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Kingpin 7: “Thug”
Script: Bruce Jones
Pencils: Sean Philips and Klaus Janson
Inks: Lee Loughridge
Story: And here it is the violent conclusion to the series that tells the prelude to the kingpins rain of terror. This issue continues with the games as the kingpin sets bloodthirsty hounds into the church filled with gang leaders, while spider-man is busy chasing red herrings laid out by the kingpin himself. Meanwhile senator Clennon finally loses the election run and decides to end his life but not before he takes the kingpin down with him. Spider-man and Clennon arrive at the steps to the provincial courts just as Fisk exits, Clennon goes to shoot him but is filed with holes by the nearby police, leaving spider-man to take some ounce of justice out on the innocent looking Fisk’s face, and landing him in hot water with the police. Meanwhile Rocco finally deals the final blow to Portio, thus tying up all loose ends and leaving Fisk to climb New York crime ladder and finally become the KINGPIN.
The Good: Wow it’s great to see how the twisted plots that have been coming together all series finally conclude in a crescendo of violence and bloodshed, pretty much what you’d expect from a series about the kingpin of crime. The cover is also pretty damn good and the grim and gritty art if of its usual noir feel.
The Bad: If you hadn’t read this series from the very start with every issue to hand, it would be very hard to know what was going on.
Rating: Violence incarnate. 4 webheads out of 5


Kingpin 6: “Thug”
Script: Bruce Jones
Pencils: Sean Philips and Klaus Janson
Inks: Lee Loughridge
Story: Here it is the pen-ultimate issue in this story charting the rise and rise of the soon to be kingpin of crime Wilson Fisk. This issue is basically tying up all the loose story ends before the big old conclusion next issue. Lo and behold the kingpin isn’t actually dead and it was all an elaborate ruse to trick sanguine into believing he is dead, meanwhile spidey comes down hard on Fisk’s growing criminal empire, starting with the street level pushers. When Rocko returns to sanguine however he is threatened and ends up spilling his guts about Fisk’s plan. But was this all part of Fisk’s plan? We shall find out next month in the conclusion to the seedy underworld classic
The Good: The best thing about this issue is the way you get to see the complicated plot starting to come together, after all these months of wondering just who is going to come out on top and who is working for who, it’s about time we got some bloody answers. And answers we got, or did we? I guess you’ll have to tune in next time to find out.
The Bad: Even up to the end the writers try and throw us for a loop, and if complicated stories aren’t your thing, best give this one a miss, plus big fat Fisk is still in that bath, eugh!
Rating: Still the naked fat men. 4 webheads out of 5


Kingpin 5: “Thug”
Script: Bruce Jones
Pencils: Sean Philips and Klaus Janson
Inks: Lee Loughridge
Story: This deeply involved story of the kingpins rise continues and gets even more complicated with this issue. Following on from the kidnapping of senator Bianco’s son we see the increase on the manipulation of both candidates from their various mob ties. Meanwhile a bunch of hired goons decide to pay Portio’s P.I. friend a visit, and spidey decides to crash the party. One thing leads to another and after following various leads left by the kingpin, spidey comes face to face with Fisk once more for another verbal confrontation, that tells us a lot about the kingpins motives, methods and drives. Meanwhile Portio (who it turns out was working for Fisk) is having trouble controlling Rocko who drags her off to meet mob boss Jimmy Sanguine to come clean about killing his grandson and to offer to off the kingpin. We also see a nice moment between the kidnapped son who turns out to be a drug addict and Fisk who helps his hostage kick the habit. Only to end up being apparently gunned down in his bath of all places by his former lieutenant Rocko.
The Good: Sure when a stories as complicated as this one its easy to get lost, but its also makes for a much more exciting read and that’s the real draw of this issue, sure the art ain’t Ultimates style but it doesn’t have to be, especially when you have such a dark story driving the issue along to its vicious conclusion which just shows the kingpin doing what he does best; playing the big game.
The Bad: Its started to get a little bit complicated with all the characters blending together as you forget just who is working for who and what they are doing for them and just how they are all connected. Also we see the kingpin in a bath, I don’t buy comics to see fat men in baths, marvel that’s enough of that.
Rating: Please no more naked fat men. 4 webheads out of 5


