Skip to content

Please note that when you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Thanks!

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Thanks!

Deadpool Reading Order: How to read Wade Wilson’s comic book story?

Created by writer Fabian Nicieza and artist/writer Rob Liefeld, Deadpool first appears in The New Mutants and X-Force as a supervillain before becoming one of Marvel’s most iconic anti-heroes.

He is a mercenary aware of his existence as a fictional comic book character, often breaking the fourth wall and conversing with his two internal monologues (but how old is he?).

His past remains shrouded in mystery, with multiple versions of his origin. Whether his childhood was difficult or not, we do know that Wade Wilson became an international assassin, working for various governments. After developing an aggressive form of cancer, he enrolled in the Weapon X program, which gave him a healing factor from another member (you know… Wolverine) and put him to work for them.

The consequences of his time there included a diminished mental state, a healing factor that couldn’t cure his cancer or heal his scars, an infatuation with death, and the freedom to return to mercenary work.

Also known as “The Merc with a Mouth” he set out as Deadpool to kill and have a good time doing it. With time, Deadpool walked the fine line between criminal and hero, working with or against X-Force, the X-Men, and the Avengers. He made a big name for himself in the Marvel Universe and shines in his many team-ups, but it has to be said, there’s no one he loves as much as Spider-Man! 

Deadpool has lived many adventures and even became a movie star (looking like Ryan Reynolds!) and we invite you today to explore all those stories with our Complete Deadpool Reading Order! For suggestions to start reading Deadpool, explore our beginners’ guide to the Merc with a Mouth!

Deadpool Omnibuses & Minibuses Reading Order

Discover Deadpool’s history from his creation in 1990 to around 2015 in Omnibus format!

  • Deadpool: Beginnings Omnibus
    Collects New Mutants #98; X-Force #2, 11, 15, 47, 56; Nomad #4; Deadpool: The Circle Chase #1-4; Secret Defenders #15-17; Deadpool #1-4; Wolverine #88, 154-155 and material from Annuals 95 and 99; Heroes For Hire #10-11; Deadpool Team-Up #1; material from Avengers #366; Silver Sable & The Wild Pack #23; and various Deadpool cameo pages.
  • Deadpool by Joe Kelly Omnibus
    Collects Deadpool (1997) #1–33, -1 & 0; Daredevil/Deadpool Annual ’97; Deadpool & Death ’98; Baby’s First Deadpool Book; Amazing Spider-Man #47 & 611; material from Deadpool #900
  • Deadpool Classic Omnibus, Vol. 1
    Collects Deadpool (1997) #34-69, Black Panther (1998) #23, Agent X #1-15, Fight-Man #1; Material From X-Men Unlimited (1993) #28
  • Deadpool & Cable Omnibus
    Collects Cable & Deadpool 1-50, Deadpool/GLI Summer Fun Spectacular, material from Deadpool (2012) 27
  • Deadpool by Daniel Way Omnibus Vol. 1
    Collects: Wolverine: Origins 21-25; Deadpool (2008) 1-26; Thunderbolts (1997) 130-131; Hit-Monkey (2010) 1, (2010b) 1-3; Deadpool Saga
  • Deadpool By Daniel Way Omnibus, Vol. 2
    Collects Deadpool (2008) #27-63, 33.1, & 49.1.
  • Deadpool & Co. Omnibus
    Re-Collects Deadpool’s team-up series and appearances from this period – Marvel Zombies 4 #1-4, Deadpool: Merc With A Mouth #1-13, Lady Deadpool #1, Prelude To Deadpool Corps #1-5, Deadpool Corps #1-12, Deadpool Family #1, Deadpool Team-Up #899-883, and material from Marvel Zombies 3 #1.
  • Deadpool Minibus Vol. 0
    Re-Collects multiplies supporting Deadpool mini-series from the 2008-2011 period – Deadpool: Suicide Kings #1-5, Deadpool: Wade Wilson’s War #1-4, Deadpool Pulp #1-4, Amazing Spider-Man Annual 38, Deadpool Annual (2011) 1, Incredible Hulks Annual 1, Fear Itself: Deadpool #1-3
  • Uncanny X-Force by Rick Remender Omnibus
    Collects: Uncanny X-Force (2010) 1-35, 5.1, 19.1; Material From Wolverine: The Road To Hell (2010) 1, All-New Wolverine Saga (2010), X-Men Spotlight (2011).
  • Deadpool Mini-bus, Vol. 1
    Re-Collects all of Cullen Bunn’s Deadpool limited series, most of which are not in standard continuity (except Carnage): Deadpool Kills The Marvel Universe #1-4, Deadpool Killustrated #1-4, Deadpool Kills Deadpool #1-4, Night of the Living Deadpool #1-4, Deadpool vs. Carnage #1-4.
  • Deadpool By Posehn & Duggan Omnibus
    Collects Deadpool #1-45, Deadpool: Dracula’s Gauntlet, and Death of Wolverine: Deadpool & Captain America #1.
  • Deadpool Minibus, Vol. 2
    Another Minibus that Collects Deadpool vs. X-Force #1-4, Hawkeye vs. Deadpool #0-4, Art of War #1-4, Return of the Living Deadpool #1-4, Deadpool’s Secret Secret Wars #1-4.
  • Deadpool Minibus, Vol. 3
    Collects Mrs. Deadpool & The Howling Commandoes (2015) #1-4, Deadpool vs. Gambit #1-4, Deadpool vs. Thanos #1-4, Deadpool & Cable: Split Second#1-3, and Deadpool: Too Soon #1-4.

