Deadpool

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This article is about the comic book character. For the prediction game, see Dead pool.
Deadpool
Deadpool.png
Deadpool on the recap page of Cable and Deadpool #26
Publication information
Publisher Marvel Comics
First appearance New Mutants #98 (February, 1991)
Created by Fabian Nicieza, Rob Liefeld
In-story information
Alter ego Wade Winston Wilson[1]
Species Human (mutate)
Team affiliations Agency X
Great Lakes Initiative
Weapon X
Landau, Luckman, and Lake
Maggia
Frightful Four
Heroes For Hire
Six Pack
Team X
X-Force
X-Men
Notable aliases Jack, Wade T. Wilson, Mithras, Johnny Silvini, Thom Cruz
Abilities Regenerative healing factor
Superhuman strength, stamina, agility, and reflexes
Expert marksman, swordsman and martial artist

Deadpool is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by artist Rob Liefeld and writer Fabian Nicieza, Deadpool first appeared in The New Mutants #98 (Feb. 1991).

A disfigured and mentally unstable mercenary, Deadpool originally appeared as a villain in an issue of New Mutants, and later in issues of X-Force. The character has since starred in several ongoing series, and sharing titles with other characters such as Cable. The character is famous for his tendency to break the fourth wall and is frequently referred to by the moniker "Merc with a Mouth."

Contents

[edit] Publication history

[edit] 1990s

Created by artist Rob Liefeld and writer Fabian Nicieza, Deadpool made his first appearance in the pages of New Mutants #98 published in February 1991. Rob Liefeld, a fan of the Teen Titans comics, showed his new character to then writer Fabian Nicieza. Upon seeing the costume and noting his characteristics (killer with super agility), Nicieza contacted Liefeld, saying "this is Deathstroke from Teen Titans." Nicieza gave Deadpool the real name of "Wade Wilson" as an in-joke to being "related" to "Slade Wilson", Deathstroke.[2] In his first appearance, Deadpool was hired by Tolliver to attack Cable and the New Mutants. After subsequently appearing in X-Force as a recurring character, Deadpool began making guest appearances in various different Marvel Comics titles such as the Avengers, Daredevil, and Heroes for Hire. In 1993 the character received his own miniseries, entitled The Circle Chase, written by Fabian Nicieza and pencilled by Joe Madureira. It was a relative success, and Deadpool starred in a second, self-titled miniseries written in 1994 by Mark Waid and pencilled by Ian Churchill.

Cover to the Harvey Award-nominated Deadpool #11.
Art by Pete Woods, in homage to cover of Amazing Fantasy #15 featuring Spider-Man.

In 1997, Deadpool was given his own ongoing title, initially written by Joe Kelly, with then-newcomer Ed McGuinness as an artist. The series firmly established his supporting cast, including his prisoner/den mother Blind Al and his best friend Weasel.[citation needed] Deadpool became an action comedy parody of the cosmic drama, antihero-heavy comics of the time. The ongoing series gained cult popularity for its unorthodox main character and its balance of angst and pop culture slapstick and the character became less of a villain, though the element of his moral ambiguity remained. The writer Joe Kelly noted, "With Deadpool, we could do anything we wanted because everybody just expected the book to be cancelled every five seconds, so nobody was paying attention. And we could get away with it."[3]

The series was taken over by Christopher Priest who noted that he found Kelly's issues to be "complex and a little hostile to new readers like me' and that by issue 37, he realised that 'it was okay to make Deadpool look stupid".[4].

[edit] 2000s

Deadpool lasted until issue #69, at which point it was relaunched as a new title by Gail Simone with a similar character called Agent X in 2002. This occurred during a line wide revamp of X-men related comics, with Cable becoming Soldier X and X-Force becoming X-Statix. Simone notes that 'When I took the Deadpool job, the revamp hadn't been planned, so it was a complete surprise. Thankfully, we heard about it in time to make adjustments to the early scripts'[5]. It appeared that Deadpool was killed in an explosion fighting the aristocratic (and telepathic) villain known as the Black Swan. Weeks later, a mysterious figure showed up at the apartment of Deadpool's manager, Sandi Brandenberg. The man took the name Alex Hayden and together they started "Agency X," with Hayden dubbed Agent X after the company. Most believed that Hayden was Deadpool suffering from amnesia. The title character of Agent X was eventually revealed not to be Deadpool and the climax of that series saw the original character restored. Simone left the title after seven issues due to creative differences with the series editor [6].

