Saturday, June 30, 2012

PC POST #66: The Punisher #13 Preview

Hello Punisher Fans !

Here goes another preview of our current run, The Punisher #13 by Greg Rucka.










Written by: Greg Rucka.
Art by: Marco Checchetto.
Cover by: Marco Checchetto.
Description: "Fight or Flight" continues! A friend switches sides. Cole becomes the hunted!
Pages: 32.
Price: $2.99.
In stores: July 5. 

Source:http://www.comicscontinuum.com/stories/1206/29/marvelfirsts.htm




PC POST #65: This is War!

Hello Punisher Fans!!





Has the Punisher declare War on Marvel Super heroes?


It seems that Marvel will launch in October the Punisher-Warzone. The art is created by Marco Checchetto. We will find out more in July 15th, in Comic Con International 2012.








 That's it for now guys, stay tunned in our site for more news.


 

Wednesday, June 20, 2012

PC POST #64: Punisher #12 Review

Post by @Neil4LOST


WRITERS: Greg Rucka
ARTIST: Marco Checchetto
COLOR ARTIST: Matt Hollingsworth
LETTERS: VC’s Joe Caramagna
COVER: Marco Checchetto
ASSISTANT EDITOR: Ellie Pyle
EDITOR: Stephen Wacker
EDITOR IN CHIEF: Axel Alonso
CHIEF CREATIVE OFFICER: Joe Quesada
PUBLISHER: Dan Buckley
EXEC. PRODUCER: Alan Fine

Release Date: June 20th, 2012
Published monthly by Marvel Worldwide, INC.

ADDITIONAL DETAILS:
Price – $2.99
(32 Pages, single-issue, color)

INTRODUCTION: (From page 1)

The New York criminal underworld is in chaos in the wake of Daredevil’s attempt to destroy the Omega Drive, a mission that required the Man Without Fear to seek aid from both Spider-Man and the Punisher. Working alongside Castle was Marine Sergeant Rachel Cole-Alves, the former soldier now turned vigilante who seeks bloody revenge for the murder of her husband and their families on her wedding day.

The object of Cole’s ire is the organization known as the Exchange, lead by ex-A.I.M. scientist Stefanie Gerard and ex-S.H.I.E.L.D. agent Christian Poulsen. Castle, too, has been hunting the Exchange, and the result is an uneasy alliance between Cole and Castle: an alliance that collapsed when Cole attempted to steal the Omega Drive for herself to help exact her revenge.

Now the Omega Drive is out of play, and Cole has gone to ground. To Frank Castle, that can mean only one thing: Cole is preparing a run at the Exchange.

Before she does, the Punisher wants to get a few things straight….

WRITING:

Greg Rucka focuses on one thing in this issue; the resolution of conflict between Frank Castle and Rachel Cole-Alves. Even though the focus is on this conflict, it is clear to the reader that the other peripheral characters that Rucka has created are still important and have a very clear purpose in the story he is trying to tell.

Rucka also chooses to have Frank talk more than any other issue so far in the series and it has a huge impact. Personally I was nervous about how this would come across in this Punisher universe but instead of coming across as an out-of-character moment it comes across as a “come to Jesus” meeting that Frank Castle has. This issue truly is one of the best writing that Greg Rucka has done so far in the series. It is exciting to see just how Greg continues the evolution of the characters he is in charge of and the direction that he is taking the book in.

Rating – “A”

ARTWORK:

Marco Checchetto is back on duty after having a month-long break following up “The Omega Effect” crossover event.

Checchetto’s work is truly amazing and it enhances every character interaction that Rucka created. Dark tones, rain, night-scenes and multiple panels showing various angles of the same scene are all trademarks that Checchetto has used previously in the series but he uses pretty much all of them over the course of this single issue. It really does add up to suck the reader right in to the environment that Frank Castle exists in.

It’s good to have you back Marco!

Rating – “A+”

STORY:

(WARNING – THIS SECTION MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS)

This issue’s direction is all about Frank and Rachel’s confrontation after Rachel’s attempt to steal the Omega Drive from Daredevil.

Throughout the issue we see Punisher tracking down Cole-Alves and Rachel attempting to get an old friend to assist her with something yet to be revealed. Punisher finally finds Rachel and gets her angry by confiscating her wedding photo. Rachel attempts to get it back from Frank by exchanging blows. Eventually Frank convinces Rachel that the only way she can get it back is to hear him out.

Frank Castle’s opportunity to teach Rachel a lesson is an interesting one. He lays out the facts to Rachel by informing her that either she has to die to her feelings and become something more or try to start her life over again, which Frank says would be a lie, if she attempted to live a normal life.

Eventually Rachel sees things Frank’s way and recommits to her mission. To be a soldier, a marine, a killing machine.


Rating – “A”

ENTERTAINMENT VALUE:

There are two components to this issue that really drew me in. First was the artwork. From the cover to the last panel on the last page, Marco Checchetto’s work is second to none. Second is the leading up to the confrontation between Frank Castle and Rachel Cole-Alves. This meeting lives up to the hype and it leads to a very satisfying conclusion.

