The Deadpool movies are brimming with Marvel references, some of which replicate classic moments from Marvel Comics history. The Deadpool franchise has brought the famed Merc with a Mouth to life, adapting the beloved antihero’s antics to great acclaim. After years of perseverance and a notorious test footage leak, Ryan Reynolds’ Deadpool finally received his first solo movie in 2016, leading to its two sequels. Each of these honored the comic books, even recreating specific scenes perfectly.
Custom image by Yeider Chacon
After Deadpool’s infamous cinematic debut in X-Men Origins: Wolverine, in which Deadpool swayed far too far from the source material to be truly flourish, the Deadpool movies were markedly more faithful. 2016’s Deadpool retained many more of Deadpool’s essential characteristics, which were subsequently maintained in its sequels. With the end of Deadpool & Wolverine leaving open the door for a possible Deadpool 4, or even for Wade Wilson to appear somewhere in the MCU’s future, more madness from Marvel’s Merc with a Mouth will likely be adapted in the future.
Deadpool Is Experimented On
Deadpool
As depicted in the first Deadpool movie, Wade Wilson undergoes torturous experiments in the Workshop, a facility designed to unlock latent mutant abilities. After enduring days of severe torture at the hands of Ajax, his latent healing factor is finally triggered, curing his terminal cancer but leaving him with severe disfigurements. This origin story is directly lifted from the comics, where Wade Wilson is subjected to similar treatment by Department K, a clandestine section of the Weapon X program, as seen in Deadpool/Death Annual (vol 1.) in 1998.
The scene in Deadpool even repeated Deadpool mocking his captor when he learned his real name was Francis. Differing slightly, the comic version explains how Wade Wilson’s healing factor was artificially induced by replicating Wolverine’s regenerative capabilities. Nevertheless, the meticulous recreation of this origin story in the movie preserves the character’s essence, ensuring an accurate depiction of Deadpool’s origins.
Deadpool’s Pineapple And Olive Pizza
Deadpool
One memorable scene in Deadpool sees Wade Wilson working as a mercenary and tracking down a stalker who works as a pizza delivery guy. Wade cleverly orders a pizza to a stranger’s apartment where he is hiding, ordering a pineapple and olive pizza. This quirky choice is directly taken from Deadpool (Vol. 4) #10, where Deadpool employs the exact same tactic, down to the unusual pizza toppings.
This detail serves as a delightful Easter egg and a reference to Deadpool’s idiosyncrasies. It highlights Deadpool’s unorthodox and often humorous approach to crime-fighting, emphasizing his penchant for the absurd. By incorporating such a specific and odd detail from the comics, Deadpool proved its commitment to staying true to the source material, while providing a moment of recognition and delight for fans familiar with Deadpool’s comic book escapades.
Deadpool Teams Up With X-Force
Deadpool 2
In Deadpool 2, Wade Wilson assembles a ragtag team of mutants he dubs X-Force. This team includes a mix of quirky and powerful characters, including Domino, Shatterstar, and Peter. This memorable scene from Deadpool 2 included a slew of Marvel characters and culminated when Deadpool leads the team on a disastrous first mission. This references Deadpool’s history in Marvel Comics and his heroic trajectory in the Deadpool movies.
Deadpool initially appeared as a villain in The New Mutants, and subsequently featured as an antagonist opposite Cable and his X-Force team. Years later, Deadpool joins forces with a black-ops version of the team in Uncanny X-Force. This team was led by Wolverine and also included Archangel, Fantomex, and Psylocke. Much like in the movie, Deadpool in the comics started as a merciless killer for hire but later strives to become a hero and joins the hero team.
Deadpool’s Probationary Period With The X-Men
Deadpool 2
Wade Wilson was offered a probationary period with the X-Men in Deadpool 2. Under Colossus’s mentorship, Deadpool is encouraged to become a true hero. This is a nod to Deadpool (Vol. 4) #16, where Deadpool expresses a desire to join the X-Men and is given a probationary period, under Domino’s watch instead of Colossus’s. The movie adaptation captures the comedic and chaotic nature of Deadpool’s interactions with the X-Men, highlighting his struggle to fit into a more structured and morally driven team.
Deadpool’s probationary period serves as a comedic device but also reflects his longing for acceptance and purpose. Deadpool’s time with the X-Men even includes the same yellow shirt for fledgling X-Men members in the comics. By integrating this storyline, the film reflects Deadpool’s long and complicated history with the X-Men, where he is frequently associated with the team despite years without official membership.
