Deadpool is the name of multiplecomic book titles featuring the characterDeadpool and published byMarvel Comics, beginning with the originalDeadpool comic book series which debuted in 1997. The first eight volumes follow Wade Wilson as the original Deadpool, while the ninth volume follows Wilson training his daughter Ellie Camacho as a new Deadpool.
In 1997,Deadpool was given his own ongoing title, initially written byJoe Kelly, with then-newcomerEd McGuinness as an artist.Deadpool became an action comedy parody of the cosmic drama, antihero-heavy comics of the time. The series firmly established his supporting cast, including his prisoner/den motherBlind Al and his best friendWeasel. The ongoing series gainedcult 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. 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."[1] Reportedly, Kelly introduced the comic'sfourth wall breaking gimmick.[2]
The series was taken over byChristopher Priest who noted that he found Kelly's issues to be "complex and a little hostile to new readers like me" and by issue 37, he realized that "it was okay to make Deadpool look stupid."[3] Kelly may have introduced Deadpool to breaking the fourth wall, but Priest "could be credited for establishing it as an essential part of the character's personality and worldview." Priest left the series after only one year at issue #45.[2]
For a time, writers who followed generally ignored the fourth wall entirely, untilGail Simone took over with issue #65. Her version is remembered for the frequent use of the "little yellow boxes."[2]Deadpool lasted until issue #69, at which point it was relaunched as a new title by Simone with a similar character calledAgent X in 2002. This occurred during a line wide revamp of X-Men related comics, withCable becomingSoldier X andX-Force becomingX-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'.[4] It appeared that Deadpool was killed in an explosion fighting the supervillainBlack Swan. Deadpool's manager,Sandi Brandenberg later founded Agency X with a mysterious man called Alex Hayden, who took the name dubbedAgent X. Deadpool later returned to the series. Simone left the title after seven issues due to creative differences with the series editor, but then returned to conclude with issues 13–15.[5][better source needed]
A newDeadpoolongoing series written by Daniel Way with artist Paco Medina began as aSecret Invasion tie-in. In the first arc, the character is seen working with Nick Fury to steal data on how to kill theSkrull queenVeranke.[6][7]Norman Osborn steals the information that Deadpool had stolen from the Skrulls, and subsequent stories deal with the fallout from that. WriterDaniel 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." The story also sees the return ofBob, 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." This all led directly to a confrontation with the newThunderbolts in "Magnum Opus" which crossed over betweenDeadpool vol. 2 #8–9 andThunderbolts #130–131.[8]Thunderbolts writerAndy Diggle said, "it's a natural progression for Deadpool to go after Norman, and for Norman to send his personal hit-squad after Deadpool."[9] InDeadpool #15, Deadpool decides to become a hero resulting in conflicts with proper heroes likeSpider-Man[10] (who he had recently encountered inThe Amazing Spider-Man #611 as part of "The Gauntlet"[11]) and leading to a 3-issue arc where he takes onHit-Monkey,[12] a character who debuted in the same month in a digital, then print, one-shot.[13][14]
A special anniversary issue titledDeadpool #900 was released in October 2009. It features stories written by several authors, with the main feature written by the originalDeadpool series writer Joe Kelly and drawn by Deadpool's creator Rob Liefeld.
Plot Outline: The Merc with a Mouth is back, even deadlier and more deranged than before! The planet has been invaded by Skrulls, everything's gone topsy-turvy...but, in Deadpool's world, that just means it's Monday! Crazy times call for crazy men, but c'mon, this guy's insane! Like it or not, Deadpool may be the only person on the planet who can save us...but who's to say he wants to?
Plot Outline: His mission in "Secret Invasion" completed, Deadpool goes back to business as usual, completely unaware that he's been sold up the river by a villain of incalculable guile—a villain who won't soon forget—or forgive—Wade's sins. As the Skrull War winds to its climactic conclusion, the Merc with a Mouth has no idea that the worst for him is yet ahead.
Plot Outline: Remember when Deadpool saved the Earth from those pesky Skrulls? Well, the guy who stole the intel Deadpool worked so hard to acquire - and positioned himself as Earth's Number One War Hero - wants to make sure you don't. The last thing this guy needs is a certain "Merc with a Mouth" letting everyone know the truth of how he saved the day, and he's hired a certain maniacal man-eater to make sure Deadpool never does. Here comes Tiger-Shark! Plus, a surprise appearance by a certain palindromic pal!
Plot Outline: SPECIAL CROSSOVER WITH THUNDERBOLTS! Deadpool unleashes his most insane plan yet: a full-on assault against Norman Osborn! As Deadpool storms his way to the top of Avengers Tower, Osborn is forced to pull out all the stops to save his own skin—and that means deploying the brand new Thunderbolts! Plug your ears, kids—this is gonna be loud!
