WRITERS: Carl Potts
ARTIST: Carl Potts / Jim Lee
COLOR ARTIST: John Wellington
LETTERS: Jim Novak
COVER: Carl Potts/ Jim Lee
EDITOR: Don Daley
CHIEF CREATIVE OFFICER: Tom Defalco
PUBLISHER: Marvel Comics
Release Date: November, 1988
Published monthly by Marvel
Worldwide, INC.
ADDITIONAL DETAILS:
Price – $1.50
(32 Pages, single-issue, color)
INTRODUCTION:
This was the first issue of the
Punisher’s spin-off series that ran from 1988 to 1995. The series features the
Punisher War Journal entry text boxes, with narration by Frank Castle.
WRITING:
Carl Potts opens the series as head
writer and also takes early penciling duties. In this issue there are several
story arcs that are being set up for the series. The central story suffers
slightly due to this and it feels rushed. On the other hand the retelling of
Frank Castle’s origin through small panels at the bottom of each page was very
well done. It allows new readers to get caught up without making long-time fans
sit through a story they already know.
Rating – “B”
ARTWORK:
The pencils for this issue were by
Carl Potts with finished art by Jim Lee. You can really see the early style
that will become Jim Lee’s trademark. Each panel is detailed and full of color.
On the negative it still carries the typical ’90s brightly colored style which
takes away from the gritty nature of the content.
Rating – “A”
STORY:
The story opens with Frank Castle
setting out on a very personal mission, to visit Central Park on the
anniversary of his family’s death, but a Punisher’s job is never done and soon
he is rescuing a young woman and her infant son from a group of mobsters. There
is also a brief appearance by a mysterious old man and his daughter who own a
small grocery store and apartment building. This is clearly setting up
characters for future story arcs. The overall story of Castle trying to reach
Central Park is well done and the side mission, though short, has plenty of
twists and turns.
Rating – “B+”
ENTERTAINMENT VALUE:
The entertainment value of this issue
does suffer due to all of the setups but the overall story is still fun and
gets to the core of the Punisher and why he has taken on his one man war on
crime.
Rating – “B”
OVERAL
RATING OF ISSUE: “B+”
