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Deadpool and Wolverine are among Marvel’s most popular characters! [Photo Credit: IMDB]
Deadpool and Wolverine have enjoyed great popularity over the past several years.
Sure, these characters have been around for ages in comic books, but ever since they transitioned onto the big screen, their popularity has skyrocketed. (Yes, we *love* the latest Deadpool & Wolverine movie, too!)
Deadpool and Wolverine couldn’t be more different, and we decided to compare the two iconic characters, including their origins, powers, weaknesses and moral codes to discover how similar or different they are and who would win in a Deadpool vs. Wolverine fight.
Get to know the iconic duo better and join us as we answer this burning question!
Deadpool vs. Wolverine’s Origin Story
How did Deadpool become, well, Deadpool?
And where did Wolverine get his claws from?
Let’s explore the origin stories of the two superheroes.
N.B. Spoilers ahead! If you haven’t read any stories about Deadpool and Wolverine yet, now’s the right time to start!
Deadpool’s Origin Story
Deadpool’s character was created by Rob Liefeld, a writer and an artist, and Fabian Nicieza, a writer.
The beloved character first appeared in The New Mutants #98 published in February 1991.
Sounds familiar?
Nicieza chose this name on purpose as he wanted it to playfully sound similar to Slade Wilson, a.k.a., Deathstroke — one of Batman’s most dangerous enemies.
As for his appearance, does Deadpool remind you of someone?
Liefeld said that, when creating Deadpool, he wanted his character to look like Spider-Man, because of the simplicity of Spidey’s costume.
He also mentioned that Wolverine and Snake Eyes (from the G.I. Joe franchise) influenced Deadpool’s creation.
Wade Wilson joined the army at the age of 17 but was discharged soon after.
That’s when he decided to become a mercenary.
However, his life took an unexpected turn when he was diagnosed with terminal cancer.
In an attempt to find the cure, Wade volunteered to join the Weapon X program — a secret U.S. government genetic project whose purpose was to create super soldiers, prepared to fight in a war between humans and mutants.
To induce superpowers into their subjects, the program’s scientists performed a series of morally questionable experiments on humans.
While undergoing treatment, Wade got Wolverine’s regenerative healing factor. That meant he would live, but the good news came at a cost.
The procedure left Wade’s body covered in scars, enhancing his mental instability.
While at the facility’s hospice, Wade and other patients had a betting pool or dead pool — they would place bets on when each patient would die from experiments.
Wade lived much longer than others believed he would. Ajax, a mutant who worked alongside Dr. Killebrew who ran the experiment tried to kill Wade by ripping his heart out.
Wade’s heart regenerated and, after defeating Ajax, he managed to get out of the hospice and win the dead pool, which is how he chose a name for himself.
Wolverine’s Origin Story
Wolverine was created by writer Len Wein and John Romita Sr., Marvel’s Art Director at the time.
The new character debuted in The Incredible Hulk #180 in October 1974.
James Howlett, a.k.a., Wolverine, was born in the late 19th century to Elizabeth and John Howlett. in Alberta, Canada.
The Howletts were rich and James grew up in a castle.
He had two friends — Rose, a girl who was brought by James’ family to hang out with him, and “Dog,” the son of Thomas Logan, the Howletts’ groundskeeper.
One night, Dog and Thomas broke into the Howlett’s household and Dog killed John Howlett.
This event defined the course of James’ life.
Once he saw that his father was dead, claws emerged from his hands, and he killed Thomas, who was, actually, his biological father!
James’ mother was mortified by the sight of her son’s mutation and him killing Thomas. James himself was traumatized by what had happened and he fled home with Rose to a mining town in Yukon. Once there, Rose gave him a new name — Logan.
He found out years later that his mother had ended her life after he left the family estate.
For a while, Logan, unable to fully remember the traumatic events from the past, tried his best to fit in with the mining people. He became known as a hard worker and a strong fighter, and these traits earned him the nickname — the Wolverine.
But one day, Dog came to the town to kill Logan, the two fought and Logan remembered what had happened with his family. Anger overcame him, he unleashed his claws and he accidentally killed Rose.
After the tragic event, Logan spent many years living out in the wild, where he even joined a pack of wolves. At that point, he felt more like an animal than a man.
The news about Logan spread and people became interested in capturing him.
Logan was eventually captured by the Weapon X program — a secret government project that bonded the indestructible metal adamantium to his skeleton, enhancing his claws. This event turned Logan into the Wolverine — a virtually indestructible killing machine.
Logan’s life finally took a turn for the better when he was recruited by Professor Charles Xavier to join the X-Men.