Marvel also released in the past Deadpool: The Adamantium Collection, a collection of iconic Deadpool stories, and Deadpool and X-Force Omnibus. Those are unnecessary omnibuses, as they would act more as double-ups.

Deadpool Comics in Order: The Collected Editions

Early Deadpool to Agent X (1990-2003)

Deadpool was created by Fabian Nicieza and Rob Liefeld in New Mutants (1983) #98 and he consequently appeared in X-Force as a recurring character and made some guest appearances in several Marvel titles. In 1993, Deadpool headlined his first miniseries, The Circle Chase, written by Nicieza. It sold enough to grant the character another miniseries, simply called Deadpool, this time coming from writer Mark Waid and artist Ian Churchill. While Mark Waid sort of regrets writing it, this mini serves as a basis for Joe Kelly’s run on the character.

This leads us to Deadpool’s first ongoing series where Deadpool is transformed into an action comedy anti-hero by Joe Kelly who wrote the title until issue #33. He was succeeded by Christopher Priest (#34-45), Jimmy Palmiotti (#46-55), Buddy Scalera (#56), Frank Tieri (#57-64), and Gail Simone (#65-69).

Late 90s Deadpool in Epic Collection

Deadpool Classic Collection

Other Collections

Joe Kelly’s run on Deadpool has also been collected in Complete Collection:

’90s Throwback with Rob Liefeld

In 2017, co-creator Rob Liefeld returned to the character for an original graphic novel set during the nineties. A sequel has recently been released.

Cable & Deadpool (2004-2008)

Can two grown men armed to the teeth with deadly genetic weaponry live together without driving each other crazy?! This is a central question at the start of Cable & Deadpool, a series from Fabian Nicieza (and mostly penciled by Patrick Zircher) that reunites Deadpool with his former enemy Cable for multiple adventures.

Epic Collection (new edition, ongoing)

Trade Paperbacks

Ultimate Collection

Deadpool Reading Order Icon

Deadpool by Daniel Way and Beyond (2008-2012)

Deadpool became one of Marvel’s busiest characters in the next few years. He headlined his own series by Daniel Way, joined Wolvie’s team in Rick Remender’s Uncanny X-Force, and starred in several short ongoing series, mini-series, and out-of-continuity tales.

