Hoisted by your own petard

At the beginning of “Trapped,” the new graphic novel featuring a fictional version of poker commentator and stand-up comedian Joe Stapleton, we are told that the best feeling in poker is when you have a hand so big that you should slow play it. To do otherwise would be a waste, but the inherent risk of playing trappy is that you could become the one who is ensnared, hoisted by your own petard.

I could be reaching here (and I should point out that I have only read the teaser version), but I feel like Stapes is telling us something about the man behind the bombastic commentator. I feel like he’s setting the scene with this anecdote for a reason. This story is going to be a “Rounders Meets Deadpool” caper which I believe is going to have some interactive elements, but the mise-en-scene at this comic’s outset suggests to me that we are going to be delving into the psyche of the hero in more ways than one.

When you get to know Joe, and I only know him a tiny bit, you realize quickly that he possesses that mix of qualities often associated with actors, writers, and other creative types. He’s cocky and hubristic but he’s also riddled with vulnerability and self-doubt. Over his career, he has risked himself, but he also demurred some riskier possibilities.

The poker commentator

Whilst doing sone commentary together at the Irish Open, Joe told me about how one of his comedy role models Michael Ian Black once came to his stand-up and afterwards, hit him with some pointed notes. “Why don’t you talk about how you’re a poker commentator?”

It seems like an obvious thing, but Joe had avoided that subject in his routine, perhaps wanting to draw a clear separation between the two. “It’s the thing you do that is unique, that makes you different from other comedians,” or words to that effect, said Black.

Most of these guys are working these gigs trying to get noticed so they can get what I have.”

When I interviewed Stapleton six months ago, he talked about how working the stand-up circuit is strange for him. “Most of these guys are working these gigs trying to get noticed so they can get what I have.”

Like most creative industries, comedy is very top heavy with a lot of performers clambering for the spotlight in the hopes of getting a panel show, an acting role, or maybe their own special. Another out is becoming the presenter of something.

When Stapleton found poker, he found the perfect vehicle for his schtick. He knew the game and, influenced by Gabe Kaplan and Norman Chad before him, he had a strong hunch that it could be commentated on with a comedic sensibility. It wasn’t plain sailing at first but as the gigs gradually rolled in, his star rose. With PokerStars, he found a reliable job and in James Hartigan, he found the perfect foil.

No safety net

It was a spot so good and so enviable that in many ways Stapleton probably felt like he had the world trapped. His work as a comedy writer had helped develop his skills and no doubt paid some bills, but now he had a financial and creative safety net: a well-paid job for a company that appreciated him and an audience that was hungry for his content.

These days, Stapleton traverses America with a stand-up comedy show but there was a time, not that long ago, when just getting up in front of a crowd seemed daunting to him. He has spoken openly about his reluctance to move into stand-up and you can understand why. It takes a lot of guts to risk yourself in that way and more still if you already have status in something else.

Desperation is a great motivator and comfort numbs.

Safety nets are great, but they can stifle a person creatively. Desperation is a great motivator and comfort numbs. With “Trapped,” I suspect that Stapleton is going to explore these subjects, flexing another creative muscle, with plenty of self-deprecating humor along the way. He is throwing out some rope and hoping to ensnare us in the drama. I, for one, am looking forward to reading more.

You can support “Trapped” on Kickstarter. The project will be funded if it reaches its goal by October 2nd 2024.