How Deadpool Hulked Out & Became Pirates With The Thing

When one hears the name Deadpool, it is already assumed that things are about to get wacky. Known for busting the fourth wall and being absolutely crazy, Deadpool definitely sets the bar high for zany when it comes to Marvel Comics, but sometimes, his adventures get so weird, they don’t even sound real. This is definitely the case for Hulked Out Heroes #1, when Deadpool becomes the Hulk, travels back in time, and becomes a pirate with The Thing. Yes, that was a real sentence: Hulked-out Deadpool becomes a pirate with clobbering master The Thing.

Part of the World War Hulk crossover, Hulked Out Heroes served as a two-issue mini-series. Published in June 2010, the mini crossover event was written by Jeff Parker. The series featured some fan-favorite characters getting “hulkified,” giving readers a glimpse at what may happen to some of their favorite heroes if dosed with gamma.

Recently transformed, Deadpool, now “Hulkpool,” adventures with his long time pal Bob, who now works for A.I.M. Using a time machine that Red Hulk stole from Doctor Doom, Bob sends Hulkpool back in time so he can kill his past Deadpool self. Unfortunately Bob really has no idea what he is doing when it comes to the time machine, and Hulkpool finds himself on a pirate ship in 1717. Oddly enough, at the exact same moment Doom sent the Fantastic Four back in time in order to retrieve Blackbeard’s treasure… with Ben Grimm a.k.a. The Thing now claiming the role.

The appearance of Hulkpool is quite lucky, as a storm is about to take the ship out. Using his newfound Hulk strength, Hulkpool is able to push off the storm with a single clap, which immediately earns him the rank of first mate. Months later, Captain Blackbeardthing and Hulkpool have become the closest of friends. Suddenly, their ship is attacked by the British Royal Navy. Hulkpool and the Thing forgo the need of canons, using their own super strength to hurl cannonballs at their attackers (a remarkably effective strategy). When the British succeed in summoning a Kraken to take out these infamous threats, the time machine luckily returns to send both the Thing and Hulkpool — as well as the Kraken — hurling through time to the present. Well, technically they still have to head to the Old West, but that is a story for another day.

The second issue wraps up this wild tale with even more weirdness after Hulkpool teams up with Captain America to defeat Adolf Hitler and the Red Skull. Bob attempts to bring Hulkpool back through time, and through a series of mishaps accidentally prevents the origin story of many favorite Marvel heroes. Ultimately, Hulkpool is able to kill the original Deadpool, resetting the timeline back to the normal Marvel timeline fans have come to know and love. All in a day’s work for Wade Wilson.