Deadpool by Daniel Way (2008-2012)

Following the cancellation of Cable & Deadpool, the Merc with a Mouth made a few appearances in Wolverine: Origins by Daniel Way. You can find those issues in a trades collected several stories involving Deadpool and Wolverine, as friends or enemies.

  • Wolverine vs. Deadpool
    Collects Wolverine (1988) #88, 154-155; Deadpool (1997) #27; Cable & Deadpool #43-44; Wolverine: Origins #21-25; Wolverine/Deadpool: The Decoy #1; and material from Wolverine Annual ’95 and ’99.

After, Way became Deadpool’s main writer for the next few years, as another Deadpool title was launched as a Secret Invasion tie-in. Naturally, this event was followed by the Dark Reign era, a period in which Deadpool faced Norman Osborn’s Thunderbolts.

Trade Paperbacks

Complete Collection

Deadpool, a member of Uncanny X-Force

Uncanny X-Force was launched around Deadpool (2008) #31 with Deadpool as a member of Wolverine’s team who takes on covert missions.

Trade Paperbacks 

The Complete Collection

Deadpool, Classic Again

The Deadpool Classic Collection continues here to collect everything published in parallel to the main series — the spin-off series, the limited and miniseries, the one-shot, and all the out-of-continuity tales!

  • Deadpool Classic Companion Vol. 2
    Collects Identity Disc #1-5; Ms. Marvel (2006) #40-41; Hulk (2008) #14-17, & 21; Amazing Spider-Man (1999) #611; Doomwar #5-6; Hulked-out Heroes #1-2; material from Shang-Chi: Master Of Kung Fu (2009) #1; X-Force Annual (2009) 1; and World War Hulks 1; and various excerpted pages.
  • Deadpool Classic Vol. 11: Merc With a Mouth
    Collects Deadpool: Merc With a Mouth (2009) #1-13, Lady Deadpool #1.
  • Deadpool Classic Vol. 14: Suicide Kings
    Published later, but mostly takes place here in-continuity. Collects Deadpool: Games Of Death #1; Deadpool: Suicide Kings (2009) #1-5; Deadpool #900 & #1000; X-Men Origins: Deadpool; Material From Marvel Digital Holiday Special #2 and Marvel Spotlight: Deadpool.
  • Deadpool Classic Vol. 12: Deadpool Corps
    Collects Prelude to Deadpool Corps (2010) #1-5, Deadpool Corps (2010) #1-12, Deadpool Family #1. Recently collected in Deadpool-Verse: Deadpool Corps.
  • Deadpool Classic Vol. 13: Deadpool Team-Up
    Collects Deadpool Team-Up (1998) #1 & (2010) #899-883.
  • Deadpool Classic Vol. 15: All the Rest
    Collects standalone Deadpool stories from 2008 through 2011. Captain America: Who Won’t Wield The Shield #1, Cable (2008) #25, Deadpool & Cable #26, Amazing Spider-man Annual 38, Deadpool Annual (2011) #1, Incredible Hulks Annual 1, Wolverine/Deadpool: The Decoy #1, Fear Itself: Deadpool #1-3, Deadpool Corps: Rank And Foul #1.
  • Deadpool Classic Vol. 16: Killogy
    Collects three mini-series. Collects Deadpool Kills The Marvel Universe #1-4, Deadpool Killustrated #1-4, Deadpool Kills Deadpool #1-4
  • Deadpool Classic Vol. 17: Headcanon
    Collects four alternate reality Deadpool mini-series. Collects Deadpool: Wade Wilson’s War #1-4, Deadpool Pulp #1-4, Night Of The Living Deadpool# 1-4, Return Of The Living Deadpool #1-4

Deadpool MAX

Between 2010 and 2011 was also released Deadpool MAX, a Deadpool uncensored and continuity-free part of the MAX line, an imprint of Marvel Comics specializing in comic book media aimed at adult-only readers.

