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- Deadpool is heading to the Marvel Cinematic Universe after years of fans hoping to see that connection made. Since he's surely going to be facing off against some famous heroes and villains on the big screen, it feels pretty relevant to return to the comic book roots and investigate who the merc with a mouth could and couldn't defeat.
In Marvel Comics’ vast roster of heroes and villains there isn’t a name that can quite compare to Deadpool. Created by Rob Liefeld, the character has evolved to become one of the best comedic characters to ever be created in comics. Coming from the age of “too many pouches,” Deadpool didn’t begin as a quippy mercenary, yet what makes the character stand out is his tendencies to break the fourth wall and to crack a good joke.
Because of the character's healing factor there are so many non-canon comics have been based around the character, in scenarios where he has even eliminated the entire Marvel Universe in very intricate and creative ways, but that doesn’t mean the merc with a mouth is unstoppable.
UPDATE: 2022/10/10 15:54 EST BY GEORGE CHRYSOSTOMOU
Deadpool is heading to the Marvel Cinematic Universe after years of fans hoping to see that connection made. Since he's surely going to be facing off against some famous heroes and villains on the big screen, it feels pretty relevant to return to the comic book roots and investigate who the merc with a mouth could and couldn't defeat.
Loses To
Domino
Whether it's the big screen iteration or that of the comics, Domino rarely loses. The character has been gifted a mutant ability that allows her to carry incredible luck. No matter what happens she always seems to come out of a situation better than everyone around her.
Deadpool often doesn't believe it's even a genuine power, but it really is, as evidenced in the sequel movie. If Deadpool was to go up against Domino in any of her forms, he simply wouldn't stand a chance. The character would continue to get the better of him, despite his healing abilities. No one can battle luck.
Eternity
Most comic book fans know that Deadpool has tried to face deities before. Much like the Living Tribunal who will be discussed in further detail, Eternity is one of the most powerful beings in existence. He's a part of the very fabric and makeup of reality.
That means that he's pretty difficult to defeat. He's immortal on another level and if he was to interfere, he could rid beings from every known universe; unless he was stopped by something like the Infinity Stones. One-on-one, Deadpool is just dust compared to a being like Eternity.
The Phoenix Force
The Phoenix Force is an entity that no one fully comprehends. It has attached itself to powerful heroes like Echo and Jean Grey, with very few having the ability to actually halt its momentum. It both enhances what's there and brings a level of cosmic ability that no one has seen before.
Deadpool is pretty weak against mutants like Jean Grey as it is. Pitching him against a godly force like the Phoenix is leading to disaster. The Phoenix Force comprehends existence, time, and space on a level that Deadpool just doesn't operate on. His very atoms could be separated if the fiery beast willed it.
Ghost Rider
There are not many in the Marvel Universe who can defeat the Spirit of Vengeance. He is super strong, can summon demons, has a penance stare, is immortal, has a super fast healing factor, can infuse objects with hellfire, and can even open portals to different dimensions. Fans have seen some of these superpowers transpire on the big screen with the Nicolas Cage interpretation of the character, but Ghost Rider truly came to life with Gabriel Luna’s portrayal in season 4 of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Here, Ghost Rider was also able to transfer his spirit into other mortals.
Deadpool is virtually immortal thanks to an array of different factors, but Ghost Rider’s abilities come straight from Hell. There are many ways Ghost Rider can hurt Deadpool, but one way he did it in the comics was with the penance stare, which caused Deadpool to feel the pain of those he’s hurt in the past. In typical Deadpool style, though, he actually enjoyed the pain.
Thanos With The Infinity Gauntlet
There’s not really much one can do when facing an opponent whose prime ability is to never perish. Hence, Thanos would have no chance against Deadpool if he was facing him without the Infinity Gauntlet. Thanos can eradicate entire civilizations and wipe out half of all life in the universe with a snap of his fingers. That's what happened in the Infinity Gauntlet comic run by Jim Starlin. With so much power and infinite control over reality, Thanos is unstoppable. That’s why Deadpool would certainly bite the dust if he dares face Thanos with his marvelous glove.
