Emma Frost's nuanced character development in X-Men comics makes her the best anti-hero in the pantheon of Marvel Comics, especially when compared to the likes of Deadpool. Emma has played may roles in her long history. She’s been a villain, a hero, and everything in between. She's fought her way from her place as an enemy of the X-Men into the roster of their elites like Cyclops, Jean Grey, and Wolverine. Emma Frost's constantly shifting morals and dubious past makes her the best Machiavellian blueprint for anti-heroes that always keep fans on their toes.
Emma Frost was first introduced in the Chris Claremont and John Byrne's The Uncanny X-Men #129 in 1980 as the Hellfire Club’s telepathic juggernaut, the White Queen. She is an extremely powerful Omega Level telepath with a rare secondary mutation that allows her to change into a diamond form, which enhances her strength and makes her practically invulnerable to pretty much everything. This combined with Emma's ruthlessness and intelligence make her both an incredible ally and a devastating foe.
Emma Frost's actions as both a hero and a villain makes her a perfect anti-hero. As a villain, she has done many questionable and awful things when featured with the X-Men and Avengers. At her worst she's done everything from kidnapping Kitty Pryde, engaging in a psychic affair with Cyclops, possessing Storm, and murdering her own sister. Yet at her best she's served as headmistress of the Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters alongside Cyclops, teaching and caring for the next generation of mutants. She has also sacrificed herself to destroy the Phoenix force, reconciled with her past, and eliminated Sebastian Shaw. She has served as caregiver to both the villainous Hellions and the heroic Generation X. Emma Frost has shown genuine growth and change from villain to hero, with actual lapses back into villainy along the way.
There are several different types of anti-heroes, but there are none more opposite than Emma Frost and Deadpool. Deadpool is a wise-cracking mercenary who commits various morally gray actions, but with the intent of bettering society for his select favorite people. He struggles with his internal darkness, but at the end of the day it's almost always a guarantee that he will end up being heroic. Public perception also tends to be in Deadpool's favor as fans can be assured that while the means could be contentious, his motivation is sound. Meanwhile when Emma Frost is faced with a moral dilemma there is a much greater possibility that she will abandon heroics for villainy. She has always looked after herself and carefully manipulated the environment around her to her advantage. This potential to switch sides is why she's the superior Marvel anti-hero. Deadpool, while a good anti-hero, is not the best because his alignment is less suspect than Emma Frost's.
Her jumbled history of villainy and heroism not only keeps fans guessing, but also embodies that balance anti-hero characters strive for. Deadpool, while impressive, does not carry Emma Frost's Machiavellian anti-hero status. It is never a guarantee that she will choose to be a hero in a moral dilemma, especially when considering that Deadpool does not always lack conventional heroic attributes when it comes down to the wire. Overall Emma Frost's journey with the X-Men and lapses into villainy solidifies what it means to be a Marvel anti-hero.