Deadpool's next appearance came in 2004 with the launch of Cable & Deadpool written by Fabian Nicieza, where Deadpool became partnered with his former enemy, Cable, teaming up in various adventures. This title was canceled with issue #50 and replaced by a new Cable series in March 2008.[7] Deadpool then appeared briefly in the Wolverine: Origins title by writer Daniel Way before Way and Paco Medina launched another Deadpool title in September 2008.[8] Medina was the main series artist, with Carlo Barberi filling in on the first issue after the Secret Invasion tie-in.[9]

A new Deadpool ongoing series written by Daniel Way with artist Paco Medina began as a Secret Invasion tie-in. In the first arc, the character is seen working with Nick Fury to steal data on how to kill the Skrull queen Veranke.[10][11] Norman Osborn steals the information that Deadpool had stolen from the Skrulls, and subsequent stories deal with the fallout from that. Writer Daniel Way explained, "the first thing Osborn does to try and take care of the situation is to bring in a hired gun to take Deadpool down, which would be Tiger-Shark. That would be the standard thing to do, but of course everything about Deadpool is non-standard. So it goes completely awry and Norman has to get more serious about things."[12] The story also sees the return of Bob, Agent of HYDRA, "I don't want the book to become 'Deadpool and Friends' so characters will drift in and out, but Bob was someone I definitely wanted to bring in. It just had to be at the perfect moment and when I was putting this storyline together that moment presented itself.".[12] This all led directly to a confrontation with the new Thunderbolts in "Magnum Opus" which crossed over between Deadpool Vol. 4 #8-9 and Thunderbolts #130-131.[12] Thunderbolts writer Andy Diggle said, "it's a natural progression for Deadpool to go after Norman, and for Norman to send his personal hit-squad after Deadpool."[13]

Another ongoing Deadpool series, Deadpool: Merc with a Mouth launched in July 2009, written by Victor Gischler, with art by Bong Dazo. In it Deadpool teams up with the head of the zombie Deadpool from Marvel Zombies 3 and 4.[14][15]

A special anniversary issue titled Deadpool #900 will be released in October 2009. It will feature stories written by several authors, with the main feature written by the original Deadpool series writer Joe Kelly and drawn by Deadpool's creator Rob Liefeld. A third Deadpool ongoing series, Deadpool Team-Up, will launch in November 2009 (with issue numbers counting in reverse starting with issue #899), written by Fred van Lente, with art by Dalibor Talajic. This series will feature Deadpool teaming up with different heroes from the Marvel Universe in each issue, such as Hercules.[16] It has also been confirmed by Chris Yost that Deadpool will soon join the cast of the new X-Force team.[17]

Deadpool was ranked 182nd on Wizard magazine's list of the Top 200 Comic Book Characters of All Time.[18] and ranked 45th on Empire magazine's list of The 50 Greatest Comic Book Characters.[19]

[edit] Powers and abilities

Question book-new.svg
 This section needs references that appear in reliable third-party publications. Primary sources or sources affiliated with the subject are generally not sufficient for a Wikipedia article. Please add more appropriate citations from reliable sources. (November 2009)

Deadpool's primary power is an accelerated healing factor, depicted by various artists and writers with varying levels of efficiency. Said healing factor, which was artificially endowed by the Weapon X program, enables him to regenerate any destroyed tissues or organs very quickly. However, his healing factor results in massive scar tissue causing his appearance to be deformed. The speed at which this healing factor works varies in direct proportion to the severity of the damage Deadpool suffers. Deadpool's healing factor is strong enough that he has previously survived decapitation more than once, though in each of these occurrences, his head had to be reattached to his body instead of his head growing a new body. Unlike Wolverine’s natural healing factor, Deadpool’s is mentally driven to a partial extent. As a by-product of his healing factor, he possesses enhanced strength, stamina, agility, and reflexes. At the time of the gene therapy that gave the character his healing factor he was dying of terminal cancer. An unanticipated side effect of the therapy was a rapid acceleration of the tumors as well, causing them to quickly spread across his entire body as soon as his powers fully activated. Deadpool's brain cells are similarly affected, which renders him resistant to telepathy.

Aside from his physical advantages, Deadpool is a superb assassin and mercenary, an expert in multiple forms of martial arts, and an expert swordsman and marksman. Over the years, Deadpool has owned a number of personal teleportation devices. Also, during Deadpool's first ongoing comic, he possessed a device which projected holographic disguises, allowing him to go undercover or conceal his appearance. In addition, Deadpool is multilingual and has demonstrated the ability to speak German, Spanish and Japanese. Occasionally, Deadpool has also been shown as having a magic satchel, often pulling weapons out of nowhere.[20]

[edit] Other versions

[edit] Ultimate Marvel

A version of the character appears in Ultimate Spider-Man. Depicted as an anti-mutant extremist, he is a cyborg and leader of the Reavers who hunt mutants for sport on a reality TV show. Ultimate Deadpool's face has no skin and the top portion of his skull removed to reveal his brain. The human shape is achieved by wearing a plastic mask.

