Deadpool Reading Guide

March 5, 2024 Vin Comics, Deadpool, Deadpool 3, Hit Monkey, Howling Commandos, Legion of Monsters, Marvel, MCU, Monsters, Reading Guides, Wolverine, X-Men 15 min read

Hey everyone and welcome to the Deadpool comics reading guide!

This is our second reading guide for Deadpool & Wolverine, after our sniktastic Wolverine reading guide a few weeks ago. Deadpool has an infamous reputation for being an excruciating, insufferable motormouth with a poor sense of humor. But deep down, Wade Wilson is a real sweetheart. A fighter who beat cancer with a smile. An aspiring soccer mom. When he’s not making obscene jokes, shouting expletives, or breaking fourth walls, Deadpool is honestly just a regular everyday person. Like you, or me, or even my editor Lizzie.

[Editor’s note: … I prefer She-Hulk. :p ~ Lizzie]

And so this is where our reading guide begins! Gathered below are our best and most important Deadpool comics recommendations, tracking his adventures and character growth since he was first introduced in 1990. Enjoy reading!

Deadpool Comics Recommendations:

Deadpool (1997) #0-33, Annual 1997-1998 by Joe Kelly
Cable & Deadpool (2004) #1-50 by Fabian Nicieza
Deadpool Corps (2010s) by Victor Gischler
Uncanny X-Force (2010) #1-35 by Rick Remender
Deadpool Killology (2010s) by Cullen Bunn
Deadpool (2013) #1-45 by Brian Posehn & Gerry Duggan

Deadpool & Wolverine:
- Deadpool vs. Wolverine (2024)
- Uncanny X-Force (2010) #1-35
- Deadpool (2013) #15-19
- Deadpool vs. Old Man Logan (2017) #1-5
- Deadpool & Wolverine: WWIII (2024) #1-3

Deadpool has been described as a “sad clown”, but that’s a gross oversimplification of his tortured psyche. The experimentation that Wade Wilson endured didn’t cure his cancer – it made him a living tumor. It scarred his body and his mind. Deadpool knows he’s trapped in the Matrix, but can’t escape. He’s suicidal, but can’t die. So he laughs through the pain, because nothing matters anymore. Deadpool might seem like an annoying avocado, but the truth is that he suffers from constant, immeasurable tragedy. In fact, the best Deadpool stories are often the ones where he suffers the most!

However, he wasn’t always this way. In the guide below we’ll dive into the history of Deadpool and his evolution over time. From his origins as a basic mysterious mercenary, to the development of his comic awareness and comedic timing, to that time he stole Count Dracula’s fiancée, this is your ultimate resource to DEADPOOL!

Classic Deadpool comics (1990s)

In typical Liefeldian fashion, Deadpool began as a mysterious mercenary with no backstory. Over the years, different writers had to fill in the blanks, creating some truly entertaining twists and shocking developments. The comics in the 1990s represent Deadpool’s earliest stories, before he was truly formed in Joe Kelly’s long-running Deadpool run in 1997.

Kelly stayed on the title for over 33 issues, shaping the character and creating the definitive Deadpool experience. Christopher Priest then took over for a short run (#34-45), and was soon followed by Gail Simone, who wrote one of the best Deadpool stories of all time in #65-69!

Deadpool (1993) #1-4 by Fabian Nicieza & Joe Madureira
- Also known as Deadpool: The Circle Chase

Deadpool (1997) #1-69, -1, 0, Annual 1997-1998
- #11 “With Great Power Comes Great Coincidence” by Joe Kelly
- #23-25 “Dead Reckoning” by Joe Kelly
- #28-30 by Joe Kelly
- Annual ’98 “Deadpool & Death: A Kiss, A Curse, A Cure” by Joe Kelly
- #65-69 “Healing Factor” by Gail Simone
- After #69: Agent X (2002) #1-7, 13-15 by Gail Simone
- Joe Kelly homages Deadpool in Superman/Batman Annual #1 at DC Comics!
- Joe Kelly also returns for Spider-Man/Deadpool (2016) and Deadpool: The End (2020) #1

Extra reading:

New Mutants (1983) #98-100 by Fabian Nicieza & Rob Liefeld
- Deadpool’s first appearance! Also features Cable!
X-Force (1991) #11-15 by Fabian Nicieza
Deadpool (1994) #1-4 “Sins of the Past” by Mark Waid
Secret Defenders (1993) #15-17 by Tom Brevoort & Mike Kanterovich

Deadpool comics Team-Ups (2000s-2010s)

After the great 1997 series, Deadpool rebooted in the 2000s with a brand new series. Except he had a +1, Cable! Cable & Deadpool is one of the strangest team-ups in all of Marvel history, not just because these characters are so different, but because it worked. Fabian Nicieza & Patrick Zircher struck some kind of gold with this series that baffles even comic experts today.

