20 Things You Didn't Know About Deadpool

Top 20 Deadpool Facts

Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re looking at lesser-known facts about the Merc with a Mouth. That’s a Mouth, not the Mouth. That fact was a freebie!

#20: From Villain to Antihero

While not afraid to un-alive people, few would describe Deadpool as a villain nowadays. When the character first appeared in “The New Mutants #98,” he was more anti than hero. In that particular issue, the mysterious Mr. Tolliver, who turns out to be Tyler Dayspring, sends Deadpool to collect a bounty on Cable’s head. Deadpool clashes with the New Mutants until Domino gets a few lucky shots in his back. This also marked Domino’s debut, although technically, it was Copycat in disguise. Of course, this wouldn’t be the last we saw of Deadpool, but he’d evolve from an antagonist to somebody we could root for. That’s not to say his villainous side completely went away, as demonstrated in stories like “Deadpool Kills the Marvel Universe.”

#19: He Wasn’t the First Marvel Character to Regularly Break the Fourth Wall

A handful of Marvel characters are aware of the audience’s existence, including Uatu the Watcher. If anyone could contend with Wade Wilson as the most self-aware Marvel character, it’s Jennifer Walters, aka She-Hulk. Smashing onto the comic pages in 1979, She-Hulk made fourth wall breaks one of her staples long before Deadpool would. In the comics, She-Hulk has fought against Deadpool while also serving as his attorney. Despite having a quirky power in common, they’ve yet to engage with the audience together. The closest instance is on the variant cover of “She-Hulk #9” where she introduces Deadpool. Also, if She-Hulk beats Deadpool in “Marvel vs. Capcom 3,” he’ll note that this fight might’ve played out differently if the game came out in 1991.

#18: Happy Death Day, Mr. President

Deadpool has gone up against his fair of bizarre opponents, but it’s hard to top all of the dearly departed ex-presidents… in zombie form. Coinciding with the 2012 U.S. presidential election, Deadpool took center stage in a Marvel NOW! comic arc aptly titled “Dead Presidents.” The story sees ex-S.H.I.E.L.D. agent Michael Hawthorne resurrect every president, from Washington to Reagan. This backfires, as the commanders-in-chief seek to dismantle the country. A hero like Captain America can’t put the presidents back in the ground for obvious reasons. Thus, Deadpool answers the call, not being afraid to get his hands dirty. Plus, he’s Canadian. It’s Deadpool meets The Walking Dead, even sharing a co-creator, Tony Moore.

#17: Love, Death, & Deadpool

You might’ve heard that Thanos has a romantic history with Lady Death, a detail from the comics that didn’t make it into “Avengers: Infinity War.” How could this relationship possibly get any stranger? By having Deadpool turn it into a love triangle! Despite essentially being immortal, Deadpool has had his fair share of brushes with death. He was bound to flirt with Lady Death eventually. It tracks that Deadpool would be drawn to a woman who represents something he can’t fully experience. Lady Death seemingly returns Deadpool’s affection, much to Thanos’ dismay. To prevent the two from being together in the “Funeral for a Freak” story arc, Thanos curses Deadpool with what he deems a fate worse than death: never being able to die.

#16: G.I. Joe Was an Unlikely Inspiration

Spider-Man and Wolverine inspired Rob Liefeld when he co-created Deadpool. Liefeld also looked to G.I. Joe, specifically the character of Snake Eyes. We can see a resemblance with both hiding behind masks and proving skillful with swords. Yet, it’s ironic that these two would share a connection since Snake Eyes is the silent but deadly type while Deadpool is constantly cracking one-liners. Adding to the irony, Hollywood would get these characters totally backward! In “Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins,” the usually silent character bombards the audience with dialogue. In “X-Men Origins: Wolverine,” Wade has his mouth sewn shut, taking away his ability to speak. Oh, and in both films, the characters frequently show their faces. It’s almost as if Hollywood doesn’t understand fanbases.

#15: He Was in “X-Men: The Animated Series”… Kind Of

Given his foulmouthed reputation, you’d think there would be no place for Deadpool on Saturday morning. It might surprise you to learn that he made a few cameos on “X-Men: The Animated Series.” Well, to a certain degree. His most prominent appearance was in the Season 2 episode “Whatever It Takes” as Wolverine clashes with Morph. The shapeshifting mutant takes on the form of several others, including Deadpool. That said, this isn’t the real Wade Wilson. Another episode, “Deadly Reunions,” features a non-speaking Deadpool in a vision. He also briefly appears as an illusion during “The Phoenix Saga.” While Deadpool himself doesn’t interact with any of the characters, it’s safe to assume he exists in this continuity with Wolverine and Sabretooth remembering him.

#14: He Idolizes Captain America

Deadpool and Captain America aren’t the last Marvel characters we’d expect to get along, but they still don’t strike us as compatible. One’s an All-American Boy Scout. The other is a Canadian who prefers red over white and blue. Despite being opposites, Deadpool has been a Steve Rogers fanboy since childhood. Granted, Deadpool’s admiration for Cap has been tested over the years, most notably during the “Secret Empire” storyline. At the same time, the two have proven that they can make a great team, even forming an unholy trinity with Wolverine in “The Good, The Bad and The Ugly.” You know, if Ryan Reynolds could bring back Hugh Jackman as Wolverine, maybe he could get Chris Evans to don the shield one more time.

