Deadpool is known for his wide array of weapons, but a variant cover reveals what could be one of his most powerful assets—his own Iron Man armor.

Throughout his comics history Deadpool has frequently been a character who wishes he was someone or something else and a variant cover for a 2010 Iron Man comic shows exactly the kind of idealized mechanical mercenary he envisions himself to be. Tony Stark has always been known for his sleek red and gold armor, but Wade’s crimson and black makes him much more menacing. Almost as if it was straight out of Deadpool’s dreams, the Invincible Iron Man #23’s cover showcases Deadpool’s sleek armor in all its glory.

Wade Wilson has always dreamed about being a knight in shining armor and this Iron Man armor finally gives him the chance to live out that dream. This isn’t the only time Deadpool has been granted his wish, however. He was given the chance to be his "ideal self" in Deadpool Secret Comic, a series of variant covers that formed a comic when read together. In the story written by Gerry Duggan and illustrated by Scott Koblish, Deadpool has to astral project into his own mind in order to acquire a mystical object sought out by Dormammu. Within his own mental projection, Deadpool takes the form of a robotic version of himself, complete with a handsome face and suave mustache.

Deadpool’s ideal self being a handsome man in a suit of armor shows that deep down no matter how much he tries to play it off, he still cares about how he is perceived. Deadpool has always been a character riddled with insecurities and what better defense mechanism is there than a literal suit of armor chock full of defense mechanisms? The Deadpool variant cover for Invincible Iron Man #23 by artist Salvador Larroca perfectly illustrates what this armor might look like. The ‘Merc With A Mouth’ has a long history of hiding his scars behind his mask, often keeping it on when meeting people to maintain the facade of normalcy, but the pain of his deformities still lingers. Deadpool has expressed his desire to look different on a multitude of occasions and the Deadpool Armor is the perfect vehicle to protect his ego.

Aside from protecting the mercenary himself, the Deadpool Armor could no doubt do some serious damage to his enemies if given the opportunity. Iron Man’s arsenal is notorious for having some of the most powerful weapons and complex technology available in the Marvel Universe—all of which would be devastatingly potent in Deadpool’s hands. The armor could also come with specific customizations for Deadpool himself, as Iron Man is no stranger to creating armors made for one task in particular. Additionally, Deadpool’s regenerative abilities would allow him to engage in much more dangerous aerial combat without the normal risks associated with crashing, burning, or getting crushed.

All in all, Deadpool’s Iron Man armor has the potential to be much cooler than any of Tony Stark’s more traditional suits. Its sleek design lends to a menacing air the other suits just can’t compete with. It’s safe to say that if Deadpool ever got his hands on his own Iron Man armor, the Marvel universe is in for a whole lot of trouble…and explosions….lots and lots of explosions.

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