Deadpool – Back in Black #5 (2016)
🧬 Genre
Action, Superhero, Sci-Fi, Dark Comedy
🦸♂️ Main Characters
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Deadpool (Wade Wilson) – The Merc with a Mouth, temporarily bonded with the Venom symbiote
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Venom Symbiote – Alien organism seeking a compatible host
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Spider-Man (Peter Parker) – Appears in his iconic black suit from his own symbiote days
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Taskmaster – Mercenary villain with photographic reflexes
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The Beyonder – A cosmic entity briefly influencing events behind the scenes
✍️ Writer
Cullen Bunn – Known for his dynamic storytelling across Marvel's darker and alternate timelines, Bunn infuses this series with humor, violence, and character-driven chaos.
🎨 Artist
Salvador Espin – Espin’s expressive, animated style captures Deadpool’s exaggerated antics and fluid symbiote transformations with energetic panel layouts and vibrant action sequences.
📝 Editor Details
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Editor: Devin Lewis
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Assistant Editor: Allison Stock
Their careful direction balances the absurdist comedy with a surprisingly emotional undercurrent, keeping the issue cohesive despite its high-octane pace.
🏢 Publisher and Brand
Marvel Comics
Branding: Marvel Legacy
📅 Release Year
2016
📖 Brief Plot Summary
In the explosive conclusion to Back in Black, Deadpool—still bonded with the Venom symbiote—is pushed to his limits as enemies close in. The black-suited Spider-Man enters the fray, confused and suspicious about the symbiote’s reappearance. Taskmaster, eager to collect on contracts, adds to the chaos. The issue features brutal action, tongue-in-cheek quips, and a tug-of-war for control between Wade and the alien entity. Ultimately, the symbiote parts ways with Deadpool, having found something deeper in the merc’s fractured psyche than it expected.
🧩 Notable Arcs or Storylines
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Symbiote’s Journey Before Eddie Brock: This series bridges the gap in Marvel history by showing that the Venom symbiote briefly bonded with Deadpool after Spider-Man rejected it and before it found Eddie Brock.
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Deadpool’s Forgotten Past: The storyline lightly teases that Deadpool's interactions with the symbiote may have been erased or deliberately forgotten, adding mystery to the timeline.
🧠 Fan Theories or Interpretations
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Retcon Timeline Theory: Some fans believe this series cleverly retrofits Deadpool into Venom’s early origin, suggesting he had a stronger mental bond with the symbiote than even Spider-Man or Brock.
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Deadpool as the Symbiote’s Ideal Match: Due to Wade's instability and healing factor, fans speculate that he may have been the perfect long-term host if not for his chaotic morality.
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The Beyonder’s Subtle Influence: A few eagle-eyed readers point out The Beyonder’s brief appearance as a hint that these events may have been manipulated for cosmic amusement.
🧾 Review Summary
Deadpool – Back in Black #5 wraps the mini-series with a thrilling mix of slapstick violence and dark emotional undertones. Cullen Bunn’s script balances laugh-out-loud moments with genuine tension, while Salvador Espin’s art delivers high-energy action and expressive character work. The chemistry between Deadpool and the symbiote is surprisingly complex, and Spider-Man’s cameo adds nostalgic value. For fans of both Venom lore and Deadpool’s irreverent charm, this finale is a satisfying blend of chaos and character depth. 🧨🎭🕸️
🔥 Deadpool meets Venom. Black-suit Spidey joins. Madness ensues.
Comic Resource / Read Online (External Source)
