Tag Matthew Rosenberg

The Joker: The Man Who Stopped Laughing #7 Micro-Review – Jarvis Poker, the British Joker

Rob Siebert Leave a comment

***This is where we keep it nice and simple. Comic book reviews in 100 words or less. Straight, concise, and to the point.***

The Joker the Man Who Stopped Laughing 7, cover, April 2023, Lee Bermejo variant coverTITLE: The Joker: The Man Who Stopped Laughing #7
AUTHORS: Matthew Rosenberg, Ryan Cady
ARTISTS: Carmine Di Giandomenico, Romulo Fajardo Jr (Colorist), Tom Napolitano (Letterer), Will Robson, Hi-Fi (Colors). Variant cover by Lee Bermejo.
RELEASED: April 4, 2023

By Rob Siebert
Fanboy Wonder

I always go with a Lee Bermejo Joker cover if one is available to me. You can see why…

Nice to see Kate Spencer, a.k.a. Manhunter, get the spotlight here. There’s a pretty neat car chase sequence in this issue involving her and Joker. And we haven’t seen the last of her yet.

There’s a character in this issue’s back-up story called “Jarvis Poker, the British Joker.” I was initially under the impression he was just a gag character brought in for a few jokes. But apparently he actually dates back to 2010. Now that’s reaching into the character vault.

Email Rob at primaryignition@yahoo.com, or check us out on Twitter.

The Joker: The Man Who Stopped Laughing #7 Micro-Review – The Sausage Joke

Rob Siebert Leave a comment

***This is where we keep it nice and simple. Comic book reviews in 100 words or less. Straight, concise, and to the point.***

The Joker The Man Who Stopped Laughing 6, cover, March 2023, Carmine Di GiandomenicoTITLE: The Joker: The Man Who Stopped Laughing #6
AUTHORS: Matthew Rosenberg, Ryan Cady
ARTISTS: Carmine Di Giandomenico, Arif Prianto (Colorist), Tom Napolitano (Letterer), Will Robson, Hi-Fi (Colors)
RELEASED: March 7, 2023

By Rob Siebert
Fanboy Wonder

There’s a joke between the Joker and a henchman in this issue that’s incredibly stupid, but made me laugh…

Joker: “Don’t you just feel like James Dean up here?”
Henchman: “The sausage guy?”
Joker: “Yes.”

Get it? Jimmy Dean sausages? Hey, it made me laugh.

The main story in this issue is a lot of fun, as we see Joker wreaking havoc on the streets of Los Angeles. Kind of strange that LA doesn’t have any resident superheroes to stop him. Or do they…?

Email Rob at primaryignition@yahoo.com, or check us out on Twitter.

The Joker: The Man Who Stopped Laughing #5 Micro-Review – Those Around the Clown

Rob Siebert Leave a comment

***This is where we keep it nice and simple. Comic book reviews in 100 words or less. Straight, concise, and to the point.***

The Joker the Man Who Stopped Laughing 5, cover, February 2023, Carmine Di GiandomenicoTITLE: The Joker: The Man Who Stopped Laughing #5
AUTHOR: Matthew Rosenberg
ARTISTS: Carmine Di Giandomenico, Francesco Francavilla, Romulo Fajardo Jr., Tom Napolitano (Letterer)
RELEASED: February 7, 2023

By Rob Siebert
Fanboy Wonder

As was the case with James Tynion IV’s Joker series, with The Man Who Stopped Laughing I find myself more interested in the characters around the Joker than the clown himself. Most specifically, the Red Hood’s quest to finally end the Joker once and for all. To me, that’s much more interesting than this faux Joker story we’re in the middle of.

These Rosenberg/Francavilla backups continue to be bizarre and surreal. In this issue, the Demon Etrigan almost calls Joker the C-word, which I’ll admit is kind of hilarious…

Email Rob at primaryignition@yahoo.com, or check us out on Twitter.

The Joker: The Man Who Stopped Laughing #4 Micro-Review – Sick Kid Jokes

Rob Siebert Leave a comment

***This is where we keep it nice and simple. Comic book reviews in 100 words or less. Straight, concise, and to the point.***

The Joker the Man Who Stopped Laughing 4, variant cover, January 2023, Lee BermejoTITLE: The Joker: The Man Who Stopped Laughing #4
AUTHOR: Matthew Rosenberg
ARTISTS: Carmine Di Giandomenico, Francesco Francavilla, Romulo Fajardo Jr. (Colorist), Nick Filardi (Colorist), Tom Napolitano (Letterer). Variant cover by Lee Bermejo.
RELEASED: January 3, 2023

By Rob Siebert
Fanboy Wonder

This issue turned me off early on. The main story takes place in a hospital, and we see a group of kids in what is presumably a cancer ward. So, as this is a Joker comic, we get a lot of sick kid jokes. That’s not really my cup of tea.

