With its unfathomable power, the Infinity Gauntlet has always been one of the most coveted items in the Marvel Universe. In comics, film and TV, the Gauntlet's been wielded by the likes of Thanos, Adam Warlock, Nebula, Captain America and Iron Man. Given the massive amount of power it uses, stories about the Infinity Gauntlet usually involved serious, universal threats.
However, Deadpool completely turned that idea on its head when he briefly wielded the Infinity Gauntlet in 2015's Deadpool #45. In "Deadpool Roasts the Marvel Universe," by Gerry Duggan, Brian Posehn and Scott Koblish, the Merc with a Mouth takes one of the most powerful items in the Marvel Universe to make some jokes about Thanos, himself and ultimately, Marvel readers.
While the main story in Deadpool #45 concludes that volume of the series with the end of the world as a tie-in to Secret Wars, the rest of the comic is filled with side stories that see Deadpool interacting with many Marvel characters. The issue concludes, however, with this oddly poignant tale. Editor Jordan D. White introduces the tale with a tongue and cheek note, claiming it is a supposedly lost story, like several other stories in that volume of the series, casting aside the anachronistic characters who appear in the book.
The story begins with Deadpool successfully obtaining an unknown item for a mysterious client. It is quickly revealed that he is working for Thanos the Mad Titan, who appears flying his signature Thanos Copter, a throwback reference to a goofy story appearing in Spidey Super Stories #39. Thanos hired Deadpool to steal the Cosmic Cube, which Thanos says is the only artifact powerful enough to challenge his Infinity Gauntlet. In typical Deadpool fashion, however, he uses the Cosmic Cube to pull a switcheroo and snatch the Infinity Gauntlet right off of Thanos' arm.
After blasting Thanos to smithereens, Deadpool uses his boundless new powers to organize an impromptu roast so that he can get back at everyone who's kept him down for years. However, before his plan can get into full swing, his roast is turned on its head by none other than Howard the Duck, who turns it into a roast of Deadpool himself. Wade Wilson is then subjected to a barrage of bad jokes and insults from characters like the Hulk, Spider-Man, and his friend, the ghost of Benjamin Franklin. Needless to say, the comedy falls pretty flat for the most part, much to the chagrin of Howard, though Deadpool gets a chance to get some zingers in.
Finally, Deadpool get his turn at the podium. After making a few cracks at the real-world creative team, Deadpool unleashes a barrage of jokes at the audience. Even though Deadpool's power over the gauntlet ensures that the slew of Marvel mainstays acts out of character by laughing and cavorting, there is a dark undertone to the proceedings.
As Deadpool uses the Gauntlet's power to make everyone laugh, Deadpool realizes how remarkably unfunny his life really is. While he may act like clown, that funny facade hide a history wracked by torture, sickness, pain and death. Ultimately, he realizes the true reason behind his suffering: the reader. Breaking the fourth wall, Deadpool calls out the comic book readers who pick up every issue and enjoy his existence as a broken and suffering person. Fortunately, Howard the Duck intervenes before anything else breaks down, and Deadpool pushes a hard reset on the whole affair, giving the gauntlet back to Thanos in his copter before being summarily dumped in the river.
While Deadpool's tenure with Marvel's ultimate power wasn't long, it's fitting that he'd only use his brief omnipotence to get a few laughs before realizing how hollow that laughter really is.
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