* Image is for illustrative purposes only.Deadpool
デッドプール
A Marvel Comics character whose main weapons are a matched pair of katana named "Bea" and "Arthur" — an unusual hero who carries Japanese swords.
Description
Overview
Deadpool was created by Rob Liefeld and Fabian Nicieza, first appearing in Marvel Comics' The New Mutants #98 in 1991. Wade Wilson, his true identity, is a former mercenary with a regenerative healing factor, known for his dark comedic banter and fourth-wall-breaking narration. His own ongoing solo series began in 1997, cementing him as one of Marvel's defining antiheroes. Starring Ryan Reynolds, the live-action films Deadpool (2016) and Deadpool 2 (2018) were major global hits, and in 2024 he joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe proper in Deadpool & Wolverine.
The Swords in the Story
One of Deadpool's signature weapons is a matched pair of katana. He is drawn carrying swords in both the comics and the films, and the twin blades are named "Bea" and "Arthur." Their hilt wrapping and scabbards echo the mounting style of a Japanese sword, and they are wielded alongside firearms in close-quarters combat that takes full advantage of his regenerative ability, making the twin katana one of the character's defining visual traits.
Cultural Impact
A character built around Japanese swords stands out, making Deadpool one of the best-known "sword-carrying heroes" in American comics. The success of the films has driven a global market for katana-style replica props and cosplay gear based on his design, another example of Japanese sword aesthetics being consumed as pop-culture merchandise abroad.
See authentic Japanese swords
See authentic Japanese swordsRelated Content
Seven Samurai
Film七人の侍
Akira Kurosawa's 1954 enduring masterpiece, one of the most influential works in the history of world cinema. Set in the late Sengoku period, its story of seven masterless samurai gathered to protect a village from bandits vividly depicts the social role of the samurai and the practical side of the sword. It is a monumental work that made Japanese swordcraft known to the world, and it influenced countless films, including The Magnificent Seven, Star Wars, and Mad Max.
Nioh 2
Video Game仁王2
A Sengoku-period action RPG released in 2020, developed by Team Ninja and published by Koei Tecmo Games. As a prequel to the earlier "Nioh," it stars a half-yokai protagonist with yokai blood, who crosses swords with demons while encountering real Sengoku-period warlords.
Lupin III (Goemon Ishikawa & Zantetsuken)
Anime & Mangaルパン三世（石川五ェ門・斬鉄剣）
A franchise created by Monkey Punch in 1967 that has spread worldwide as a long-running anime series. The Zantetsuken sword carried by Goemon Ishikawa XIII—capable of cutting through anything—became an iconic symbol of Japanese swords in pop culture. Ranked 3rd in a 2025 anime sword popularity poll.
Nobunaga's Ambition
Game信長の野望
A historical simulation game series developed and sold by Koei Tecmo Games since 1983. It is a national-favorite series in which players control Sengoku daimyo, including Oda Nobunaga, in pursuit of unifying the country. Depending on the title, famous swords also appear as items, making it a historical game series that touches on the bond between Japanese swords and warlords.
This page is intended to introduce Japanese sword culture and is not affiliated with any of the works mentioned.