Comic Book Bios: Deadpool

Deadpool is a character I really don’t get. I can see his appeal, but considering how inconsistently he’s handled, I’m surprised by his level of popularity. Most people only know him from the X-Men Origins: Wolverine movie. Though they completely botched his portrayal, there isn’t much more to the character.

It’s hard to believe the character’s only been around for just over 20 years, but looking at his design, it’s easy to see he’s a product of the 90’s. Created by Rob Liefeld and Fabian Nicieza in 1991, he first appeared in New Mutants #98 as a mercenary hired to kill Cable and his team. Deadpool’s design was similar to Deathstroke from DC. His name, Wade Wilson, even parodies Deathstroke’s Slade Wilson.

Deadpool was reject of the Weapon X program, the same that created Wolverine. The Weapon Plus program was intended to recreate Captain America. Weapon X (10) experimented on mutants with healing factor. Deadpool’s origin is a little sketchy as I’ve heard it told slightly differently a few times. One says Weapon X gave him healing factor, staving off the cancer that scarred his body. Another says his healing factor supercharged his cancer, scarring his body. Regardless, healing factor from Weapon X, scarred body, wears a mask as a result, rejected from the program.

One of his most notable alias’ is the Merc with a Mouth, as he never shuts up. He makes Spider-Man seem quiet by comparison. Mostly put in funny situations, Deadpool’s books are often comical in nature. Often, he breaks the fourth wall, talking to the reader. Some issues have him acknowledging he’s in a comic book. This is where the character can falter. Comedy is hard, let alone being consistently funny on a monthly basis. Though Deadpool has starred in a myriad of books (he’s become as saturated as Wolverine or Spider-Man at some points), only a handful are worth mentioning.

His first solo series written by Joe Kelly (of Ben 10 fame) is astounding. His 33 issue run in 1997 is easily the best the character has to offer. Luckily, an omnibus has finally released. Rick Remender included him as part of his Uncanny X-Force team. Remender used him smartly, even adding a few emotional beats to the character. His current series, part of Marvel NOW!, is being written by Gerry Duggan and Brian Posehn, an actual comedian. This series started of with Deadpool facing down zombie U.S. Presidents.

I will give the movie version some credit, they did cast him well. If you’ve seen Ryan Reynolds’ turn as the character (in human form), you have an idea for what he’s like. He doesn’t shut up. It was what they turned him into for the third act that was poorly handled. There’s been rumors of a solo movie for years since, but I think it’s Reynolds trying to will it into existence. Seeing how The Wolverine redeemed Origins, I’d give them a chance.

If you’re interested in Deadpool, check out any of the three book I mentioned above, particularly Kelly’s run. Deadpool can be hit or miss for me, but people obviously love him as there was four monthly books starring the merc at one point. I don’t get it.

What’s your favorite Deadpool story? Is he over saturated? Comment below!

Tony writes for his own site, thecredhulk.com, about comics, video games, movies, TV and more, six days a week. You can follow his updates on Facebook or Twitter. Drop by and tell’em hi.

Deadpool Corps. Yep. 

4 Comments

  1. I also loved the Joe Kelly run. Loved it. It established, to me, the definitive Deadpool: A tragic character. He uses humour as a defence mechanism, to hide how miserable he is. The humour was always balanced with drama. Kelly’s also the only one to treat Deadpool as genuinely, frighteningly disturbed. He tossed his two best friends into a small room filled with deathtraps, and it wasn’t treated as a gag. His bloody beatdown of Typhoid Mary was scary.

    Remender used him well, too. And while I hated the Duggan/Posehn run early on, once they added some real darkness with The Good, The Bad and The Ugly, things did get better.

    But the Waypool era was just painful. Between Daniel Way’s crap run, the idiotic Merc With A Mouth, the idiotic Deadpool Corps, the awful Deadpool MAX, and multiple lame minis, it was a terrible, terrible time for the character.

    1. Very well said. Kelly’s run was masterful. I’d love to read it again, if only I had the time. I dropped the Duggan/Posehn run after the Presidents arc, wasn’t enjoying it. I heard after it was fantastic.

      You’re right, all the rest, terrible.