👑Kingpinning
A Lil’ Fisk Always Spices Things Up
What’s in every Storymaze? Writing tips or a work-in-progress; something creative I’m digging; + a quote that’s got me thinking.
If Xmas was your jam, I hope yours was merry and bright. As New Year’s is just ahead: my sincere wishes for a 🎉 bold, brilliant 2025 🥳 for each of us, together.
This years Daredevil #8 (as opposed to next year’s, they seem to restart the count on a regular basis) was a special omnibus issue with stories from the regular team + creators who’d added to Matt Murdock’s life and suffering in Hell’s Kitchen. So it was a thrill to get a call from Daredevil editor Devin Lewis with an invite to be one of those select contributors.
Coming right at the finish of my Daredevil: Black Armor mini series, Devin wanted to showcase another adventure in that biomimetic suit — and make it a “first meet” with the war journaling Punisher.
This was no meet cute (although believe me, I tried) but instead a fierce go ‘round of ideological differences worked out with billy clubs and gun barrels. While short in page count, Devin wanted to make sure every page and panel delivered. His story notes were extensive and tough — but fair, and served to raise the tension and better define the characters and their conflict
To focus on all that with the proper attention meant losing some other ideas…such as this short Kingpin scene that originally came at the end of the story. At this point in Marvel “90s” history, Big Willie is orchestrating his comeback. His role here was to give the drug-dealing thugs more of a rationale than “Gimme!” But plenty of 90s skinheads in stories got by on just that — and so do the greedy lot in this story. Making the following a kind of 1 page “What If…?”
PAGE 10
*PANEL 1*
EXT. STREET VENDOR — DAY
A classic NYC street corner, metal and glass food cart. The VENDOR inside is handing down a bagel stuffed with cream cheese, wrapped in waxy paper. The Vendor’s hand is shaking as he passes the bagel to the enormous hand of WILSON FISK, THE KINGPIN. (This is the Kingpin still making his way back up, as last seen in BLACK ARMOR.)
VENDOR: N-no charge, Mr. Fisk.
*PANEL 2*
Camera pulls back as Kingpin turns from the cart, bagel in one hand, a folded-over copy of the Daily Bugle in the other; his attention is already on the headlines. He’s trailed by his latest opportunistic sycophant, the goateed MOTOR (the “car dealer” in the chop shop scene of BLACK ARMOR.)
KINGPIN: Of course not.
MOTOR: Sir, that thing with the, um “heavily armed recreational vehicle” —
*PANEL 3*
The duo walk down a NYC street. A worried Motor hesitant as he delivers bad news.
MOTOR: — didn’t work out.
MOTOR (whisper): Punisher — and that new model Daredevil.
KINGPIN: Mr. Urich is an astute journalist: “The solutions are a problem.”
*PANEL 4*
Closer on Kingpin and Motor, Kingpin cold — but attention mostly on the paper in his hand.
KINGPIN
The men hired?
MOTOR
Dead.
KINGPIN
Saves the trouble then.
*PANEL 5*
Close up on the Daily Bugle in the Kingpin’s massive hand. We see the photo of an innocuous looking pill, underneath a headline: Pharmco Announces Addiction-Free Opiod.
HEADLINE (typeset look): Pharmco Announces Addiction-Free Opiod
KINGPIN: There are other ways to finance my rise.
KINGPIN: Find me investors in this Pharmco, Motor.
*PANEL 6*
A calculating, happy Kingpin on the move, taking a delicious, lordly bite out of his bagel.
KINGPIN: Ones open to influence — or intimidation.
KINGPIN: I do enjoy a good New York schmear…
I grabbed “This Skin Was Once Mine” off the Halloween shelf during a paranormal research visit on [REDACTED PROJECT] I’m working on with [REDACTED COLLABORATOR]. The title alone grabbed me and fortunately the insides delivered. I didn’t know Eric Larocca before this read (and really isn’t that the best way to discover a new author?) —
— but this collection of short, disturbing tales of menace, monstrosity and outright reality-gone-wrong strike me as rather original: dark poetry, abstract hauntings, seductive strangeness. Give its pages a turn and see if they don’t lay claim to your skin, too.
One of the stretch goals for last year’s Kickstarter comic — Axles Infernal #1, a supernatural road trip delivering bad goods from hell — was a dramatic live read of the comic by me-self and artist Karl Waller. While we sent out word to backers — we worked our role playing to a sadly silent screen. 😭 Sigh. So much for Hollywood calling!
In any event, it’s better to measure the moments on the scale of, “So long as we had fun!” — and we did. Maybe you will too? Give a listen.
Backers and comic pros alike were kind enough to share their appreciation for the start of driver Percy Cross’ time behind the wheel of possessed big rig Smokin’ Sammy.
Veteran storytellers Dan and Karl have obviously been dreaming this one up between the two of them for a long time and you are invited into the inner circle to take the ride! Road stories always rock. Deals with Devils always hold our own journey up to the mirror. And big-ass fire-belching whole hog rides, well, that’s just pure raucous fun.
— David Quinn, Faust: Love of the Damned, Dr. Strange, The Addiction
Axles Infernal #2 is written and illustrated, with coloring and lettering in the works. It’s up on Kickstarter on pre-launch — hope you’ll check it out and be part of bringing it to life!
“Don’t worry about people stealing your ideas. If your ideas are any good, you’ll have to ram them down people’s throats.” — Howard Aiken
I’ll be announcing convention appearances for 2025 as they’re confirmed and get closer on the calendar. It would be great to say hi in person! First person to show up with a copy of any Daredevil: Black Armor issue or the trade paperback — that autograph is free. Show up in a Black Armor cosplay: get a full set of the original Fall From Grace comics!
Amazing Times
If D.G. Chichester looks pretentious, feel free to just call me “Dan”. You can have a go at the last name as Chai (like the tea) Chester (like it looks).
I earned my word-cred writing comic book titles like Daredevil, Terror Inc., Nick Fury Agent of SHIELD and Clive Barker’s Hellraiser, along with all manner of digital widgets in the world wide web of marketing. I like weird tales, so if things here bend that way — now you know why!
Folks seem to like the comic book adventures I’ve written, so if you haven’t checked one out — please do. Many are now available in fab collected editions.
For the moments between newsletters…
May more Daredevil, Punisher, & Kingpin be in your future, Dan. Your DD story in issue 8 remains one of my favorite stories from that issue. I remember you mentioning this scene. Thanks again for sharing this and the dramatic read of Axles Infernal #1.