The first “Flashpoint Deathstroke” issue shocked me with it’s interesting premise and creative flare. It went on to be my surprise Pick of the Week. While the second issue wasn’t as solid it still moved the story along and was satisfying. In the third and final issue, writer Jimmy Palmiotti wraps up his story with an angle that’s perfectly appropriate for a pirate book…mutiny. And while the issue delivers some entertaining moments, it’s easily the weaker of the three books.

I suppose Deathstroke should have expected a mutiny considering the crew he assembled. But in regards to the story, it really seems to come out of the blue. While the mutiny is being planned, Deathstroke is down below with Jenny Blitz engaged in an unusual form of questioning. It’s a strange and almost corny sequence that more closely resembled a strip club visit than an interrogation scene. The action picks up as the story makes it’s way to it’s conclusion and while the ending is kinda fun, unfortunately it’s predictable and convenient.

Joe Bennett handled the art beautifully in the first issue and most of the second. Here Tony Shasteen and Alex Massacci split the art duties and their contrasting styles don’t do the book any favors. Neither artist captured the look or tone that Bennett brought to the story and the mid-issue shift from one artist to the next was such a drastic change of style that it was a distraction.

This was one of the Flashpoint mini-series that won me over early and I really hoped it would end strongly. Unfortunately the story slowly lost momentum from issue to issue and the art never held up to the quality of the first book. There is a little fun to be had here but overall it’s a pretty average ending to what was a great concept.