Deadpool
Maximum effort!
Abilities
- •Superhuman healing factor — can regenerate from nearly any wound, including decapitation
- •Master swordsman — expert with dual katanas
- •Expert marksman — proficient with all firearms
- •Peak human strength, speed, and agility
- •Trained assassin and mercenary — military and special ops background
- •Fourth-wall awareness — knows he is a fictional character
- •Immune to telepathy due to his fractured mind
- •Cursed with immortality by Thanos (at various points)
- •Master of improvisation and unpredictable combat
- •Multilingual — speaks fluent Japanese, German, and Spanish
Powers & Abilities
Biography
Wade Winston Wilson was a wisecracking mercenary and former special forces operative who was diagnosed with terminal cancer. Desperate for a cure, Wade volunteered for the Weapon X program — a shadowy government project that had previously created Wolverine. The experiment bonded Wolverine's healing factor to Wade's DNA, curing his cancer but leaving his entire body horribly scarred as the healing factor and cancer cells fought an endless war beneath his skin.
The experiment also shattered Wade's mind. He emerged from the program with an unstoppable healing factor, a disfigured appearance, and a fractured psyche that manifested as constant wisecracks, pop culture references, and — uniquely in the Marvel Universe — the ability to break the fourth wall. Deadpool knows he is a character in a comic book, and he never lets the reader forget it. He talks to the audience, references his own storylines, and comments on the absurdity of superhero tropes.
Despite his comedic exterior, Deadpool is one of Marvel's most tragic characters. Beneath the jokes lies a man tortured by loneliness, self-hatred, and the knowledge that his appearance makes him a monster. His relationship with Cable — the gruff, time-traveling soldier who became his best friend — is one of the great odd-couple partnerships in comics. His love for Vanessa Carlysle (Copycat) and his on-again, off-again romance with Death herself add layers of genuine emotion to his stories.
From his debut as a generic villain in New Mutants #98, Deadpool evolved into one of Marvel's most popular and bankable characters. Joe Kelly's 1997 run defined the character, Gerry Duggan's run made him an Avenger, and Ryan Reynolds' films turned him into a global phenomenon. Deadpool is proof that a character who refuses to take anything seriously can still carry the most emotionally devastating stories in comics.
First Appearances
New Mutants #98
1991First appearance of Deadpool — Wade Wilson debuts as a villain hired by Tolliver to attack Cable and the New Mutants. Rob Liefeld art. One of the most valuable comics of the 1990s.
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New Mutants #98 (Facsimile)
2019Facsimile reprint of Deadpool's first appearance — an exact reproduction of the original issue for modern collectors
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X-Force #1
1991Second appearance of Deadpool — Cable transforms the New Mutants into X-Force. Deadpool lurks in the background as a recurring mercenary threat.
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X-Force #2
1991Third appearance of Deadpool — battles X-Force directly. His personality begins to emerge as more comedic.
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X-Force #11
1992Deadpool's first real spotlight — Domino storyline. Deadpool is hired to impersonate Domino, revealing his shapeshifting-like disguise skills.
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New Mutants #98 (2nd Print)
1991Second printing with gold cover — even the reprint is valuable due to the massive demand for Deadpool's first appearance
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The Deadpool Circle Chase & Early Solo
Deadpool: The Circle Chase #1
1993Deadpool's first solo limited series — four issues by Fabian Nicieza and Joe Madureira. Deadpool hunts for Tolliver's will and its mysterious prize.
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Deadpool #1 (1994 Limited)
1994Second solo limited series — four issues by Mark Waid and Ian Churchill. Deadpool vs Black Tom Cassidy and Juggernaut. Waid starts shaping Deadpool's humor.
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Deadpool #1 (1997 Ongoing)
1997First ongoing solo series — Joe Kelly's legendary run begins. This is the series that defined Deadpool as we know him today. Introduces the humor, pathos, and fourth-wall breaking. Ed McGuinness art.
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Joe Kelly Run — Defining Deadpool
Deadpool #1 (1997)
1997Joe Kelly and Ed McGuinness launch the series that made Deadpool a star — establishes his internal monologue boxes, pop culture references, and tragic backstory
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Deadpool #11
1997"With Great Power Comes Great Coincidence" — Deadpool is transported into Amazing Spider-Man #47 from 1966. One of the most famous Deadpool issues ever. Fourth-wall breaking at its finest.
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Deadpool #14
1998Deadpool vs the Great Lakes Avengers — a hilarious team-up/fight that showcases Kelly's comedic genius
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Deadpool #27
1999Deadpool gets married — Wade marries Copycat (Vanessa Carlysle) in a surprisingly emotional issue
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Deadpool #28-29
1999Deadpool kills Wolverine — or does he? A time-travel storyline that plays with reality in classic Deadpool fashion
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Origin — Weapon X
Deadpool #-1
1997Flashback issue — reveals Wade Wilson's early life as a mercenary before the Weapon X program. Part of Marvel's "Flashback Month."
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Deadpool #19
1998Deadpool's Weapon X origin explored — Wade's time in the Workshop, where failed Weapon X subjects were tortured and experimented on. Ajax (Francis) is his tormentor.