#13: There Are MANY Deadpool Variants

If you thought the Spider-Verse was wild, just wait until you meet the various versions of Deadpool. There have been female variants such as Lady Deadpool, aka Wanda Wilson. He’s shown off his animal side as Dogpool, Squirrelpool, Birdpool, Pandapool, and Hello Kitty Deadpool. Zenpool took the character down a pacifist path while Dreadpool found the mercenary at his absolute darkest. Then again, Evil Deadpool is another strong contender for that title. We’ve also seen Deadpool as a kid, a king, a wizard, a zombie head, and the nephew of President Woodrow Wilson - Frederick “Wheezy” Wilson. Deadpool has even merged with other Marvel characters, giving us Venompool, Galactipool, and Doctor Octopool. Our favorite has got to be Gwenpool, who puts a deadly spin on Spider-Gwen

#12: Bea Arthur is His Favorite Golden Girl

In Deadpool’s eyes, Dorothy Zbornak isn’t just the MVP of “Golden Girls.” As far as he’s concerned, Bea Arthur is the sexiest woman alive… or at least she was until her passing in 2009. Wade Wilson has persevered Arthur’s legacy with the Deadpool Corps naming a spaceship in her honor. Staying true to his character, Ryan Reynolds knew he couldn’t make a proper Deadpool movie without a nod to Arthur. Reynolds personally paid $10,000 so that he could sport a Bea Arthur T-shirt in the first film. The money ultimately went to charity. The actor also dubbed his two katanas Bea and Arthur as a tribute. Arthur sadly didn’t live to see “Deadpool” hit the silver screen, but Betty White did!

#11: Why His Caption Boxes Are Yellow

Although you can draw parallels between Deadpool and other characters, he’s truly one of a kind. Even his speech bubbles are unique. The comics have regularly distinguished Deadpool’s commentary through solid yellow text boxes. This emphasizes how nobody else in the Marvel Universe talks or thinks quite like him, but that’s not the only meta touch. In one storyline, Deadpool merges with the villain Madcap, whose presence is hinted at through white caption boxes. When pushed to the dark side in “Deadpool Kills the Marvel Universe,” evil voices take over in the form of red boxes. Little touches like these highlight the fact that Deadpool is a comic book character, something that he’s fully aware of.

#10: The God of Mischief Cursed Him

Deadpool is quite the trickster and, at times, even godlike. So, the idea of him being Loki’s son isn’t the biggest stretch. The God of Mischief once convinced Deadpool that they were flesh and blood, but this was merely a scheme to steal Thor’s hammer. When the plan goes awry, Loki curses his fake son with a new face. You’d think that would be a blessing given what’s hiding behind Wade’s mask, but to his horror, he now resembles Tom Cruise… or Thom Cruz as he’s called here. Maverick will continue to stare Wade in the mirror until he reconciles with this real father, who he coincidentally bumps into. It may be the closest we get to seeing Cruise as a Marvel character.

#9: The Donald Glover Animated Series That Never Was

It’s no secret that Donald Glover was an inspiration for Miles Morales. Childish Gambino also nearly played a major role in Deadpool’s legacy. Along with his brother ​​Stephen, he started development on a “Deadpool” animated series that would’ve aired on FXX. An initial ten episodes were planned with a 2018 premiere date, but the series was ultimately scrapped due to creative differences. Despite this, some early animation was finished. Glover also released a 15-page script entitled “Finale,” in which Deadpool goes to Kenya and ponders why his show has been canceled. Little is known about the other episodes that were conceived, although one of them would’ve involved Taylor Swift. Marvel apparently wasn’t pleased with the Swift episode, as ​​Stephen Glover called this “the last straw.”

#8: How Deadpool Got His Name

For such a funny character, Deadpool’s name is rooted in tragedy. In a 1998 comic, Deadpool opens up to Death about how he joined the Weapon X program in hopes of treating his cancer. Subjected to cruel experiments, Wade’s condition worsened to the point that he could see Lady Death, making him want to die faster. Once Wade’s heart is torn out only to regrow, it becomes apparent that death won’t come to him so easily. In a way, Wade Wilson does die that day. He endures a mental breakdown, adopting a new name. The others had been placing bets on which prisoner would die first, inspiring him to go by Deadpool. Lady Death’s presence aside, the 2016 film remains mostly faithful to this backstory.

#7: A Pansexual Hero

While most of Deadpool’s love interests have been female, his heart is open to all. In 2013, writer Gerry Duggan described Deadpool as “omnisexual,” or pansexual. Co-creator Fabian Nicieza didn’t put a label on him, but he confirmed “Deadpool is whatever sexual inclination his brain tells him he is in THAT moment. And then the moment passes.” It makes sense that Deadpool would be drawn to shapeshifting characters like Shiklah and Copycat. In regards to his onscreen romance with Vanessa, Ryan Reynolds said, “Deadpool isn’t in love with Vanessa just because she’s a woman. He’s in love with Vanessa because he loves her.” Reynolds is open to finding Deadpool a boyfriend as well. For now, Deadpool started dating the nonbinary Valentine Vuong in the comics.

