Deadpool is the alter ego of Wade Wilson, a disfigured Canadian mercenary with superhuman regenerative healing abilities. Known as the 'Merc with a Mouth', he is famous for his non-stop talking, twisted sense of humor, and tendency to break the fourth wall by addressing the audience directly.

His primary power is an accelerated healing factor that allows him to regenerate from virtually any injury, including beheading. He also possesses superhuman strength, agility, and reflexes, along with immunity to diseases and telepathy. He is an expert marksman, swordsman, and martial artist.

Deadpool is best described as an anti-hero. While he often fights bad guys and saves the world, his methods are violent, his morality is flexible, and he is motivated by money or personal reasons as often as altruism. He operates in a gray area between heroism and villainy.

Deadpool possesses 'comic awareness', meaning he knows he is a fictional character in a comic book (or movie). This allows him to talk to the audience, reference pop culture, and comment on the medium itself, which is a unique trait that defines his storytelling style.

Vanessa Carlysle (Copycat) is Deadpool's most significant love interest. Their relationship is a core emotional anchor in the films. In the comics, he has also had relationships with Shiklah (whom he married) and a complex flirtation with Death herself.

Deadpool and Wolverine have a complicated dynamic ranging from enemies to reluctant allies. They share a connection through the Weapon X program and their healing factors. Their relationship is often characterized by Deadpool's annoyance of the serious Wolverine, culminating in their team-up in the 2024 film 'Deadpool & Wolverine'.

Technically, Deadpool is a 'mutate', not a mutant. He was born a regular human and his powers were artificially induced through the Weapon X program's experiments, rather than being born with an X-gene. However, he is closely affiliated with the X-Men universe.

Good starting points include 'Deadpool Classic Vol. 1' (collecting his early appearances), the 'Cable & Deadpool' series for his best team-up dynamics, or the 2012 'Deadpool' run by Gerry Duggan and Brian Posehn for a modern, humorous take.

The first two Deadpool movies were produced by Fox and loosely connected to the X-Men films. However, with 'Deadpool & Wolverine' (2024), the character has officially been integrated into the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) via the multiverse concept.

As he famously jokes in the movie, he wears a red suit so bad guys can't see him bleed. Practically, it also conceals the extensive scarring on his body caused by his cancer and the experimental treatment that gave him his powers.