[edit] Age of Apocalypse

In the Age of Apocalypse timeline, Deadpool was redubbed Dead Man Wade and reimagined as a bitter, humorless member of Apocalypse's Pale Riders, having received his flawed healing factor from Apocalypse's eugenics program. Sent with his team to invade the Savage Land, he attempted to unleash chaos upon the sanctuary, but was killed by Nightcrawler, who teleported his head off his body and hid it in a crater.[21]

[edit] Marvel Zombies

In Marvel Zombies a zombified Deadpool is seen fighting a zombie Silver Surfer. It is revealed that Deadpool escaped to return in Marvel Zombies 3 and lose his body, in Marvel Zombies 4 where his head causes trouble, and in Deadpool: Merc With A Mouth, which began in July 2009 and sees the mainstream Deadpool encounter and capture the zombified Deadpool's head.[22]

[edit] Marvel 2997

In Messiah War Deadpool helps Cable to get Hope Summers back from Stryfe who is later revealed to be inside this version of Deadpool's head. After seemingly defeating Stryfe, this version of Deadpool is quickly ripped in half and dies shortly after, his last words being a joke on "severance" pay.[23]

[edit] Weapon X: Days of Future Present

In the alternate Earth ending of the Weapon X comic, Deadpool is recruited by Wolverine to be part of a new team of X-Men after the old team is killed. He joins, claiming Wolverine only wants him as the "token human". This version of Deadpool is killed by Agent Zero's Healing Factor corrosive acid. This version of Deadpool speaks in white text boxes.[24]

[edit] In other media

Ryan Reynolds as Wade Wilson in X-Men Origins: Wolverine.

Deadpool had brief cameos in the X-Men: Animated Series in the episodes "Deadly Reunions", "Whatever It Takes", and "Phoenix Saga (Part 2): The Dark Shroud".

Deadpool, voiced by Nolan North,[25] appears in the direct-to-DVD film, Hulk Vs Wolverine. Deadpool is also confirmed to appear in the second season of Wolverine and the X-Men[26] with North reprising the role.

Ryan Reynolds portrays Deadpool in the feature film X-Men Origins: Wolverine.[27] According to producer Lauren Shuler Donner, Ryan Reynolds is to play Deadpool again in a new spin-off film, depicting a fresh reboot of the character secular to his portrayal in X-Men Origins: Wolverine, and writers for the film are hoping to be finalized by November.[28] It has been confirmed that Deadpool will retain his knowledge of the fourth wall in the movie as well.[29]

Deadpool appears as a playable character in the video games X-Men Legends II: Rise of Apocalypse[30], Marvel: Ultimate Alliance,[31] and Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 2,[32] voiced by John Kassir in each appearance. Steven Blum voices the character in the X-Men Origins: Wolverine video game based on the film of the same name.

[edit] Bibliography

[edit] List of Deadpool series

[edit] Limited Series

  • Deadpool: The Circle Chase #1-4 (1993)
  • Deadpool: (Vol. 2) #1-4 (1994)
  • Deadpool: Suicide Kings #1-5 (2009)

[edit] Ongoing Series

  • Deadpool (vol. 3) # -1, 0, 1-69 (1997–2002)
  • Agent X #1-15 (2002–2004)
  • Cable & Deadpool #1-50 (2004–2008)
  • Deadpool (vol. 4) #1— (2008–Present)
  • Deadpool: Merc With a Mouth #1— (2009–Present)
  • Deadpool Team-Up #899(counting backwards)- (2009–Present)[33]

[edit] Annuals and One-Shots

  • Baby's First Deadpool Book (1998)
  • Deadpool Team-Up (1998)
  • Encyclopedia Deadpoolica (1998)
  • Deadpool Annual 1998 (1998)
  • Deadpool/GLI Summer Fun Spectacular (2007)
  • Deadpool: Games of Death (2009)
  • Deadpool #900 (2009)
  • Marvel Spotlight: Deadpool (2009)

[edit] Collected editions

See also: Cable & Deadpool#Collected editions

The stories have been collected in a number of trade paperbacks:

  • Deadpool: The Circle Chase (collects The Circle Chase, 96 pages, Marvel Comics, March 1997, ISBN 0-7851-0259-0)
  • Deadpool II: Sins of the Past (collects Deadpool (vol. 2), 96 pages, Marvel Comics, January 1997, ISBN 0-7851-0554-9)
  • Deadpool Classic (Marvel Comics):
    • Volume 1 (collects New Mutants #98, The Circle Chase, Deadpool (vol. 2) , and Deadpool (vol. 3) #1, 264 pages, May 2008, ISBN 0-7851-3124-8)
    • Volume 2 (collects Deadpool (vol. 3) #2-8 and -1, and Daredevil/Deadpool Annual 1997, 256 pages, April 2009, ISBN 0-7851-3731-9)
    • Volume 3 (collects Deadpool (vol. 3) #9-17, and Amazing Spider-Man #47, 280 pages, November 2009, ISBN 0-7851-4244-4)
  • Wolverine/Deadpool: Weapon X (collects Wolverine #162-166 and Deadpool (vol. 3) #57-60, 240 pages, Marvel Comics, August 2002, ISBN 0-7851-0918-8)
  • Deadpool: Suicide Kings (collects Deadpool: Suicide Kings #1-5 and Deadpool: Games of Death One-shot, 152 pages, Marvel Comics, hardcover, October 2009, ISBN 0-7851-4172-3)

