34. If You Love Your Deadpool, Set Him Free
The Deadpool film comes out next week. I’m more excited about this comic book movie than any that have come before and are likely to come in the future.
Yet, I’m kinda terrified.
Deadpool was the first comic book I found that I truly loved.
It was kind of formative for me. In a weird way … Deadpool made me the man I am today.
This was back during Joe Kelly’s run (still the defining Deadpool for me).
I use to read those comics in my bedroom cackling away at the jokes like a lunatic only stopping to be asked by my parents if I was okay.
Of course I was! I was in my goddamn element!
What made it better?
None of my friends or family knew who Deadpool was. It was back before Deadpool was a flagship title. Before he was his own industry. Before he killed the Marvel Universe.
Hell, before Agent X.
He was my special little dude.
I used to love trying to explain to my friends why Deadpool was the greatest comic book in the world. They were all stuck on X-Men and Spiderman and had yet to graduate to the morally obtuse and hilarious affair that was Deadpool.
My little Deadpool.
He was my own discovery and I relished in it.
I still remember watching Blade: Trinity and seeing Ryan Reynolds and instantly thinking … ‘That’s Deadpool!’
But this was back when comics were still an outsider medium.
Skip forward to today and even my grandma knows the finer points of Thor’s origin story. My fiancée’s mum is a fan of Rocket Raccoon. My dad loved The Avengers movie. My dad!!!
… the fuck?
When did my little world become so open?
I feel like I’m still in my bedroom, nose to the center staples, smelling the ink of my comic book. The only difference is now my entire family is behind me, leaning over my shoulder, peering into my world, asking me to turn the page.
“What happens next Luke?” they say in unison.
*shudders*
And now I’m seeing my little Deadpool … EVERYWHERE!
He’s quite literally plastered to every available surface in London.
I’m excited, for sure. My boy done good. My little indie band has gone on to play arenas.
But I’m scared because I know that people will love it. I know it will be a hit. And I know that he’ll no longer be mine. He’ll belong to the world.
But if you love someone, you should set them free.
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Side note. If you’re looking for a new quirky little comedy superhero sorta comic. Quantum & Woody is a good start.
You got any suggestions?
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