The New Mutants #98

Published by Marvel Comics in February 1991, The New Mutants #98 is a pivotal installment in the series, serving as the debut of the character Deadpool. Written by Fabian Nicieza with iconic cover art and interior pencils by Rob Liefeld, the issue emerged during a period of significant creative transition for the X-Men franchise. Liefeld’s kinetic, hyper-stylized aesthetic was highly characteristic of the early 1990s comic book industry, and the introduction of a mercenary with a penchant for irreverent humor helped solidify the book's cult status among fans of that era.

The issue was intended to refresh the flagging New Mutants title by introducing new, edgy adversaries for the team. Reception at the time was fueled by Liefeld’s rising popularity as a superstar artist, which made the book an immediate target for speculators. While the narrative served as a bridge toward the launch of X-Force later that same year, the debut of Deadpool eventually transformed the issue into one of the most sought-after modern keys in the comic collecting hobby, far exceeding the original goals of the creative team.