This is the Funniest Deadpool Team Up (And You Probably Forgot About It)

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As a die-hard comic book fan, I remember the thrill when Deadpool first stormed onto the Marvel scene. Back then, he was the embodiment of the solitary, emotionally detached assassin. He was brutal, sarcastic, and never one to play well with others – his life just didn’t lend itself to team camaraderie.

But there were moments, especially during his initial encounters with Cable, his original mission target, that showed Deadpool’s unconventional brashness perfectly complemented the serious, formal, and enraged characters typical of Marvel Comics at the time. This unique dynamic sparked a series of collaborations that turned Deadpool into one of Marvel’s most frequent team-up artists. In a universe where lone wolves are commonplace, he truly became a “diamond in the rough” kind of teammate.

This resulted in “Deadpool Team-Up,” a series specifically designed for Deadpool to display his partnering skills humorously. Consequently, it gave birth to an array of imaginative and unpredictably humorous duos, appearing not only in this series but also in other Deadpool comics. Who could forget his meeting with Hellcow or the even funnier alliance with Spider-Man, one of the few Marvel characters who can match Deadpool both in combat and in-combat humor. Although these partnerships are undeniably funny and highlight Deadpool’s unique comedic flair, they don’t fully illustrate just how absurd his team-ups can become. Fortunately, Marvel took advantage of this opportunity to display the full extent of that absurdity through what could be termed as the “off-Broadway” comedy of the Great Lakes Avengers.

Deadpool – Great Lakes Avengers: the Core of Marvel Comedy

In the comic “Deadpool & the Great Lakes Initiative” by Fabian Nicieza, Dan Scott, and Nelson (published in the “Deadpool/GLI Summer Fun Spectacular” one-shot), Deadpool finds the Fantastic Four embroiled in some unusual circumstances that render them temporarily unavailable. Sensing a mystery in Wisconsin, he embarks on an investigation to uncover the truth. There, he runs into the Great Lakes Avengers (now known as the Great Lakes Initiative post-“Civil War”), who have adopted the new name following the establishment of the Avengers Initiative. After an initial disagreement over who gets to tackle the case first, Deadpool and the GLI eventually decide to join forces. Predictably, their combined efforts only lead to more laughter and mayhem.

In an amusing twist, the usual alliance of heroes pursuing a common villain becomes comedic due to its foundation on a humorous contrast. On one hand, you have a highly skilled, sardonic assassin who seldom misses a target. On the other side stands an earnest, heroic team, albeit one that’s prone to blunders and whose success is often more about luck than ability. The disparity between these two groups is ludicrously absurd, even for a Deadpool tale. This setup creates a delightful “unexpected role reversal” where Deadpool isn’t the oddball character – he’s surprisingly ordinary compared to the self-important Great Lakes Avengers who treat everything as serious business, while Deadpool sees it all as one big joke.

A Team-up So Funny Not Even Deadpool Can Believe it

In a playful twist, Deadpool’s team-ups with the GLA present unique contrasts due to their less conventional characteristics: While other alliances showcase differences like Cable’s seriousness versus Deadpool’s irreverence, or Hawkeye’s dark humor compared to Deadpool’s even darker humor, the GLA offers comparisons such as Deadpool’s powers against their lame ones, his experience versus their rank amateurism, and his realistic outlook contrasted with their hopeless optimism.

In a different wording:

The humor isn’t typically found in the back-and-forth exchanges of various situations, but rather originates from the story itself. Unlike his usual role as a chaotic instigator, Deadpool in this context embodies the reader, attempting to understand and navigate through the chaos created by the GLA. Amidst the laughter, there are authentic instances of connection that may seem strange, but they’re genuinely present.

What makes this unique is Deadpool encountering a group of individuals who face hardships even more challenging than his own, yet they approach their struggles with unyielding optimism instead of despair. This quality manages to tug at even Deadpool’s heartstrings.

Great Lakes Avengers Are a Story Not Even Deadpool Could Make Up

As a passionate Marvel enthusiast, I must confess that though this team-up between the GLA and some famous heroes was amusing and tugged at my heartstrings, it’s an event that many fans might not recall ever happening. To begin with, the GLA isn’t one of Marvel’s main superhero groups; they tend to lurk on the outskirts of the Marvel Universe, only occasionally stepping into the limelight. Secondly, their story was told in a special one-shot issue dedicated to the GLA, which means that even if the team were more popular, it would have required substantial marketing from Marvel to garner much interest without a lot of hype. Lastly, this tale was published over a decade ago, making it something only devoted fans of either Deadpool or the GLA would actively search for today.

In this unique team-up of Deadpool and GLA, humor arises as Deadpool’s trademark eccentricity is flipped on its head. By immersing him in a setting he finds ludicrous himself, the story cleverly switches roles – with Deadpool now playing the serious character instead of the comic relief. This role reversal, where the straight-faced Deadpool becomes the source of laughter, adds an extra layer of hilarity to the story. The tale beautifully demonstrates Deadpool’s character by placing him in a situation that is far from his league, making him squirm and, slowly but surely, even showing signs of reluctant concern. This one-shot comic is a hidden treasure, reinforcing the idea that the funniest jokes are often the ones that slip under the radar.

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2025-08-23 23:10