Fans show their Deadpool Pride at the New York premiere 
If you spent your Valentine's weekend falling in love with Deadpool, you're not alone.
The R-rated superhero movie made $150 million[1] in the U.S. over the 3-day weekend, and over $282 million globally[2], making it the biggest R-rated release of all time.
Even before the movie, which survived the terrible Wolverine: Origins, leaked footage, and years of pre-production hell as studios tried to craft a film that correctly portrayed the foul-mouthed merc, as he's known (it's short for mercenary), Deadpool was everywhere.
Every comics convention has its share of Deadpool costumes, and more than a few flash mobs[3]. His merchandise is ubiquitous already; even kids know and love him from his role as the narrator in the Lego Marvel Super Heroes video game.
If you're itching for more 'pool after seeing the movie, here's your guide to his comics canon — and which stories to read while you await the inevitable sequel.
The Birth of an Anti-Hero
Deadpool didn't start out as the merc with a mouth we all know and love. When he first appeared — in an issue of New Mutants in 1991 — he was hired to kill main character Cable (remember that name).
At this point he was a more straightforward mercenary, though still a talkative one, and was largely modeled on the DC Comics villain Deathstroke the Terminator. Deathstroke's real name, Slade Wilson, inspired Deadpool's name of Wade Wilson; they have enhanced agility and strength in common.
Original creators Rob Liefeld and Fabian Nicieza get some call-outs in the movie via street names; Liefeld's name can be seen in the opening on a coffee cup belonging to someone Deadpool kills. (Liefeld is a controversial figure in comics[4], so his namesake dying made me particularly happy.)
Don't worry about reading this early stuff. All you need to know about Deadpool's origins is that Wade Wilson was formerly U.S. Army Special Forces. He was given a rapid healing ability by the shadowy Weapon X program (the same guys who gave Wolverine his metal skeleton) after being diagnosed with cancer, and is deformed by his mutation, as in the movie.
Still, most of what makes him Deadpool — and most of what we see in the movie — is based on the character's later appearances. And that's where you should start your reading.
Begin at the (sort of) beginning
Writer Joe Kelly joined Team Deadpool in 1997 with artist Ed McGuinness for a solo 'pool series. This era of Deadpool created most of the character you saw in the movie: breaking the fourth wall for asides to the audience, living with Blind Al, his relationship with Vanessa (who's actually a shapeshifter known as Copycat).
Since Kelly and McGuinness pretty much expected the series to be cancelled, they had the freedom to do whatever they wanted. And we're all the better for it.
In Deadpool #11, Kelly and McGuinness sent Wade and Blind Al back in time to the events of a classic issue of Spider-Man, a premise that was as insane and hilarious as it sounds. And in Deadpool & Death Annual 1998, we got one of Deadpool's greatest relationships: with Death herself (no relation to the young Goth version seen in Neil Gaiman's Sandman).
In the comics, Deadpool is pansexual, so be prepared to see him flirt with anyone and everyone.
You can read all of Kelly's era in the Deadpool Omnibus[5]. You can also get some of his best arcs in Deadpool Classic Volumes 3, 4, and 5.
Who's that Cable guy everyone is talking about?
If you stuck around for the post-credits scene in Deadpool — minor spoiler alert — you heard our hero promise there will be a sequel, and it will feature the as-yet uncast Cable.
Cable's origin story[6] is one of the most complicated and ridiculous in all of comics history, involving clones and time-travel. But when Deadpool meets him, he's a militaristic, futuristic, and very serious X-man hero. Which is why the buddy comedy series of Cable & Deadpool in '04 by Fabian Nicieza was so perfect.
Be sure to check out the entire 50 issue run (divided into[7] three[8] volumes[9]) before the next Deadpool movie comes out, or at the very least the first arc "If Looks Could Kill[10]."
Image: Mashable composite, Amazon
Deadpool Corps and beyond
The last few years have seen Deadpool everywhere. The Deadpool Corps[11] series introduced alternate-reality Deadpools as well as Lady Deadpool, Headpool, and various other meta off-shoots.
More importantly, it saw the latest Deadpool monthly series by comedians Gerry Duggan and Brian Posehn. If you're looking for comics that go beyond the references in the movie, and for recent issues that will help you get into the Marvel canon, be sure to check out Duggan and Posehn's hilarious two-volume[12] run[13].
Which includes Deadpool fighting zombie presidents, naturally.
Considering how much money the movie made over the weekend, this franchise isn't going anywhere anytime soon. Better get reading.
Have something to add to this story? Share it in the comments.
References
- ^ $150 million (mashable.com)
- ^ globally (www.hollywoodreporter.com)
- ^ more than a few flash mobs (www.youtube.com)
- ^ Liefeld is a controversial figure in comics (www.craveonline.com)
- ^ Deadpool Omnibus (www.amazon.com)
- ^ origin story (marvel.com)
- ^ into (www.amazon.com)
- ^ three (www.amazon.com)
- ^ volumes (www.amazon.com)
- ^ If Looks Could Kill (www.amazon.com)
- ^ Deadpool Corps (marvel.com)
- ^ hilarious two-volume (www.amazon.com)
- ^ run (www.amazon.com)
