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