Other great team-ups in the 2000s-2010s included Uncanny X-Force with Wolverine and the Deadpool Corps with Dogpool, Lady Deadpool, Headpool, and more weirdpools!

Meanwhile Daniel Way wrote the next Deadpool solo series. Way’s run focused more on the comedic aspects of the character, which later shaped Ryan Reynold’s live-action adaptation. The team-up comics shaped the live action movies as well, with Cable and the X-Force featuring in Deadpool 2, and the Deadpool Corps set to appear in Deadpool & Wolverine.

Cable & Deadpool (2004) #1-50 by Fabian Nicieza, Patrick Zircher, & Reilly Brown
- #1-6 “If Looks Could Kill” by Fabian Nicieza & Mark Brooks
- #7-10 “Burnt Offering”
- #15-19 “Enema of the State”
- #43-50 “Alone Again, Naturally”
- Continues in Cable and Deadpool: Split Second (2016) #1-3

Deadpool (2008) #1-63, 900, 1000 by Daniel Way
- #10-12 “Dark Reign: Bullseye” by Daniel Way & Paco Medina
- Continue with the Hit-Monkey reading guide!

Deadpool Corps (2010s) by Victor Gischler
- Marvel Zombies 4 (2009) #1-4
- Deadpool: Merc with a Mouth (2009) #1-13
- Prelude to Deadpool Corps (2010) #1-5
- Deadpool Corps (2010) #1-12, Deadpool Family #1
- Deadpool Kills Deadpool (2013) #1-4

Uncanny X-Force (2010) #1-35 by Rick Remender
- #25-35 “The Final Execution Saga”

Extra reading:

Deadpool: Suicide Kings (2009) #1-5 by Mike Benson
Deadpool Pulp (2010) #1-4 by Mike Benson
Deadpool Max (2010) #1-12 by David Lapham & Kyle Baker
X-Men Origins: Deadpool (2010) by Duane Swierczynski & Leandro Fernández
5 Ronin (2011) #1-4 by Peter Milligan & Leandro Fernandez
Deadpool Annual 2013 by Ben Acker, Ben Blacker, & Doc Shaner

Extra Deadpool Corps:

Marvel Zombies (2005) #3 (Headpool)
Marvel Zombies 3 (2008) #1 (Headpool)
Doomwar #5
Lady Deadpool #1
Deadpool #1000
Deadpool (2012) #27, 45 (Headpool, Dogpool)
Ziggy Pig and Silly Seal Infinity Comic (2022) #6-7 (Dogpool)
Deadpool: Badder Blood (2023) #3

Deadpool by Cullen Bunn (2010s)

Despite never doing a long Deadpool run, Cullen Bunn is one of the best writers to cover the character. He’s written some of the most popular Deadpool miniseries ever, including the Deadpool Killology (Deadpool Kills the Marvel Universe, Deadpool: Killustrated, and Deadpool Kills Deadpool). Check out the full list below and see which ones are your favorites!

With speculation about Deadpool killing the Fox X-Men universe, could Deadpool Kills the Marvel Universe inspire Deadpool 3?

Deadpool Kills the Marvel Universe (2012) #1-4
- Sequel: Deadpool Kills the Marvel Universe Again (2017) #1-5

Deadpool: Killustrated (2013) #1-4

Deadpool Kills Deadpool (2013) #1-4

Night of the Living Deadpool (2014) #1-4
- Sequel: Return of the Living Deadpool (2015) #1-4

Deadpool vs. Carnage (2014) #1-4

Deadpool’s Secret Secret Wars (2015) #1-4

Deadpool: Back in Black (2016) #1-5

Deadpool & the Mercs for Money (2016a) #1-5; (2016b) #1-10

Deadpool: Assassin (2018) #1-6

Deadpool by Gerry Duggan (2010s)

Deadpool by Brian Posehn & Gerry Duggan has been called the last great Deadpool run, not only for sheer length but because of the depth to which it explores Wade Wilson. Posehn and Duggan layered their crazy comedy with painful poignancy that actually led to meaningful growth for Deadpool’s character. Duggan stayed on the title for six years, becoming the longest run in Deadpool’s history.

Duggan’s run included regular cameos by other major Marvel heroes, making this the perfect series to read before Deadpool joins the MCU in Deadpool & Wolverine!

These comics also featured a number of beloved and bizarre crossovers, including a multipart arc with Dracula and a network of monsters living under NYC. For more comics with the Monster Metropolis, check out the Legion of Monsters/Howling Commandos reading guide!