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Deadpool & Death Annual #1
1998Deadpool's relationship with Death — literally the Marvel entity Death. Thanos is jealous. The love triangle between Deadpool, Death, and Thanos is established.
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Wolverine: Origins #21
2008Deadpool vs Wolverine — reveals their shared history in the Weapon X program. Daniel Way writes their brutal first encounter.
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Cable & Deadpool
Cable & Deadpool #1
2004The legendary buddy series begins — Fabian Nicieza pairs Deadpool with Cable (Nathan Summers). Their odd couple dynamic becomes iconic. 50-issue run.
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Cable & Deadpool #12
2005Cable creates the island nation of Providence — Deadpool becomes his unlikely partner in trying to save the world
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Cable & Deadpool #36
2007Deadpool joins the Great Lakes Initiative — hilarious Civil War tie-in where Deadpool tries to register as a hero
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Cable & Deadpool #50
2008Final issue of the series — an emotional conclusion to Cable and Deadpool's partnership. Sets up both characters' future stories.
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Daniel Way Run
Deadpool #1 (2008)
2008Daniel Way's run begins — introduces the dual internal monologue boxes (white and yellow). Deadpool becomes a mainstream breakout hit. Secret Invasion tie-in.
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Deadpool #13 (2008)
2009Deadpool vs Bullseye — two of Marvel's deadliest killers face off. Dark Reign tie-in.
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Deadpool #27 (2008)
2010Deadpool goes to space — gets involved in a Secret Avengers storyline. Way expands Deadpool's world beyond Earth.
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Deadpool #45 (2008)
2011Deadpool kills the Marvel Universe lead-up — a dark turn for the character
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Deadpool Kills
Deadpool Kills the Marvel Universe #1
2012Deadpool snaps and murders every hero and villain in the Marvel Universe — a darkly comedic limited series that became a massive hit. Cullen Bunn writes.
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Deadpool Killustrated #1
2013Deadpool kills classic literary characters — after killing the Marvel Universe, he moves on to Moby Dick, Sherlock Holmes, and more
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Deadpool Kills the Marvel Universe Again #1
2017The sequel — Deadpool is brainwashed into killing every Marvel hero again. Even more creative deaths.
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Deadpool Kills Deadpool #1
2013The trilogy conclusion — the Deadpool from "Kills the Marvel Universe" fights an army of Deadpool variants from across the multiverse
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Gerry Duggan Run — Deadpool as Avenger
Deadpool #1 (2012)
2012Gerry Duggan and Brian Posehn's run begins — dead presidents of the United States come back as zombies and only Deadpool can stop them. Hilarious and heartfelt.
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Deadpool #27 (2012 series)
2014Deadpool gets married (again) — Wade marries Shiklah, Queen of the Monsters, in a massive oversized issue with dozens of guest artists
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Deadpool #250 (#45)
2015Deadpool's 250th issue celebration — the numbering combines all his series. A milestone event.
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Uncanny Avengers #1 (2015)
2015Deadpool joins the Avengers — becomes a member of the Avengers Unity Division. A huge status upgrade for the character.
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Deadpool #1 (2015)
2016Deadpool is an Avenger — Duggan continues with Deadpool balancing heroism, his mercenary nature, and his personal life. Mike Hawthorne art.
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Despicable Deadpool #287
2017Deadpool is ordered to kill Cable — his best friend. Secret Empire aftermath pushes Deadpool to his darkest point.
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Despicable Deadpool #300
2018Duggan's run finale — an emotional conclusion to the longest continuous Deadpool run in history. Wade hits rock bottom and finds his way back.
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Key Team-Ups & Crossovers
Deadpool vs. Wolverine (Wolverine #88)
1994Early Deadpool vs Wolverine battle — two regenerating killers clash. Adam Kubert art. A fan-favorite matchup.
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Spider-Man/Deadpool #1
2016The unlikely buddy series — Spider-Man and Deadpool are forced to work together. Joe Kelly returns to write Deadpool. Became a massive hit.
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Deadpool vs. Thanos #1
2015Deadpool and Thanos must team up — Death has gone missing and both of her suitors need to find her. Tim Seeley writes.
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Deadpool vs. Gambit #1
2016The Merc with a Mouth vs the Ragin' Cajun — two fan-favorite characters clash in a con-artist caper
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Deadpool vs. Old Man Logan #1
2017Deadpool meets the aged Wolverine from the Old Man Logan timeline — two regenerators, very different worldviews
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Modern Era & Current
Deadpool #1 (2018)
2018Skottie Young's run — a fresh comedic take with Young's exaggerated art style. Deadpool is broke, divorced, and off the Avengers.
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Deadpool #1 (2019)
2019Kelly Thompson's run — Deadpool becomes King of the Monsters after his ex-wife Shiklah's kingdom falls. A new direction.
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Deadpool #1 (2022)
2022Alyssa Wong's run — Deadpool takes on a dangerous new villain while juggling his mercenary work. Fresh creative team.
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Deadpool: Badder Blood #1
2023Rob Liefeld returns to draw Deadpool — the original creator reunites with his creation for a new limited series
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Deadpool #1 (2024)
2024Cody Ziglar's run — timed with the Deadpool & Wolverine movie. Deadpool in a new era for Marvel Comics.
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