The three essential Deadpool runs: Joe Kelly (1997-1999) for the unexpected depth beneath the humor, Gerry Duggan & Brian Posehn (2012-2015) for the perfect balance between comedy and emotion, and Cable & Deadpool by Fabian Nicieza (2004-2008) for the ultimate buddy-comic.
Deadpool is a unique phenomenon in comics: a character created as a simple generic mercenary in the 90s who became one of Marvel's most popular heroes thanks to authors who knew how to transform meta-humor into a real narrative tool. Beneath the jokes, the best runs hide real emotional depth.
The Deadpool market is driven by cinematic success, but savvy collectors know that Joe Kelly and Nicieza's seminal runs remain the real treasures. Here is the ranking of the runs that transcend the character beyond his reputation as a simple buffoon in red spandex.
Top 1 — Joe Kelly (Deadpool vol. 1 #1-33, 1997-1999)
Screenwriter:Joe Kelly |Designers:Ed McGuinness, Pete Woods, Walter McDaniel
The run that MADE Deadpool. Kelly transformed a fourth-wall-breaking mercenary into a tragic character who desperately wants to become a hero. The episode in the Spider-Man universe (Amazing Spider-Man #611 homage) and the arc with Blind Al have become legendary. McGuinness brings perfect cartoonish energy. Without Kelly, no films, no phenomenon.
Key numbers:#1 (start of ongoing series), #11 (Blind Al arc), #28 (acclaimed issue).Current rating:#1 in NM: €60-100, full run: €300-500.
Top 2 — Gerry Duggan & Brian Posehn (Deadpool vol. 3 #1-45 + #250, 2012-2015)
Screenwriter:Gerry Duggan & Brian Posehn |Designers:Tony Moore, Scott Koblish, Mike Hawthorne
The duo wrote the most complete Deadpool run: "Dead Presidents" (Wade confronts the ghosts of American presidents) sets the tone, then "The Good, The Bad and The Ugly" (with Captain America and Wolverine) reaches unexpected emotional heights. The conclusion to #250 is a real tour de force. The perfect balance of humor and heart.
Key numbers:#1 (Dead Presidents), #15-19 (Good/Bad/Ugly), #250 (final).Current rating:#1 in NM: €15-25, #250: €10-18.
Top 3 — Fabian Nicieza (Cable & Deadpool #1-50, 2004-2008)
Screenwriter:Fabian Nicieza |Designers:Mark Brooks, Patrick Zircher, Reilly Brown
The ultimate Marvel buddy comic. Nicieza (co-creator of Deadpool) excels at the dynamic between Cable's earnest messianism and Wade's anarchic chaos. Fifty issues of superheroic bromance that works as comedy AND as a Marvel adventure story in its own right. An underrated run that deserves more recognition.
Key numbers:#1 (start of series), #36 (Civil War tie-in).Current rating:#1 in NM: €20-35, full run: €100-180.
Top 4 — Daniel Way (Deadpool vol. 2 #1-63, 2008-2012)
Screenwriter:Daniel Way |Designers:Paco Medina, Carlo Barberi, Sheldon Vella
Way pushes the humor/action slider to the maximum. This is the most "pop", the most accessible Deadpool, the one who built the character's massive audience pre-films. “Merc with a Mouth” and the arcs with the X-Men are pure entertainment. Criticized for lack of depth compared to Kelly, but commercially the most influential.
Key numbers:#1 (Secret Invasion relaunch), #27 (Hit-Monkey intro).Current rating:#1 in NM: €12-20, #27: €8-15.
Top 5 — Kelly Thompson (Deadpool vol. 5 #1-10, 2020)
Screenwriter:Kelly Thompson |Designer:Chris Bachalo
Thompson offers a new angle: Deadpool king of the monsters, married to Queen Shiklah, ruling over an underground kingdom of creatures. Bachalo delivers visually delirious pages which perfectly match the chaos of the character. Short but brilliant — an approach that deserved more issues to flourish.
Key numbers:#1 (king of the monsters).Current rating:#1 in NM: €8-12.
Top 6 — Skottie Young (Deadpool vol. 6 #1-6, 2018-2019)
Writer/Draughtsman (covers):Skottie Young |Designer:Nick Klein, Scott Hepburn
Young brings his sense of the absurd to a Wade Wilson at his lowest — broken, broke, forgotten. The humor is darker, more desperate, with Deadpool who has lost his regenerating factor. A different register which recalls the best introspective moments of Joe Kelly, carried by talented artists.
Key numbers:#1 (FreshStart).Current rating:#1 in NM: €5-10.
Top 7 — Rick Remender (Uncanny X-Force #1-35, 2010-2012)
Screenwriter:Rick Remender |Designers:Jerome Opeña, Esad Ribic
Technically an X-Force title, but Remender's Deadpool may be the most touching ever written. As part of a team of assassins, Wade becomes the unexpected moral conscience. The “Dark Angel Saga” arc is an absolute masterpiece. Opeña delivers some of the most beautiful boards of the decade. Essential for any serious Deadpool fan.
Key numbers:#1 (start of series), #4 (Deadpool key moment), #18-35 (Dark Angel Saga).Current rating:#1 in NM: €30-50, full run: €150-250.
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