WARNING! Potential spoilers ahead for Deadpool & Wolverine #3

Wolverine in their new team-up series, and now, the Merc With a Mouth's new codename might be the ultimate betrayal. To be fair to Deadpool, he hasn’t been in control of his actions in this storyline, as he’s been mind-controlled by Stryfe via a new substance known as Legacy 2.0 – but his new role as Marvel's "X-Cutioner" could still have major repercussions.

Marvel's preview for Deadpool & Wolverine #3 – written by Benjamin Percy, with art by Joshua Cassara – opens with Logan keeping Wade prisoner in a bar. Deadpool briefly broke free of Stryfe’s control at the end of the last issue, leading Wolverine to tie him to a chair and demand some answers.

Wolverine decides to take advantage of Deadpool’s healing factor, using violence to try and draw his mind-controlled state back out. Wolverine’s plan works, as he draws out the “X-Cutioner” programming placed there by Stryfe.

Deadpool Is Now The "X-Cutioner" – But He Is Being Controlled by Stryfe To Fight Wolverine

Deadpool & Wolverine #3 – Written By Benjamin Percy; Art By Joshua Cassara; Color By Guru-eFX; Lettering By Joe Sabino

Deadpool/Wolverine #1, Deadpool is revealed to have fallen under the influence of Stryfe, returning X-villain.

Deadpool tells Wolverine the meaning of the X-Cutioner name, saying that they “execute a plan to execute humanity.Marvel's deadly hired assassin throws out when tearing through his enemies – just pure violence. Readers get a little glimpse of Deadpool/X-Cutioner’s single-mindedness at the end of the preview, like the moment where Deadpool breaks the antlers off of a mounted deer's head. Wade is willing to use everything at his disposal to accomplish his mission.

Stryfe’s plan doesn’t seem to be connected to the previous X-Cutioner, but anything is possible in the remaining issues of Deadpool & Wolverine.

It’s interesting that Stryfe would choose to call the mind-controlled Deadpool “X-Cutioner,” as it’s the same name of a previous X-villain. including Shi’ar body armor and propulsion boots based on Sentinel technology. So far, Stryfe’s plan doesn’t seem to be connected to the previous X-Cutioner, but anything is possible in the remaining issues of Deadpool & Wolverine.

Deadpool's New "X-Cutioner" Role Complicates His Heroic Status In The Marvel Universe

Wade Wilson Betrays Wolverine Again

Deadpool Wolverine #5 Comic Cover Art

Deadpool and Wolverine’s friendship has always been shaky at best, but Deadpool’s latest turn against Wolverine might be the most brutal betrayal in their relationship yet. Doubly complicating factors are the events currently playing out in the Weapon X-Men miniseries, which features Deadpool being hired by Baron Von Strucker to betray Wolverine and other team-mates Cable, Chamber and Thunder-Bird. However things play out, Wolverine is going to have to prepare fro the fight of his life if he wants to survive the mind-controlled Deadpool.

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Deadpool & Wolverine #3 will be available March 19, 2025 from Marvel Comics

  • Deadpool in Comic Cover Art
    Alias
    Wade Wilson
    Created By
    Fabian Nicieza, Rob Liefeld
    POWERS
    Healing factor, regeneration, superhuman strength and agility,
    Franchise
    Marvel
    Birthday
    November 22
    Height
    6'2”

    The merc with the mouth first appeared in an issue of New Mutants in 1990, and since then has gone on to get his own series and a massive cult following. With his incredible powers of healing and regeneration, Deadpool was initially depicted as an X-Men villain but went on to become an anti-hero. After getting his own movie series starting in 2016, the third Deadpool movie finally brings the wisecracking, fourth-wall-breaking character into the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

  • Wolverine in Comic Art by Leinil Yu
    NAME
    James "Logan" Howlett
    Alias
    James "Logan" Howlett
    Created By
    Roy Thomas, Len Wein, John Romita Sr.
    POWERS
    Retractible claws and Adamantium skeleton. Superhuman senses, stamina, and strength. Healing factor and longevity.
    Franchise
    X-Men, Marvel
    Age
    197 (in the MCU)

    The human mutant Wolverine (a.k.a. Logan) was born James Howlett, blessed with a superhuman healing factor, senses, and physiology. Subjecting himself to experimentation to augment his skeleton and claws with adamantium, Logan is as deadly as he is reckless, impulsive, and short-tempered. Making him the X-Men's wildest and deadliest member, and one of Marvel Comics' biggest stars. He's played in Fox and Marvel's movie franchises by Hugh Jackman.