Know Your Heroes: Deadpool

The Merc with a Mouth has made his way to movies with the Deadpool film in theaters, just in time for Valentine’s Day. Everyone’s favorite mutant mercenary will quip and kill his way across 20th Century Fox’s Marvel Universe leaving bodies and bad jokes in his wake.

Making his comics debut in 1991 showing up as a villain in The New Mutants and later X-Force, Deadpool was bad mouthing and trying to kill one of the most popular X-Men of that era, Cable. Creators Fabian Nicieza and Rob Liefeld were able to create a character that started out as a hard-boiled wisecracker and transformed over twenty-five years to the loveable killing machine we know today. 

Deadpool’s history is long and winding, but we’ve put together the stories you should read to know more about one of the most popular comic characters in pop culture today.

 Introducing the Lethal Deadpool!

To learn the story behind Wade Wilson, you have to go back to the classics; Deadpool Classic volume 1 (FEB082311) to be precise.  Collecting his first appearance and the three mini-series that followed, this is a history book you won’t mind studying.

In these early Deadpool sagas, learn how Wade was transformed by the Weapon X program and how he earned his moniker; plus his first introduction to his longtime sidekick Weasel. Love may even be in the cards for Wade when the sultry X-Men Siryn tries to steer him towards a better life.  It turns out that romance may not be in the future for Wade, but it looks like a battle with Juggernaut is!

With creators like Rob Liefeld, Mark Waid, Joe Madureira, and many more working on his origin stories; Deadpool reaps the benefits of a well written history.

Time to make the chimichangas

Deadpool proved to be such a popular character with fans that Marvel took a chance and slapped his name on an ongoing series, the first twelve issues of which are collected in Deadpool volume 1 (JAN110820).

Written by Daniel Way, Deadpool has transformed into the perfect mix of jokes and murder, and is ready to take down the Skrull threat currently terrorizing the Marvel universe. The shape-shifting alien menace has taken down governments and superhero teams, but nothing can prepare them for what Deadpool has planned. While his healing factor is used to create a brigade of unstoppable Super Skrulls bent on conquering Earth, Wade manages to get Nick Fury and Norman Osborn involved in a coup against the Skrull queen.

But when Deadpool is involved, not everything goes as smoothly as planned; and it’s Wade Wilson versus the Thunderbolts when Osborn double crosses the Merc with a Mouth!

 Deadpool for President

One of Deadpool’s latest endeavors has the Merc counting dead presidents, literally!

Past US presidents are rising from the grave and only a heavily armed madman with questionable morals can stop them in Deadpool by Posehn and Duggan volume 1 (SEP130796). Wade joins forces with S.H.I.E.L.D. to take down the former chiefs of state, but will they cramp his rule-free lifestyle? Featuring a cameo from a body swapped Spider-Man and a trip back in time to an alcoholic Iron Man, this trade has it all.  

Former Attack of the Show writer Gerry Duggan and comedian Brian Posehn team up with The Walking Dead artist Tony Moore to bring fans the most unhinged Deadpool series yet! 

Let Me Tell You 'bout My Best Friend

Two of the Nineties most popular mutants are teaming up, if they don’t kill each other first, in Deadpool and Cable Ultimate Collection book 1 (DEC090613).

Wade’s first appearance in comics was trying to kill Nathan Summers, and now these two anti-heroes must band together to take down a greater evil then they can defeat alone. Deadpool co-creator Fabian Nicieza is back, writing the characters he helped catapult into popularity and he manages to keep the balance between the fast talking Deadpool and stoic Cable.

The quips and bullets fly as this awkward team up turns into a begrudging friendship with plenty of humor along the way. 

Your Friendly Neighborhood Deadpool

You’ll be seeing red (along with some black and blue) in Deadpool’s all new team up series; Spider-Man/Deadpool #1 (NOV150751)!

This all new comic just debuted in January, and is perfect for new fans looking to dip their toes into the craziness that is the Merc with a Mouth. An all-out action adventure, follow the new dynamic duo as they fight crime and each other.

Watch Marvel’s mouthiest heroes try to out-retort each other, and learn if wielding a katana is more useful than doing whatever a spider can. A bromance for the ages, this new ongoing series is sure to be a great addition to Deadpool’s wild history.

Learn more about Deadpool at your local comic shop and head to the theater to watch him on the big screen, February 12th! 

Also, there’s a lot of Deadpool Toys and Collectibles available! See them now at TOYCHESTnews.com!