REVIEW: Third Time's The Charm In 'Deadpool Kills the Marvel Universe One Last Time #2'

Jessica Haight-Angelo
May 7
4 min read

Disclaimer: This review contains minor spoilers for Deadpool Kills the Marvel Universe One Last Time #2.

First and foremost, this is hardly Deadpool’s first foray into mass murder of his fellow Marvel characters. Circa 2011, author Cullen Bunn penned the four-issue Deadpool Kills the Marvel Universe, wherein an asylum-bound Deadpool is mentally manipulated by the villain Psycho-Man in an attempt to silence the pair of inner voices - similar to the new-age concept of the Higher Self and/or Shadow Self - who advise and keep him company. In order to escape from captivity, Deadpool goes on a killing spree. Likewise, circa 2017, a five-issue mini-series (also written by Bunn) called Deadpool Kills the Marvel Universe Again was released. Once again, Deadpool is mentally manipulated (this time, by MODOK) into killing his teammates, whom he has been programmed to “see … as bright, fun-colored enemies.”

“Dueling Voices In My Skull”

Fast-forward to 2025: Cullen Bunn is back with a third four-issue installment, aptly titled Deadpool Kills the Marvel Universe One Last Time. In the premiere issue (released April 2nd), Deadpool, aka Wade Wilson, aka the ‘Merc With a Mouth,’ whose superhuman regenerative abilities put him on par with fellow Canadian superhero Wolverine (Logan) in terms of killability (hence the concept behind pairing them together for the 2024 Phase 5 MCU film, Deadpool vs. Wolverine, starring Ryan Reynolds as the mouthy merc and Hugh Jackman as Wolverine), is tasked by a mysterious Watcher-esque character called Alphea to “Kill a litany of twisted heroes throughout the multiverse and save all reality” in exchange for “a chance at redemption” and potentially an end to his “unending disaster” of a life.

Unlike the first couple of go-arounds, the “heroes” that Alphea wants him to take out en masse are legitimately “twisted.” In the super-secure city of Birnin Zana in Wakanda, for instance, Deadpool assassinates King Killmonger shortly after nightfall, wherein citizens are kept under restrictive curfew by their fascist overlord. Naturally, he cannot resist firing off one of his typical quips: “Wow, not even gonna try to avenge this king, huh? Telling.” Eventually, Deadpool finds himself battling HYDRA Supreme Captain America, who turns into a werewolf. Likewise, though murdering a slew of HYDRA subordinates is not “on the list,” per Alphea, Deadpool insists on doing so to maintain “Work-life balance” during his “multiversal murder tour.”

“Werewolves of Fascism” (“A-OOOOOOO!”)

Eventually, Alphea reveals that another mysterious being called Flux Paradoxica is gathering the “twisted” heroes on Deadpool’s latest hit list for reasons yet unknown. Like Alphea, Flux Paradoxica is seemingly new to the Marvel multiverse. One wonders whether there is a potential connection to either Alpha the Ultimate Mutant and/or Flux, a U.S. Army soldier who transforms into a “misshapen” Hulk-esque creature. Likewise, it is curious that the Deadpool Kills the Marvel Universe One Last Time mini-series is not branded with the “One World Under Doom” event header that the vast majority of current Marvel comic runs seem to be, including the Superior Avengers mini-series, wherein a collection of multiversal villain variants - Abomination, Doctor Octopus, Killmonger, Ghost, Malekith, and Onslaught - serve as Doom’s dubious peacekeepers in TRN (Temporal Reality Number) 1581, seemingly following the destruction of TRN-1580, and almost certainly with their own hidden agendas. Could Flux Paradoxica be Doctor Doom in disguise? Only Bunn, et al currently know for sure!

It is notable that Alphea’s yet mysterious motives appear to involve saving the multiverse - especially TRN-616 aka the Sacred (main) Timeline - rather than destroying it by getting ahead of Flux Paradoxica. It is also interesting, though potentially inconsequential, that variants of Killmonger and Doctor Octopus appear in both Superior Avengers and Deadpool Kills the Marvel Universe One Last Time, the latter having swapped bodies with Spider-Man - he blows up via grenade mid-gloat. Alphea is yet vague on precisely how Deadpool will either earn his redemption through mass murder or be destroyed by Flux Paradoxica. “You’re not going after her directly because … I don’t know if you can say she’d ‘kill’ you, but you most certainly wouldn’t exist any longer.” Nonetheless, that Deadpool trusts her enough to do her bidding is fascinating. Perhaps, as the premiere issue explains, the fact that a stockpile of other Deadpool variants have already tried and failed to do the job is a motivating factor.

“Better Punch the Clock”

Like his silver screen counterpart, comic Deadpool is fun even while mired in murder-for-hire, though there is a deep pathos and suffering inherent in his tragic backstory that infuses his wise-cracking and Fourth Wall-breaking with empathy. Deadpool Kills the Marvel Universe One Last Time feels more nuanced and less contained than its predecessors, as though Bunn has challenged himself to turn the rules he’s previously established on their metaphorical ear. In the aforementioned Deadpool vs. Wolverine movie, Deadpool fights to preserve his own universe and the handful of precious friends he’s made in it. Unfortunately, per Alphea, “Your universe is a lost cause.” Thus, this Deadpool seems to fight for himself in the form of redeeming his Soul or some such for all of the comparatively ‘innocent’ lives he’s taken. Fortunately, two issues remain, which Alphea promises “won’t be getting easier … and the targets on your kill list are only going to get bigger and badder.” Next up: Deadpool lingers at the heavily graffitied gates of the dilapidated Xavier School For Gifted Youngsters - to be continued!

Rating: ★★★★☆

About Deadpool Kills the Marvel Universe One Last Time #2

Release Date: May 7, 2025

Written by: Cullen Bunn

Art by: Dalibor Talajic

Cover by: Davide Paratore

Page Count: 25

Synopsis: Wade Wilson has a lot weighing on his conscience, like a universe's worth. In fact, like a specific universe's worth… What kind of evil could Deadpool destroy to even that out? And why is this universe's S.H.I.E.L.D. dressed in HYDRA unifo-? Oh… That'll work.