Thanos could simply wish that Deadpool had never existed and he would win right away. Likewise, Thanos could change reality and erase Deadpool’s healing factor from his body, making the merc with a mouth as vulnerable as a mere mortal. The Titan, though, is an honorable psychopath, so he would definitely let Deadpool have his fun before ultimately defeating him. This has happened in the comics, when Thanos turned Deadpool into a pile of goo.
The Hulk
Though his cinematic counterpart played by Mark Ruffalo is nothing like the Hulk in the comics, the MCU’s Jade Giant can still pack a punch. He’s faced gods from other dimensions and even Asgardian mythological creatures. Yet, comic book Hulk is one hundred times more incredible. This Hulk even ripped Wolverine in half in one comic book storyline. The Planet Hulk and World-Breaker Hulk storylines saw the Jade Giant almost completely obliterating all the Marvel heroes, even the Sentry. The Hulk is one character Deadpool can’t beat.
The Hulk and Deadpool faced each other in a non-canon comic. Here, Deadpool went crazy and started eliminating superheroes and supervillains until there were none left. Yet, Deadpool couldn’t defeat Hulk and there was even an instant where Hulk utterly dismembered Deadpool. The only way the Merc with a Mouth was able to get the upper hand was by not eliminating the Hulk, but instead terminating Bruce Banner.
MCU Thor
Thor’s strength really got an upgrade in his third film, where if it wasn’t for the Grandmaster, Thor would have defeated the Incredible Hulk easily. While Thor’s powers regressed a little bit in Avengers: Infinity War, he’s still immensely powerful. He is somewhat the same in the comics, so if Deadpool ever faced Thor, the god of thunder would have the winning edge.
It’s true that Deadpool managed to terminate Thor using Pym Particles in a non-canon comic by enlarging Mjolnir. But MCU Thor never needed Mjolnir in the first place. The hammer was just a device that suppressed and helped Thor control his powers, according to Odin.
If Deadpool ever tried that trick again on MCU Thor, the results wouldn’t be the same. Their fight would probably last an incredibly long time, but in the end, even immortals get tired.
One Punch Man
First published in 2009, One-Punch Man quickly went viral in 2012 due to its satirical nature in critiquing the superhero genre. The webcomic was later made into an anime. As his name implies, One-Punch Man can defeat any opponent with just one punch, though, at times, some opponents go down with two. The general consensus is that One-Punch Man can defeat just about anybody. This is primarily because Saitama serves as a satirical take on the superhero.
This is definitely a fight that sounds great on paper and on practice. Saitama could defeat Deadpool with one punch, but then Deadpool would heal and come back to life. It’s possible that Saitama could punch Deadpool so hard that his healing factor would follow to disappear, leaving the Merc with a Mouth as vulnerable as a fruit fly.
The Living Tribunal
There are many powerful characters in the realm of Marvel, but none can compare to the might of the Living Tribunal. He is only bested by the One Above All, who at times is presented as being the legendary comic book artist Jack Kirby. The Living Tribunal could might as well be considered omnipotent. His abilities include near-omniscience and reality warping, as well as omnipresence.
Alas, not even Deadpool with the combined capabilities of X-Force can bring the Living Tribunal to submission. The Tribunal could warp reality and defeat Deadpool in a matter of seconds - either by wishing Deadpool’s healing factor away or by erasing him from existence. As the name implies, the Living Tribunal is a cosmic judge, so he would first put Deadpool on trial. With all the crazy things Deadpool has done, it’s no question the Living Tribunal’s verdict wouldn’t be at all lenient.
Lady Chaos
Mistress Death, also known as Lady Chaos, has had a long history with Deadpool. Their romance goes as far as including Thanos into the mix. What makes Deadpool and Lady Chaos’s romantic connection rather amusing and a little ironic is that Deadpool is a man who can’t perish. As the personification of the opposite of life in the Marvel Universe, Lady Chaos has infinite powers which include dimensional manipulation, cosmic awareness, invulnerability, immortality, and the ability to bring people back from the afterlife. For this and many other reasons, Deadpool would lose to the love of his life.
