Deadpool: Games of Death Review

Deadpool
Games of Death (One Shot)

Written by: Mike Benson
Art by: Shawn Crystal
Color by: Lee Loughridge
Letterer: VC’s Cory Petit
Cover artist: Greg Land and Justin Ponsor

Before reading this comic I hadn’t heard of either Benson or Crystal. A little research failed to give me much background, although Benson did lend a hand in penning a few “Entourage” episodes, my favorite of which is “One Day in the Valley.” With this solid comedic resume I had some hopes for the issue and for the most part they were met.

A rich man offers Deadpool a million dollars to exact revenge on an illicit game show for killing his son. Deadpool can’t turn that kind of money down and goes in head first, no questions asked. He eventually finds out he bit off a little more than he could chew, but it’s Deadpool so really, why worry?

The first thing that stood out to me about this comic was that no page was wasted. Even the character summary on the opening page features a battle between two of Deadpool’s many personalities. One tries to sell Deadpool, while the other is a bit more honest. From there you get a pretty straightforward story, despite the “twist,” with the requisite mayhem and humor often associated with the character. There isn’t anything revolutionary or laugh-out-loud funny, but the book keeps you smiling.

The artist is another person I’ve never heard of or seen before, but his style worked for this particular book. The character designs are outlandish, the girls are cheesecake and the action is well over-the-top, just what you need when jokes take precedent over character or story. While it is nice to look at, you won’t find anything explosive or dramatic in the artwork. There is not a single splash page to be found, which is a real disappointment considering some images were just begging for it.

In the past I’ve been spoiled with Deadpool books written by Gail Simone and I’m not sure anything will ever measure up. This book is good, but nowhere near Simone good. If however, you are a fan of the character or are looking for a lighter book then don’t pass this up. Even if you’ve never read the character, this is a great introduction.

A warning though, the book costs 3.99 and there is nothing in it that justifies the extra dollar. It isn’t longer, bigger or better, so don’t expect anything more for putting down your hard earned money.
B-