#6: Deadpool Is a Daddy

Wade has procreated a few potential heirs, some stranger than others. Patient Zero conceived Susan Mary using Deadpool and Spider-Man’s DNA, making them co-parents to the itsy-bitsy murderess. Deadpool has a slightly better relationship with Eleanor “Ellie” Camacho, who was raised by her mother, Carmelita. After Carmelita dies, Ellie is sent to live with S.H.I.E.L.D. agent Emily Preston. Wade knows that he isn’t exactly parent material. Nonetheless, he has expressed genuine affection for Ellie. Believing that her father can be a better man, Ellie tries to push him in the right direction with mixed results. Ellie also appears in the Marvel 2099 continuity where she clashes with Warda Wilson, Deadpool’s other daughter who he had with Shiklah.

#5: “SNL” Inspired His Chimichanga Obsession

Chimichangas are to Deadpool what carrots are to Bugs Bunny. This defining characteristic wouldn’t surface until “Cable & Deadpool Vol 1 #13,” which was published in 2005. The basis for this joke can be traced back to 1990, not long before Deadpool made his debut. Fabian Nicieza and the late Mark Gruenwald were fans of an “SNL” sketch featuring Jimmy Smits where the cast overpronounced Spanish words. Although enchiladas come up the most in the sketch, Nicieza and Gruenwald gravitated toward chimichangas. When Deadpool first brings up chimichangas in the comic, he’s not that big on the taste. He just likes saying the word chimichanga, preferring to eat enchiladas. This joke would evolve over time with chimichangas becoming Deadpool’s go-to Tex-Mex cuisine.

#4: Deathstroke Paved the Way for Deadpool

Deadpool is more satirical than your average comic book vigilante. As such, it’s fitting that he essentially started as a send-up of another masked mercenary, Deathstroke. It’s not a coincidence that Wade Wilson and Slade Wilson have a last name in common. Observing Rob Liefeld’s artwork for Deadpool, Fabian Nicieza couldn’t help but notice a striking resemblance to Deathstroke. Since one is from Marvel and the other from DC, the relation between Deadpool and Deathstroke can never be officially canonized. As an in-joke, though, Wade would be forever bonded to Slade through the Wilson surname. Superficial connections aside, Liefeld firmly argued that Deadpool isn’t a Deathstroke rip-off. The real question is whether or not Death Masque is secretly DC’s answer to Deadpool.

#3: A Prognostic Fourth Wall Break

Ryan Reynolds was meant to play Deadpool. So much so that Deadpool referenced the actor before he was even cast. Back when Reynolds starred in “Blade: Trinity,” an executive told him that he’d be an ideal choice if they ever made a Deadpool movie. To familiarize him with the character, the exec sent Reynolds a stack of comics. The first one Reynolds picked up was “Cable & Deadpool #2,” published in 2004. In the comic, Deadpool says that he looks like a cross between the shar-pei dog breed and “Ryan Renolds.” Granted, they spelled his last name without the “y,” but Reynolds knew it was destiny. Five years later, Reynolds got to play Wade Wilson… and another seven years later, he’d get to do it right.

#2: Fans Kept Deadpool Alive (& Immortal)

Upon hitting the scene, Deadpool was merely a side character. Marvel didn’t expect him to have much staying power, let alone one day headline a series. The character was immediately well-received by readers, however. According to Fabian Nicieza, the fan mail for “The New Mutants #98” rose “500 percent” with “three-quarters of them [saying] something along the lines of ‘Deadpool was funny. Bring him back.’” Marvel answered their demands with Deadpool popping up in multiple comics before becoming the star of a 1993 miniseries. By 1997, there’d be an ongoing Deadpool comic. Marvel finally realized what they had, although it’d be a while until Hollywood recognized Deadpool’s true potential. Thankfully, the fan response to the leaked test footage ensured Deadpool’s immortality on the silver screen.

#1: Deadpool Didn’t Always Break the Fourth Wall

If there’s one character trait we associate with Deadpool, it’s taking a sledgehammer to the fourth wall. If there was a fifth wall, Deadpool would find a way to shatter that too. One might assume that Deadpool hit the ground running with self-referential humor. Surprisingly, he wouldn’t break the fourth wall until “Deadpool #28,” which was published in 1997. The issue sees Deadpool bump into Bullseye, who asks him how long it’s been since they last saw each other. Deadpool nonchalantly replies, “Issue Sixteen. Greece…” Writer Joe Kelly is often credited for introducing Deadpool’s meta nature, although he’d leave the series after Issue #33. Christopher Priest continued to run with the idea, though, making fourth wall breaks a regular occurrence.

Do you have any Deadpool facts to share? Inform the masses in the comments.