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Post by crazyoldhermit on Sept 14, 2014 4:40:01 GMT -5
And now for something a little different... I don't think this is a run that many here would be interested in. There are four reasons I think that: 1) The character in a way represents the lowest Marvel had sunk in the early 90s, 2) Garth Ennis is most famous for writing over the top Bugs-Bunny-from-hell gross out humor, 3) It's an adults-only book and 4) It's still a very modern series. All of these things combined sort of form the antithesis of what I percieve to be the collective tastes of those who populate this board. But there is one good reason I am choosing to review this series: Whatever violations of good taste may occur within its pages they are exceeded by the quality of the stories. While the run only ended six years ago (making its status as "Classic Comics" as per the board rules questionable at best) it has already gained a reputation as a modern classic in the crime genre and that that reputation continues to grow. Maybe that appraisal will be picked up by some of the members here. The following comics will be featured in this thread: - Born #1-4 (2003) - The Punisher Vol 6 #1-60 - Punisher: The End (2004) - Punisher: Tyger, Tyger (2005) - Punisher: The Cell (2006 All issues written by Garth Ennis. A final cautioning: As all of these stories are under the MAX imprint it should go without saying that they are for adults only. Not only do they contain graphic violence, profanity, drug abuse and nudity, the themes and ideas presented in the stories are very serious, highly cynical and potentially controversial. Not at all something for kids, nor for adults who prefer their comics are clean of topics like the corruption in the military, the War on Terror, human trafficking, incest, patricide, rape, child molestation, nuclear annihilation and of course vigilantism. If you don't want to read about these things then stay away. If you do choose to read about these things I beg you to leave political opinions out of any discussion that might unfold, as I intend to do with my reviews. And if there are any kids reading this, this one is NOT for you So with that out of the way, lets begin. Table of ContentsBornEnnis's first Punisher MAX story, it tells the story of Frank Castle's last days in Vietnam in late October 1971 and his struggle with his addiction to combat, as seen through the eyes of young Marine Stevie Goodwin. A haunting origin story. Rating: A#1 - The First Day#2 - The Second Day#3 - The Third Day#4 - The Last DayIn The BeginningThe first arc of the Punisher MAX ongoing series tells the story of Frank's old partner Micro trying and recruit him for a CIA mission, just after he launches an assault on the mob that leaves 42 dead and the New York mafia crippled. A brutal introduction to the lead character. Rating: B#1 - Part One#2 - Part Two#3 - Part Three#4 - Part Four#5 - Part Five#6 - ConclusionThe EndA one-shot that explores one possible ending for the character. In the wake of WWIII the world is an irradiated wasteland and The Punisher escapes from Sing-Sing to exact final punishment on those who caused it. Every paranoid nightmare from 2004 compressed into 48 pages. A#1 - The EndKitchen IrishOne of Frank's S.A.S. buddies is in town and needs Frank's help tracking down Finn Cooley, a disfigured I.R.A. bomber who is in New York chasing a treasured left by a Hell's Kitchen kingpin. A slower story focusing more on Irish political issues than The Punisher. C#7 - Part One#8 - Part Two#9 - Part Three#10 - Part Four#11 - Part Five#12 - ConclusionMother RussiaA cabal of eight generals task Nick Fury to hire the best man he knows to infiltrate a Russian nuclear missile silo. He turns to Frank Castle. The objective? Rescue a six-year-old girl whose body contains the deadliest virus mankind has ever seen and get her out of there before the generals start World War III. Essentially "Die Hard in Russia," it's every bit as thrilling as the best action movies. B+#13 - Part One#14 - Part Two#15 - Part Three#16 - Part Four#17 - Part Five#18 - ConclusionUp Is Down and Black Is WhiteEighteen months ago The Punisher crippled the New York mafia. Nicky Cavella escaped with his life and is back to take over the city but first he strikes at Frank the best way he can: Desecrate the grave of his family. Blinded by rage Frank falls into a downward spiral of self-destruction and hitherto unseen levels of violence to the point where he fails to notice that CIA Agent Rawlins, an operative in "Mother Russia," is after him as well. Focusing on the humanity and monstrosity in Frank Castle's soul, this arc is the most introspective yet. B+
#19 - Part One
#20 - Part Two#21 - Part Three#22 - Part Four#23 - Part Five#24 - Conclusion
The CellDeep in Rikers five gangsters are serving life sentences. To get at them Frank turns himself in to the police, confesses to his crimes and winds up an inmate. Using his deep knowledge of the prison heirarchy he organize him a riot that places the gangsters at his mercy. This story shows Frank at his most calculating, proving that even when deprived of firepower he is still the most dangerous man on Earth. A
#1 - The CellThe SlaversA shootout in the rain leads to Frank discovering a human trafficking ring operating inside of New York City. His goal is to exterminate them but to do it he must cooperate with unlikely allies while dodging a police task force. The best story in the series, asks the question of whether or not Frank is a hero and asks the audience to really think what being a hero truly means. A+#25 - Part One#26 - Part Two#27 - Part Three#28 - Part Four#29 - Part Five#30 - ConclusionThe TygerBefore the death of his family, before Vietnam, in the Summer of 1960 ten-year-old Frank Castle experienced his first exposure to death, monsters and the force that creates them. A poetic story rich in symbolism. A
#1 - The TygerBarracudaThe jurisdiction of The Punisher is challenged as Frank goes up against a corporation willing to put the state of Florida at risk in the name of profit. But in doing so Frank must faced his most fearsome foe yet, the hilarious and savage Barracuda. Featuring more comedy than any other arc with slapstick levels of violence and an extremely questionable ending, this arc is fun but lacking in depth. B
#31 - Part One#32 - Part Two#33 - Part Three#34 - Part Four#35 - Part Five#36 - ConclusionMan Of StoneGeneral Zakharov, the man tasked with defending the nuclear silo in "Mother Russia," has been assigned to a training camp after asserting it was an American operation. To reclaim his honor and restart his beloved Cold War he needs to get a confession out of The Punisher, and thanks to the reluctant assistance from Rawlins he knows exactly how to get it: His ex-wife and Frank's one-time lover Kathryn O'Brien, who is in Afghanistan on a mission of personal revenge. This story cracks Frank's shell of inhumanity and reveals what, if any, capacity for love has survived his self-dehumanization. A #37 - Part One#38 - Part Two#39 - Part Three#40 - Part Four#41 - Part Five#42 - Conclusion
WidowmakerA cabal of vengeful widows. A cop who shot a teenaged school shooter. A traumatized and scarred mysterious woman. The question of what it takes to be The Punisher is answered as these characters taste the violence and anger that Frank has withstood for thirty years. An analytical arc with Frank in the background, it explores the personal and social consequences of Frank's actions. A#43 - Part One#44 - Part Two#45 - Part Three#46 - Part Four#47 - Part Five#48 - Part Six#49 - ConclusionThe Long Cold DarkFrank is haunted by a dream of what his life could have been as an old enemy returns to taunt Frank with a hostage. Frank has to rescue the victim while finally being forced to grapple with what he has done to his life, what he has become and whether he can ever be human again. Frank takes a good hard look at his eyeballs in the mirror and doesn't like what he sees. A