Deadpool (2012) #1-45 by Brian Posehn & Gerry Duggan
- #1-5 ”Dead Presidents”
- #15-19 “The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly”

Deadpool: The Gauntlet Infinite Comic (2014) #1-13 by Brian Posehn & Gerry Duggan
- Published in print as Deadpool: Dracula’s Gauntlet #1-7

Mrs. Deadpool & The Howling Commandos (2015) #1-4 by Gerry Duggan

Deadpool (2016) #1-36 by Gerry Duggan

Despicable Deadpool (2017) #287-300 by Gerry Duggan

Extra reading:

Hawkeye vs. Deadpool (2014) #0-4 by Gerry Duggan
Thunderbolts (2014) #1-32 by Charles Soule
Uncanny Avengers (2015) #1-23 by Gerry Duggan & Pepe Larraz
- Features Deadpool & Cable!
Spider-Man/Deadpool (2016) #1-50

Modern Deadpool comics (2020s)

After the hit Deadpool films starring Ryan Reynolds, Deadpool has struggled to maintain a stable series in the comics. But each writer below has brought something special to Wade’s character. Try them all out and see what you like!

For more comics with Elsa Bloodstone and Jeff the Landshark, check out our Elsa Bloodstone reading guide!

Modern Deadpool Series
- Deadpool (2018) #1-15 by Skottie Young
- Deadpool (2020) #1-10 by Kelly Thompson
- Deadpool (2023) #1-10 by Alyssa Wong
- Deadpool (2024) #1-… by Cody Ziglar

Modern Deadpool Miniseries
- Deadpool vs. The Punisher (2017) #1-5 by Fred Van Lente
- Absolute Carnage vs. Deadpool (2018) #1-3 by Frank Tieri
- Secret Agent Deadpool (2018) #1-6 by Christopher Hastings
- Deadpool: The End (2020) #1 by Joe Kelly

Cable comics

Cable is an important part of Deadpool’s life, both in comics and on screen, so gathered below are our best Cable comics recommendations. Nathan Summers is the son of Cyclops, but due to comics madness, he was raised in an alternate future. After traveling back to the present day, Cable has endured a long and complicated history, even by X-Men standards!

As a time traveler with big guns and a vaguely defined past, Cable has a reputation for being a stereotypical Liefeldian ‘90s action hero. However, the best Cable comics go much deeper. The stories below chronicle a grizzled war hero who faced the apocalypse, brought about the second coming, and became the protector of hope in the Marvel Universe. Beyond the over-the-top action, Cable comics center on family, hope, tragedy, and sacrifice. His tale is the ultimate long form epic, a story that could only be told in the comics medium, developed over multiple years by multiple writers. The best Cable comics are awesome.

Check out our full Cable comics reading guide here!

Early Cable
- New Mutants (1983) #87-100
- Cable: Blood & Metal (1992) #1-2
- X-Cutioner’s Song (1992)
- Age of Apocalypse (1995)

Cable Origins
- X-Factor (1986) #65-68
- Cable (1993) #1-2, 6-8
- Adventures of Cyclops and Phoenix (1994) #1-4
- Askani’son (1996) #1-4

Cable (1993) #44-70, 97-107, -1
- After #107: Soldier X (2002) #1-12

Cable & Deadpool (2004) #1-44

Cable (2008) / The Messiah Trilogy
- X-Men: Messiah Complex (2007)
- Cable (2008) #1-12
- X-Men: Messiah War (2009)
- Cable (2008) #13-25
- X-Men: Second Coming (2010)

Cable (2020) #1-12

Extra reading:

X-Force (1991) #1-18
Cable (1993) #79-96
Cable & X-Force (2012) #1-19
X-Force (2014) #1-15
Uncanny Avengers (2015) #1-23
Cable (2017) #1-5, 150-159

Deadpool & Wolverine comics

With Marvel Studios’ Deadpool & Wolverine just around the corner, here are the best Deadpool and Wolverine comics to read before premiere day! Marvel Comics has already put together a great Deadpool vs. Wolverine collection reprinting some of their most famous crossovers stories, but check out our Extra Reading section for even more bloody highlights!

We’ve also included a list for Landau, Luckman, & Lake, which is a fun villain group unique to only Wolverine and Deadpool. Could they play a role in the Deadpool & Wolverine movie?

Continue with our Wolverine reading guide for more comics recommendations!

