The mercenary survived the Dark Age of Comics (the 90s) relatively unscathed and remained popular - albeit after undergoing drastic character changes. Deadpool and Widdle Wade Team-Up #1 depicts a key moment in Wilson's origin - a moment that went unused by the hero's cinematic debut.
Deadpool first debuted in The New Mutants #98 in 1991. A creation of celebrated comic book artist and writer Rob Liefeld, Deadpool was rather stoic in his first few issues, which would no doubt be quite surprising to many current-day fans of the character. Perhaps his initial popularity was owed to his simple costume and mask (the 90s was an era in which nearly all new characters were overloaded with ammo pouches, tactical gear, long, flowing elements like hair, bandanas and capes, and oversized shoulder pads) that allowed him to stick out from the crowd. But his sense of humor and medium awareness, while not emerging until the late 90s and early 2000s, cemented the character's popularity for a new decade.
In Deadpool and Widdle Wade Team Up #1, the Merc with a Mouth is thrown into a flashback sequence (with appropriate lampshade-hanging) in which Wade Wilson re his past as - of all things - a sumo wrestler. He's tasked with infiltrating the entire compound, and as such undergoes sumo training (which includes very little besides learning fighting techniques and eating), learning from the Oyakata himself (his master). He rises through the ranks, eventually becoming the heir to the entire compound - and falling in love with Sazae. Unfortunately, he receives distressing orders: he must assassinate his master the Oyakata.
For the first time in his life, Deadpool can't go through with it. He abandons his mission, knocking out his beloved and running away. This shows a very human side to Deadpool that the two released films weren't entirely successful at capturing. The character is frequently irreverent and at times nonsensical, but he still has human qualities and perhaps regrets his pre-Weapon H past as an assassin.
Deadpool has had a very storied history, but he rarely mentions those whom he ires. The Oyakata was one of them (he even attributes his survival and success to his intense training at the Sumo compound) and once the bond grew close, Deadpool had no intention of ever going through with his contract. Deadpool is known for his humor, but diehard fans of the character know that the character is far from the heartless and inane assassin depicted in most stories.