#50 - Part One#51 - Part Two#52 - Part Three#53 - Part Four#54 - ConclusionValley Forge, Valley ForgeNick Fury gives Frank a list of eight names: The corrupt generals who engineered "Mother Russia" and have been taking shots at Frank ever since. They've resolved to tackle the problem themselves, enlisting Colonel George Howe of the Special Forces to put together an eight-man task force to apprehend and interrogate The Punisher. But Howe has his own personal reason for pursuing the case and reputation for being honorable and independent. Also, Michael Goodwin, the younger brother of Stevie Goodwin, has written a book examining the economic and political machinations that put America in Vietnam and Frank Castle at Firebase Valley Forge. Told entirely outside of Frank's perspective, this arc asks what the military stands for, what America stands for and what The Punisher means to both. B+#55 - Part One#56 - Part Two#57 - Part Three#58 - Part Four#59 - Part Five#60 - ConclusionEnd TalliesThe TimelineThe Body CountThe Medical RecordThe Faces of Frank CastleFinal Analysis
Coming soon
Born #1 (August 2003)  "The First Day" Penciler: Darick Robertson Inker: Tom Palmer Colorist: Paul Mounts It is October 1971 in Vietnam. Firebase Valley Forge sits seven miles from the Cambodian border. A plane, either a supply drop or a transport, is coming in for a landing. VC miles destroy its wing and it crashes in a large explosion that kills everyone on board and probably some people on the ground. From the jungle some marines watch the chaos and money is exchanged. They had bet on whether or not the plane would make it and someone just won, with nobody showing any concern for the people involved. One asks if they will go after the perpetrators but another says that the Captain knows they would never make it in time and they have a more important task at hand. Cue Stevie Goodwin. He is the protagonist of this story and we are privy to his thoughts. His first tour ends in 39 days and he dreams of being able to relax and drink beer surrounded by beautiful women. He is adament that he will get home safe and will not succumb to an addiction to violence like Captain Frank Castle, who leads them. Goodwin gives us a rundown on castle: He has been at Valley Forge for six months and has not lost a single man. His first tour coincided with the Tet Offensive, where he was recruited into the Special Forces. His second tour is mostly classified with rumors of CIA operations, snipings and other monstrous things. Goodwin takes the assignment of an assassin to this task as an omen that the war is ending. A supply run comes down the trail and is ambushed by the Marines. The VC are brutalized with M16s, M60s, grenades and claymore mines. In the aftermath one of the Marines scalps a VC corpse while Goodwin promises himself to go home, marry a beautiful woman, have children, show them the "real" America and never, ever tell them about the happenings in Vietnam. Back at the base Castle meets with Colonel Ottman and debriefs him on the patrol. He notes that they are encountering more and more supply runs and speculates that the VC are planning a massive assault on the base. Ottman tells Castle to prepare to give a tour of the base to General Padden, who has come in for a surprise inspection to judge whether or not to shut down the base. Ottman would do it but he is coming down with Malaria. When Padden meets with Castle he is disgusted by the goings on at the base. The men lack discipline, the equipment requires maintence and drug abuse is rampant. He demands an explanation for the base's poor standing and Castle explains that the last man who tried to restore order was fragged. He goes onto explain that Valley Forge is undermanned, that the reinforcements they get are rejects and that they are short of equipment and munitions. Padden tells Castle that he is shutting down the base (it's an unpopular war and the base is the exact sort of nightmare the hippies were protesting), even though Castle argues that they are the only US output watching Cambodia and that they are their last chance to stop a full on invasion into Vietnam. Padden tells Castle that he is going to be sent home and expelled from the Corps. As he is about to board a helicopter Castle has something to show him. He says it's proof that Firebase Valley Forge must stay open. He gestures up a ridge and the General goes. Almost instantly he is killed by a sniper. Castle had been standing in front of the warning sign. As the sun sets two Marines comment on the General's carelessness while Castle sits alone in contemplation. A voice in his head congratulates him for keeping his war going for longer but warns him that it will inevitably end and, despite Castle's claims of duty and honor, he is really in it because it makes him feel alive. The voice offers to give him an eternal war and teases its identity. Observations: Right away Ennis refuses to pull punches. While he had written the character before it was in the form of black comedy, with a huge emphasis on humor. This is the first time he wrote the character in an entirely serious way and he clearly relished in portraying the full Hell of Vietnam and the effect it had on the soldiers who fought that war. They are all desensitized to some extent, with Stevie Goodwin being absolutely horrified while others, like Castle, relishing in the violent environment. Ennis tears Vietnam apart from top to bottom, giving us a media-conscious General, a well meaning but ineffectual Colonel, an overqualified killing machine Captain and the infantry who are gradually losing themselves. Castle's characterization in particular is interesting. Ennis has defined him as having a very strict moral compass. If you murder innocent people you die. If you rape innocent people you die. Pimps, dealers, mafioso, these are his targets in later life. But here he murders was is essentially an innocent man doing his job. Castle's eventual moral compass is a construct, it is a rulebook that allows himself to justify his actions and stop himself from being a mindless killer. Here he has another mission, which is to continue his war. And he is clearly willing to cross massive ethical and legal lines to do it. On the art side Robertson and Palmer make a good team. Their work is moody and detailed and with the exception of a few panels that seemed a little two cartoony they are an excellent fit for the story. Overall this is a great start to the miniseries. B |
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Post by crazyoldhermit on Sept 14, 2014 18:35:34 GMT -5