These Rosenberg/Francavilla back-ups continue to be weird as hell. But they’re also genuinely amusing and funny. Case in point, this one sees Joker swallow a bunch of mud, then vomit up a mud creature that he and his henchmen have to chase around.

See what I mean? Weird.

Email Rob at primaryignition@yahoo.com, or check us out on Twitter.

The Joker: The Man Who Stopped Laughing #3 Micro-Review – What is Real?

Rob Siebert Leave a comment

***This is where we keep it nice and simple. Comic book reviews in 100 words or less. Straight, concise, and to the point.***

The Joker the Man Who Stopped Laughing 3, cover, December 2022, Carmine DiGiandomenicoTITLE: The Joker: The Man Who Stopped Laughing #3
AUTHOR: Matthew Rosenberg
ARTISTS: Carmine Di Giandomenico, Francesco Francavilla, Arif Prianto (Colorist), Tom Napolitano (Letterer)

RELEASED: December 6, 2022

By Rob Siebert
Fanboy Wonder

From a story perspective, I’m unsure about what I’m seeing in this new Joker series. As in, what’s real and what isn’t. Everything’s very well written and well drawn. I’m just having trouble keeping up. Maybe it’s a case of having to go back and read the last two issues again. But even the back-up, which is visually beautiful thanks to Francesco Frankavilla, ends on a downright bizarre note.

The book’s portrayal of Jason Todd is also a little one-dimensional for my taste. Granted, we don’t get a ton of time with the character. But still…

Email Rob at primaryignition@yahoo.com, or check us out on Twitter.

The Joker: The Man Who Stopped Laughing #2 Micro-Review – Thinking Like a Clown

Rob Siebert Leave a comment

***This is where we keep it nice and simple. Comic book reviews in 100 words or less. Straight, concise, and to the point.***

The Joker the Man Who Stopped Laughing 2, cover, 2022, Carmine Di GiandomenicoTITLE: The Joker: The Man Who Stopped Laughing #2
AUTHOR: Matthew Rosenberg
ARTISTS: Carmine Di Giandomenico, Francesco Francavilla, Arif Prianto (Colorist), Tom Napolitano (Letterer), Troy Peteri

RELEASED: November 1, 2022

By Rob Siebert
Fanboy Wonder

If all is as it seems in this series thus far, the Joker is doing his own inner monologue. That’s a big no-no for me. The Joker’s thought process, his unique and insane mental state, should be incomprehensible to us as readers. We’re not supposed to know what he’s thinking, or how he’s thinking, etc. To try and approach him otherwise is a mistake.

But we’re still not sure entirely what’s going on in this book from a story perspective. So I reserve the right to take that back…

Email Rob at primaryignition@yahoo.com, or check us out on Twitter.

The Joker: The Man Who Stopped Laughing #1 Micro-Review – Laughing Across America

Rob Siebert Leave a comment

***This is where we keep it nice and simple. Comic book reviews in 100 words or less. Straight, concise, and to the point.***

The Joker the Man Who Stopped Laughing 1, cover, 2022, Carmine di GiandomenicoTITLE: The Joker: The Man Who Stopped Laughing #1
AUTHOR: Matthew Rosenberg
ARTISTS: Carmine Di Giandomenico, Francesco Francavilla, Arif Prianto (Colorist), Tom Napolitano (Letterer)

RELEASED: October 4, 2022

By Rob Siebert
Fanboy Wonder

James Tynion IV’s Joker series is a tough act to follow. But thus far, Matthew Rosenberg and this team have done a nice job running with the baton, so to speak.

Our titular villain travels to Los Angeles in this issue, in what I hope is the beginning of a cross-country story of sorts for him.

Francesco Frankavilla does the back-up story about Joker crushing on Power Girl. His art and colors are always great to see. Though I wish he had a better handle on the Joker’s trademark lips and smile.

Email Rob at primaryignition@yahoo.com, or check us out on Twitter.

