Time To Beret The Dead: Deadpool Fights Ultimatum & Ultimatumly Dies In ‘Deadpool’ #250 (AKA ‘Deadpool’ #45)
The death of Deadpool has been a long time coming. He's a popular character, and nothing says "popular" like a specially renumbered epic death event. Also, Marvel's sales head David Gabriel already told ComicBook.com months ago that Marvel was planning to kill off the character (or "a character with the word Dead in his name", but we didn't think it was going to be Dead Girl again), so the writing was on the wall for ol' Wade Wilson.
Now Marvel has confirmed to Nerdist that Deadpool will meet his end in Deadpool #250 (actually Deadpool #45 of the current series, but the 250th issue of Deadpool overall) in April, in an issue that places the mercenary with a mouthcenary in a final confrontation with the jaunty beret-wearing goons of Ultimatum. The issue will be the last in the current series.
Speaking to Nerdist, Deadpool co-writer Gerry Duggan tried to strike a suitably somber tone, saying, "In all honesty, the story that you’re going to get in Deadpool #250, is a story that we really have been building to since the first issue of Deadpool NOW. And it will absolutely feel – it will feel, I hope, readers will think that this is an appropriate end for this Deadpool." Not that the comic itself will be somber; Duggan goes on to say, "I think as with all things Deadpool, even when something horrible is happening, I do think it will be enjoyed by the reader. Even the most horrible things that we’ve done to him, you know, are still fun."
The interview also sees editor Jordan D. White explain how he arrived at the magic number 250; "So I started with Deadpool Circle Case, four issues. Then there was another Deadpool mini-series after that, four issues. Then there was the original ’97 Deadpool, which was 69 issues. Then there was Agent X for 15 issues, then we had Cable & Deadpool for 50 issues. Dan Way’s Deadpool series for 63 issues, and then now our new book for 45 issues, and add them all together, and that should come out to 250."
Killing Deadpool is going to be an unusual challenge. He married a vampire, he romanced Death herself, and as recently as Axis he was reduced to his component parts by Apocalypse, all without having his book cancelled out from under him. Of course, having a healing factor didn't stop Wolverine being turned into a garden ornament. Perhaps Deadpool's biggest challenge will be dying in a way that's even funnier than that.
With Fox recently announcing a date for its Gambit movie the same year as its Deadpool movie, expect a Death of Gambit announcement in the next few months.
Deadpool #250 features a host of writers, including Duggan and his writing partner Brian Posehn, and art by Mike Hawthorne, Scott Koblish and others. Here's the full solicitation:
DEADPOOL #250 (A.K.A. issue #45)
Written by GERRY DUGGAN, BRIAN POSEHN, BEN ACKER, BEN BLACKER, NICK GIOVANETTI, PAUL SCHEER, JASON MANTZOUKAS, MIKE DRUCKER, & MORE
Penciled by MIKE HAWTHORNE, SCOTT KOBLISH, & MORE
Cover by SCOTT KOBLISHFINAL ISSUE!
That’s right—if you add together all the Deadpool series (creatively) issue 45 is the big 250th issue of Deadpool! What better way to celebrate than to end the series? In our over-sized main story, ULTIMATUM comes at Deadpool for revenge, so he has no choice but to take them on—ALL OF THEM. Then, in an Infinity Gauntlet crossover, what would Deadpool do if he got the six gems from Thanos? Plus: a slew of stories showcasing Deadpool’s closest friends and allies by special guest writers! Also, SPOILER: Deadpool dies at the end of the issue.