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"What's my name?"
―Ajax[src]

Ajax (born Francis Freeman) was a mutant who was immune to pain, the leader of the Workshop program, and the main antagonist of Deadpool, the eighth installment of the X-Men film series.

Biography[]

Early Life[]

At some point prior to the events of Deadpool, Francis became the leader of the Workshop, a top-secret research program that would take in those who were terminally ill and experiment on them, creating a front of a "miracle cure" for their ailments. These experiments were intended to turn these people into mutants by activating the dormant X-Gene in their DNA (assuming they had it at all) and if they were to survive the procedure and undergo a mutation, Francis would then auction them off as slaves to the highest bidder.

At some point before or after he took over the Workshop, Francis had the same procedure all the program's patients went through performed on himself. Doing so gave him both enhanced strength and reflexes, and scorched his nerve endings, inhibiting his ability to feel pain. Following this, Francis would adopt the name "Ajax" and continue running the Workshop alongside his assistant Angel Dust, who was able to acquire her own mutation from the program as well.

Torturing Wade Wilson[]

One day, Wade Wilson wound up on Ajax's table after having been diagnosed with terminal cancer. After injecting a serum into Wade that would trigger any recessive X-Genes in his DNA, Ajax and Angel Dust spent the next few days subjecting Wade to extensive torture in hopes of triggering a mutation, without success. After Wade learned of Ajax's real name and mocked him for it, a furious Ajax sealed him in an oxygen deprivation chamber as a last resort for triggering his mutation. The process was successful and gave Wade a regenerative healing factor that neutralized his cancer, but also further enhanced his cancer cells, disfiguring his entire body in the process.

Refusing to allow himself to be sold into slavery, Wade was able to steal a match from Angel Dust and use it to trigger an explosion that set the Workshop on fire and freed him from his restraints. While attempting to put out the flames with a fire extinguisher, Ajax was suddenly attacked by Wade. After a long fight, in which Ajax lied to Wade that he could cure his disfigurement, Ajax ultimately overpowered Wade and impaled him with rebar before leaving him behind to die as the facility fell apart.

Hunted by Deadpool[]

Unbeknownst to Ajax, Wade survived the incident due to his healing factor and would spend the next year hunting him down as the costumed vigilante known as Deadpool.

After supplying a Russian client with his monthly shipment of products from the Workshop, Ajax, accompanied by a convoy of cars and motorcycles, were en-route to their base when Deadpool suddenly intercepted them. With only twelve bullets and his two katanas, Deadpool was able to kill all of Ajax's men before taking down Ajax himself. However, before Deadpool could force Ajax to give up the cure for his disfigurement, Colossus and Negasonic Teenage Warhead interrupted him, and Ajax was able to use the distraction to escape.

After getting his injuries treated by Angel Dust, Ajax took her with him to hunt Wade down, eventually learning of and kidnapping his fiancée Vanessa Carlysle.

Death[]

Setting up camp on a decommissioned aircraft carrier in a scrapyard, Ajax prepared to kill Vanessa with another oxygen deprivation chamber when Deadpool, accompanied by Colossus and Negasonic, arrived to stop him. While the two X-Men took on Angel Dust, Deadpool had a rematch with Ajax and eventually managed to defeat him. After beating Ajax to the brink of death, Deadpool demanded that he cure him of his disfigurement, only to discover that there had never been a cure to begin with. Enraged, Deadpool pulled out a pistol and despite Colossus' pleas, fatally shot Ajax in the head, much to the hero's disgust.

Personality[]

"That wheezing bag of dick-tips has it coming. He’s pure evil."
―Deadpool describing Ajax[src]

Ajax is an extremely sadistic, violent, arrogant, brutal, egotistical man who only cares for his own ambitions. Despite being a former test subject of the Workshop himself, he shows no remorse or care towards those he experiments on, taking pleasure in torturing them and eventually revealing what their true purpose will be. He is relatively calm, yet possesses a sharp tongue, and ironically dislikes "talkers" such as Deadpool, although he is generally more patient with them than Angel Dust is. He also has a slightly insecure side to his personality, as he is sensitive about his real name (Francis) and admits to being jealous of Deadpool's healing factor.

