Deadpool, aka Wade Wilson, is an anti-hero mercanary from the Marvel Comic Universe. He first appeared in 1991 in The New Mutants #98 and has since gained popularity, eventually getting his own comic series and starring with many others from Marvel. As of November, Deadpool once again has his own comic where he battles dead presidents who have been raised from the grave.
Deadpool has the ability to break the fourth wall and talk not only to the readers, but the narration boxes, which makes for hilarious interactions with other Marvel characters. Before he became Deadpool, Wade Wilson contracted cancer, joined up with the Weapon X program, and had his DNA altered. He isn’t a mutant, even though he has healing factor like Wolverine. He is covered in scar tissue from the cancer, which sped up thanks to the healing factor, but cannot kill him. This usually results in Deadpool always wearing his signature red and black costume.
Deadpool not only has his own comic but also will have his own video game called Deadpool coming out in 2013. The character will be voiced by Nolan North and be much like the comics, very adult and not for the faint of heart.
Deadpool was in X-Men Origins: Wolverine, played by Ryan Reynolds. While that movie didn’t do so well, a Deadpool movie is in the works still with Reynolds coming back to star as the merc with a mouth. It will supposedly have nothing to do with X-Men Origins: Wolverine and give Deadpool a new backstory.
Some people don’t like Deadpool because he’s too violent or too off the wall. However, I think he’s hilarious and even sympathetic at times. I like having a character know they are in a comic and driving other comic book characters crazy. He’s a breath of fresh air and always fun to watch.
If you want to try Deadpool out, I’d recommend picking up the new #1 and starting there.
