Slade Wilson and Wade Wilson. Just hearing the respective names of Deathstroke and Deadpool can become confusing over time. Fans have argued over whether or not Marvel's Deadpool is a rip-off of DC's Deathstroke for years, and Deadpool's creator Rob Liefeld has apparently had enough. He recently took to the web to highlight the fundamental differences between these two comic book mercenaries, and the results were nothing if not hilarious. Check out the video below to see more.
Rob Liefeld must have consumed an entire pot of coffee before recording this video for Nerdy Pop, because he came out of the gates sprinting. Over the course of a few short minutes, the creator of Deadpool calls out "DC Bros," and gives a very thorough and in-depth explanation for how Deadpool isn't so similar to Deathstroke. Citing everything from the color differences in their outfits, to the differences in the looks under their respective masks, Liefeld deconstructs Slade and Wade to make his case for how they're simply not the same character. In fact, he even makes a point that Deathstroke's outfit shares more similarities with Captain America than Deadpool, with its incorporation of chain mail. He mostly plays the video for laughs, and in that regard he definitely succeeds.
The differences between these characters will have to become even more pronounced in the very near future, because they will both be on the center stage in major cinematic universes. Die hard comic book fans know the differences between these two, but mainstream audiences presumably aren't quite as astute. Ryan Reynolds finally got the opportunity to take on the role of Deadpool in a solo film earlier this year, and left an insane mark on the character. An unknown actor (rumored to be Joe Manganiello) will do the same for Slade Wilson when Ben Affleck's solo Batman movie finally hits theaters. With both Wade Wilson and Slade Wilson taking up space on the silver screen, it will be up to filmmakers to do their best in showcasing the differences between them -- which isn't always the easiest thing to do.
We know that this video is going to send some of you into a furious rage in which you try to explain how Deadpool is in fact a rip-off of Deathstroke. First, we need you to calm down. Second, we need you to understand that it ultimately doesn't even matter. Much like the comparisons between Darkseid and Thanos, the similarities between Deadpool and Deathstroke are non-issues because they've become fundamentally different characters over time. Deathstroke has a far darker, and more straight-laced personality, while Deadpool defines himself by his consistent fourth wall breaks and use of vulgar humor. Even if Rob Liefeld took inspiration from Slade Wilson to create Wade Wilson, Deadpool has still evolved over the years to become his own unique entity.
Of course, this debate will probably never come to an end. Fans have already formed their own opinions about each of these characters, and it's hard to shake a fan's beliefs once they have solidified. We will just have to wait and see how Deadpool and Deathstroke evolve on the silver screen over the next few years.