Born #2 (September 2003)  "The Second Day" Penciller: Darick Robertson Inker: Tom Palmer Colorist: Paul Mounts Summary: The second issue starts with Goodwin finding his friend Angel preparing to do heroin. Goodwin pulls Angel out of the drug den and tries to straighten him up but the proprietor, named Coltraine, has other ideas. He pulls a razor on Goodwin and Angel but backs off when he see Captain Castle eyeing the situation. Goodwin tells Castle that Angel is (currently) clean and they head out on patrol. Castle has only one platoon. Out of over one hundred men stationed at Valley Forge only twenty-nine have the guts to go out on patrol. Goodwin comments on the reasons his follow Marines choose to go on patrol. One has a scalp collection, another gets off on throwing grenades. Castle is addicted to combat and Goodwin goes out to protect Angel, who had saved his life on a prior patrol. The platoon is struck by sniper fire. They all panic, save for Castle who grabs an M60 and shoots the four snipers out of the trees. After counting their dead (6 K.I.A.) they spread out to confirm their kills. They find one of the snipers, a woman, about to commit suicide. The marine who finds her beats her and begins to rape her while a crowd forms. Goodwin remembers witnessing a schoolyard bully beat up a smaller child while nobody in the crowd bothered to help. Castle interupts the "fun" by executing the sniper, telling the marine that their job is to kill the enemy and nothing more. Later Goodwin sees the marine drinking from a river. Castle sneaks up behind him and drowns him, then kicks the corpse in the river. The platoon stays out until nightfall searching for the missing Marine but they obviously don't find him. At the base Angel tells Goodwin that he shouldn't let the rape bother him, soft thinking like that will only destroy him. When Goodwin is alone Castle asks him why he didn't report the murder. Goodwin admits he's afraid of Castle and asks why he did it. Castle says he wanted to punish him. He couldn't have saved the girl without losing the trust of his platoon and she would have been raped and executed by her interrogators anyway. He tells Goodwin he doesn't have to be afraid of him and leaves. Goodwin disagrees. He is horrified by the fact that this monster is the only way he'll stay alive. He is horrified of the perpetual look of murder in Castle's eyes. And he is most horrified that Castle executing the sniper was his idea of helping her. Observations: This issue takes us further into the problems plaguing Firebase Valley Forge that were mentioned in the previous issue. Right away we get our first exposure to the base's drug culture in the form of Angel and Coltraine. Angel, who is black, is exploited by Coltraine the pusher, who refers to Angel with a racial slur. Clearly there is no comradery among these men, they have no interest in fighting this war and only care about doing whatever they can to survive both physically and mentally (as seen by the meager platoon Castle has managed to pull together). Reinforcing that is the suggestion that most of the marines who do go on patrol are doing so for selfish reasons. The rape of the sniper rams that point home. Castle's characterization is further refined. When he is wounded he doesn't allow his wound to be dressed until all of their fallen men are confirmed dead. He kills the rapist out of a strong ethical compulsion, showing that even here he has his own strict moral compass. His killing of the sniper demonstrates his very twisted pragmaticism and the entire situation represents the sheer monstrosity of the war, the men of the base and of Frank Castle. On the art side of things Robertson, Palmer and Mounts still deliver good work. Robertson's grasp of perspective is shaky but the expert inks and colors compensate for it. A good continuation of the story, not as dense as the first issue but with a little more depth. B |
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shaxper
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Post by shaxper on Sept 14, 2014 18:43:27 GMT -5
it has already gained a reputation as a modern classic in the crime genre and that that reputation continues to grow. Maybe that appraisal will be picked up by some of the members here. Well you've certainly got my attention. The Marvel Super-Action mag story aside, I've never gotten the appeal of The Punisher and agree with your estimation that his rise as an anti-hero reflects a low point for Marvel in catering to the lowest common denominator, but I have heard good things about this story before, Ennis has impressed me on occasion, and I like what you have to say about the franchise in general, so I shall be reading along! |
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Post by crazyoldhermit on Sept 14, 2014 19:33:57 GMT -5
Born #3 (October 2003)  "The Third Day" Penciler: Darick Robertson Inker: Tom Palmer Colorist: Paul Mounts Summary: The Golden Gate bridge is bombarded by Russian bombers. We see a Vietnamese village being burned to the ground. A mass grave. Agent Orange being poured on children. The VC getting napalmed. Goodwin tells us that while America will lose the war America's enemies will see the wreckage that is Vietnam and will never cross the United States again. Goodwin is chatting with Angel, asking him why the US can't stay out of other people's business and stop making messes in other people's countries. Two fight jets fly low overhead. Castle takes this as a bad sign. He tells Ottman that they're staying under the weather because a storm is coming, meaning they'll be without air support and with the supply of munitions as low as it is they're sitting ducks. Ottman tells Castle that the war is almost over and theres no point, nobody cares about Valley Forge and if they don't cause any trouble they can get on a plane and got home safely. Despite Castle being sure that the base will come under fire when the storm hits Ottman refuses to take responsibility for the lives of his men and goes to the bathroom. Castle follows him, prepares to grenade it and... walks away. The voice in Castle's head asks him why he stopped. He would have gotten away with it, would have gotten command of the base and might have been able to get things in order in time for the storm. The voice taunts him for being so willing to kill and repeats its offer: Say the word and he can give everyone what they have coming. As the rain starts to fall Castle finds Goodwin performing maintenence on his weapon. They talk about the general crappiness of the grunts and how short Goodwin is getting. Castle tells Goodwin that he has a four year old daughter and a pregnant wife and that he thinks they're his last chance. He sees Angel heading into Coltraine's bunker and asks if Goodwin needs a hand dealing with it, an offer Goodwin doesn't accept. The voice tells Frank that he's being a sap for denying what he really is. Goodwin goes into the bunker, beats Coltraine with the butt of his rifle and pulls Angel out. He chastises Angel for doing heroin, telling him he's only got a few weeks left in Nam and has too much to live for. Angel tells Goodwin that he's full of it and that while Stevie might have a future in America Angel is doomed to die in a ghetto. Goodwin comments that America shouldn't be in Nam and that it isn't the real America. Angel drops more truth bombs, telling Goodwin that Vietnam is exactly what America is: It's a culture of violence and death dating back centuries to a time when the Indians were slaughtered for their land and blacks were enslaved. He tells Goodwin to grow up and realize that the American dream only applies to Goodwin, not to him. Their argument is cut short when the base is attacked. Castle calls for illumination and we see hundreds of VC soldiers storming the base. All of the marines stand in shock while Castle demands they give him an M60. Observations: While the last issue went for detail of the goings on at Firebase Valley Forge this one does the opposite. The political ramifications and ethical implications of the war are the main focus. In the beginning we see a horrible attack on the Golden Gate bridge. It is used as a justification of the atrocities that took place during the war. Evil things were done but the greater purpose was in demonstrating the destructive force of America which will deter her enemies from daring to attempt something so bold. Tragically this wasn't the case and the events of 9/11 (which were surely in Ennis' mind during the writing of this story) make Stevie Goodwin look like a naive fool. Goodwin's naivete is called out on in story by Angel who lays down his perspective on the situation: If you're white and privileged like Stevie you can make it in America. If you aren't, like Angel, you can't because America is a place built on racism, hypocrisy and mass murder. Vietnam is just the newest expression that cultural attitude has taken and it won't be the last. Frank has his own problems to worry about in this issue. He is still dealing with incompetent and apathetic superiors. His larger issue is getting a handle on his inner demons. In the previous issues he indulged in his desire to murder and deliver retribution. Here he considers doing it again but stops himself. He tries to reassert his humanity by opening up to Goodwin and having a bit of a heart to heart with him. Unfortunately the voice in his head keeps pushing him, mocking him for trying to hold himself back and keep his composure. With Frank's earlier predictions about a VC attack coming true he is now facing a final test. Can he make it out alive without losing his soul? Robertson, Palmer and Mounts continue o improve. The double-page splash revealing the horde of VC soldiers is particularly riveting. It's all pulling together for the finale. B |
