Deadpool is a comic-book superhero known for his sarcastic humor and use of extreme violence. He is a mercenary (soldier for hire) and assassin. Deadpool is called the “merc with a mouth” because of his tendency to make wisecracks during fights. Merc is short for mercenary. Deadpool usually fights for good, but he is unpredictable and has questionable morals. He is an antihero, a character who lacks traditional heroic qualities. Deadpool shows awareness that he is a character in a work of fiction and often addresses the audience directly. But he is an unreliable narrator and cannot be trusted to tell the truth. Deadpool often makes references to popular culture and pokes fun at traditional types of superheroes. He is among the most popular superheroes created by the company Marvel Comics .
Deadpool wears a red and black costume that covers his entire body. He carries two swords and several guns. He is an expert swordsman and marksman. Deadpool is frequently a fringe member of the X-Men and X-Force superhero teams. However, he is often kicked out of those groups for being a nuisance. Deadpool often teams up with Cable, an assassin from the future.
Deadpool is the superhero identity of Wade Winston Wilson. After being diagnosed with cancer, Wilson volunteered for a government experiment called the Weapon X program. The program aimed to turn humans into mutants with superpowers. A mutant is a new variety of a being that results from a mutation (genetic change). The Weapon X program cured Wilson’s cancer and gave him the ability to heal rapidly from any wound. It even enabled him to regrow entire parts of his body. But it permanently disfigured his face and body, harmed his mind, and damaged his memory.
The American writer and artist Rob Liefeld and the American writer Fabian Nicieza created Deadpool. The character first appeared in the comic-book series “The New Mutants” (1983-1991) as a villain in 1991. He was a repeating character in the series “X-Force” (1991-2004). Deadpool was the main character in the comic-book miniseries “Deadpool: The Circle Chase” (1993). He also has been featured in several movies and electronic games. The Canadian actor Ryan Reynolds played Wade Wilson and Deadpool in X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009). Reynolds returned to the role in Deadpool (2016) and its sequel. 