Deadpool loves Lady Chaos so much that if they ever got in a physical fight his love for her wouldn’t allow him to strike a single kick. Plus, even if a fight ensued, the entity would easily defeat Deadpool in a matter of seconds. She could easily warp reality and wish Deadpool’s powers away, or wish him out of existence, even though that’s not how she usually roles.
Can Defeat
The Sentry
The Sentry is essentially Marvel's Superman. Deadpool could probably defeat Supes eventually if he continued to regenerate again and again. Sentry should be easier to defeat as there's a paradox to the character, with an internal struggle between Sentry and his darker side: The Void.
Deadpool knows all too well about the dangers of an internal battle and could take advantage of that instability. If Sentry and Deadpool were to face off in one on one combat, Sentry would eventually lose, as he has done in the comics multiple times.
Kingpin
The Kingpin of crime is more likely to hire Deadpool to assassinate someone than he is to come to blows with the merc. He understands how dangerous the mutant actually is and has often elected to stay far away from the sword-wielding menace. Kingpin has power in the form of money and resources.
But unless he pays Deadpool off, he might not be able to counter Wade Wilson in combat for long. He has physical strength and has battled the likes of Elektra in the comics, but Deadpool can just keep going. Kingpin has been shown to tire easily, especially once his rage passes.
Groot
Groot comes from a race of beings that resemble plant life and has an incredible array of superpowers. He can control plant life in any planet, as well as make himself bigger or smaller depending on the situation. Due to his capacity to regrow limbs and even completely regrow himself after perishing, Groot shares many similarities with Deadpool. Both are technically immortal, the only difference being that Groot’s healing abilities take a lot more time to realize. The comic book version of Groot follows the same set of rules as MCU Groot, but this Groot is a bit more powerful. Nonetheless, Deadpool could easily defeat him.
In reality, any version of Deadpool would probably have way too much fun figuring out how Groot functions to try and terminate the alien. That’s just the kind of person Deadpool is. But if the two ever got in a fight to the end, Deadpool would have the edge due to his fast healing factor. Groot would obviously regrow akin to his rebirth in 2014’s Guardians of the Galaxy, but it would take such a long time that Deadpool would’ve already crowned himself the winner.
Thanos Without The Infinity Gauntlet
Thanos and the Merc with a Mouth have history together, and not the good kind. They’ve been in countless fights, trying to one-up each other on every single instance, but nothing comes close to the rather awkward love triangle between the two Marvel characters and Lady Death. Only one lucky fellow can win a lucky lady’s heart. This time around, that lucky fellow would definitely be Deadpool - but only if Thanos wasn’t wielding the Infinity Gauntlet.
It’s been proven to be a difficult task to defeat the Mad Titan Thanos in the comics. The character has even decimated the entire Marvel Universe before. Deadpool has also done such a deed, but pit them both in a real fight to the end and Deadpool will stand victorious. Deadpool has the luxury of life never leaving his disastrous body. Thanos would probably decimate Deadpool over and over, but with the merc's regenerative ability it would only be a matter of time until Deadpool strikes the final blow and wins this bout.
The X-Men
The X-Men have tried to incorporate Deadpool into their team many times. He has eventually joined up in the comics, but it was still a running gag in the first Deadpool movie. Colossus saw Deadpool as the perfect candidate to join the superhero ensemble, but Deadpool, of course, had other plans. There have been many times when Deadpool and the X-Men have traded punches, but none compared to when Deadpool terminated all of them in a non-canon comic. In that comic, Deadpool takes out the majority of the X-Men, ending with Wolverine.
To stop Logan from healing, Deadpool hit him with a special type of weapon that inhibited his healing factor and the destroyed him. This was all before Colossus, Gambit, Rogue, Cyclops, Emma Frost, and others perished by way of Deadpool. Since the cinematic Deadpool tends to follow the same concept as comic book Deadpool, it’s possible that the Merc with a Mouth could actually bring the entire Fox X-Men roster to its knees.