Plot Outline: Norman Osborn is through playing around with Deadpool—it's time to send in the big guns. The big, crazy guns that never, ever miss. He may be wearing a new costume, but he's still the same ol' psychopath...
Plot Outline: Deadpool has ceased to exist, he's given his good-byes, he's driven his car into the ocean. They'll think he's dead, but he'll sail away. Then, he becomes a pirate!
Plot Outline: Now that he knows that a pirate's life isn't for him, Deadpool's now starting to seriously question this whole "mercenary" thing. Maybe there's something else he could do with his life. He doesn't know what that could be, but then he turns on the television, and he knows exactly where he needs to be, and who needs him most. Hello, San Francisco!
Plot Outline: The X-Men? Pfft! Not really Deadpool's style. Though he's still committed to doing this "hero" thing, Wade's more of a "lone wolf" kinda guy, out there doing his own thing. Y'know…thwp-thwp.
Plot Outline: Somewhere in rural North Georgia, a brazen band of brigands have made the mistake of robbing Deadpool's bus, stagecoach-style. But en route to delivering a hefty comeuppance to these redneck rogues, Deadpool makes a "shocking" discovery…as will you, intrepid reader. Brace yourself for the introduction of Appalachia's own vilest of villains, the disgraceful WHITE LIGHTNIN'!
Plot Outline: Deadpool's been described as many things over the years, but "trendsetter"? That's a new one. Here he is, trying to get his hero on and guess what? Suddenly, everyone else is, too! Seems like everyone's wanting to jump on the Deadpool bandwagon lately, doesn't it?
Plot Outline: Deadpool's quest to become a hero isn't exactly going well, mostly because…well, let's face it: Deadpool's just not a "good guy." He's done a lot of really bad stuff in the past, things that can't just be swept under the rug. But what if he was given the chance to do just that? What if he was given the chance to confront all of his past sins? What if Ghost Rider showed up in this book?
Plot Outline: This may be the Heroic Age and all, but the sad fact is that sometimes the good guys, in order to do good, have to do some things that are very bad. And when they do, well…that's when they hollah atcha boy.
Plot Outline: Deadpool blowing away vampires—how @#$%ing cool is that?! Wait…he's not blowing away vampires? He's protecting vampires? That doesn't sound cool at all.
Plot Outline: Did you hear? Deadpool‘s done, outta the merc game. But there's a new player in town, and this cat is baaaad. He's got crazy space-guns, an intergalactic hooptie, and a rep that's getting bigger by the day and just about the coolest name ever. And he's here on earth to let everybody know…starting with Deadpool!
Plot Outline: Deadpool has risen to prominence, thanks to the immense talent of Daniel Way. And if you haven't been reading Deadpool, now is the time to delve into the Merc With A Mouth's twisted world! The Wrecker, an immensely powerful psychopath, is on the loose and wreaking havoc. There's only one person to call…Deadpool!
Plot Outline: Deadpool, everyone's favorite fun-loving killer-for-hire, is back in business, taking on a new gig – in space! Will this job cement his rep as the best merc in the solar system, or will things like lack of oxygen and zero-gravity throw him off his game? One word: Maybe!
Plot Outline: He's baa-aaack! No, not Deadpool (though he is back, from outer space)--Macho Gomez! And this time, he's brought friends. His friends? Nope...Deadpool's friends. And every single one of them has an axe to grind with our boy Wade for how he's treated them in the past. No, really—they have axes!
Plot Outline: Deadpool teams up with Deadpool (well…Deathwish) in this alternate reality doppelganger extravaganza! The trip to a perfect world continues here from last month's Spider-Man Annual and features occasional attempts at serious subplot storytelling with guest stars Spider-Man andHulk. But nothing is as it seems and all will be revealed!
Plot Outline: The end begins here! Deadpool has now fixated on achieving the one thing that's always been beyond his reach—death. Not an easy thing for an un-killable man to achieve, but that's not gonna stop him from trying. But first, he must figure out the all-important question: How? What in the world can kill Deadpool? It has to be big. It has to be powerful beyond description. It has to be…green?
Plot Outline: After the fallout (nuclear and otherwise) of Deadpool's antics out in Arizona, the federal government is faced with an impossible question: What to do with Deadpool? Luckily, Deadpool's gamma-powered legal defense team provides an answer: Stick him in an institution! When you think about it, it might be the only solution—after all he really does need some professional help as well as protection from the enemy; himself.