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Post by crazyoldhermit on Sept 14, 2014 20:28:03 GMT -5
Born #4 (November 2003)  "The Last Day" Penciler: Darick Robertson Inker: Tom Palmer Colorist: Paul Mounts Sumary: The final issue opens with a VC soldier clutching his face. He pulls his hands away to reveal bulletholes in eyes, nose and cheeks. Goodwin's monologue tells us about the Great Beast. It awoke in a dark time and rampaged across Europe and the Pacific. After its job was done it would not go back to sleep. The Beast has many hungry heads: Lockheed, Bell, Monsanto, Dow, Grumman, Colt and others. The Beast must be fed once per generation. Avoidable wars are fought and people die needlessly in order to food the Beast and today Firebase Valley Forge is feeding the Beast. The Beast is, of course, the military-industrial complex. The battle seems to have been raging for hours. Castle and his men are holding off the assault but it won't last. Castle demands that they radio Da Nang and get reinforcements. When the man in charge of the radio says Ottman won't allow it (he has gotten mad with despair over ignoring Castle's advice) Castle tells him to shoot him. Elsewhere in the battle Angel and Goodwin are panicking. Angel is firing wildly at the VC and his last words to Goodwin are "There ain't no mutha****in' God!" His head is blown clean off, leaving Goodwin alone. Cannons are fired into the oncoming VC but they keep coming. Goodwin hunkers down behind some sandbags and is found by Coltraine who is about to kill him when Castle caves his head in with a trench shovel. Castle lays out the situation: Him and Goodwin are the last men standing. The VC is burning people alive with flamethrowers and have destroyed the radio. Ottman is shown with a gun in his hand and a bullet in his head. Whether he was shot or committed suicide is left ambiguous. Goodwin expresses disappointment. He was so sure he was going to make it. One of the jets he and Angel watched yesterday bombs the battlefield. The napalm sets the base on fire and a flaming VC soldier charges at Goodwin. He is pulled away from the bayonet onto the big silver plane he dreamed would take him away, filled with liquor and fawning stewardesses. Castle is alone. The voice tells him to hurry up and say "yes." He has been shot four times and the barrel on his M60 is about to burn out. Castle impales a VC soldier with the red hot gun and starts killing soldiers with the trench shovel as more napalm is dropped. The voice promises to give him a war that will never end for a price. Castle relents. Hours later the fires have burned out. Choppers land and soldiers run out to inspect the damage. They find Frank Castle, standing wounded but alive. He has bloodshot eyes and is holding a rifle with a smashed stock. He is surrounded by VC corpses. He is pulled onto a Chopper and away from Vietnam. The last shot of the base shows Goodwin lying dead with a hole in his chest. Some time later Frank is greeted at the airport by his family, including a young son. He tells them he is never returning to Vietnam, that he went as far as he wanted and that all he values is spending time with his family. The voice congratulations him on his achievements. He reminds Frank that they made a deal and that there would be a price: His family. He tells Frank that he will forget this conversation soon enough and there is nothing he can do to stop it. The voice teases his identity, telling Frank that they're in the same business and that they'll be good friends. Frank's wife asks him if something's wrong. He says it's nothing and embraces his family. Observations: So there it is. A freaking massacre. The last three issues built up flawlessly to this final chapter. This chapter really focused on the raw horror of war. Death comes in many forms. With the exception of Frank Castle every single character introduced in the last three issues died. Angel was shot out of nowhere (for the moment rendering his plot unresolved but there is an epilogue in the end of Ennis' run), Ottman and Coltraine died in ways that were satisfying and poor Stevie Goodwin at least got to experience his dream in his final moments. Frank Castle died as well and he was unable to resist and resorted to his inner animal, selling his soul and his family to continue his mission. The opening monologue about the Beast further underlines this focus, finally casting the true villain of the series and the cause of Vietnam: The military-industrial complex. Aircraft, chemical and firearms manufacturers need their income and the goverment obliges by going to war. A very cynical take on things. There are a lot of theories regarding the identity of the voice. The most common are that it's Death, Satan and Frank's true self. It's kind of a troublesome issue because with the exception of this story Ennis' MAX work is strictly grounded in reality with no supernatural elements. Continuity is an issue with this run and I will get into it more later on. But right now what I'll say is I have my own theory. This miniseries bridged the end of his Marvel Knights run, which was set in the 616 universe, and his proper MAX run, which was in its own continuity. For a while this mini could be considered the origin of both versions of the character, even though they exist in separate worlds. My own take is that if looking at it as a prequel to "Welcome Back Frank" the voice is Death or Mephisto, both of whom are legitimate characters in the Marvel Universe. But if you see it as a prequel to the MAX run it is a dramatized version of Frank's inner monologue. I think it's interesting that in this story Frank has no internal monologue, only the one-sided conversation with the voice. But in the main series Frank's inner monologue is a huge part of the storytelling and in both stories the narration comes through as white text in black boxes. Just food for thought. Artwise the team really pulled through. The colors are especially well down. Mounts gives the battle increasingly vibrant colors as it rages on. When Frank finally says "YES!" he is pink and blue! On the next page the battle is over and the colors are so desaturated that compared to the previous pages they almost look black and white. Great effect that wouldn't have been possible with the old printing process. Also, shoutout to Wieslaw Walkuski for these awesome covers. This issue is really what the mini is all about. The whole thing is aces and makes "Born" one of the best (and certainly the most haunting) graphic novels Marvel has. A |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 14, 2014 20:40:29 GMT -5
Looking forward to reading this thread. Everything I'd read about Ennis told me his work was not for me, but damned if Preacher isn't one of the best things I've read.
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Post by Slam_Bradley on Sept 14, 2014 21:50:34 GMT -5
I'm a HUGE Ennis fan.
Maybe I'll try to read along.
