Deadpool Co-Creator Waffles About the Character’s Canonical Omnisexuality
Deadpool has a crush on Thor, and it’s canon and no one can change it now, damn it, no matter what Deadpool co-creator Fabian Nicieza has to say!
Okay, I guess the Deadpool creators and writers can walk it back if they want. I guess it’s technically their decision. Or whatever. But I can’t help but feel disappointed by Nicieza’s somewhat dismissive responses to the fans who’ve asked him over and over about Deadpool’s sexuality.
After Nicieza got annoyed about having to answer in the first place—”been dogged with the DP sexuality questions for YEARS. It is a bit tiring”—he went on to say,
He is NO sex and ALL sexes. He is yours and everyone else’s. So not dismissive, but rather the epitome of inclusive.
DP brain cells are in CONSTANT FLUX. He can be gay one minute, hetero the next, etc. ALL ARE VALID.
Funny how you don’t understand the character at all regardless of his (or your) perceived sexuality. It is why he is insane, why his memory is so flawed, and why he was able to survive the cancer in his system. It is why he can like something one minute and hate it the next. It has ALWAYS been a part of the character’s makeup. You’re arguing with the guy who introduced the omnisexual, pansexual, heterosexual, homosexual, etc. aspects of the character!
First of all, Nicieza, people ask you about this a lot because it’s exciting to see alternative sexualities represented in comics. Not just hinted at, or teased, or queer-baited—but canonically represented, with a blessing from the creator. That almost never happens. That’s why people keep asking you about it. We are all excited, and we want you to just let us have this.
Secondly, Nicieza’s answer seems sort of okay until the second half, where he lumps in Deadpool’s sexuality with the character’s fictional disability. Since Deadpool’s healing factor-plus-cancer combo doesn’t quite have a real-life equivalent, it’s hard to argue with his creators and writers about whether or not that depiction seems “accurate” according to what life is like for actual chronic pain sufferers.
This “brain cells” answer is also, apparently, a great way to dodge any complaints about Deadpool’s characterization; if his personality keeps changing all the time, then I guess canon doesn’t and can’t exist for him. Suuuuure. That’s one way to get out of answering the question.
But does Nicieza really want to imply that Deadpool’s sexuality can be explained by his mental illness? Put in that way, it sounds real bad, doesn’t it? And yet, that’s unfortunately what Nicieza’s answer implies. But, of course, Nicieza tells us not to argue with him, because this part of Deadpool was his idea. What if we complain too much and he waves his magical author wand and takes it all away? After all, nothing is canon!
Seriously though, Nicieza has nothing to lose and everything to gain by confirming this. Couching his answer behind this many caveats feels like he’s ashamed rather than proud of the idea of Deadpool being canonically into any ol’ gender. But, hey, I’m the person who wrote a couple thousand words about Deadpool’s varied characterizations, so maybe I’m a little biased myself. What do you think about Nicieza’s responses?
(via Comic Book Resources)
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