2011's Deadpool Kills the Marvel Universe lived up to its name, showcasing Wade Wilson's descent into madness as he slaughtered Marvel heroes and villains. Its popularity led to a sequel, 2017's Deadpool Kills the Marvel Universe Again, and now, writer Cullen Bunn and artist Dalibor Talajić reunite for the trilogy's finale: Deadpool Kills the Marvel Universe One Last Time. This time, the Merc with a Mouth takes on not just one universe, but the entire Marvel multiverse.
IGN spoke with Bunn about this final chapter. Below is an exclusive preview of the first issue, followed by insights into the multiverse mayhem.
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Bunn, a prolific Deadpool writer, revealed he didn't initially plan a trilogy. "I never knew that series would go anywhere," he stated. "My first pitch after Deadpool Kills the Marvel Universe was Deadpool Kills the Marvel Multiverse. Now is a much better time to do that story!"
Escalating the conflict required expanding the scope. This time, Deadpool faces everything from Cap-Wolves to Worldbreaker Hulks and twisted versions of Marvel heroes and villains. "The multiverse opens up new avenues," Bunn explained. "We wanted this to be different, showing Deadpool battling different versions of Marvel heroes – many readers will have seen before, many who are new. I spent a lot of time researching the 'worst' (meaning 'the best') variants. What I didn’t realize when I set out is that we were creating the most epic Deadpool story of all time."
Bunn remained tight-lipped about specific matchups, only hinting at the inclusion of obscure characters unseen in over 30 years. Talajić's artistic style will also continue to evolve, adding visual flair to the carnage. "With Deadpool Kills the Marvel Universe Again, we played with different eras and styles," Bunn said. "In this new book, Dalibor really gets to shine in his interpretations of different worlds... different versions of our heroes... and a different version of [REDACTED] than you have ever seen before."
Unlike direct sequels, the previous two books offered separate scenarios for Deadpool's killing spree. This third installment offers a fresh start, though observant readers might find connections to the previous volumes. "It's a fresh start... sort of," Bunn teased. "The story stands completely on its own. Observant readers might pick up on a few interesting tidbits that may connect to what has come before."
Bunn also highlighted the increased sympathy for Deadpool in this iteration. "I think the Deadpool we see in this book is much more sympathetic than the killer Deadpool in the other series," he stated. "We thought ‘What if Deadpool killed the Marvel Universe... and we were rooting for him to succeed?’ His headspace... I can't wait for readers to get that joke."
Deadpool Kills the Marvel Universe One Last Time #1 releases April 2, 2025.