Plot Outline: After a brief stint in a maximum-security mental institution, Deadpool is back on the streets and back on track, running headlong toward oblivion as fast as his little red feet can take him. But something causes him to stumble…or, rather, someone. Guess what, True Believers? Deadpool's about to get a girlfriend! Unfortunately, she's a total psychopath and Deadpool finds her utterly repulsive—but that's not gonna stop her! Actually, nothing can stop her. Prepare yourselves for the most disturbing love story ever told!
Plot Outline: What would happen if a collection of Deadpool's frozen, severed body parts saved by Dr. Ella Whitby were to be thrown into a dumpster and then, once thawed, fuse together to form a new—and totally evil—Deadpool? Well, we could tell you…but it'd be way cooler if you read it for yourself!
Plot Outline: Has everyone's favorite Merc With A Mouth finally made an appointment withLady Death? Deadpool's lease on life is about to expire and those around him are going to feel the consequences including X-Force! See Wade Wilson make a monumental decision that will forever change who he is.
Plot Outline: Deadpool survived the "Dead" storyline but he's now the same person he was. He might feel more alive than ever but that could end up biting him in the butt.
Plot Outline: Deadpool's nemeses take their revenge! Wade comes to a terrible realization! Daniel Way's epic run comes to a screeching halt! All this and the 4-year series comes to an end! Wait- didn't we say that already?
Volume 1:Secret Invasion (collectsDeadpool (vol. 2) #1-5, 120 pages, Marvel Comics, hardcover, March 2009, ISBN 0-7851-3273-2, softcover, July 2009, ISBN 0-7851-3273-2)
Volume 2:Dark Reign (collectsDeadpool (vol. 2) #6-7 and 10-12, 112 pages, Marvel Comics, hardcover, September 2009, ISBN 0-7851-3980-X, softcover, December 2009, ISBN 0-7851-3274-0)
Dark Reign: Deadpool/Thunderbolts (collectsDeadpool (vol. 2) #8-9 andThunderbolts #130-131, 96 pages, Marvel Comics, softcover, July 2009, ISBN 0-7851-4090-5)
Volume 3: X Marks the Spot (collectsDeadpool (vol. 2) #13-18, 144 pages, Marvel Comics, March 2010, hardcover, ISBN 0-7851-4311-4, softcover, ISBN 0-7851-4040-9)
Volume 4: Monkey Business (collectsDeadpool (vol. 2) #19-22, andHit-Monkey One-Shot, 120 pages, Marvel Comics, hardcover, July 2010, ISBN 0-7851-4530-3, softcover, December 2010, ISBN 0-7851-4531-1)
Volume 5: What Happens in Vegas (collectsDeadpool (vol. 2) #23-26, 120 pages, Marvel Comics, hardcover, October 2010, ISBN 0-7851-4532-X, softcover, March 2011)
Volume 6: I Rule, You Suck (collectsDeadpool (vol.2) #27-31, 120 pages, Marvel Comics, hardcover, March 2011, softcover, July 2011)
Volume 7: Space Oddity (collectsDeadpool (vol.2) #32-35, 33.1, 120 pages, Marvel Comics, hardcover, June 2011, softcover, November 2011)
As part of Marvel'sMarvel NOW! initiative a newDeadpool ongoing series was launched, written byBrian Posehn and Gerry Duggan and illustrated byTony Moore.[15] In the 27th issue of his new series, as part of "All-New Marvel NOW!", Deadpool was married for the third time. Initially a secret, his bride was revealed in the web comicDeadpool: The Gauntlet to beShiklah, Queen of the Undead. Deadpool also discovers that he has a daughter by the name of Eleanor "Ellie" Camacho from a former flame of Deadpool named Carmelita Camacho.[16]
Deadpool's death occurs inDeadpool #250 "The Death of Deadpool", involving story ideas that cowriters Gerry Duggan and Brian Posehn have had in mind since the beginning of the NOW series.[17] Issue #250 was technically issue #45 but was so named as it was the cumulative 250th issue of the character's solo series.[18] Deadpool faces off in a final showdown withULTIMATUM andFlag-Smasher, killing all of them, and gives up the "Deadpool" identity, wishing to have a better life. He, along with his family and friends, (and presumably everyone on Earth) are all killed when the Earthcollides with an alternate universe's Earth. Deadpool laments that the Secret Wars should have stayed an Avengers event, but then dies at peace, content that everybody else is dying with him.[19]
Deadpool Vol. 5 began in 2017, lasting for 14 issues. This Volume was subtitled Despicable Deadpool, was written by Gerry Duggan and included issue #300.[citation needed]
In 2026, a new volume of Deadpool will begin after the end of the crossover storylineAge of Revelation, titledWade Wilson: Deadpool.[20] It will be written by Benjamin Percy.[21]
