A few weeks ago there was a scene in Hawkeye vs. Deadpool #1 that raised some controversy among Deadpool’s disabled fans (see full details here) The controversy wasn’t with the scene itself, as many disabled bloggers sadly related to the ableism presented in Kate Bishop’s character but were happy with the accurate representation of what we deal with on Halloween; no, the controversy was with able-bodied/neurotypical fans who are reluctant to believe that Deadpool is even disabled at all or are unable to understand disability in general.

What I’m presenting to you now is an introduction to Deadpool in the specific context of his disabilities and I will try to point out the most reoccurring themes that disabled people know to be ableism but able-bodied/neurotypical people might not have noticed.

Deadpool has a variety undiagnosed and undefined mental illnesses. Most assume they are either the result of his brain cancer or the ongoing medical torture he’s received throughout the years

Very little is known about Deadpool before his diagnosis of terminal cancer but regardless of whether he was neurologically divergent before this time or not his childhood was very hard in ways that disabled children are very familiar with

Parental/caretaker abuse/abandonment

(Which recoccurred in his adulthood)

and socially “other–ring” in childhood

As stated before, Deadpool has undergone medical testing and abuse time and time again to the point where one diagnosis we can easily make is PTSD

Anxiety also seems clearly straightforward

as is depression and suicidal tendencies

In fact, his most popular romance with the personification of Death itself is debated to be real (as the personification of Death is an actual character within the Marvel 616 universe) or “all in his head”

The only clear physical disabilities are his deformities

(which formed as a result of medical experimentation after his diagnosis:)

and chronic pain

What isn’t as clear are what fans debate might be schizophrenia

and DID

Along with his forced and voluntary medical treatments he has also undergone forced and voluntary psychiatric treatments

Although Deadpool primarily seems mentally disabled he struggles with not having passing privilege

and self acceptance

But his self acceptance tends to be of the “fake it till you make it” variety which is handily torn down each time by a person of able/neuro privilege

And whenever he genuinely deals with ableism openly people judge him as bitter

and lazy

Although he tends to make friendships with the less advantaged and likewise disabled people

people tend not to want to be associated with him when in “better” company

and are willing to use him as a scapegoat for any shortcomings they don’t want to take responsibility for

Despite actual ability or qualifications Deadpool is denied legitimate work

He experiences discrimination 

has been sexually molested (something that happens to disabled people more than any other marginalized group)

and often lives in poverty

More often than not Deadpool gets simply disregarded as “crazy” or people try to find a “method to his madness”

but Deadpool is simply Deadpool and although no one else can understand it he makes it work for him as best as he’s able