Loki
Loki is one of those characters who is difficult to defeat no matter the circumstances. Loki is able to shapeshift and become intangible, meaning that if he's terminated by a character, who’s to say that was really Loki in the first place? That’s what happened in Thor: The Dark World when Thor saw his brother perish, when in fact Loki faked his own demise and was now masquerading as Odin on Asgard’s throne. Loki has many more tricks up his mischievous sleeve, like that one time he turned Thor into a frog, but that doesn’t mean Deadpool has no chance against the god of mischief.
In one of Marvel Comics’ most savage panels, Deadpool used the head of Medusa to turn Loki, Hercules, Valkyrie, and a number of other gods into stone. But this is not the only way Deadpool could defeat Loki. The god of mischief is a heavy user of magic, but sometimes Deadpool has shown to be invulnerable to magical spells.
Doctor Strange
Doctor Strange has been shown to be so powerful that Marvel has been forced to take his power levels down a few notches in the comics. There was a time he faced Galactus head on and won, and then a time when he even challenged Eternity and the Living Tribunal. Lately, though, while Doctor Strange is still a very powerful sorcerer, he hasn’t been as godlike as his ‘70s counterpart. In the MCU, Doctor Strange is now just becoming as powerful. He was able to hold his own against Thanos, who had in his Infinity Gauntlet the Soul, Power, Space and Reality Stone.
After Deadpool eliminates Spider-Man, the X-Men, and Wolverine, a non-canon comic shows us a panel of Doctor Strange getting stabbed and perishing in the process. While it wasn’t really clear how the Merc with a Mouth managed to do this, Deadpool seemingly terminated Doctor Strange in the Sanctum Sanctorum. There are many ways the MCU version of Doctor Strange could avoid a defeat from Deadpool. A pretty obvious one is by turning back time, but in the aforementioned non-canon comic, Strange unfortunately had a different type of Eye of Agamotto.
Galactus
Galactus has been defeated many times before by heroes such as the Fantastic Four, The Avengers, and Franklin Richards, so it’s not unlikely that Deadpool could do the same. Especially since Deadpool is virtually immortal and Galactus has one very specific weakness.
Galactus gets weaker and weaker the longer he goes without consuming a planet. It’s an easy bet that Deadpool would use that to his advantage. Galactus could obliterate Deadpool a million times, but the Merc with a Mouth will come back every time to inflict a little more damage.
There was one time in the comics when Deadpool faced Galactus head on, and somehow won. Instead of slicing the giant to pieces or punching through his heart, Deadpool just talked and talked - and talked. Indeed, Galactus got so annoyed by Deadpool’s quips that he eventually surrendered.
Uatu The Watcher
Uatu the Watcher belongs to a group of celestial beings known as the Watchers. They pledged an oath to only observe, record and never intervene in any planetary affairs, but Earth’s Uatu is not one to follow such rules. Indeed, Uatu has intervened many times before in the Marvel Comics pages, especially when Galactus decided that Earth would be his next meal. What’s remarkable about Uatu and the Watchers is that they themselves possess incredible powers and abilities. Uatu, in particular, has an array of cosmic powers and superhuman intelligence. At times he has even been shown to be immortal, but that all changed when he faced Deadpool.
In a non-canon comic, before Rob Liefield's Deadpool managed to eliminate the entire Marvel Universe, he was able to single-handedly defeat Uatu the Watcher, who at that point in that comic was narrating the story. Deadpool acquired an artifact called a God-Taser and after using it against Uatu, the Merc with a Mouth followed to take the Watcher's life away.
The Avengers
Earth’s mightiest heroes have faced a number of dangerous enemies, each time finding a way to save the Earth from impending doom and destruction. While the same can’t be said for the MCU Avengers given their recent installment, they are still Earth’s best hope for survival. Indeed, the Avengers will protect Earth until their last breath, but who will protect the Avengers when Deadpool comes around? Deadpool proved to be the team’s most difficult opponent, because he destroyed them all in one of the most popular non-canon comics from Marvel.
Not a single member of the Avengers survived the onslaught. The attack was so macabre that Captain America was even sliced in half by his own vibranium shield. Thor got it worse with Mjolnir smashing his face. Poor Hawkeye wasn’t even able to take out his bow and arrow. Like in the movies, Clint should’ve just retired.