As Wolverine, he became one of the X-Men’s most valuable members!
Deadpool Vs. Wolverine’s Powers
Both Deadpool and Wolverine are undeniably strong and powerful, but their powers couldn’t be any more different.
Let’s see what makes the two as fearsome as they are!
Deadpool’s Powers And Abilities
One of Deadpool’s biggest strengths and advantages over his adversaries is his accelerated healing factor.
He can recover from all types of injuries and the fact that he can heal from pretty much anything grants him a long life.
Although he’s no Superman strength-wise, Deadpool possesses immense agility and great reflexes, that allow him to dodge most attacks. He also excels in hand-to-hand fights, and knows his way around many weapons, especially his signature katanas.
One of Deadpool’s great powers is, in fact, his unpredictability, which enables him to surprise his enemies and, eventually, defeat them. He’s known to baffle his enemies with his sarcastic remarks in the midst of fights, which often gives him an edge over his adversaries.
He’s also immune to others’ telepathic powers due to his healing factor and unstable mind.
Although this may not be a proper power through and through, Deadpool knows that he’s a comic book, i.e., movie character, and he often breaks the fourth wall. He interacts with the audience, makes jokes about himself, his adversaries and the Marvel Universe.
This ability of his makes Deadpool particularly popular among audiences who *love* his humor.
Wolverine’s Powers And Abilities
Like Deadpool, Wolverine also possesses the accelerated healing factor. He’s immune to most diseases and he can recover from pretty much any kind of injury.
We mentioned that, during the X-Weapon program Wolverine’s skeleton was coated with adamantium, which is an indestructible metal alloy that makes his bones unbreakable!
Of course, we can’t forget Wolverine’s claws, which are also coated with adamantium, making them sharp and capable of cutting through almost any material!
Unlike Deadpool, Wolverine possesses extreme physical strength that makes him a terrific fighter in combat.
Due to him spending a part of his life with wolves, Wolverine’s feral and savage in fights, and a true force to reckon with.
The strength of Wolverine’s body isn’t the only thing that gives him a powerful combatant. He possesses a sharp, tactical mind, which helps him gain an edge over his adversaries in combat.
Deadpool Vs. Wolverine’s Weaknesses
Despite the immense strength and admirable powers of both Deadpool and Wolverine, these characters have several weaknesses that add to their complexity and make them more relatable.
Deadpool’s Weaknesses
Deadpool often struggles with mental challenges, including multiple personality disorder and schizophrenia. Sometimes, he also hallucinates.
His erratic behavior and unpredictability can sometimes help him in fights, but they often also lead to self-destructive decisions.
Deadpool’s healing factor isn’t instant, and he can feel pain when his enemies hurt him. For instance, he was decapitated multiple times and was severely injured, and each time he had to wait to fully regenerate, which made him vulnerable to further enemy attacks.
Also, Wolverine’s adamantium-clad claws and complete disintegration can incapacitate Deadpool for a longer time.
Deadpool uses lots of weapons in fights — his katanas, guns and all kinds of swords. When his adversaries disarm him or he runs out of ammo, he becomes less dangerous to others.
Although Deadpool’s constant breaking of the fourth wall and his humor even in critical moments are fun for the audience, these traits also make him distracted and vulnerable to the enemies’ attacks.
Deadpool’s unpredictable nature and his tendency to engage in self-destructive behavior sometimes puts him at risk.
Wolverine’s Weaknesses
Like Deadpool, Wolverine also can’t regenerate instantly after he suffers extreme wounds. There are also certain poisons and viruses specifically designed to slow down Wolverine’s healing factor, making him more susceptible to injuries and less effective in combat.
The adamantium that makes his bones virtually unbreakable is, at the same time, the source of constant poisoning. Wolverine’s healing factor is active at all times, trying to eliminate the damaging effects of the poison, which can weaken Logan.
Characters like Magneto, who can control metal, pose a threat to Wolverine. Magneto can manipulate Wolverine’s bones, causing him intense pain and even immobilizing him.
Because of his traumatic past and the horrendous events he has experienced, Wolverine suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and carries severe psychological scars which can make him behave recklessly.
He also goes through bouts of depression from time to time because he often feels disconnected from others.
Wolverine’s emotional attachment to friends and loved ones can be used against him. Threatening or harming those he cares about can manipulate his actions and decisions, sometimes leading him straight into traps.
Deadpool Vs. Wolverine’s Moral Code
Wade and Logan aren’t your usual clean-cut Marvel characters.
Let’s see why.
