.O.K." is a six-issue existentialist comic book graphic novel primarily written by Christopher Hastings and drawn by Gurihiru as the second volume of Unbelievable Gwenpool. Published by Marvel Comics, the story revolves around Gwen Poole, as after banishing M.O.D.O.K. Superior to space in Believe It, she assumes command of the Agents of M.O.D.O.K., facing down their biggest client Vincent Doonan and the Teuthidans, while also meeting Miles Morales, helping him track down a classmate of his planning on murdering his classmates, before Miles punches and strangles Gwen and has her arrested after she aims to kill the would-be mass murderer instead of arresting him. Additionally, the origin story of Vincent Doonan serves as a continuation of the The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl storyline Squirrel, You Really Got Me Now by Ryan North: created by Doctor Doom as he was ambushed by Old Lady Squirrel Girl.
The series received a universally positive critical reception, and was adapted as the Gwenpool Missions of the 2017 video game Lego Marvel Super Heroes 2, with Gwen Poole voiced by Becca Stewart. It was followed by Gwenpool Holiday Special: Merry Mix-Up, Rocket Raccoon & Groot: Civil War II, and Gwenpool: Totally In Continuity.

Summary

After banishing M.O.D.O.K. Superior to space in Believe It and having assumed command of the Agents of M.O.D.O.K., Gwen decides to leave the group's main client/benefactor on read for a short spell and subsequently meets Miles Morales on the subway, deciding to team up with him, attributing her knowledge of Miles' history to knowledge from a dying Watcher, she proceeds help him track down a classmate of his planning on murdering his classmates who she remembered reading about in an issue of Ultimate Comics: Spider-Man back in reality, Gwen going to Miles' house and meeting his mother, being surprised to learn Miles does not currently remember her previous death or the fact Miles is from another reality. On tracking the would-be mass murderer down, Gwen attempts to shoot him, before being stopped by Miles, who proceeds to punch and strangle Gwen and tying her to a pole to be arrested, believing people should not be killed for things they have not done yet. Left in tears from the actions of "her hero", Gwen is then broken out of prison by her coworkers.
Accompanied by the ghost of Cecil, Gwen meets with their benefactor: Vincent Doonan, who she learns to be a sentient Doombot seeking a 'normal' life after shooting him in the face for selling her out to the NYPD teaming up with the Teuthidans, a group of squid-like aliens, against her after she had attempted to set off cartoon-style violence across the city to defeat them herself. While fighting Vincent, Gwen randomly elects to give one of the police 'extras' sentience as Officer Gray, before tricking Vincent into saving people sans-face and pushing him into a public-facing role as a superhero 'keeping the peace', which he greatly dislikes. However, due to Gwen's method of doing this having involved destroying the mobile M.O.D.O.K. base, the other Agents disband, and, realising she has been left totally alone, Gwen calls Big Ronnie and asks to be given the worst missions she can find.

Reception

The volume received universally positive reviews.

In other media

The 2017 video game Lego Marvel Super Heroes 2 adapts the events of Ms. Poole if You're Nasty, Believe It, and Head of M.O.D.O.K. as the plot of its bonus missions, hosted by Gwen Poole and known as the "Gwenpool Missions". In the narrative of the missions, Gwen is presented as having been transported to the game from Earth-616, after previously having been transported to Earth-616 from the real world.