The “It’s Complicated” Relationship of Deadpool and Spiderman

Occasionally, Marvel teams up the best of the best and makes a superhero duo out of them. Sometimes it works, and I mean it really works. Other times… it works, just not as great. One person that is constantly teamed up with other superheroes is Deadpool. Deadpool has teamed up with Hawkeye, Cable, Spiderman, and countless others in many miniseries’ or spin-offs and etc. Now, you might be thinking that with the personality that Deadpool has and the type of morals he instills, why would they even pair him with another superhero. Why would they do that to the other superheroes? Surprisingly, they all work out and pretty well I must say.

“It’s Complicated?”

In order to start this off correctly, you must know who Deadpool and Spiderman are. And, if you already know let me boggle that mind of yours. Deadpool, or “A merc with a mouth” is a better name for Wade Wilson. Real name Wade Wilson, by the way. Wade is a vigilante or a villain, but sometimes on occasion he can be a hero… just depends on the occasion. Spiderman, good ol’ Spiderman? Well, he’s a hero. Saves the world and all that jazz. He is good ol’ Peter Parker, some may call him a nerd. Well, he is a nerd, but he is also a darn good superhero — let me tell ya’. I’ll get more into depth in a little bit, but what you need to know about Deadpool and Spiderman is that they team up occasionally.

The “merc with a mouth” teamed up with goody-goody Spiderman? You are probably wondering how this even works out, well yeah, we all had that thought. But, to be honest with you, it’s not all that bad. They have become best friends — okay, maybe not best friends — but, you get the idea. First, to jog your memory let’s talk about Deadpool and Spiderman, a little background on who they are and all that good stuff. Not only that but, why they are choosing the “It’s complicated” relationship status on facebook as opposed to that “in a relationship” one.

Deadpool

Wade Wilson is a complicated character and it seems the entirety of the “it’s complicated” (metaphorically) in this relationship that he and Spiderman have. Wade Wilson is immortal; well I guess you could say that time he dated death helped him out a little bit. However, for the most part, he is immortal. Deadpool had cancer and the reason he is immortal is because of Weapon X. They gave him a healing ability — similar to Wolverine. Considering, that is who he got it from. It reversed his cancer and he is cancer free, as far as we know.

Throughout his life, he has had troubles with many superheroes, including Cable. You could say Deadpool is not necessarily “liked,” but that’s to each their own. He is known as a “merc” because Deadpool plays by his own rules. Who wouldn’t? He is someone that is witty, sarcastic and just beyond caring to the point where he makes snarky comments — they are pretty funny, can’t deny that.

Wade is an anti-hero / villain / merc, most of what he does is for personal gain. When it is not for personal gain, you get a side of Wade that is unorthodox. It is something that we as readers do not see very often, however when we do it makes our heart weep a little. Deadpool is someone that is content with being the anti-hero and does not give a hoot who thinks otherwise. No one is going to change him and he does not want them to even try because it is not going to work whatsoever. Unlike Spiderman, Deadpool does not care about being liked — to an extent, that is.

Spiderman

Spiderman is a good student, gets straight A’s and loves the ladies. He is good with the ladies, at times, but none of them really flock his way. Except two: Mary Jane Watson and Gwen Stacy. Throughout high school Peter Parker was quite the nerd. He goes on a field trip and gets bitten by a radioactive spider (I know, stay with me). Peter starts feeling weird and then suddenly realizes he can stick to walls and fling webs out of his hand. His Uncle was killed by a thief / robber that Peter knew and saw before when he was working. So, he decides what is better than saving the world? Being a good guy and saving the world. He becomes a superhero and thus begins his stardom as a superhero.

Peter is someone that everyone loves, he has a very charming factor about him. However, he can also be a little sassy. It rare when Spiderman is sassy, but when he is, it’s pretty legendary. Spiderman has had a few enemies out there that he has fought and got rid of, but overall, he saves the world. Spiderman does the right thing in every situation, no matter what the situation calls for. He is constantly thinking for better judgement. He is a hero and all heroes think for better judgement because they are the hero. He is likeable for that reason, unlike Wade, who is an anti-hero.

Deadpool and Spiderman (#Spideypool)

The first time they met was in Amazing Spiderman #611. But, since, they’ve had multiple interactions:

1. Deadpool: Suicide Kings #3-5
2. Amazing Spider-Man #611, 695, Annual #38
3. Deadpool (volume 3) #11, 67
4. Deadpool (volume 4) #19-21, 49.1, 51, Annual #01
5. Deadpool (volume 5) #45, Annual #01-02
6. Deadpool Team-Up #683
7. Deadpool’s Art of War #2-4
8. Deadpool Kills the Marvel Universe #2
9. Avenging Spider-Man #12
10. Spiderman/Deadpool (2016-)

That does not include the comics that they have together such as the 2016 one I have mentioned. But, without further ado, let’s talk about Wade and Peter.

Now, how are these two characters so good together? Good question, I’ll try my best to answer that. Recently, Deadpool and Spiderman have come together in a new comic series called Deadpool/Spiderman (2016). They have done this before, mind you. Over the years, Deadpool and Spiderman have met — not in the best of introductions, but they have met nonetheless. They don’t have pleasant interactions when they do meet and most of the time Wade is making fun of Spiderman and being a nuisance (like always).

There is not much to say about who they are and why they come together, it’s a ‘complicated’ notion. But, who does not love a hero being teamed up with an anti-hero to save the world? Granted, Deadpool is not one to make you gain patience; but, he does mean well in most situations. However, at the end of the day, they would consider themselves friends for the most part. With Peter’s personality, being that he is a good guy makes for the friendship part. If Peter was more like Wade, this friendship would not work as well as it does. Going to Wade, who is the opposite, makes for a good comic and a good pair. Two characters who we deem as so different from one another, are similar as well. They both can put up with one another, and that is something that not many characters can do with Deadpool. Spiderman is a character who knows Deadpool so well that he does not even mind it anymore at this point.

The banter of back and forth and getting inside each other’s head is an important factor in this friendship duo. Do they help each other grow as a duo? Yes. Spidey gives DP a sense of patience that he did not previously have. Do they learn anything by being with this duo? Debateable. At times, they do. At times, you really see DP come through and save the day for Spidey when he needs it. DP also talks about Spidey when he is not in a comic with him, sometimes. So, that goes to show that he does have some liking towards him as a person and a friend. When they first started their friendship, DP was the same old DP. As the series go on and as they team up more and see each other, they tend to get used to one another and that grows into what they have now. The contrast of the good personality, mixed with the wit is what makes for a good duo. They have that together. They have a good balance of what a good duo instills and that is what makes this team so successful.

Sometimes you can even suggest that DP may be a little jealous of Spiderman because alas Spiderman has it all: looks, family, crushes, likeability and etc. Spidey is someone that you point out to younger kids and say you should try and be a hero like him. Most parents are not pointing to Deadpool saying that similar sentence. Now, DP will never admit that he is. But, at times, you can see that he may be… just a little bit. Because all and all, DP would love to be a hero, but as Wade says “What’s the point of being a hero, if you don’t get the girl?”

The banter between DP and Spidey is like a love / hate relationship. They both know how to get on each others nerves and DP has always learned to keep those people close to him and that is what he is doing with Spidey. You want to keep tuning into this duo because of the comical aspect they bring, and you cannot deny that DP does bring out the sassiest Spidey we have ever seen. As a duo, they are entertaining and they keep your eyes peeled and make you chuckle even as you are reading. That’s what tunes readers into what Spidey and DP have to offer together. An anti-hero and a hero saving the day — well, trying to save the day. What could be better than that?

What do you think? Leave a comment.