A Task Force Z #1 Micro-Review – Zombies and Mr. Freeze

Rob Siebert Leave a comment

***This is where we keep it nice and simple. Comic book reviews in 100 words or less. Straight, concise, and to the point.***

Task Force Z 1, cover, 2021, Eddy BarrowsTITLE: Task Force Z #1
AUTHOR: Matthew Rosenberg
ARTISTS: Eddy Barrows, Eber Ferreira (Inker), Adriano Lucas (Colorist), Rob Leigh (Letterer)
RELEASED: October 26, 2021

I’ll say this much: Red Hood leading a bunch of zombie supervillains throws a hell of a wrinkle into the traditional team dynamic. It’s clever, though I’m skeptical of how much longevity they can get out of the concept.

Oddly enough it’s Mr. Freeze, who is not one of the zombies, that steals the issue. Eddy Barrows draws a really cool action sequence between he and Hood. He also draws the hell out of the zombies. It’s a great looking issue overall.

Email Rob at primaryignition@yahoo.com, or check us out on Twitter.

Weekly Comic 100s: Future State: Dark Detective #3

Rob Siebert Leave a comment

***This is where we keep it nice and simple. Comic book reviews in 100 words or less. Straight, concise, and to the point.***

By Rob Siebert
Fanboy Wonder

TITLE: Future State: Dark Detective #3
AUTHOR: Mariko Tamaki, Matthew Rosenberg
ARTISTS: Dan Mora, Carmine Di Giandomenico
COLORISTS: Jordie Bellaire, Antonio Fabela
LETTERERS: Aditya Bidika, Andworld Design
RELEASED: February 9, 2021

Batman v Superman‘s enduring legacy, at least as far as the comics are concerned, seems to be putting Batman in a long coat over his costume. I’ve never been a fan of this look, and I’m sad to see Dan Mora use it. Though at least Mora’s version doesn’t wear a cape and a coat.

As the cover suggests, Bruce and the Future State Batman meet in this issue. It’s not nearly the big, meaningful scene you want it to be. It’s more of, “Hey! Stay in your lane!” It felt very rushed.

Email Rob at primaryignition@yahoo.com, or check us out on Twitter.

A Kingpin #1 Review – Mr. Nice Guy

Rob Siebert Leave a comment

Kingpin #1, 2017TITLE: Kingpin #1
AUTHOR: Matthew Rosenberg
PENCILLER: Ben Torres. Cover by Jeff Dekal.
PUBLISHER: Marvel
PRICE: $3.99
RELEASED: February 8, 2017

By Rob Siebert
Editor, Fanboy Wonder

Considering Wilson Fisk used to be Marvel’s Kingpin of crime, he’s a pretty nice guy here. While you can use a lot of words to describe this character, “nice” has rarely been one of them.

But if you ask Wilson, he’s a man who has paid his debt to society, and is on a new path. Journalist Sarah Dewey is, to say the least, skeptical. Fisk nevertheless chooses her to write his biography, and spends most of the issue trying to win her over. But as one might suspect, things aren’t quite what they seem…

Take a moment and type “Kingpin, Marvel” into Google Image. What’s what thing he’s not doing in any of those pics? Smiling. The Kingpin doesn’t smile. At least not in a genuine, happy sort of way. But he does in Kingpin #1, and it catches you off guard. You’re expecting a grim and sadistic brute. Instead we get this warm and gentle teddy bear.

kingpin #1, 2017, Wayne DyerOur “gateway” character is Sarah, who Fisk seems to have an interest in based on her writing. There’s a purity to that which is almost heartbreaking. He’s also unwaveringly kind, even if that kindness is rather awkward at times. It’s a stark contrast to this cynical, down-on-her-luck journalist who, despite the quality of her work, is struggling to keep her head above water. You end up hoping this warmth he’s showing to her is sincere, and not some sort of ploy.

If your Google machine is still open, type in the name Wayne Dyer. He was a self-help author and motivational speaker who often appeared on PBS. At times, be Kingpin that Ben Torres gives us looks quite a bit like Dyer. Case in point, the bottom image on the page at right. Maybe that’s why he’s so happy. He read Change Your Thoughts, Change Your Life.

Torres handles the pencils and inks for this issue. I’m not very familiar with his work. But he’s a tremendous fit for this part of the Marvel Universe. As he goes in heavy on the inks, you can see some Frank Miller on this pages, and a little bit of John Romita Jr. There’s even some Eduardo Risso. The mood is precisely what it should be: This is a place where hope is in short supply. We’re now finding hope in the most unlikely of individuals. And even that is likely smoke and mirrors.

I can’t say I have a tremendous desire to come back for more Kingpin. Let’s be honest: We know how this story ends. The only real question is whether Sarah Dewey makes it out okay. But as for Fisk, it’s only a matter of time before the Kingpin is back on his throne.

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