Deadpool’s Moral Code
Deadpool often has a contradictory moral code. As a mercenary, sometimes he takes jobs purely for financial gain, regardless of the moral implications. He’s open to working with villains if they’ll pay him well.
Deadpool is loyal only to a few people, including his friend Weasel and his love interest Vanessa. Although he may not act like a typical superhero willing to protect the entire humanity from evil, Deadpool will do all that he can to protect those he cares about.
At times, Deadpool is portrayed as a character who believes that the goal justifies the means. He uses deception and, at times, morally questionable ways to achieve the outcome he desires.
Deadpool often uses comedy to cope with violence and trauma, making it hard to discern his true moral stance.
He sometimes even mocks traditional superhero morals and ethics, which makes it hard for other characters to fight alongside him.
Wolverine’s Moral Code
Wolverine has a complex moral code.
He is loyal, courageous and compassionate, and, despite his often brutal methods, he believes in fighting for justice and what he believes is right.
Logan is protective of the people that he cares about and those who can’t defend themselves, so much so, that he often puts himself in harm’s way.
Wolverine understands that sometimes difficult decisions must be made to achieve goals. He is willing to do what other heroes might shy away from, especially to protect the innocent.
He believes in retribution for those who have committed heinous acts, especially those who exploit the vulnerable. This often puts him at odds with more pacifistic heroes.
Despite his willingness to use lethal force, Wolverine doesn’t take killing lightly. He often struggles with the morality of taking a life and tries to avoid unnecessary killing, but he does use lethal force if no other options are available.
Wolverine seeks redemption for his past actions. This quest influences many of his heroic deeds and pushes him to help others.
He often takes on a mentorship role, guiding younger mutants like Kitty Pryde and Jubilee, imparting his hard-earned wisdom and emphasizing the importance of personal responsibility.
Who’d Win The Deadpool Vs. Wolverine Fight?
If there ever was a hypothetical fight between Wolverine and Deadpool, it might be hard to tell which character would win.
Both possess healing factors that allow them to regenerate themselves, and they would likely recover from each other’s attacks rapidly, making it hard on each other to finish the fight. That’s why the decision on who’d win might be down to other qualities they have.
In close combat, Wolverine’s adamantium claws and skeleton would undoubtedly give him a significant advantage. His combat skills and experience would likely allow him to dominate in a purely physical confrontation.
On the other hand, Deadpool’s proficiency with guns and explosives gives him an edge in other types of combat. Plus, he’s unpredictable, which could make it difficult for Wolverine to outsmart Deadpool.
The only logical conclusion we can make is this — in a purely physical fight, Wolverine would probably have an edge because of his strength, the adamantium skeleton and his combat experience.
But, Deadpool’s ability to break the fourth wall, his instability and his versatility with weapons could help him defeat Wolverine in fights at a distance that would include weapons.
In comics, Deadpool and Wolverine have fought a few times. For example, the first time they met in Wolverine #88, Deadpool was thrashing the apartment of his ex-girlfriend’s new love interest. That guy, Garrison Kane, happened to be a friend of Logan’s. Wolverine came to the apartment and he and Deadpool fought, with the latter stabbing Wolverine with his swords.
FAQs
1. Who would win in a fight between Deadpool and Wolverine?
As we mentioned, it’s hard to determine a clear winner since both have healing factors that make them practically indestructible. Their fights usually end in a stalemate or are interrupted.
2. How old is Wolverine?
Wolverine is over two centuries old. His healing factor significantly slows his aging process, allowing him to remain active despite his age.
3. What is the relationship between Deadpool and Wolverine and in the comics?
Deadpool and Wolverine have a complex relationship. They have been enemies, allies, and reluctant teammates at different times. They share a mutual respect despite their frequent clashes.
4. What teams have Deadpool and Wolverine been a part of?
Deadpool has been a member of X-Force, the Thunderbolts and the Mercs for Money, among others. Wolverine is a long-time member of the X-Men and has also been part of the Avengers, X-Force, and Alpha Flight.
5. Will there be any future collaborations or conflicts between Deadpool and Wolverine in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU)?
The Deadpool & Wolverine movie set to release on July 26 will be the first time that we’ll see the two characters together in a movie since 2009’s X-Men Origins: Wolverine. Hugh Jackman is returning as Wolverine for the first time since Logan (2017) and Ryan Reynolds is joining the MCU at last. One thing’s for certain — Marvel seems to be interested in exploring the dynamic between the iconic duo and it looks like Deadpool & Wolverine will represent one of the key chapters of the Phase 5 of the MCU. We can’t wait to see what the future will bring for the two characters and how their relationship will evolve.