Kingpin 4: “Thug”
Script: Bruce Jones
Pencils: Sean Philips and Klaus Janson
Inks: Lee Loughridge
Story: It’s hard to tell you what’s going on in this issue as there is literally so much. In short Portia and Rocko have become more than just business partners and have begun playing the two gang bosses against each other, all the while gaining information for her book and discovering a disturbing link between her ex-husband and the kingpin who have recently begun working together to further their respective careers by any means necessary which includes murdering a news reporter who spells bad news an abducting the leading political candidates son in order to force them out of the running. All in all this is another complicated dive into the kingpins grimy past
The Good: The way this story works the many different plot threads is amazing. It never once focuses on one at the expense of another and its even managed to cross them all together in spectacular fashion. The story is also very neat, leaving no lose ends dangling about like you’d expect the future kingpin of crime to do. It goes without saying the art is its usual perfect self.
The Bad: Yet again another complex story full of death and blatant sexual images that are not recommended for the younger readers. Other than this it’s a classic.
Rating: Complex story telling at its best. 5 webheads out of 5


Kingpin 3: “Thug”
Script: Bruce Jones
Pencils: Sean Philips and Klaus Janson
Inks: Lee Loughridge
Story: Following in the lines laid down by the previous two issues we see the kingpin growing in power and moving up from simple beatings on the street to breaking into the office of and propositioning mayoral candidate Myles Clennon, all so he can gain more power and move up from street land gang thug to capitol hill “puppeteer”. Meanwhile ex-wife of Mr Clennon and current “landlord” to Lou Rocko, Portio is one step closer to getting her book published and revealing the dark truths about Wilson Fisk’s rise to power, to the average Joe, all the while falling even more for Rocko’s charms. The issue climax’s in the first real conflict between Fisk and Spidey soon after the kingpin to be has beat down Clennon’s bodyguards and trashed his office in the process.
The Good: This story just keeps getting better and is probably the best place to get your dose of underworld thugary now that Black Panther has been axed. The timing and pace of the story is absolutely perfect and even though there is a lot of text and plot to get through the story doesn’t seem sluggish or over complicated. The art is almost identical to that used on the tangled web story line severance package and I wouldn’t be surprised if this is the same team, as the whole series feels like an extension to severance package.
The Bad: The tone is grim and gritty and fits perfectly with the character and art, but this added to the complex story means its not one for the young kids. Other than that, the only small problem with this issue was the use of framed pictures to demonstrate character links which although a clever tool made the links seem a bit too obvious.
Rating: going from strength to strength. 5 webheads out of 5


Kingpin 2: “Sharks and little fishes”
Script: Bruce Jones
Pencils: Sean Philips and Klaus Janson
Inks: Lee Loughridge
Story: Continuing this look into the dark origins of the man known as the kingpin, we see his influence over the gangs growing as he unites two under a common goal, a goal belonging to him. We see the young Wilson Fisk manipulating the church in order to take out the remaining mob bosses and dealing with desertion in his own ranks. Meanwhile the assumed dead henchman Lou Rocko, is rescued by a reporter who is hell bent on uncovering the gritty side of the underworld and the connection that her ex has in it, in an exposing book that could destroy all the kingpins plans.
The Good: following in style, a lot like that accustomed to crime drama like the shield, we see a realistic if not a little extreme portrayal of gangland life. The gritty art is still of high quality keeping the illustration dark and simple. The story twists are also great, the dissention in the kingpin ranks, the kingpins ex hooking up with the gang banger he tried to have killed are all great story ideas that push the story into even darker territory
The Bad: The crucified man in the church at the start of the story seems a little extreme and over zealous for a young kingpin of crime who is just starting out. Apart from the small fight between the kingpin and a former gang leader, this issue was a little lacking on the action side, but by the looks of it next issues gunna be pretty special and very gory.

Rating: Gritty and Great. 4 webheads out of 5


Kingpin 1: “All the King’s men”
Script: Bruce Jones
Pencils: Sean Philips and Klaus Janson
Inks: Lee Loughridge
Reviewed By: Groble
Story: Following in the footsteps of comics like origin and born, this comic tells the dark origins of the man know as the kingpin, Wilson Fisk. This first issue charts his early stages as he becomes an ambitious man, on the streets and how he puts into action his plans to take over the streets. It also goes into some details about what makes the future kingpin tick, and shows in much the same way as the tangled web title how he prizes loyalty and is utterly ruthless. In the end he kills he love by pushing her off the peer, and kills a black couple he had recently spared and steals their child. It’s a dark book and well worth the read
The Good: The thing I liked most about this entire issue is the way it opens and closes in the same way, with a 3 panel pan out on a couple, but at the end they have been shot to pieces. It’s little things like this that make kingpin 1 great. The issue also has a very gritty look to match the kind of dark story that is going on, the images are made up of big block of colour, which give it a simple overall look.
The Bad: not much wrong with this, it even has a cameo form spidey himself, this comic is one of my most favourites out this month, which is saying something, if I had to fault it in one place it would be the massive number of adverts which seem to equal the amount of story pages, which is a terrible shame.
Rating: Gangland classic. 5 webheads out of 5