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Post by crazyoldhermit on Sept 15, 2014 0:36:10 GMT -5
OK so with Born wrapped it's time to start on the bulk of the run. But first I want to lay something out. Regarding ratings, I never really put proper thought into a rating system. I'll stick with letter grades but I'm keeping it simple. A, B, C, D and F. Pretty self explanatory. No pluses or minuses because I think thats just splitting hairs. Alright, lets get this started. All stories written by Garth Ennis, all covers (save for one) by Tim Bradstreet. The Punisher #1 (March 2004)  "In The Beginning, Part 1" Pencils by Lewis Larosa Inks by Tom Palmer Colors by Dean White Summary: The issue starts with the Castle family's grave marker. It reads Maria Elizabeth Castle 1948-1976 Lisa Castle 1967-1976 Frank David Castle 1971-1976 Frank stares at the stone. He is not the same man we saw in Born. He is very large and beefy. His face is heavily lined and somewhat saggy. While the 616 version of the character is now a veteran of an undefined desert operation and is eternally in his thirties, this is a man who is (at the time of the comic's writing) in his 50s and has been active as the Punisher for 28 years. It is 32 and a half years since the massacre at Valley Forge. In his inner monologue, which as I said earlier is a major storytelling device (think Scorcese), he graphically describes the murder of his family. They were having a picnic in Central Park when mafia hitmen opened fired on a boss and they were caught in the crossfire. Frank took a shot in the lungs. His daughter was shot in the stomach and watched her guts spill onto the ground. His wife caught one in the heart and bled out on the operating table. His son appeared unharmed but when he grabbed him brains fell onto his hand. The boy had been shot through his open mouth. This disturbing monologue is punctuated with large images of his daught, wife and son. As he walks back to his safehouse he ends the monologue with "Every night I go out and make the world sane." A man and a woman in a car watch him load an M60 into his car. The woman, named O'Brien, wonders aloud if he has a large... organ, just incase the opportunity arises for her to have sex with him. Her partner, Roth, wonders why they hadn't made their move on him at the cemetary. That night at a very large mansion carloads of people in tuxedos pull up. It is Don Massimo's 100th birthday and every mob family in the country has sent representatives to the party. Frank kills a guard dog with his knife and takes ten minutes to set everything up. At the party the wiseguys wish the Don well as Frank shows up in the open doorway, says "Massimo Cesare, I'm here to kill you" and shoots him in the head. While everyone in the room stands stunned at what just happened he leaves. They pull themselves together and head out after him, telling their wives and children to stay inside. It turns out to be a smart idea because as soon as they're out the door they're hit with the M60. "It's Omaha Beach. Wounded Knee. Rorke's Drift, the Killing Fields, the first day on the Somme. World War Three in North Jersey. And only now, pouring automatic fire into a human wall, do I feel something like peace." In the house it's pandemonium as the wives scream at their husbands to stay back and watch them get slaughtered. Children cry as they see their fathers get torn to shreds. Some of the wiseguys try to flank Frank but it's no use. The ones that get to cover find trip mines that blow ball bearings into their bodies. Frank loads another 200 round belt and hits the corpses to ensure no one gets away wounded and to sniff out the fakers. At a high rise apartment O'Brien and Roth are watching a satellite feed of events. It's clear that they are working for the government, as they have said feed as a courtesy from NASA. Their boss talks to a man called Micro. He refers to Frank as his "investment." Micro refers to himself as Frank's only friend and says he will take him down soon. Observations: This is the issue that really lays it all out. You might buy this because you hear good things about the story and you're kinda interested but not fully onboard with the Punisher character. After reading this issue you're thinking one of two things: "This is disgusting, theres no way I'm going to continue to read this trash" or "They've got me, I've got to keep going." While this issue sets up the plot of the arc and introduces a pretty major character it's really there to set the tone and finally show the Punisher for exactly who he is. In this story he pretty much does one thing. He drives to a house, he shoots a lot of people and he goes away. The awful War Zone movie adapted this issue and played it out more like an action scene (with some awful "hang upside down from the chandelier while spinning and shooting), the fact that he just stands behind a gun and loads 400 rounds into a group of people makes it much more oppressively brutal. This is not a game or a hobby, he is fully committed to destroying these creeps. He doesn't spare a single thought for the women and children who witness his massacre (seeing that amount of violence is bad enough, seeing your father caught up in that violence would be traumatizing on a whole other level) and it comes back to haunt him later on. If you can stomach his actions in this story then you can make it through the series. You don't have to agree with it or condone it, you just have to tolerate. At this point Ennis is already making it clear that Frank is a mental case. He says in monologue that he had killed everyone involved with his family's murder. The people he is about to murder had nothing to do with his own tragedy. And yet they are a part of that system and I have to admit a level of thrill in seeing scumbags get cut down. On the art side, Larosa, Palmer and White are a fantastic team. They are much stronger than the team on Born (which Palmer was a part of). Larasoa's pencils are very gritty and realistc while still exaggerated just enough to work as an interior. White is the real star though, which should be no surprise to anyone familiar with his work. The horror he is able to imbibe to the flashback at the beginning makes it the best visual sequence in the issue. Overall this is the perfect start to a Punisher series. Lays it all out for you to judge. A |
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Post by crazyoldhermit on Sept 15, 2014 1:57:03 GMT -5
The Punisher #2 (March 2004)  "In The Beginning, Part 2" Pencils by Lewis Larosa Inks by Tom Palmer Colors by Dean White Summary: The issue starts with the direct aftermath of the Birthday Party Massacre. At the funeral of Don Massimo the upper echelon of mobsters stand off to the side to talk business. The Punisher's attack has decimated them. They are without leadership but they must band together to kill the Punisher. At that moment a rocket flies out of an SUV, hits the group and kills everyone of them. Frank explains that when you get someone on the ropes you don't let up and if they don't go down you bleed them to death. His plan is clearly working as another level of mob authority has just been vaporized. In the hotel room the government agents are watching the news report. Roth starts getting mouthy and accuses "fat boy" (Micro) of having cold feet. Micro grabs his private parts and explains to him very carefully that no one else knows Frank Castle better than him, that for ten years Micro had assisted Frank in his mission and transformed him into a war machine, and that when the guy kills 42 people and wounds seven (guess he missed a few despite the extra belt) he has every right to be scared. They make plans to take Frank that night. In a slummy part of the city Frank is sitting with a very old and fat prostitute named Nadine. She fills him in on the goings