Deadpool's New Suit Sets Up a Major Marvel Problem
Warning: Contains SPOILERS for Deadpool/Wolverine #1!Deadpool has had no shortage of costume and design changes in Marvel Comics, from his darker X-Force suit to Deadpool’s more recent WWIII redesign. However, his newest suit isn’t just an aesthetic change, but rather the set-up for a major problem that will potentially impact the entire Marvel Universe. In fact, this new suit in question has effectively linked Deadpool with a greatly forgotten ‘90s X-Men villain - one who is primed for a major comeback.
In Deadpool/Wolverine #1 by Benjamin Percy and Joshua Cassara, Deadpool recruits Wolverine for a mission, which isn’t entirely out of the ordinary, but it is in this case. Not so much because of the mission itself, but because of the way Deadpool was acting. Rather than being his incessantly talkative self, Deadpool was acting more like a Terminator. Wolverine agreed to go on this mission with him mostly to find out what was wrong with Deadpool, and when they arrived at their destination, Wolverine figured it out.
Deadpool’s mind had been hijacked by mind-controlling nanites, which essentially puppetted his body to the location of a secret bunker. To Wolverine’s surprise, the bunker contained two combat suits (that look like they were pulled directly from ‘90s X-Men comics) as well as canisters containing a new strain of the Legacy Virus. Deadpool puts on one of the suits, and expects Wolverine to do the same, as both of them had been chosen to become “X-Cutioners”. But, when Wolverine refuses, Deadpool (in his new suit) flees to his master: Stryfe.
Marvel Comics is Giving X-Men Fans a Sequel to a Classic ‘90s Story Arc
X-Men: X-Cutioner’s Song by Scott Lobdell, Fabian Nicieza, Peter David, Brandon Peterson, Andy Kubert, Jae Lee, and Greg Capullo
Deadpool is becoming Marvel Comics’ new X-Cutioner, and his acceptance of this new combat suit solidifies that metamorphosis. But, interestingly enough, Deadpool’s X-Cutioner title doesn’t seem to be in reference to the character X-Cutioner (aka Carl Denti), but rather a classic ‘90s story arc: X-Cutioner’s Song.
In X-Cutioner’s Song, Stryfe is the main villain, and he poses as Cable to carry out an assassination attempt against Professor X. However, Stryfe’s true targets were Cyclops, Jean Grey, and Apocalypse, as he sought vengeance against those who he claims ruined his life. While Stryfe was ultimately defeated, he proved with this event that he is a villain capable of tangling with every single X-Team (X-Men, X-Force, X-Factor), plus Apocalypse, and nearly coming out on top.
The event ended with Stryfe giving Mr. Sinister a strain of his Legacy Virus, which is designed to kill mutants after causing their powers to go haywire. The point of Stryfe’s Legacy Virus is to cause a war between humans and mutants, as global infection would result in mass casualties on both sides, and widespread mistrust. However, Stryfe was defeated before he could use Sinister to take the Legacy Virus global. But now, it seems he’ll use Deadpool to do just that, while passing on his ‘X-Cutioner’ moniker from the ‘90s.
X-Men is Redeeming One of Marvel’s Biggest ‘90s Misstep
Deadpool & Stryfe Should Have Been Working Together Since the ‘90s
It’s cool that Marvel is kind of giving fans a sequel to X-Cutioner’s Song, as this new story introduces Deadpool as the ‘X-Cutioner’ while presenting Stryfe as the main villain, who will clearly be weaponizing a new Legacy Virus - which was arguably his endgame in X-Cutioner’s Song. But, as cool as this is now, it leaves fans with one question: why didn’t Stryfe and Deadpool team up in the ‘90s? Both were prominent X-Force villains, both regarded Cable as their arch enemy, and both were massively popular during that decade.
While fans may never know why Deadpool and Stryfe didn’t get to be villains together in the ‘90s, at least X-Men fans are able to see how that would play out in Deadpool’s latest story, where he sports a new suit and a new villainous moniker: X-Cutioner - and only time will tell how big a problem that will be for the entire Marvel Universe.
Deadpool/Wolverine #1 by Marvel Comics is available now.
- Alias
- Wade Wilson
- Created By
- Fabian Nicieza, Rob Liefeld
- POWERS
- Healing factor, regeneration, superhuman strength and agility,
- Franchise
- Marvel
- Birthday
- November 22
- Height
- 6'2”
The merc with the mouth first appeared in an issue of New Mutants in 1990, and since then has gone on to get his own series and a massive cult following. With his incredible powers of healing and regeneration, Deadpool was initially depicted as an X-Men villain but went on to become an anti-hero. After getting his own movie series starting in 2016, the third Deadpool movie finally brings the wisecracking, fourth-wall-breaking character into the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
