IGN Comics: Mike, Marvel fans probably know you best for your work on the Moon Knight series. How did you find yourself on Deadpool? Were you simply looking for a change in genre/tone or character? Did Marvel approach you with the idea?
Mike Benson: Actually my editor, Axel Alonso, thought it would be a good fit for me -- both the tone and the character. I love gallows humor and my background's been comedy (HBO's Entourage) so when he presented it to me, I was very intrigued. I must admit, I wasn't all too familiar with the character so I bought all the older trades and started reading Daniel [Way]'s new Deadpool series, which is great and has quickly become one of my favorite books.
IGN Comics: Give us the basic idea of the plot for this story what sets this mission apart from some of the others Deadpool has set out on?
Benson: The story is called "Game$ of Death," and it plugs Deadpool into the whole wacky world of those Japanese games shows. Only this reality TV game-show - Pain Factor - is lethal: Nine contestants walk onto the island, only one walks out - a million dollars richer.
The story starts when Wade is hired to find a spoiled rich kid who was last seen on the island where the games take place. The only way to achieve his mission is to become a contestant, so Wade does that in disguise. The manic atmosphere of the story seemed to fit the tone of the title.
Shawn Crystal: It's basically a commentary on reality game shows, tweaked to the extreme, with a twist of blaxplotation. A failed actor disappears on one a deadly underground reality game show. His wealthy father hires Deadpool to track him down. In order to do so, Deadpool is going to have to compete in the show - in challenges that will make you laugh out loud, gawk in horror, and gasp at the action. What sets this apart from other missions, is the fact that there are nine new characters in this book. All masters of action and kung fu. All of 'em, stone cold cut throats. All of 'em at odds with the ultimate cut throat... Deadpool.
IGN Comics: The plot reminds me a bit of some of the tests Mojo or Arcade have put the X-Men over the years were there any particular sources of inspiration for this particular tale? Does it ultimately veer off into completely different territory?
Benson: No, to be honest, this was much more of a nod to the old-school Kung Fu movies that I grew up watching and still enjoy. That should be apparent from the title, "Game$ of Death," which is a nod to Bruce Lee's last film. So it's kind of an homage to the genre.
IGN Comics: Deadpool is a bit of an odd series in that it tries to be funny while retaining a darker edge. Is that a tough balance to find? Were there points where you found your script veering too far to one side?
Benson: Yeah. There's a difficult balance to be kept. You want to find that sweet spot where it's funny, but not too goofy, and at the same time cool and manic. It's definitely challenging, especially since I didn't grow up reading the book, but I'm really appreciating the character and like the challenge.
IGN Comics: A great deal of the humor in Deadpool has to come from the art. Shawn, how did you get involved with the project?
Crystal: How did i get involved? Luck and Axel Alonso! Axel's the best and I am beyond lucky to be working with him. Axel and i had been talking about doing something for Marvel. He wanted to make sure he matched me up with a book where I could play to my strengths. This book does that in spades.
IGN Comics: Some of the readers might not recognize your name what projects have you been working on recently?
Crystal: I teach comics in the Sequential Art dept. at SCAD Atlanta, and have had a few small published gigs in the past. I haven't had too many published works in comics. This is really the first major book with the spotlight on me, so I'm stoked. How many people get to play with Deadpool right out the gate? Luck is on my side.
IGN Comics: Because of the physical comedy that this series often requires, did that change the collaborative style between the two of you? Mike did you find yourself relying more on Shawn's talents to convey the humor? Shawn did you have to adapt at all to keep that comedic aspect present?
Crystal: It all felt very natural. Mike and I have really clicked here. There seems to be an unspoken language between. We can both "see" the story. Let me quote a bit of the script for you, to make my point.
Panel: Same angle as he then tastes his own blood, like Bruce Lee. (C'mon, Shawn, you know what I'm talking about.)
While my art is cartoony, I feel like I can capture many moods and tell many stories with it. All I had to do was allow more slack in my cartooning leash, but not too much. I had to let the cartoonish quality play out on a dramatic stage, not a Looney Toons cartoon.
Watching Coen Bros. movies helped me a lot with this. Deadpool is just so perfect for this, and a complete blast to draw. This book has just been pure kismet for me.
Benson: Shawn is a great talent. We talk through e-mails and I'm really pleased with everything he brings to the table, which is a lot. I don't consciously rely on him to make things funny, because than I wouldn't be doing my job, but he definitely raises the bar, no doubt.
IGN Comics: Shawn, when stepping into an assignment like an annual, do you find yourself looking at the ongoing series for a visual guide? Is that sort of artistic continuity something you pay attention do during your work?
Crystal: Yes. Of course! Paco Medina is really doing an amazing job on the book. He's able to capture that dark satirical tone so well. I don't want the Deadpool audience to feel alienated by my work. Ignoring his work would insure failure on my end. Plus, it's Deadpool. So fun to read and look at his character move. There is so much life in him it's insane.
Aside from Paco, Jason Pearson's covers helped me tremendously. If there is one man who could sum up the tone and attitude of Deadpool in a single image, it's him. He's always been a huge influence on my work. Deadpool is visually tough to nail down for an artist. When you nail it, he shines.
IGN Comics: This is for both of you favorite scene or moment during the annual?
Benson: My favorite part to write was the montage sequence where we see the contestants being whittled down, one by one, in gruesome but funny ways. I also like the introduction of the contestants, where you learn a little about each one. They're all fun
and they're vaguely familiar. Side note: For some reason, Axel insisted that the Mexican ("Crazy Boy") die last - hmmmmmm.
Honestly, it was all a lot of fun and I really enjoyed working with Shawn and hope to again in the future. He's a really good man.
Crystal: Bataar. That's all I'm sayin'!
IGN Comics: I'm sure you guys have other projects in the works can you mention any of them here?
Benson: I have some other comic stuff in the works, but it's a little too early to discuss it. Apart from comics, I'm producing a show with my TV writing partner Marc Abrams and Anthony Kiedis of The Red Hot Chili Peppers for HBO, about Anthony's life when he was a boy, growing up in LA during the '70s and his relationship with his father who was famous in his own right. I'm very excited about it. Sort of "The Wonder Years" told through the lens of Martin Scorsese.
Crystal: I have a graphic novel in the works with Oni Press. Blood Red, written by the brilliant Ande Parks. Also, Axel (Marvel) has also talked about some more possibilities which I'm really really excited about.