on: In the week since the attack there has been no mob activity. All of the wiseguys are barricaded in their basements and all of the lowlifes, including her pimp Herbie, are making tons of money. Frank seems more occupied with a very young and very skinny prostitute. He asks Nadine how old she is and Nadine says she doesn't know. Shes from Poughkeepsie and Herb found her in a club. Frank asks her if he got her hooked on any drugs yet. Nadine says she doesn't know but Frank doesn't care. He walks up, grabs Herbie by the throat and pulls him into an alleyway. Frank emerges and gives a jewel encrusted money clip to Nadine with instructions: Give her half, put her on a bus home and tell the new guy to watch himself. Nadine just tells herself that it wasn't her fault. In a bar three mobsters are greeted by a fourth. Larry has asked Nicky Cavella, Pittsy and Ink to come down from Boston to help with the situation. Let me tell you, these guys are a peach. Nicky got himself kicked out of New York for being a total psycho, Pittsy makes Paulie Walnuts look like Richard Simmons and Ink is clearly unstable in a very quiet way. Poor Larry seems like the kind of guy that can screw up a cup of coffee and is obviously out of his league here. Nicky lays it out: He knows that if it wasn't for the extreme circumstance he'd never be back in New York and he plans to do things the right way by killing the Punisher before trying to rebuild. And he implies that he intends to take over the whole operation when he gets things fixed up. Meanwhile Pittsy verbally assaults the poor waitress who brings him New England Clam Chowder thats red instead of white. Back at his safehouse Frank is preparing for his evening. He considers using the info he got from Nadine and hitting up the lowlifes, just to keep them in line. But no, it's smarter to keep hitting the Italians. Once the Italians are done the dealers won't have anything to sell. Outside Micro and the agents are in a van. When Frank emerges from his bunker Micro is waiting for him. Frank hesitates for a split second and goes for his Uzi but Micro beats him to it and takes him down with a shotgun. Observations: The first thing I want to touch on is Frank's code of ethics. In Born he was very pragmatic but still unsure of himself. More than thirty years later he is much more focused. The exposure of children to violence continues right away when he bombs the funeral. A few pages later he makes an effort to rescue a teenaged prostitute. An example of his short sightedness and hypocrisy, but also of his pragmaticism. He bombs the funeral because it's the best thing he can do to serve his mission. He saves the prostitute because he can, yet he makes no effort to change the way the business works. He does what he can to help but is smart enough to know what he can't help and instead focuses on doing something more tangible like killing off the Italian mob, which at this point seems like a very real possibility. Nicky Cavella is a new twist in the story. He and his crew are the first mobsters to be actual characters in the story. The scene in the restaurant feels very Sopranos and in a way certain arcs of this series feel like the Sopranos if a crazy guy came and shot up the Bing every once in a while. Micro, who is of course Microchip, is an interesting example of how Ennis uses continuity. Microchip was Frank's sidekick from 1987 to 1995. Micro operated as Frank's Q or Alfred, using his technological skills to arm and aim Frank at the best targets. In a 1995 story they had a falling out that ended with Micro being killed by a rogue SHIELD agent. Now here Micro is back and working with the government. There are other fun ways Ennis plays around with continuity later on. Artwise we've got more goodness. Theres a weird sort of depth of field effect that gets applied a lot and I don't think I like it very much but the overall aesthetic of the book suits the story perfectly. Overall the issue isn't as great as the first but it puts the pieces into play and the scene with the pimp is a great sort of black humor. B |
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Post by crazyoldhermit on Sept 15, 2014 16:54:55 GMT -5
The Punisher #3 (April 2004)  "In The Beginning, Part 3" Pencils by Lewis Larosa Inks by Tom Palmer Colors by Dean White Summary: The story starts with Larry talking to a man in the hospital. His name is Jackie, he is the last Capo (making him the de facto boss of the organization), he survived the Punisher's assaults and he is furious that Larry has brought Nicky Cavella. He demands that Larry send Nicky back to Boston but unfortunately for him Pittsy and Ink come in and smother him with a pillow. In the corridor Nicky sees a news report on the Punisher's arrest. An old man named Walter Krause reports that SWAT-looking guys pulled him into a van and drove off. Nicky asks Larry to check his contacts in the department for information because he doesn't buy the story at all. In a bedroom in the hotel suite Frank is chained to a chair and looking pretty beat up. Turns out Micro used stun round to take Frank down. In addition to the three we saw Micro hit Frank with, including one in the face, Micro had to use four more to bring him down. Frank is one tough S.O.B. O'Brien is listening at the door hoping to hear his voice while Roth talks with the agent in charge about the old man on the news. The top guy wants poor Walter silenced. Not killed, just told to back away from the news. While the police are cooperating with the cover story, if the media starts snooping they could find out the arrest isn't legit. Roth volunteers to pay Walter a visit. Back in the improvised interrogation room, Micro pleads to Frank's humanity. He knew appealing to Frank's patriotism and guilt were futile, as those things died with his family. He's desperate to get results because if he doesn't Bethell (the agent in charge) will have Frank killed. Micro lays out pictures of Frank's wife and children. At a pool hall Larry is getting to know Nicky and his crew. We find out Ink got his name because the first guy he killed was with a pen. He drove it into the guy's eye socket. Pittsy, in case it wasn't already apparent, is a full-on nutbar who ogles the behinds of a couple ladies and seriously considers breaking a pool cue over them. Larry's man in the NYPD has given him the information Nicky wanted: The Punisher wasn't actually arrested, it's a government operation thats being covered up. Nicky makes plans to visit poor poor Walter. Back at the hotel Micro starts to lay it out. He tells Frank that his kids would be in their thirties and he and Maria might have been grandparents, but that will never happen because no matter what Frank does they will never come back. He elaborates on his own backstory, of how his son was murdered and how it prompted him to join up with the Punisher. He walked away when he realized that no matter what he did things would never change and crime would still exist. But the worst realization was that Frank knew that and didn't care. He tells Frank he enjoys killing and that he got a taste for it Nam, referencing the events of Born and (retroactively) Fury: My War Gone By. He says that Frank is just using his family's memory as an excuse to kill people. Frank has had enough. He says "Put them away right now. Or I guarantee you'll have to kill me." O'Brien hears this and rushes to the minibar for a drink. At Walter's apartment Roth is trying to - unsuccessfully - to get inside his apartment. At that moment the Cavella crew shows up. They pay off Walter and take Roth in their car. They chastise him for being so sick as to murder a helpless old man (which Roth denies and we know he's being truthful). Cavella demands information about the operation and Pittsy tells him that if he doesn't talk he will castrate him. At the hotel