For everything Ryan Reynolds got right about Deadpool in the movies, there’s one little detail that he got wrong in a surprisingly adorable way. After Marvel fans and even Reynolds himself called out the unfaithful portrayal of fan-favorite character Deadpool in the film X-Men Origins: Wolverine, the actor had a second chance to prove himself worthy of the character in the 2016 film Deadpool. The film was a critical and financial success, with fans lauding Reynolds for bringing the character to life. The film was so popular in fact that it spawned a hit sequel in 2018. Reynolds redeemed the character in the movies with his foul-mouthed humor, violent fighting style and constant breaking of the fourth wall. However, there’s one detail about him that he ended up getting wrong.
In the Deadpool movies, the Merc with a Mouth is constantly shown writing with a childlike mindset. The words that he includes are certainly legible, but they have a grade school level of handwriting. This is best shown when Deadpool is on the upper highway waiting for Francis and his convoy. He’s listening to “Shoop” by Salt-N-Pepa and drawing himself killing Francis with a cartoony style with Francis saying “Ouchie” in pretty childish handwriting. It’s a visual way to reflect the childlike mentality of the character as he views himself as a crass and violent Saturday morning cartoon kind of hero, which was a huge hit for fans like James Gunn. What moviegoers may find shocking though is that Deadpool’s handwriting is a bit different in the comics.
In the comics, Deadpool is actually a skilled calligrapher. When working with the Thunderbolts in Thunderbolts #23 by Charles Soule and Carlo Barberi, he has an opportunity to sign his name. The reader is then given a look at his beautifully crafted signature. Even Elektra of all people, who has a hatred for Deadpool, gives him credit where it’s due by saying he has “lovely handwriting.” It’s a far cry from how Deadpool is portrayed in the movies, giving him a skill that most readers may not expect from someone who has a passion for killing people. Skilled handwriting takes a lot of time and patience, which is something that Deadpool may not have since he needs to keep moving to make sure his next target doesn’t get away.
What’s even more interesting is that Deadpool actually treasures his calligraphy craft. After Elektra compliments him on his handwriting skills, he responds to her with, “I think it’s a crime, the way schools today neglect the fundamentals.” To him, handwriting is an essential skill in life. It may take a lot of work to train as a mercenary-for-hire with the need to know how to fight and sneak around while he isn’t joking, but showcasing a talent in calligraphy is also key to better communication. After all, if Deadpool can’t get across who he is and what he’s doing through writing, how is he expected to succeed if his enemies are just constantly confused?
Given what Ryan Reynolds was going for with the movie version of Deadpool, it’s understandable why this key skill of his was omitted. It’s a visual reflection for what’s going on within his mind as he tries to hunt down Francis and get back with the woman he loves, so it’s understandably eccentric. Still, it’s pretty adorable knowing that his comic counterpart actually treasures well-done handwriting. In fact, in Cable #3 Deadpool utilizes a quill to show off his beautiful handwriting. Ryan Reynolds‘ change to Deadpool is certainly a minor one, but it’s still a change that misses out on one of the Merc with a Mouth’s most adorable talents.
