Warning: Spoilers for Deadpool #4!One MCU villain finally made sense of the fact that every Marvel superhero is so muscular. While it has long been an accepted convention of the genre that superpowered characters have super-physiques, the character Taskmaster just canonized a legtimate-sounding reason for the phenomenon, explaining that superheroes are jacked specifically because of their healing factor.

Deadpool #4 – written by Cody Ziglar, with art by Jonas Trindade – continues Taskmaster's prominent role in the series, and it just used him to introduce a fascinating theory into Marvel lore. As the infamous mercenary suggests, the healing factors exhibited by most Marvel heroes are key to their strength and conditioning.

Taskmaster's theory expands on the lore of how healing factors work in the Marvel Universe, while also explaining why every superhero is jacked to the gills throughout Marvel's superhero community.

Taskmaster Connects Marvel's Heroes' Physiques To Their Healing Factors

Deadpool #4 – Written By Cody Ziglar; Art By Jonas Trindade, Eric Gapstur, GURU-eFX, & VC's Joe Sabino

In Deadpool #3, Taskmaster graduated from being an underused villain to a useful mentor to the next generation of heroes, starting with Deadpool's daughter. After she infiltrated Deadpool's fight with Crossbones, Wade Wilson learned about his daughter's hyper-receptive superpowers. To best understand those powers, and most importantly, allow Ellie the opportunity to learn how to best use them, Taskmaster agreed to train Deadpool's daughter. This led to a sparring session in Deadpool #4, one which Ellie wins, showcasing her improving combat skills.

What is especially notable is not Ellie's victory, however, but her sparring partner's observation about her abilities. Within a half hour's time, Taskmaster has the 14-year-old commit to several supersets of weightlifting. Ellie is understandably exhausted, but soon enough, she's able to lift the barbell over her head with one hand. As Taskmaster explains, her healing factor allows her muscles to grow faster and stronger once they repair from damage. "What takes months for normal folks takes minutes for you," he states.

Taskmaster's observation applies to every hero with a healing factor, which would explain why everyone from Wolverine to Deadpool are all so muscular – their healing factor directly affects how they gain muscle.

Taskmaster's Explanation Is A Perfect In-Universe Reason For Muscular Character Designs

Superhero Gains Are Next Level

In theory, Taskmaster's observation applies to every hero with a healing factor, which would explain why everyone from Wolverine to Deadpool are all so muscular – their healing factor directly affects how they gain muscle. This wouldn't be the first time that it's been explained to readers how healing factors work, but it is the first time it has been explained in terms of muscle gain. It's a creative way to elaborate on the ever-expanding lore of Marvel's healing factor and, by proxy, affects how healing factor can be viewed in the MCU.

Deadpool #4 is available now from Marvel Comics.