Deadpool’s Healing Factor is The Opposite of Wolverine’s, Not The Same

There are many similarities between Deadpool and Wolverine, though the aspect that many fans believed to be the same between the two characters couldn’t be any more different. While Deadpool and Wolverine are both practically immortal because of their respective healing factors, the way the two abilities work within their bodies are very different. 

As opposed to Wolverine, who was born with a healing factor as part of his inherited mutation, Deadpool was given his power through highly advanced experimentation which turned him from a normal human to a human weapon. Aside from the training Wade Wilson had under his belt working as a mercenary, he had no natural-born abilities as he is a mutate, not a mutant. Since Wade wasn’t born with mutant powers, his body reacted differently to the introduction of mutated cells, mutilating his face, ravaging his mind, and turning Wade Wilson into the Deadpool fans know and love today. 

Breaking down the differences between Deadpool and Wolverine’s healing factors, Wolverine’s power is constantly healing itself to its original healthy form, including the constant fight against adamantium poisoning. Deadpool’s healing factor, since it was engineered and not produced naturally in his body, was specifically made for him. Wade suffered from cancer before taking part in Weapon X experimentation, so his healing factor was designed to constantly recreate cells that were constantly being killed by his cancer. 

As shown in Deadpool #3 written by Daniel Way with art by Paco Medina, Juan Vlasco, and Marte Gracia, even though Deadpool wasn’t born with his healing factor, he is the only living organism it works for. In the issue, Skrulls try to steal Deadpool’s powers to make a Deadpool-Skrull army, hoping to enhance their soldiers enough to be unstoppable. What they didn’t account for, however, was due to the properties of Deadpool’s healing factor, the soldiers were having cells created throughout their body that they didn’t need, turning them into grotesque and useless versions of themselves. 

On the surface, it is easy to assume Wolverine and Deadpool have the same healing factor, though the difference has always presented itself to fans any time Deadpool lost a limb. Whenever Deadpool loses an arm in a sword fight or is torn in half, he always grows his limbs back. Wolverine, however, cannot grow his limbs back as shown through his Age of Apocalypse variant who lost a hand that didn’t replace itself. Wolverine’s wounds would heal, but the limb would be lost since he cannot recreate missing cells as Deadpool can. Deadpool and Wolverine’s healing factors may seem like they are the same, but in fact they are very much opposites.

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