Marvel Comics has officially confirmed that Wade Wilson's next major storyline will pit him against Frank Castle, the Punisher, in a four-part crossover titled "Big Guns." The event, launching in Wade Wilson: Deadpool #8, brings together two of the Marvel universe's most contrasting anti-heroes, whose sparse but notable history of clashes dates back to 2001 and a dedicated 2017 miniseries. The announcement matters to fans as it sets up a fresh confrontation between the wisecracking mercenary and the grim vigilante, with an unseen force apparently manipulating events behind the scenes.

The preview reveals that the Punisher, working with his ally Micro, has been hunting down Deadpool's monstrous "Badpool" clones, killing one during an interrogation at his compound. Written by Benjamin Percy with art by Geoff Shaw, the storyline crosses over directly with Percy's ongoing Punisher run, beginning in that title's own eighth issue. The synopsis indicates that Deadpool's reputation, damaged by the destructive Badpools, will make him Castle's prime target, while a mysterious "ultimate weapon" is set to draw multiple factions into a converging conflict across New York.