O'Brien is still shaking from hearing Frank's voice. She is confident that he is an animal unlike any they have ever encountered. Bethell tells her she's being stupid and that Frank is no different from the agents they have working with them. O'Brien isn't convinced. Micro finally takes his shot. He tells Frank that he doesn't think he's crazy, that he's not an unstable gun-toting maniac or a serial killer. He knows Frank doesn't take pleasure in his killings (or anything he does) and that he is still capable of emotion. He wants to offer Frank a way to walk away from being the Punisher. Observations: A very plot-heavy issue. All setup with little payoff. The scene with the agents and the gangsters are fine but the real meat is Micro's conversation with Frank. Unfortunately the conversation is mostly exposition and repeating what we already know: Frank went through some heavy duty stuff in Vietnam which gave him an addiction to violence. At this point we're really just building to the next issue. This is where having an art team like this is important. Larosa and Palmer work a ton of detail in the faces of Frank and Micro and considering Frank is silent and stoic the entire issue they do a good job of keeping things varied and layering subtle emotions into his face with wrinkles and shadow. The scene is very moody, with everything black save for Frank, Micro and the table (cast in a greyish blue light). On the negative side of things, Nicky Cavella seems to have aged 20 years since the last issue and some of the pages look a little thrown together. Overall it's good but doesn't offer much as anything other than a chapter in a story, unlike the first two issues. C |
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Post by crazyoldhermit on Sept 15, 2014 22:44:39 GMT -5
The Punisher #4 (May 2004)  "In The Beginning, Part 4" Pencils by Lewis Larosa Inks by Tom Palmer Colors by Dean White Summary: Picking up right where the last issue ended, Micro makes his offer: "How would you like to hunt Bin Laden?" He tells Frank that he's wasting his time chasing after mobsters when there is a much more pressing issue in the world. He explains that Bethell and his men are CIA. They specialize in assassination and want to hire Frank. If he were to accept the NYPD would release a statement saying Frank killed himself in custody. Legally dead, his liason would be Micro and he would have access to intel and weaponry, plan his missions the way he wants without government interference. Micro could even take care of managing information and weaponry, just like the old times. Frank refuses. He doesn't want anything to do with the government. All they do is screw you over and Frank had enough of that in Nam. Micro protests that it doesn't work that way. Frank says "There sixty thousand guys in DC who'd say different. Except they can't say anything because they're nothing but names on a black wall." Micro tells Frank that he will be killed but Frank doesn't care. Meanwhile, otside Walter's apartment Nicky and his screw have left Roth lying on the road. They successfully interrogated and now know where the Punisher is and how to circumvent the security. Larry is too busy puking his guts out to pay much mind to what Nicky is saying. Later, O'Brien is asking Walter about Roth when Roth stumbles into the building, pouring blood and holding a styrofoam cup with his testicles in it. O'Brien rushes Roth to the hospital while telling Bethell to expect a hit. The agents in the basement are mobilized and head up the service elevator. However, Nicky has forseen this and had Ink sabotage the elevator, sending them plummeting down 47 floors into the basement. Back in the hotel room Frank tells Micro a story about a man named Bob Garrett. Bob was Frank's neighbor who brought a bottle of liquor to Frank's house some time after he died (at this point Frank was a shut-in and hadn't talked to anybody for a while). Bob offers his sympathies for a while then starts telling Frank about the goings on in his life. He met a nice office girl and left his wife for her. Frank says "I lost my wife and you threw yours away like she was nothing." Frank tells him to run. He doesn't. Bob ends up thrown through the living room bay window. Four other neighbors have to hold Frank back to keep him from killing Bob. Frank says that Bob knew what he did was wrong but did it anyway so he had to be punished. Micro asks why Frank is telling this story but Frank cuts him off and asks him where Bethell is getting his funding. At that moment Nicky, his crew and Larry break into the hotel room. Bethell gets knee-capped, the crew kick the bedroom door in, Micro is held at gunpoint and Frank is still chained to the chair. Observations: With last month's exposition done with this issue moves right into the thick of things. Frank and Micro are still having their conversation but this time we finally find out exactly what Bethell wants with Frank. It's a very interesting offer. At first glance Frank should jump for it, right? He gets to be the Punisher without worrying about evading the law. He gets all of the resources he could want. He can organize his strikes and work uninhibited. And best of all he gets to go after serious threats to world peace. Theres just one problem: It means having to play ball and Frank Castle will not play ball. Some people have criticized Ennis for this development, saying it is hugely out of character (this allegation pops up at a few other moments in the series). I disagree with them. It's not a violation of established character, it's a further development of said character. Ennis is reminding us that even though Frank loves killing things he was still chewed up and spat out by the government in the form of Vietnam. He is a victim of the military-industrial complex and financially motivated wars. The last thing he wants to do is crawl back into bed with them. This draws a firm line in the sand and further defines his complex personal code. The incident with Bob Garrett also defines another facet of Frank's code. Bob did the wrong thing, knew it was wrong and thus had to be punished. That right there sums up the whole thing. And as a side-note, the imagery of goofy Bob flying out the window and the neighbors holding Frank back (including one wrapped around his leg) is just great. Nicky's effortless overtaking of the hotel room shows just how deadly and focused he is compared to his peers. It seems a little improbable that three men with shotguns could capture a room full of company men but hey, it's the Punisher. And O'Brien's "encounter" with Roth adds another edge of humor to the otherwise grim proceedings. B |
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Post by pinkfloydsound17 on Sept 15, 2014 22:54:29 GMT -5
I scored the first 15 issues or so of this series off of a coworker last year. I dont usually buy newer stuff but this was recommended by Punisher fans and I must say every issue was great IMO. Graphic, gritty, solid writing, great art. This is what I imagined a proper Punisher movie would look like.
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Post by crazyoldhermit on Sept 15, 2014 23:18:55 GMT -5
I scored the first 15 issues or so of this series off of a coworker last year. I dont usually buy newer stuff but this was recommended by Punisher fans and I must say every issue was great IMO. Graphic, gritty, solid writing, great art. This is what I imagined a proper Punisher movie would look like. Yeah, this series is why I've been disappointed with the two Punisher movie's we've gotten. I can't blame the Thomas Jane one, that preceeded this series. But Warzone has no excuse. I'd love to see a Punisher series on HBO or Showtime or Netflix or whatever. I really hope he shows up in the Daredevil series, they'd be a perfect pair. If not, at least we have Dirty Laundry.