[edit] References

  1. ^ Cable & Deadpool #36, April 2007
  2. ^ "Classic Marvel Figurine Collection" #56
  3. ^ Rogers, Vaneta (2009-07-16). "2 Great Tastes That Taste Great Together: Joe Kelly/Deadpool". Newsarama. http://www.newsarama.com/comics/090716-JoeKellyDeadpool.html. Retrieved 2009-08-12. 
  4. ^ Priest, Christopher (2000-09). "adventures in the funnybook game - Deadpool". digitalpriest.com. http://www.digital-priest.com/comics/deadpool.htm. Retrieved 2009-08-15. 
  5. ^ Thomas, Brandon. "The Gail Simone Dialogues". Silver Bullet Comics. http://www.comicsbulletin.com/ambi/104611396520415.htm. Retrieved 2009-08-12. 
  6. ^ "Gail Simone has all the answers (podcast interview)". Wordballoon. http://wordballoon.blogspot.com/2008_10_01_archive.html. Retrieved 2009-08-12. 
  7. ^ BALTIMORE '07 - MARVEL REVEALS X-WHO??? AFTER DISASSEMBLED, Newsarama
  8. ^ NYCC '08: Deadpool Goes Solo, Marvel.com News
  9. ^ Merc with a Mouth to Feed: Daniel Way Talks Deadpool, Comic Book Resources, October 16, 2008
  10. ^ "NYCC '08: Deadpool Goes Solo" (news). http://www.marvel.com/news/comicstories.3253.NYCC_~apos~08~colon~_Deadpool_Goes_Solo. Retrieved 2008-05-04. 
  11. ^ Daniel Way (w), Steve Dillon (p,i). "The Deep End" 'Wolverine: Origins' 1 (25): 24/1 (May 2008), Marvel
  12. ^ a b c Way Talks Deadpool & Thunderbolts, Bob, Comic Book Resources, December 16, 2008
  13. ^ Thunderbolts vs. Deadpool: FIGHT, Newsarama, December 16, 2008
  14. ^ Getting Ahead: Gischler on New Deadpool Series, Comic Book Resources, April 22, 2009
  15. ^ Deadpool and Head: Gischler on Deadpool: Merc with a Mouth, Newsarama, May 12, 2009
  16. ^ Advance X-Solicits, November 2009, Comic Book Resources, August 17, 2009
  17. ^ [1]
  18. ^ http://www.wizarduniverse.com/051308top200characters2.html
  19. ^ "Empire". www.empireonline.com. http://www.empireonline.com/50greatestcomiccharacters/default.asp?c=45. Retrieved 2009-04-26. 
  20. ^ http://www.marveldirectory.com/individuals/d/deadpool.htm Marvel Directory - Deadpool
  21. ^ X-Calibre #3, May 1995
  22. ^ Deadpool: Merc With A Mouth #1 - Marvel Comics Catalog
  23. ^ IGN: Cable #15 review
  24. ^ Weapon X: Days of Future Present
  25. ^ Voicing Deadpool Newsarama
  26. ^ http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=22237
  27. ^ Marc Graser (2008-02-19). "Reynolds, will.i.am join 'Wolverine'". Variety. http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117981136.html?categoryid=13&cs=1. Retrieved 2008-02-20. 
  28. ^ Jim Vevoda. "Deadpool Movie Update: Producer on rebooting the merc with the mouth". http://au.movies.ign.com/articles/103/1036504p1.html. Retrieved 2009-10-22. 
  29. ^ Scott Collura. "Deadpool Vs. the Fourth Wall". http://movies.ign.com/articles/100/1001281p1.html. Retrieved 2009-10-29. 
  30. ^ GameTrailers Review - X-Men Legends 2
  31. ^ Denick, Thom (2006). Marvel Ultimate Alliance: Signature Series Guide. Indianapolis, Indiana: Brady Games. pp. 8, 9. ISBN 0-7440-0844-1. 
  32. ^ Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 2 -Washington DC Gameplay Movie, GameSpot
  33. ^ http://marvel.com/catalog/?id=13270/

[edit] External links

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deadpool"