Deadpool Didn’t Need Movies To Be A Star
Deadpool is the hottest comic book character right now, bar none. With Deadpool & Wolverine breaking box office records left and right, it’s clear that Wade Wilson isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. However, the assumption that Ryan Reynolds made Deadpool a household name is simply false.
Just as Spider-Man was Marvel’s biggest character for decades prior to Tobey Maguire taking up the mantel, Deadpool was already on his way to superstardom well before Reynolds donned the mask.
Um, Actually…
I’m a comic book nerd. The phrase “Um, actually” is in my blood. So when I see people giving the Deadpool movies sole credit for the character’s popularity, I have to step in and set the record straight.
Deadpool is like a pop star who’s been making music for a decade when the media dubs them an “overnight success.”
There’s no question Deadpool (2016) catapulted the Merc With A Mouth’s popularity into the stratosphere. But he was already on his way there, with or without Fox’s blessing.
And no, I’m not just talking about the fact that he’s been a comic book character for 34 years. Deadpool co-creator Rob Liefeld created the character Badrock around the same time, and you didn’t know his name until you read it.
No, it takes more than longevity to prove a character’s popularity.
Deadpool Was Already One Of The Biggest Marvel Heroes
Deadpool started out in New Mutants #98 (December 1990) as nothing more than a cool name attached to a derivative costume. You don’t have to squint to see that Wade’s costume is essentially Spider-Man without the weblines.
Marvel fans saw something there, however, and the character’s popularity quickly skyrocketed.
Prior to the first movie, Wade Wilson had already starred in three ongoing Deadpool comics, a book titled Cable & Deadpool, and countless one-shots and limited series.
The Deadpool Corps, a big part of Deadpool & Wolverine‘s third act, debuted four years before the first film. Heck, by the time the Deadpool test footage leaked, he had already killed the entire Marvel Universe.
The Crypt Keeper
In other words, Deadpool was already kind of a big deal before Ryan came along. I would even argue that had the character not already been popular, he would never have been on Reynolds’ radar in the first place.
But surely the Two Guys a Girl and a Pizza Place actor gave Wade his distinctive voice?
Actually no. Three actors had already played Deadpool to perfection before Reynolds got a hold of the character.
And no, I’m not counting X-Men Origins: Wolverine. I’m pretty sure even Ryan would agree that that movie hurt the character more than it helped him.
As for who gave a voice to Marvel’s infamous chatterbox first, would you believe… the Crypt Keeper? John Kassir first played Deadpool in the 2005 video game X-Men Legends II: Rise of Apocalypse.
Kassir did such a great job that he returned to voice the character again in Marvel Ultimate Alliance and its sequel.
Nolan North
But as good as the Tales from the Crypt alumni were, the next guy was even better. Nolan North, a voice-acting legend, voiced Deadpool in the animated movie Hulk vs. North did such a good job that prior to Reynolds, he was the guy everyone associated with the antihero.
North next voiced ‘Pool in Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions and Marvel vs. Capcom 3. Both were high-profile video games that probably wouldn’t have featured Deadpool at all if he wasn’t already such a hot commodity. Trust me. Hot Topic was already selling Deadpool t-shirts before Fox even inked the deal for a solo movie.
North Returns
In 2013, Deadpool appeared in the animated series Ultimate Spider-Man. This time, Boy Meets World star Will Friedle portrayed the Merc With A Mouth.
While Friedle was fine, when it came time for the merc to get his very first Triple-A solo game, the choice was made to bring North back. It was a wise choice because Activision’s Deadpool has possibly my favorite portrayal of the character—no offense to Ryan Reynolds.
Deadpool Made Ryan Reynolds Famous
These days, it doesn’t get much more mainstream than a AAA video game from a major publisher. People can try to claim that Ryan Reynolds made Deadpool famous, but—and I know this is a hot take—I say it’s the other way around.
Not that Reynolds wasn’t “famous” already, but none of his movies were what you’d call blockbusters. The Canadian actor made several comic book movies prior to Deadpool, and they all tanked.
The truth is, Ryan Reynolds may be responsible for your Mom asking you, “Who’s this guy? He looks like Spider-Man.” But without Deadpool and his already rabid fanbase, she’d be asking you, “Whatever happened to Ryan Reynolds?” instead.
Deadpool was always popular. The movies just made him slightly more so.
