Get Ready: Your Must-Know Guide to Deadpool

It is stunning how far comic book adaptations have come since “Batman Begins” and “Iron Man” changed the game a decade ago. Had someone told you a few years ago that one of the most anticipated movies of the year would be about a satirical, foul-mouthed, ultra-violent, mid-tier superhero, you’d likely think said person was delusional. But that, ladies and gents, is the world in which we live. The Marvel Cinematic Universe is a lumbering, multimedia monolith and DC Comics is quickly nipping at its continuity-shod heels. And now we have “Deadpool” – a violence-soaked, R-rated, action flick about a delusional mercenary with an overcharged healing factor. “Deadpool” promises to be different from what we’ve come to expect in a blockbuster superhero flick. Given that Deadpool is pretty far from a household name, however – despite the film’s brilliant marketing blitz – odds are that more than a few of you are wondering precisely who Deadpool is. Worry not faithful reader, we’ve got you covered.

A Bit of History

Deadpool (otherwise known as Wade Wilson) was created in 1991 by writer Fabian Nicieza and artist Rob Liefeld. Originally intended as a villain for the series New Mutants, the character debuted in New Mutants, Vol. 1, number 98 as a mercenary hired by a then-unnamed source to assassinate the mutant Cable. However, that original incarnation was a pretty drastic departure from the wise-cracking, fourth-wall breaking “merc with a mouth” fans have come to know and love. Nicieza and Liefeld envisioned the character as something of a send-up of DC Comics character Deathstroke (real name Slade Wilson) – a character “Arrow” fans should recognize” – however, it wasn’t really until 1997 and writer Joe Kelly that Deadpool began to develop into the current incarnation of the character. Specifically, this iteration is an unbalanced, delusional antihero who often breaks the fourth wall with an aside to the reader. It’s a winning formula that’s kept the character consistently on the stands since 1997. Joe Kelly essentially took a no-holds-barred approach to the character because as Kelly puts it, “With Deadpool, we could do anything we wanted because everybody just expected the book to be canceled every five seconds, so nobody was paying attention.”

Okay – But Who Is Deadpool?

Any character that enters the world as a villain but generates enough good will to bat for the other side (at least occasionally) is sure to get a backstory revamp, bringing that character a little more in line with heroic ideals. Deadpool is no different and, based on the trailers, the movie looks to be skewing pretty close to Deadpool’s origin – at least in the broad strokes. Wade Wilson was a former military operative and mercenary diagnosed with an aggressive and debilitating form of cancer. Eventually, Wade is granted extensive self-healing abilities (a “healing factor” in comic book lingo) by the mysterious Weapon X Program – who eagle-eyed fans may recognize as the same nefarious program that gave X-Man Wolverine his adamantine skeleton and claws. However, as a result of the process, Wade is left severely scarred and more than a little unstable, hence the mask and propensity for breaking the fourth wall.

Breaking the Fourth Wall?

Unlike a lot of mainstream comics, Deadpool has developed into a comedic meta-commentary on comics in general. This commentary and deconstruction of typical Marvel Comics tropes and storylines is a key component of most interpretations of Deadpool and certainly the main reason for the character’s overall success. Whether it’s the nonstop stream of corny jokes, one liners, and all-over-the-map humor or the parody of the storylines of other famous characters or Deadpool’s penchant for addressing the reader directly – occasionally referring to back issues of his own comic to get newer fans caught up on his situation – Deadpool relies heavily on these sorts of interactions for humor. Given the tone of the marketing campaign, expect that style to bleed over into film itself.

Hasn’t Ryan Reynolds Already Played Deadpool in a Movie?

Sort of, but honestly, it’s best not spoken of. Deadpool was a prominent character in 2009’s “X-Men Origins: Wolverine.” The less said about that particular exercise in mediocrity, the better. However, in terms of Deadpool, this current adaptation will hew much closer to the source material particularly given that in “X-Men Origins,” Deadpool’s mouth – which is pretty central for a “Merc with a Mouth” – was literally sewn shut leaving the particularly chatty character mute for a large portion of the film. Ryan Reynolds, a longtime fan of the character, has been lobbying for years to get a proper Deadpool film off the ground and the general consensus among fans (including this writer) is that Reynolds is a pitch perfect fit for the role.

Recommended Reading

If you want to get a better handle on Deadpool before the movie debuts on February 12, here’s a short list of recommended reading to get you started: Deadpool: Joe Kelly Omnibus by Joe Kelly; Uncanny X-Force by Rick Remender: The Complete Collection Vol. 1 by Rick Remender; Deadpool and Cable: Ultimate Collection Vol. 1 by Fabian Nicieza

Are you excited for Deadpool? Do you already have your tickets for opening night? Let us know.