Despite being a businessman, Ajax also has no respect for his clients, as demonstrated when he nearly strangled a Russian mobster to death for growing impatient over shipment delays until the latter agreed to give him more time. However, despite being Deadpool's archenemy, Ajax harbors a small amount of respect for him, claiming that "he likes a challenge." The only person he shows any type of concern for is Angel Dust, whom he treats almost like a lover, although it's never confirmed if that's actually the case.

Powers and Abilities[]

Powers[]

"I was a patient here once myself, you know. The treatment affects everyone differently. It made Angel inhumanly strong. In my case, it enhanced my reflexes, and scorched my nerve endings so I no longer feel pain. And in fact, I no longer feel anything."
―Ajax to Deadpool[src]
DeadpoolAjaxLiftsWarlord

Ajax lifting a warlord with one hand

  • Enhanced Strength: Ajax possesses strength far beyond that of a normal human. He can bend metal bars with relative ease, albeit with some effort, and engage Deadpool, who is also superhumanly strong, in hand-to-hand combat on equal terms. He is also able to easily lift a grown man above his head with just one hand, send Deadpool flying away several feet away with one kick, and throw a full-grown woman several meters away from him with just brute strength.
  • Enhanced Durability: In addition to his inability to feel pain, Ajax is far more resilient than a normal human. He appears to have internal control over his body, as he did not bleed from most of his wounds. He was even hit by a large shipping container and survived without suffering any major injuries.
  • Enhanced Reflexes: Ajax's reaction time is at superhuman levels, as shown by how he was able to easily block melee attacks from Deadpool during both of their fights and deflect an axe thrown at him at high speeds.
DeadpoolAjaxSwordChest

Ajax feels no pain

  • Pain Immunity: During his time as a patient for the Workshop program, Ajax's nerve endings were scorched, making it difficult for his body to feel pain. As a result of this, even the most grievous of injuries will not impair his movements, as he was able to continue fighting at full strength even after suffering critical injuries in his rematch with Deadpool.

Abilities[]

  • Master Combatant: Ajax was very proficient at hand-to-hand combat. He was able to easily gain the upper hand against Deadpool in both of their fights, a notable feat considering that Wade used to be in the Canadian special forces, and possibly would have defeated him in their rematch had Vanessa and Negasonic not interfered.
  • Axe Mastery: Ajax is highly skilled at using axes in combat, as shown when he used them to great effect in his rematch with Deadpool.
  • Skilled Scientist: While it is unknown as to how adept he was in medicine, Ajax had extensive knowledge of mutant biology and was able to quickly determine the nature of the powers that his victims developed.

Weaknesses[]

"I only wish I healed the same."
―Ajax[src]
  • Bodily Damage: While Ajax is immune to pain, his body is still vulnerable to physical damage, even with his increased durability. As he lacked an regenerative healing factor, Ajax actually had to get medical attention for any injuries he received, as he required it when Deadpool skewered him. Also, if his limbs were to be dislocated or fractured, Ajax would not be able to use them, even though he wouldn't feel any pain in trying to do so.
  • Brain Damage: Despite not possessing an regenerative healing factor, Ajax's organs are all capable of functioning with puncture wounds. The only exception to this appears to be his brain, which allows Ajax's body to adjust to his injuries and thus cannot take much damage. As a result, Ajax is shown to be susceptible to concussions, as Deadpool's repeated attacks to his head during their bridge encounter stunned Ajax long enough for the former to easily overpower him.

Equipment[]

  • Twin Axes: Ajax used two metal axes during his final fight with Deadpool, to counter Deadpool's swords.
  • Body Armor: Ajax wore protective pads and a kevlar vest during his final fight with Deadpool.
  • Sub-machine gun: Ajax used this submachine gun during his highway confrontation with Deadpool.
  • SOG Desert Dagger: Ajax took this combat knife away from Deadpool, using against him during their final fight.

Relationships[]

  • Bob - Former Subordinate
  • David Cunningham † - Experiment and Enemy
  • Deadpool - Experiment, Archenemy, Attempted Victim and Killer
  • Marrow - Experiment
  • Vanessa Carlysle - Enemy, Kidnap Victim, and Attempted Victim
  • X-Men - Enemies
  • Behind the Scenes[]

    References[]

    External Links[]

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