Long before he was a cinematic superstar, Deadpool debuted in the pages of New Mutants #98, by Rob Liefeld and Fabian Nicieza. The character has morphed over the years, becoming more meta, comedic and heroic along the way. As Wade Wilson has ascended to a popular new heights in recent years, Liefeld has returned to his signature creation on a few different occasions.
Deadpool: Bad Blood was the first wholly original graphic novel centering on the Merc' with a Mouth, revealing more about his history while pitting him against one of his most dangerous enemies. Written by Chris Sims and Chad Bowers (X-Men '92) and with art by Liefeld, the comic manages to feel in tune with both the modern version of Deadpool as well as Liefeld's earlier version of the character. Now, CBR is exploring the story, the new villain it introduced and how it set up Liefeld's next - and final - Deadpool story.
WHAT IS DEADPOOL: BAD BLOOD ABOUT?
The majority of Deadpool: Bad Blood centers on Wade Wilson trying to find a secret superweapon developed by Tolliver, the long-deceased son of Cable who came back to the present day to battle the X-Men. Wade formally worked for Tolliver, but inadvertently unleashed the weapon onto the world. Each year he tries to track it down, only to be confronted by an enigmatic armored figure he's dubbed Thumper. Every year, the Juggernaut-esque figure comes looking for Deadpool while Wade is trying to find the weapon, attacks him and leaves him for dead.
Deadpool's healing factor has kept him alive, barely, in these situations. After he picks himself back up, Wade is confronted by Domino and recruits, but it's not long before Weapon H operative Garrison Kane comes to recruit Deadpool. It turns out that Thumper is the weapon, codenamed Agent Daedelus. He was designed specifically as the Department H version of the Winter Soldier, a countermeasure towards rogue super-soldiers like Deadpool and Wolverine. Kane convinces Deadpool to help him stop Thumper once and for all.
Meet Thumper
Deadpool soon learns that there's more to Thumper than he first thought. The two have connections that go back decades, since Thumper is actually a man named Miles Ellison. Miles is at the center of some of the few memories Wade still retains about his childhood. In fact, the pair were close friends. While Wade was always somewhat popular, he always made sure to include the stocky and short Miles along for his childish adventures. Miles greatly admired Wade, always wanting to tag along for everything his best friend attempted.
After Wade disappeared to join Weapon H (and eventually become Deadpool,) Miles followed suit. He found Weapon H, and tried to convince them to augment him in a way similar to what they did for Wade. They obliged, infusing Miles with a derivative of the same healing factor Deadpool possesses. Along with the massive robotic suit and general body modifications, this turned Miles into a potentially unstoppable force. His face was even disfigured in a manner similar to Wade, and he was given a helmet that theoretically could control his actions. However, every attempt to send Thumper on missions led to him abandoning his assignment to go and try to find Deadpool. Even after everything, he still thinks of Wade as his best friend, and just wants to see him.
DEADPOOL AND THUMPER
Deadpool and Domino end up fighting Weapon H and Kane, with Thumper eventually recognizing Wade and giving him a massive bear hug. Thumper promptly rips the cybernetic Kane in half and activates a bomb within the Weapon H facility. Wade and Domino barely escape the explosion, but Thumper is seemingly consumed by the flames. Wade is convinced his old friend survived though, citing his own healing factor as how he could make it through the blast. The graphic novel ends with Wade wistfully remembering his old friend.
However, readers know that Thumper did in fact survive. The character has been revealed to be returning for the upcoming Deadpool: Badder Blood . It's unknown if the writers of the OGN, Chris Sims and Chad Bowers, will return to pen the sequel. However, Rob Liefeld has confirmed that it was his next project following the completion of Major X earlier this year. Liefeld has also revealed that the comic will be his final story featuring Deadpool. The artist shared preview images of the book along with a post on social media saying "[Deadpool: Badder Blood] one is both a hoot and a holler and will be my definitive and last word with Deadpool." If it is indeed Liefeld's final take on the character he created, then don't be surprised to see Badder Blood incorporate even more pieces of the X-Men universe.