After how the Omega Effect turned out I was really hoping that we would see the story come back around in this manner and now that it has, I can understand why things were done the way they were. I don’t necessarily agree that they had to happen the way they did but I understand nevertheless.

This issue was the culmination of a slow-burn style of storytelling. It actually reminded me of the way that Scott Snyder has written Batman and the Court of the Owls storyline.

Rating – “A+”

OVERAL RATING OF ISSUE:  “A+”

Thursday, June 14, 2012

PC POST #63 : Punisher #12 Preview

Post by @ivomgs

Hi guys, well as usual im here to present some preview shots of the upcoming Punisher #12 by Greg Rucka and Marco Checchetto.

Let's find out what will happen between Frank and Rachel.












PC POST #62 : Retro Review: Punisher: Born TPB

Post by @DorkJustinSaga

Writer: Garth Ennis
Pencils: Darick Robertson
Inks: Tom Palmer
Colors: Paul Mount
Covers: Wieslaw Walkuski


Introduction

" In the waning days of the Vietnam War..... The Punisher is born."


Writing

This is typical Ennis; the blackest of black humour, peppered with swearing yet fantastically well written. Gareth Ennis manages to create characters you genuinely care about despite the horrors they are forced to commit all set against the backdrop of the Vietnam War.

Rating - "A"


Artwork

This is the only comic I've read that's featured Darick Robertson's art, so it's impossible to say whether the man uses a different style for this book than his other books. The art in Punisher: Born is great; there's plenty of detail, especially in the jungle scenes, and each of the different characters of the story have their own individual look, which helps to create feeling for them. The art really helps to sell the story that Garth Ennis is telling and i can't really fault it. The covers by Wieslaw Walkuski look like they're painted, which is a style I'm a big fan of, so extra points go to them.
                                 
Rating - "A-"

Story

This is set in 1971, during the Vietnam War, before Frank Castle ever became The Punisher. This is mainly told from the perspective of a character called Stevie Goodwin, who is a soldier in a platoon led by Captain Frank Castle. The story takes place over a five day period during which time Captain Castle dishes out his own form of punishment to members of his own platoon, as well as defending the isolated base from a Vietcong attack, and it's the climatic attack that leaves the reader wondering: what was Frank Castle prepared to sacrifice to ensure his survival?

Rating - "A+"

Entertainment Value

Although Frank Castle isn't the main focus of the story, this is still an essential purchase for Punisher fans as well as comic fans in general. Referenced by Jason Aaron during his PunisherMAX run, this could be as important to the Punishers mythology as Year One was to Batman's. Not only is it a great story, but much like Greg Pak's Red Skull: Incarnate, it also tells the real horror of war, and that is something we shouldn't forget.

Rating - "A+"

TPB Extras

There's the usual cover sketches as well as page layouts and character designs, but there's also a photo gallery featuring photos from Vietnam which suggests that the creators took this project seriously as well as a few paragraphs from Darick Robertson sharing his thoughts about Punisher: Born.

Overall Rating: "A"



                                                                     

Tuesday, June 12, 2012

PC POST #61: Exclusive Punisher Art!

Post by @Neil4LOST

This awesome art is of the Punisher Skull! This piece was put together by Punisher Central follower Allen Henderson. It is Ink on Paper and hand colored on the computer. To find out more about Allen and his work visit his website HERE.



Wednesday, June 6, 2012

PC POST #60: Garth Ennis to revisit Punisher soon!


Post by @Neil4LOST

Recently at the Phoenix Comic Con, well-known Punisher writer Garth Ennis talked openly about the series he is invested in known as "FuryMAX".

One of the interesting tid-bits during his time sharing was the story line of the Bay of Pigs and how Nick Fury will travel to Vietnam. He will actually meet up with Frank Castle during that storyline and readers will have an opportunity to see a unique historical crossover. 

In case you are unfamiliar with Frank Castle's time in 'Nam...Garth Ennis explored that story more in depth with his Punisher:BORN series, but he has stated that this will have the feel of specific issues of Marvel's The 'Nam, the Vietnam war comic that featured Frank Castle for a few issues.

Tuesday, June 5, 2012

PC POST #59: Punisher Central Partner Sites!

Post by @Neil4LOST

Did you know that Punisher Central had "Site Partners"? 

A partner site is a site that we collaborate with to share content related to the Punisher universe. It can include anything from news and previews to discussion forums and podcasts.

Have you checked out our partners area on the right hand side of our page? You should! We have two new partners to highlight this month.

  • Punisher Body Count Podcast - A great podcast site related to the Punisher U! Stream or download their latest podcast where they do in depth analysis about ongoing Punisher titles as well as have interviews!
  • The Other Murdock Papers - This awesome site is all things Daredevil! As you know, Daredevil is integral to Punisher's history and this site has a crazy amount of details related to their relationship and about Daredevil himself. Catch up on info related to the "Man without Fear" by following this site.
We will periodically be highlighting new site partners to Punisher Central. If you are interested in becoming a site partner, email PunisherCentral@Gmail.com for more information.