Here's everything you need to know about 'Deadpool'

If you've been on the Internet for the past couple months, you've probably noticed some bizarre marketing for a superhero movie starring Ryan Reynolds -- with Ryan Reynolds' beautiful face hidden 90% of the time.

Why the mask? Why the weird, discordant hip-hop music? Why the excessive cursing? Because, ladies and gents, this is Deadpool, and he is a superhero who revels in the weird.

We're here to give you a lowdown on the newest Marvel Comics superhero, under the 20th Century Fox flagship, to hit theaters. Grab onto your chimichangas and prepare for a wild ride.

Who is Deadpool?

A trigger-happy mercenary highly trained in martial arts and swordsmanship, Deadpool -- real name Wade Wilson -- was given accelerated healing powers (making him essentially immortal) through the Weapon X program.

Because Deadpool was diagnosed with cancer at the time of the Weapon X experiment, his cancerous cells regenerate just as rapidly as his normal cells, making his entire body look heavily scarred (and possibly wreaking havoc on his brain chemistry). Hence the full face mask. And the ability to casually walk away from being decapitated.

He's also a big fan of chimichangas.

What does Deadpool have to do with the X-Men?

Deadpool originally started off as a supervillain to the New Mutants, a team of teenaged X-Men, but eventually became an antihero who fought alongside Wolverine, the X-Men and even several Avengers.

On the big screen, Deadpool showed up as the chatty mercenary Wade Wilson before he gains his regenerative powers. Reynolds played him in 2009's X-Men Origins: Wolverine, and although the movie wasn't so great and fans decried the muting of the famously nicknamed "Merc with a Mouth," Reynolds made enough of an impression in that and in the leaked Deadpool test footage that the studio wanted him a second time around.

What is Deadpool's deal?

Deadpool made his first appearance in The New Mutants comics in 1991, co-created by Fabian Nicieza and Rob Liefeld, who was made in the vein of the DC Comics villain Deathstroke, having an uncanny resemblance to his costume and skills (his name, Wade Wilson is even a play off of Deathstroke's real name, Slade Wilson).

In a short time since he was created in the '90s, Deadpool has amassed a huge following amongst comic book readers and convention-goers. Seriously, everyone dresses up as Deadpool at conventions. Why? Because he's a hilarious, self-deprecating, fourth wall-breaking riff off of established superheroes.

Deadpool knows he's in a comic book, and he points it out as much as possible, much to the confusion of his fellow comic book characters and to the delight of his readers. He even leans into his resemblance to every other comic book character -- Deadshot, Deathstroke, sort of Spider-Man -- and turns the whole thing into a meta-commentary joke.

What Deadpool comics should I read?

To get a good gist of Deadpool, check these out:

• Deadpool Vol. 3: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (2013): Some Deadpool origin story, as well as some hilarious character partner-ups with Captain America, Wolverine, and others.
• Uncanny X-Force Vol. 1  (2011-2012): Deadpool's first major team-up, and a slightly more serious side to the merc (along with a costume change).
• Cable & Deadpool  (2004): No partnership is better than a nutty and chatty Deadpool with the silent and stoic part-cyborg Cable.
• Deadpool by Joe Kelly (1997-1999): Commonly seen as the quintessential Deadpool, the antihero's first monthly comic introduced him as the comedic figure fans know and love today.