Deadpool vs. Wolverine (2024)
- Collection of historic Deadpool and Wolverine crossover comics
- Originally published as Wolverine vs. Deadpool (2017)
- Wolverine (1988) #88, 154-155; Annual 1995, 1999
- Deadpool (1997) #27
- Cable & Deadpool (2004) #43-44
- Wolverine: Origins (2006) #21-25 (“Deep End”)
- Wolverine/Deadpool: The Decoy (2011) #1

Wolverine/Deadpool: Weapon X (2001)
- Wolverine (1988) #162-166 (“The Hunted”)
- Deadpool (1997) #57-60 (“Agent of Weapon X”)

Uncanny X-Force (2010) #1-35

Deadpool (2012) #15-19 (“The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly”)

Deadpool vs. Old Man Logan (2017) #1-5

Deadpool & Wolverine: WWIII (2024) #1-3

Extra reading:

Landau, Luckman, & Lake (1990s)
- Wolverine (1988) #5-6, 79-81, 92-100, 111
- Deadpool (1997) #-1, 1, 8-25, 31, 61
Deadpool Kills the Marvel Universe (2012) #1-4
Panini Comics (UK reprints):
- Wolverine and Deadpool (2004) #104-171
- Wolverine and Deadpool (2010) #1-60
- Wolverine and Deadpool (2014) #1-27
- Wolverine and Deadpool (2016) #1-17
- Wolverine and Deadpool (2018) #1-18
- Deadpool and Wolverine (2023) #1-11

Cassandra Nova comics

The second trailer for Deadpool & Wolverine revealed the surprise villain – Cassandra Nova (Emma Corrin)! The evil twin of Charles Xavier, Cassandra is perfect for a multiversal threat.

Check out the comics below to see her evolution from Grant Morrison’s E Is For Extinction to a modern day Marauder! Don’t miss her alt universe comics either, including the X-Men: The Animated Series comics, Secret Wars, and all the times Cassandra took over the Phoenix force!

New X-Men (2001) #114-117, 120-126, 151-154

Astonishing X-Men (2004) #12-18

X-Men: Red (2018) #1-11; Annual #1

Marauders (2022) #1-10

Cassandra Nova multiverse comics:

X-Men: The End (2006) #1-6
Uncanny X-Force (2013) #4-5, 9-15
X-Men ’92 Infinite Comic (2015) #1-8; X-Men ’92 (2016) #7-10
Secret Wars: E is for Extinction (2015) #1-4
Heroes Reborn: Magneto & The Mutant Force (2021) #1

Deadpool in Multimedia

Deadpool may have been popularized by the Ryan Reynolds films, but that’s only the tip of the iceberg for his multimedia appearances. From games to cartoons to wild stop-motion animations, check out all these fantastic Deadpool stories told outside the comics!

Deadpool in Film and Animation

Marvel Super Heroes: What The–?! (2009) S1 E2, E5, E10-23, E28-31, E34, E40, E42, E53
- Promotionals E4; Specials E2, E10, E22, E24, E27-29
- S1 E53 features the Deadpool Corps!

Deadpool (2016)
Deadpool 2 (2018)
Deadpool & Wolverine (2024)
- Prologue: X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009)

Extra watching:

X-Men: The Animated Series (1992) S1 E4
Hulk vs. Wolverine (2009)
Marvel Anime: X-Men (2011) S1 E12
Ultimate Spider-Man (2012) S2 E16
- Tie-in comic: Marvel Universe Ultimate Spider-Man: Web Warriors #8
Marvel Disk Wars: The Avengers (2014) S1 E27, E30
Marvel Funko Short (2016) S1 E3
Marvel Future Avengers (2017) S1 E7, E18

Deadpool in Video Games

X-Men Legends II: Rise of Apocalypse (2005)
Marvel Ultimate Alliance (2006)
- Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2 (2009)
- Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3: The Black Order (2019)
Shattered Dimensions (2010)
Marvel vs. Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds (2011)
- Tie-in comic: Marvel vs. Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds #1
Marvel Super Hero Squad Online (2011)
- Features Dogpool!
Marvel: Avengers Alliance (2012)
LEGO Marvel Super Heroes (2013)
- Tie-in comic: LEGO Marvel Super Heroes #1
Marvel Puzzle Quest (2013)
- Features Ghost Rider Deadpool!
Deadpool (2013)
Marvel Heroes (2013)
- Features Headpool and Lady Deadpool!
Marvel Contest of Champions (2014)
Marvel Future Fight (2015)
- Features Lady Deadpool!
Marvel Strike Force (2018)
Marvel Super War (2019)
Marvel Duel (2020)
- Features the Deadpool Corps!
Marvel Future Revolution (2021)

And that’s our guide to Deadpool comics! Are you excited for Deadpool & Wolverine? Do you have any favorite comics stories? Let me know on X/Twitter @vinwriteswords and remember to follow the site on social media @MyCosmicCircus for more annoying avocados coming soon!

Also check out our full list of comics reading guides here, including Wolverine! To learn more about Deadpool in the comics, visit the official page.