Deadpool & Wolverine Ultimate Crossover Begins with the Perfect Insult

Summary Deadpool & Wolverine's banter continues to entertain with perfect insults and deadly teamwork in their latest crossover.

Deadpool's hilarious mistaken identity insult to Wolverine as 'Wildside' has deeper implications due to their troubled histories.

Wade Wilson's meta joke not only disrespects Wolverine's trauma, but also highlights the dynamic between the two Marvel characters.

Warning: Contains SPOILERS for Deadpool & Wolverine: WWIII #1! Deadpool and Wolverine have perhaps the most entertaining frenemy relationship in Marvel Comics, complete with no shortage of insults between the two of them. When they’re on a mission together, one would be hard-pressed to find a deadlier duo. However, just because they can get a job done like no one else, doesn’t mean they don’t annoy each other to no end. And their latest crossover is no exception, as it begins with one absolutely perfect (and surprisingly deep-cut) insult.

In a preview for Deadpool & Wolverine: WWIII #1 by Joe Kelly and Adam Kubert, Wolverine is stalking a superhuman serial killer in Vancouver, who’s been murdering their victims in horrifically gruesome ways. The police officer who contacted Logan made it clear that this person wasn’t to be brought in alive, but rather brought down permanently - and Wolverine is 'the best there' is at doing just that.

Close

While Wolverine is on the hunt, Deadpool explodes onto the scene fighting the presumed serial killer in question, who’s blasting Deadpool with deadly bolts of artificial lightning. When Wolverine sees Deadpool, he curses to himself in annoyance. When Deadpool sees Wolverine, he delivers a hilariously perfect insult at the Canucklehead’s expense, “Wildside! Oh, Wolverine… sorry”.

Related Deadpool's Healing Factor is The Opposite of Wolverine's, Not The Same Deadpool and Wolverine seem as though they have the same exact healing factors, but the two abilities are opposites and perfectly suited for each!

Deadpool calling Wolverine ‘Wildside’ is absolutely hilarious, not just because Wildside is a way lesser-known character than Wolverine, but because Wildside is essentially just a Wolverine rip-off - and Deadpool knows it. Wildside was created by Rob Liefeld in New Mutants #86, and from the very start, it was blatantly obvious what (or who) inspired the character’s design. Liefeld seemingly wanted a ‘villain Wolverine’ for the New Mutants to tangle with, and rather than attempting to corrupt Wolverine for the sake of the story, Liefeld seemingly just created his own.

This insult is made even funnier by the fact that Deadpool himself delivered it, as Wade Wilson is easily the most popular creation of Rob Liefeld in Marvel Comics history, and he just mistook Wolverine (who was around long before Liefeld joined the Marvel team) for another one of his creator’s creations. However, while interesting, the meta-nature of this joke is totally secondary, as anyone who read this line and asked themselves, “who’s Wildside?” gave Deadpool the exact reaction he was after.

Deadpool Calling Wolverine ‘Wildside’ is Actually Incredibly Disrespectful (For 1 Shocking Reason)

Weapon X Vol. 2 #5 by Frank Tieri and Georges Jeanty

Wolverine was famously kidnapped, brainwashed, and experimented on by Weapon X. The program bonded adamantium to his skeleton, it held him prisoner for years, and - worse of all - it made him kill people. Logan escaped Weapon X the first chance he got, and in truly bloody fashion. Wildside, on the other hand, jumped at the chance to join Weapon X, giddy to cause chaos and create societal mistrust in mutants. Wildside is an insult to every bit of suffering Wolverine experienced because of Weapon X, making Deadpool’s insult much more disrespectful than humorous.

It’s interesting that such a seemingly innocuous insult has so many layers to it, as Deadpool made a meta-reference to the widely-accepted idea that Wildside is just a lame Wolverine rip-off, and disrespected Wolverine’s greatest trauma all with one breath. But, as previously mentioned, the greatest takeaway is just how funny this insult was, and how perfectly it sets the stage for Deadpool and Wolverine’s most recent crossover.

Deadpool & Wolverine: WWIII #1 by Marvel Comics is available May 1, 2024.

Deadpool & Wolverine: WWIII #1 (2024) Writer: Joe Kelly

Artist: Adam Kubert

Colorist: Frank Martin

Cover Artist: Adam Kubert