Colossus Vs Juggernaut
Deadpool 2
One of the standout moments in Deadpool 2 is the epic battle between Colossus and Juggernaut. This clash of titans is a thrilling cinematic moment that echoes several encounters between the two powerhouses in X-Men comics. One of their most memorable comic book battles occurs in Uncanny X-Men #183 (1984), in a story titled “He’ll Never Make Me Cry.”
In this issue, Colossus and Juggernaut happen to be drinking in the same bar. After Colossus accidentally spills his drink on Juggernaut, the pair enact a brutal and destructive brawl. Deadpool 2 captures the raw power and intensity of their confrontations, bringing to life the dynamic and often adversarial relationship between these two iconic X-Men characters. The fight in Deadpool 2 delivered a satisfying and visually spectacular showdown taken straight from the pages of the comics.
Cable Travels From An Apocalyptic Future
Deadpool 2
Cable is introduced in Deadpool 2 as a time-traveling soldier from a dystopian future. He arrives in the present to prevent a cataclysmic event that claims the lives of his family. This backstory is a faithful adaptation of Cable’s complex comic book history. Originally introduced in New Mutants #87 (1990), Cable’s origins are gradually revealed to involve a future where he fights to prevent the rise of a tyrannical regime.
Cable’s time-traveling missions often bring him into conflict and alliance with various heroes and villains in the present day. Deadpool 2 captures the essence of Cable’s character, with a hardened demeanor and relentless determination to change the future. In the comics, Cable likewise remains in the present, opting to continue working to secure a better future by leading the mutant hero team, The New Mutants.
Deadpool & Wolverine Fight And Team Up
Deadpool & Wolverine
Deadpool & Wolverine depicts only a snapshot of the tumultuous relationship between the two titular characters. It features the couple engaging in multiple intense confrontations followed by many reluctant collaborations. This dynamic is true to their comic book history, where Deadpool and Wolverine have clashed and teamed up on numerous occasions. Their first encounter in Wolverine #88 (1994) is a brutal fight that sets the tone for their ongoing rivalry and partnership.
Over the years, Deadpool and Wolverine have repeatedly found themselves at odds due to their contrasting personalities and methods, yet they also recognize each other’s capabilities and often join forces against common enemies. Deadpool & Wolverine captures this complex relationship, blending intense action sequences with moments of grudging respect and cooperation. This faithful adaptation highlights the enduring and multifaceted bond between Deadpool and Wolverine, as rooted in their shared comic book history.
Cassandra Nova’s Probing Hands
Deadpool & Wolverine
Throughout Deadpool & Wolverine, the villain Cassandra Nova uses her fingers to psychically probe people’s minds. It is a chilling and visually striking method, which she explains that a limitation of her powers requires physical contact to deploy her psychic powers. This unsettling technique is directly taken from New X-Men #115 (2001), where Cassandra Nova performs a similar feat.
In the comic, Cassandra Nova uses her psychic abilities to manipulate and control others, often employing invasive and grotesque methods. Though not limited to physical contact like her movie counterpart, she equally relishes disturbing her victims. This led to her using probing psychic hands, invading her prey with a sinister glee. The film’s depiction of Cassandra Nova’s probing hands captures the unsettling nature of her powers, staying true to her character’s menacing presence in the comics despite the minor deviations.
Wolverine Fights The Hulk
Deadpool & Wolverine
Deadpool & Wolverine features several Wolverine variants who Deadpool tries to recruit to his cause. Each of these recalls a classic moment from Wolverine’s history in Marvel Comics. One of those included a Wolverine variant who is fighting the Hulk. This is a direct nod to Wolverine’s first comic book appearance in The Incredible Hulk #181 (1974). This issue introduced Wolverine as a fierce adversary for the Hulk, establishing his ferocity and combat skills.
Deadpool & Wolverine also included a thrilling replication of the iconic cover for The Incredible Hulk #340 (1988), where Hulk’s reflection appears in Wolverine’s claws. This issue depicted a captivating rematch between the Marvel legends. This cameo in Deadpool & Wolverine pays tribute to Wolverine’s origins and his legendary battles with the Hulk, which have been a staple of Marvel storytelling for decades.
Fever Dream Wolverine
Deadpool & Wolverine
Another Wolverine variant depicted in the Deadpool & Wolverine montage, is one being crucified on a giant X. This is a direct reference to Uncanny X-Men #251 (1989). In this issue, Wolverine is captured by the Reavers and crucified on a giant X, a harrowing and iconic scene in his comic book history. The issue received a memorable cover illustration and a haunting narrative titled “Fever Dream.”
