Warning: Spoilers for Deadpool #10!Deadpool is one of Marvel's most enduring figures - literally, as his regenerative abilities allow him to recover from virtually any injury, no matter how severe. But as it turns out, these healing powers can be problematic for a mercenary, and Deadpool's failing business is proof that a lifetime of taking his healing for granted has done Deadpool more harm than good.

Wade Wilson is finally back in Deadpool #10 by Cody Ziglar and Rogê Antônio. Having been restored to life by his daughter, Ellie, Deadpool is eager to return to business as a father-daughter team. But Deadpool's skills are lacking, as pointed out by his teammate and fellow mercenary, Taskmaster, in a preview for the issue.

Taskmaster derides Deadpool as having fallen into the habit of "usin' [healing] as a crutch...yer gonna need to think when you fight," calling attention to the fact that Deadpool has grown so used to being virtually invincible that he's become sloppy and predictable in combat.

Deadpool Is Too Used to Being a Damage Sponge to Be Useful

Deadpool #10 by Cody Ziglar, Rogê Antônio, Guru-eFX, and Joe Sabino

It's true that, over the years, Deadpool has become famous for sustaining a ludicrous amount of damage. Being a punching bag has become one of the character's staple elements and is often the source from which much of Deadpool's comedy is derived: for example, in Weapon X-Traction by Ryan North and Javier Garrón, it swiftly becomes a running joke for Wolverine to use Deadpool as a cushion when the two keep falling from extreme heights, leaving Wade Wilson splattered on the ground. At this point, Deadpool's trademark tactic is to charge into any situation, guns blazing, while complaining about his inevitable injuries.

Although Deadpool has since returned to life, the aftereffects of Death Grip's attack mean that he can no longer use his infinitely regenerating body as a blunt-force solution.

But in Deadpool #4 by Ziglar and Antônio, Deadpool's healing factor was drastically reduced by the villain Death Grip, who subsequently returned to finish Deadpool off in Deadpool #6 by the same creative team. Although Deadpool has since returned to life, the aftereffects of Death Grip's attack mean that he can no longer use his infinitely regenerating body as a blunt-force solution. While Deadpool can still make incredible recoveries from bullet wounds and the like, Taskmaster is quite blunt when he points out that Deadpool's "days of growin' back arms n' legs are over."

Deadpool Needs to Re-Learn How to Fight - Or Die

Can Wade Wilson Survive Without a Regenerative Healing Factor?

When Deadpool doesn't have his healing to fall back upon, it's clear how sloppy his fights have become. Gone are the days when Deadpool could pick up his severed arm and use it to continue fighting; that's now as critical and debilitating an injury for him as it would be for any other opponent. But that invincible mindset remains: when training with Taskmaster in Deadpool #10, Deadpool's sole strategy is to charge blindly at his opponent, only to be shut down each time. Deadpool's reliance on his overpowered healing has become the character's biggest tactical weakness.

The 2024 Deadpool run has seen many changes to the Merc with a Mouth, but the reduction of his healing factor is a major shift in the status quo. Deadpool has been able to adapt to many situations, but only time will tell if turning his super-powered healing into his biggest vulnerability will be a step too far for Wade Wilson to overcome.

Deadpool #10 is available January 29th, 2025 from Marvel Comics.