Also collected in:

Marvel Now! Deadpool by Posehn & Duggan (2012-2015)

In order to attract new readers, Marvel relaunched in 2012 and Deadpool headlined a new series under the creative team of writers Brian Posehn and Gerry Duggan, with primary artist Tony Moore. New readers were introduced to the famous mercenary with this run who became one of the most celebrated of the character. During that time, Deadpool was also a member of the Thunderbolts!

Trade Paperbacks

Thunderbolts – Marvel Now! brings a new Thunderbolts team by Daniel Way: Red Hulk, Venom, Elektra, Deadpool, the Punisher. Forget courts, jails, the system — these Thunderbolts fight fire with fire, targeting the most nefarious players in the Marvel Universe with extreme prejudice! Deadpool appears in nearly every issue of this series.

Complete Collection

Starting with Volume 18, Deadpool Classic collects material published alongside the 2013 Deadpool series.

Deadpool Reading Order Icon

Deadpool: World’s Greatest (2015-2017)

Deadpool became a super-star, or more precisely a movie star, and following his box-office success, he is everywhere in the Marvel Universe. He even became an Avenger Member, no kidding! Writer Gerry Duggan is still in charge, and Joe Kelly is reunited with the Merc with a Mouth for a team-up with Spidey.

Uncanny Avengers
Can Deadpool make a good Avenger? It is a question for writer Gerry Duggan.

Deadpool & the Mercs For Money – Deadpool is one of the best mercenaries on the planet. He may even be a passable Avenger-jury’s still out. But one thing’s for sure-Deadpool is a terrible team leader. The Proof? This series by Cullen Bunn and Ilban Coello available in Deadpool classic:

Spider-Man Deadpool Reading Order IconSpider-Man/Deadpool – In parallel to the main series, Deadpool teamed up with his best friend Spidey to live wonderful and colorful adventures, a title launched by Joe Kelly and Ed McGuinness. Many authors and artists worked on the series during its run.

Now in Epic Collection (ongoing):

Marvel Legacy (2017-2018)

In The wake of Secret Empire, Marvel offers another relaunch, titled Marvel Legacy, where Deadpool: World’s Greatest becomes Despicable Deadpool and Spider-Man/Deadpool is sort of retitled Spider-Man vs Deadpool.

Despicable Deadpool is also collected in hardcover:

  • Despicable Deadpool
    Collects Despicable Deadpool #287-300 and the story assembled from secret comic variants of Deadpool #23-25, 30-36, and Despicable Deadpool #287-296

Marvel Fresh Start (2018-2022)

Another Relaunch? Yes it is, with Skottie Young, then Kelly Thompson at the helm!

Marvel canceled Deadpool vol. 6 after issue #10 and celebrated the character’s 30-year anniversary with Black, White & Blood, an anthology series, with several short stories written by various creator teams. Wade Wilson also partners with Conan for his birthday for an arc in Savage Avengers taking place during King in Black.

Marvel Unlimited!– Infinity Comics are weekly stories from Marvel’s creators told in vertical format and available on Marvel Unlimited. Deadpool was the star of his own title for five issues written by Gerry Conway, before starring in an X-Men arc with Juggernaut, penned by Fabian Nicieza and Matthew Horak.

  • Deadpool: Invisible Touch Infinity #1–5 (Marvel digital Infinity Comic) 
  • X-Men Unlimited Infinity Comic #13–20 (Marvel digital Infinity Comic) 

Deadpool in the Krakoa era (2022-2024)

Deadpool reconnected with the X-Men during the Krakoa era. He made his comeback in X-Force (Vol. 6) #30, part of the A.X.E.: Judgment Day event (he said it on the cover!) before also headlining his own new series from Alyssa Wong and Martin Coccolo.

Deadpool is back in theaters! (2024)

A new Deadpool movie is being released this summer, in which Wade Wilson must team-up with Wolverine! Our mercenary is once again in the spotlight and stars with the most famous X-Man in a new miniseries from Joe Kelly and Adam Kubert. Naturally, a new ongoing series has been launched written by Cody Ziglar!

Pin
Tags: