Wolverine’s path of revenge has finally caught up with Deadpool, and the end result is incredibly dark. Their final meeting is equal parts poignant and brutal, concluding with Wolverine killing Deadpool in a way that’s undeniably dark, but also incredibly intelligent; their final meeting also provides new insight into their relationship with one another.

Wolverine: Revenge #3 by Jonathan Hickman, Greg Capullo, Tim Townsend, FCO Plascencia, and Cory Petit features Wolverine crossing the rest of his names off his kill list, with Deadpool among them. After killing Sabretooth, Wolverine makes his way through the rest of the Brotherhood by sailing to Russia. Once he arrives, he seeks out Omega Red and strangles him with his carbonadium tentacles before hanging him from a tree with them. Logan then makes it to the top of a melting nuclear reactor, where he finds Deadpool sitting and waiting.

The two exchange last words, with Wade expressing remorse for his actions with the Brotherhood. As Deadpool plans to jump into the reactor, Logan stops Wade, telling him this isn’t the answer, before personally pushing Wade into the nuclear reactor, killing Deadpool for good.

Deadpool’s Death by Wolverine’s Hands Is Undeniably Brutal

But Also Incredibly Clever

This method of execution is unquestionably brutal, even for Logan’s already violent nature, but it makes perfect sense when considering how powerful Deadpool’s healing factor is. Since Deadpool’s healing factor is derived from Logan’s, he has one of the strongest healing factors in the Marvel Universe, and his cancer cells leave his healing factor in a permanent state of overdrive. As brutal as pushing Deadpool into a melting down nuclear reactor is, it’s quite possibly the only surefire way that Wolverine has to kill Deadpool, since his bike with Forge’s nullifier was destroyed during his previous fight with Sabretooth.

Both of these men have an incredible amount of blood on their hands and handle their guilt differently.

This ending to Wolverine and Deadpool’s relationship comes as a tragic turn of events, especially given their history in the main Marvel Universe. Logan and Wade started out as bitter enemies, with many of their earliest meetings having them at one another’s throats. Over time and many team ups, they grew to enjoy a mutual respect, bonding over their shared traumas in the Weapon X program and their bloody histories. Both of these men have an incredible amount of blood on their hands and handle their guilt differently.

Wolverine and Deadpool Have Always Had a Complicated Relationship

Making This Kill Even More Bittersweet

This aspect of their bonding makes its way into Wolverine: Revenge, as Wade remarks that he chose wrong by joining the Brotherhood, as well as admitting that this mistake was too far beyond the pale for anyone to overlook. The last words they exchange are Logan asking if people like them can be forgiven for their sins, with Wade saying yes before Logan disagrees and pushes him into the reactor. This last conversation highlights the ultimate difference between these two men: Logan makes mistakes but tries to be better, whereas Wade keeps on making the wrong choices.

This final meeting between Wolverine and Deadpool is brutal and poignant. Wade’s demise is unbelievably brutal, but makes the most sense given how powerful his healing factor is. Additionally, their last encounter highlights one of the strongest aspects of their relationship in the main Marvel Universe, leveraging that to explore what makes these characters different. While Wolverine walks away from this encounter, this last meeting between him and Deadpool is like the Merc With a Mouth himself: violent but bittersweet.

Wolverine: Revenge #3 is available now from Marvel Comics.