Deadpool (2nd series) #61 / Deadpool : Funeral For A Freak #1

Issue Date: 
February 2002
Story Title: 
Funeral For A Freak - part 1

Frank Tieri (writer), J. Calafiore (penciler), Jon Holdredge (inker), Tom Chu’s Color Dojo (colors), Dave Sharpe (letters), Mike Raicht (assistant editor), Mike Marts (editor), Joe Quesada (editor in chief), Bill Jemas (president)

Brief Description: 

Following his death last issue, Deadpool is now a ghost and attends his own funeral. There are touching scenes like Syrin placing a rose in the coffin, but also humerpus ones, as Deadpool takes over the bodies of the guests and causes a fight. He then moves on to the afterlife, passing many famous dead characters, until he reaches a replica of Bates Motel. Inside he finds mistress Death waiting for him, and right as they are about to get it on, Deadpool is pulled back to life by a mysterious fuigure using some magical energies. Deadpool bursts out of his grave, his body now emanating some incredible stench.

Full Summary: 

Deadpool finds himself lying on the ground, apparently unharmed, despite being taken apart by the Weapon X Project last issue. He is quite happy, until somebody taps him on the shoulder. It’s Bruce Willis from the Sixth Sense movie, and Halley Joel Osmet who played the kid. They tell Deadpool that he is dead, and angrily he kicks their asses.
Deadpool takes a look around, it’s a graveyard, in front of his grave is the open coffin. Inside are a picture of him, his costume, and his right hand – his only remains. Quite many friends and mercenaries are attending his funeral : Wolverine, Typhoid Mary, the crew from the Hellhouse, Kid Deadpool, Zoe Culloden and Monty, to name a few. Shortly after the priest has staretd the service, the Lightning Rods arrive. Big Bertha takes a seat, unaware that Deadpool’s ghost is sitting on that chair; he passes through her, but looks disgusted. Right then a card flies by his head. It ricochets off a tree and into the coffin, landing in the open hand. Bullseye has thrown the ace, it’s his way of passing his respect.
Next up are Weasel and Blind Al. Seeing them, Deadpool has a wicked idea. He jumps into Weasel, taking over his body, and leads Blind Al to the grave. The poor woman falls into it, head on. Deadpool leaves Weasel and has a good laugh.
Deadpool is curious who are next to pass their condolescences, and he is stunned to see Syrin and her friend Warpath. Theresa places a rose in the coffin, and kisses the hand with tears in her eyes. Deadpool kisses Terry on the forehead and he sadly looks after her as she leaves.
Suddenly Wolverine recognizes something, and Deadpool checks what he is looking at. On a nearby hill is a limosine with the Weapon X recruits standing besides it. As they get in the car, Sabretooth points towards Logan, as if he is next on the list.
Meanwhile Kid Deadpool has used a marker to “correct“ the photo of Deadpool inside the coffin. He is laughing at his own joke, and Deadpool gets an idea how to make sure that he’ll regret his deeds. He jumps into Kid Deadpool’s body and makes him pinch the Juggernaut’s butt. Then he leaves the boy’s body, and observes as he gets knocked in the face full force. A fight starts and Deadpool has a good laugh, seeing his funeral guests beating up each other.
The scene fades out, and only Deadpool remains in a great nothingness. Then he finds himself with famous dead characters (fictional and real alike). Some of them point the way to a house resembling the Bates Motel in Psycho. Inside Deadpool finds a beautiful woman lying on a bed, her head covered by a veil. Deadpool pulls it up, and underneath is a skull – it’s Death. They prepare to kiss
At night at the graveyard a mysterious figure approaches Deadpool’s grave and uses some magical energies. In the afterlife Deadpool feels something happening, and starts to fade out, as his entire body regrows from the hand in the coffin. Deadpool busts out of the grave and registeres an incredible stench. Then he realizes that it’s himself.

Characters Involved: 


Blind Al


Zoe Culloden


Kid Deadpool

Black Panther, Cable, Sasquatch, Syrin, Warpath, Wolverine

Big Bertha, Dinah Soar, Door Man, Flatman, Mr. Immortal (all Lightning Rods)

Bullseye, Constrictor, Juggernaut, Typhoid Mary

Mesmero, Sabretooth, Sauron, Wild Child (all recruits of the Wepon X program)

Brent Jackson, former S.H.I.E.L.D. agent
In the afterlife :

Halley Joel Osmet, Bruce Willis (both actors of the Sixth Sense movie)

Bucky, Captain Marvel, Battlin’ Jack Murdock, Gwen Stacy, Thunderbird

Fred Astaire, Humphrey Bogart, Archie Bunker, Albert Einstein, Benjamin Franklin, Mahatma Ghandi, Abraham Lincoln, Marilyn Monroe, Napoleon, Elvis Presley, Babe Ruth


Story Notes: 

The issue is part of Marvel’s ‘Nuff Said silent month. There is no dialogue, thought bubble or sound effect in the entire story.
In Deadpool Funeral for a Freak #3-4 / Deadpool (2nd series) #63-64 the mysterious figure turns out to be Deadpool’s old enemy T-Ray.

Issue Information: 
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