WHO THE FISH IS DEADPOOL?

Deadpool (real name Wade Wilson) is a mercenary with regenerative healing powers and a mouth that can talk you to death. No, seriously! One of his teammates (from one of his team-ups) says that his most lethal weapon is his mouth, and that “he’ll talk nonsense until you surrender or commit suicide”.

Former special forces operative turned mercenary, Wade contracted cancer. He became a test subject in the joint US/Canadian superhuman enhancement project, the Weapon X programme, where he is given accelerated healing powers. Armed with his superpower and a dark, twisted sense of humour he adopts the alter ego Deadpool. He is also known as the “merc with the mouth” because of his talkative nature and his tendency to break the fourth wall. 

What the heck is a fourth wall?

It is a concept from theatre, a kind of imaginary wall in front of the stage. When someone breaks the fourth wall he interacts directly with the audience. Deadpool knows he is in a comic book and constantly breaks the fourth wall, talking to the audience inside different sequences, and it’s howlarious. In fact, in one promotional material for the film we see Deadpool sitting on a toilet seat reading a Deadpool comic book. 

How the hot damn is he in a film? 

This is not the first time Ryan Reynolds plays Deadpool in a film. He played the same character in X-Men Origins: Wolverine, but don’t mention that if you see Deadpool; he doesn’t like the fact that they sewed his mouth shut in that one!

The story goes that a footage was leaked online and the response from fans green-lit the film. We are glad that it is happening, even though we, in India, will probably see a bleeped-out, edited version. We don’t think Deadpool’s face being described as “it looks like an avocado had sex with an older avocado” is going to tickle the funny bone of the censor board (though the Hindi trailer has given a finger to the said board).

Deadpool is his origin story — “before he squeezes his ass into the red Spandex”. Wade has cancer and undergoes a rogue experiment that leaves him with accelerated healing power. His girlfriend, Vanessa Carlysle, is kidnapped by the same bad guys who destroyed his life and he sets out to take revenge.

 

NAME: Deadpool

Alter ego: Wade Wilson

Played by: Ryan Reynolds

NICKNAMES: Merc with the mouth

Universe: Marvel

Species: Human mutate

First seen in: The New Mutants #98 (February 1991)

Powers: Superhuman regenerative healing and enhanced stamina, agility and reflexes

Abilities: Skilled in hand-to-hand combat, ace marksman and swordsman

Affiliations: Weapon X, X-Men and more