The Punisher #5 (June 2004)  "In The Beginning, Part 5" Pencils by Lewis Larosa Inks by Tom Palmer Colors by Dean White Summary: BAM. Nicky shoots Micro in the chest. He holds the pistol to Frank's head. "I don't believe in ****in' around." Should have held the gun out of reach then friend, because Frank Castle just bit your hand and all you managed to do was graze his forehead. Just as this goes down O'Brien bursts into the suite with an SMG. She unloads on Ink, with Pittsy catching a bullet as well. Nicky struggles to break Frank's grip while Ink, who is tougher than he looks, pulls the pin on a grenade. When O'Brien finally puts him down Nicky shoots her in the chest while the grenade explodes and takes out part of the suite. Now Nicky's luck takes a turn for the worse. With Nicky distracted by the chaos outside Micro has managed to unlock Frank's shackles. Frank wastes no time grabbing Nicky by the head and smashes him into Pittsy's face, who in turn slams into the wall behind him hard enough to dent it. The men exchange blows, with Frank crushing one of his eyes with his thumb. They get in a struggle and Micro takes aim. Frank tells him to fire at them both and Pittsy goes down. Nicky and Pittsy get outta dodge and Frank and Micro follow. As they go they pass O'Brien catches Frank's eye. Lying on the floor with a nasty gunshot wound she makes it clear that she is aroused. In the getaway cars Pittsy is screaming vegeance while Frank addresses Micro's situation. He was wearing a vest and only one shot got through. Micro directs them to a warehouse he set up before leaving town. Frank had intercepted four truckloads of stolen M16s and told Micro to stash them. Now they have an excellent place to hole up with enough munitions to fight a war, plus canned food and first aid kits. At the hotel O'Brien is tired of Bethell's operation. She quits and he tells her shes going back to prison. He calls a colleague and tells him to activate the bug they put on Micro's phone and send in a gunship. Believing they are going to die and it won't matter Micro tells Frank where Bethell's funding comes from. Frank already figured it out: Heroin out of Afghanistan. The drug is smuggled in the bodybags of dead soldiers and Bethell distributes it to corrupt cops on the West Coast, who distribute it to street gangs. Micro explains that Bethell found him online. He told him that they could bring Frank in and maybe get him doing some good. Frank wants nothing to do with it. Micro argues that Frank is just as bad because he funds his mission with mob money. Frank points out that he kills the people he steals from while Micro has merely joined them. He tells him to remember the story about Bob Garrett and that he told Bob to run because he knew what he would do to him. Micro doesn't understand. Frank asks for his phone. Nicky and Pittsy are being patched up at Larry's house. Frank calls them and tells them to get to the warehouse with every wiseguy he can find. He's going to put an end to them. After the phone call Frank dismantles the phone. He finds the bug and they realize the CIA is going to be onto them. Frank doesn't care. He tells Micro to run and that their past together won't change anything. Micro refuses. Frank says "Then on your own head be it. Here they come." Observations: Here they come. The mob and the CIA are on a collission course with the Punisher. Action is the name of the game here and it's the first time we've seen the MAX version of the character in a proper fight. Armed with an M60 fifty wiseguys are nothing. Armed with his fists Pittsy is trouble. Larosa does a great job of pacing the fight and portraying the physical brutality of Frank's fighting. Aside from the action we have a tense and awkwardly nostalgic scene with Frank and Micro. Micro seems to really enjoy rolling with his old partner but it's clear that Frank considers him a dead man. He crossed a line, he joined the enemy, he has to die. Micro doesn't get the meaning of Frank telling him to run but the reader sure does. This is a neat twist on the typical Punisher scenario as his enemy here isn't just the typical Mafioso thing but also a much more powerful enemy, the US government. Micro has sold out to the CIA, which in turn has sold out to profit. It all spells disaster. B |
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Post by crazyoldhermit on Sept 16, 2014 3:19:44 GMT -5
The Punisher #6 (July 2004)  "In The Beginning, Conclusion" Pencils by Lewis Larosa Inks by Tom Palmer Colors by Dean White Summary: Frank Castle is on the rooftop with an M16 firing into car after car of wiseguys that pull up. He notes that the majority of them are cannon-fodder despite their pretentions of being a soldier. The ones who do understand what it means to be a soldier are the ones to watch. Nicky and Larry are watching the chaos from an opposing rooftop while Bethell rides a gunship into the warzone. He orders the police to establish a perimeter but not to interfere. Nicky orders two more carloads of thugs into the fray. Larry questions this but Nicky points out that Frank has a perfect kill-zone and the only way in is in the shadow of the building. While more wiseguys pull up to distract Frank Pittsy crawls out of the trunk of one of the cars. He manages to gut Micro and engages Frank with his shotgun. Frank falls from the roof and they go at it. Pittsy blows away one of Frank's ribs with the shotgun and Frank headbuts him. Pittsy jams his hand into Frank's wound and Frank breaks his fingers. Pittsy just cracks them back into place and they continue the fight. Pittsy arms himself with a piece of broken glass and slashes Frank up pretty badly. Frank impales his own hand on the glass, breaks it, picks Pittsy up, runs over to the window (getting stabbed all along the way) and throws him out of it. Pittsy gets impaled on a wrought iron face and Frank helps his situation by jumping on top of him. In the chopper Bethell is freaking out over Frank putting himself at risk. He orders the pilots to open fire on the mobsters. The pilots get the go ahead and push Bethell out of the chopper. In the warehouse Frank arms himself with Pittsy's shotgun. He starts firing on the remaining mobsters. Larry snaps and starts berating Nicky for the situation he got them in. Nicky pulls a gun on him and forces him to go out and face Frank ("His gun might jam, mine won't.) Larry gets shot and Frank takes aim at Nicky but he's distracted by Pittsy, who is staggering towards Castle while still impaled on the fence. Frank takes his shot and blows Pittsy's head open (this is drawn in extremely graphic detail). On the other side of the warehouse Nicky shoots a few cops and steals their cars. Frank walks past Bethell lying on his back, paralyzed. Frank leaves him to die of internal hemorrhaging. He goes back to the warehouse where Micro is sitting, too wounded to escape. At this point the narration, which has been keeping a tab on the fates of all characters, says "David L. Lieberman, a.k.a. Micro. Deceased: Gunshot wound to the cranium." We all know whats coming. Micro tries to reason with Frank, tries to psychoanalyze him and get him to acknowledge some humanity. Frank tells him he should have run and asks if he'll beg. Micro lowers his head and Frank blows it off. Observations: So the first arc is wrapped. Since this series is composed of ten story arcs I'll take the opportunity to speak of each arc as a whole as they end. But first, the issue. As far as this issue goes, it's great. The fight with Pittsy is fantastic, really great brutal choreography. Frank takes an impossible amount of abuse (especially for a 54 year old man) but given the ending of Born that might be justified. Besides, it's a comic. The ending with Micro is so pathetic and sad that it's kind of hard to read. While Micro could get away with dropping some psych on Frank when he was chained to a chair in the end here it is shown to have zero impact. We really get that Micro considers Frank to be a friend and is desperate to be spared by him. The fact that Frank can speak so casually with Micro in battle when he fully intends on killing him shows just how cold he is. The resolution with Bethell was nice considering what an awful man he was. B As far as the arc goes I think pretty highly of it as well. It makes a fantastic introduction to the character of Frank Castle. Ennis tells a story that sketches in exactly who Frank is and what he stands for. It's a very specific but mostly consistent moral code. The themes and characters introduced in this arc go on to have a larger impact on the run as a whole but as is typical for this series it reads very well on its own. I would definitely recommend it to those interested in the character. B Tomorrow I'll start on Kitchen Irish but next up is The End. |
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Post by impulse on Sept 16, 2014 21:23:21 GMT -5
Man, this is one of my favorite series ever done by anyone. I was also never into the typical portrayal of the Punisher in the 90s, and I don't remember exactly why I tried this series, but I'm glad I did. It was one of the few consistently good every month books I've ever subscribed to.
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