Deadpool as Philosophy: Using Humor to Rebel Against the System

When it first came out in theatres, Deadpool became one of the highest grossing rated-R movies of all time. With its violence and fourth wall-breaking humor, Deadpool energized the superhero genre at a time when all the major studios were simply trying to copy the Marvel Studios brand. But does this blood-soaked movie filled with dick jokes provide more than mere escapist entertainment? In this chapter, I will argue that Deadpool offers insight into the role that humor can play in causes of liberation in a threefold way: liberation of the self, liberation from systems of oppression, and liberation for the superhero movie genre itself.