PC POST #223: -REVIEW- THUNDERBOLTS #30

posted by Ivo Santos (Facebook/Twitter)

I'm liking this arc and i was amazed by last issue, but this one was a disappointment.

Well first of all, i liked how Acker and Blacker linked some flashbacks in this issue to a past run written by Ennis that gave me a feeling of continuity, i really liked that.

In this issue we see through some past flashbacks how outclassed Frank is towards Elektra in hand to hand skills (which is right!) fighting with other goons or even in training with Elektra. But most of it this was a game from both characters since none of them weren't willing to take the other. This issue seemed like a quarrel of Mr. and Ms, Smith and nothing more.

Personally i think Elektra was handled right through all this issue, but not Frank. We learn in this issue that Frank offered a "gift" for Elektra ( an bronze heart of a Capo she killed when they first met, Frank made it bronzed) it's really weird to see it and out of character, in my opinion.

Even the artwork didn't save this issue, it seemed a bit sketchy, like some others we have seen through this Thunderbolts book... Unfortunately.

Although i loved the cover, very retro and remind me of the old ads from the 60's or 70's. Thumbs up for David Yardin.

I had high hopes for this issue, after the last ones that were amazing, this will not make the work of Acker and Blacker the worst, if this issue wasn't for my taste and the other two are good this arc will be pretty amazing for me.

I didn't expect that the Punisher could kill Elektra or turned all of a sudden a master ninja and beat her h2h, but i expect he could beat her physically and not emotionally like he did. He broke her, it's a fact but not the way i imagined. And what was the point of Elektra being in the Central Park and saw Frank's wailing, just one way to relate to him because she did the same when her father died? Does the fact that they are both psychopaths isn't enough for them to being close?

Another thing i find it odd is the flashback on Frank's origin, in this issue we see Frank's family killed in a shootout between mobsters but originally they stumble in a mob execution. Don't know if this is a new retcon for the Punisher origin or a distraction from writers, editors or the artist.

I'm still rooting for this title and i hope the last two issues make some justice for this last arc of Thunderbolts.

OVERALL RATE: 5 / 10

PC POST #222: -PREVIEW- THUNDERBOLTS #30

posted by @Ivo Santos (twitter/facebook)

Don't forget to pick up your copy of Thunderbolts #31 TODAY!! Here goes the preview...

Next target... Elektra!! I will review it in the upcoming days!

PC POST #221: New Punisher forum!

posted by Ivo Santos (Facebook/Twitter)

NEW PUNISHER FORUM BOARDS!

Some of you already know that i have a facebook page named Punisher HQ , when i post news, artwork, fan stuff and everything that is Punisher related.

But i wanted to do something more... I wanted a place where the Punisher fans can interact with each other, creating posts and discuss a lot about the character, Punisher HQ on facebook wasn't the best place for it and i created Punisher HQ Forum! There is a good forum that was alive and kicking for years named GPA ( Global Punisher Army), but unfortunately it is going to close and this gave me a huge boost to start creating a small community.

I know that social media like Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, etc, are the easiest way to get content and you can do everything that you do in a forum without using any effort, but even with these odds i'm doing it either way. I'm a bit old school and i still believe in forums as the best place to discuss. The interface on smartphone it's really intuitive and it's not like seeing a normal web page that you have to do "zoom in" to look better.

I have one year to test if this really works, so if you want a specific place to talk with Punisher fans you might want to try this out.

www.punisherhq.com

See you there!

PC POST #220: -REVIEW- THUNDERBOLTS #29

posted by Ivo Santos (facebook/twitter)

THUNDERBOLTS #29

-REVIEW-

I don't have words to describe how great this issue was... I can risk to say it was the best from the series to date! In this issue Acker and Blacker gave us an excelent ride to the supernatural and showed us what the Punisher can do if he is unleashed.

This issue is Frank centered and explains how he survived the blast of a bomb planted in his warehouse. He blames Thunderbolts for it and one by one he is hunting them down... Leader and Faustus are out of equation and now Deadpool's is out too. The dialogue between him and Frank is hilarious.

Essentially this issue showed us how Frank preparing the battle with Ghost Rider. He made a contingency plan in case something went wrong... The best part in my opinion was all the prep work Frank did to be prepared for this battle.. In fact he was ready a long time ago since the inclusion of Ghost Rider in the team.
The fight itself is great and this issues is action packed and with high entertaining value.

Jacinto's artwork was decent but sometimes it looked rushly sketchy... He was the artist in previous issues and it seemed he did a lot better than this, but it's my impression.

Couldn't be more happier with this book right now, i won't miss this series but if Acker and Blacker keep up this pace it's a good farewell for the readers.

OVERALL RATE: 8.0 / 10

PC POST #219: -PREVIEW- THUNDERBOLTS #29

posted by Ivo Santos (facebook/twitter)

Hello everyone, tomorrow we have a new issue of Thunderbolts by Acker and Blacker! Don't forget to pick up your copy.

This issue will be reviewed as soon as possible.

PC POST #218 - REVIEW: PUNISHER #9

PUNISHER #9 REVIEW

Review by: Neil Byce, aka @Neil4LOST

*WARNING* This review may contain spoilers for this specific issue.

I will just come right out of the gate and say it...Punisher #9 was a big disappointment for me.

I have been patiently waiting for this series to take off and I had pretty high hopes with the first few issues but over the course of the past few issues I have found it more and more difficult to enjoy this series and to understand the direction/approach that Edmondson and Marvel are taking the character in..

Edmondson writes Frank Castle in this issue as more of a self-doubting character than ever before and he uncharacteristically talks Black Widow out of shooting a guy for information. When I saw this happen the first thing I thought was...this isn't the Punisher I know! My anticipation of a showdown with Crossbones went unsatisfied and ultimately Frank ends up in a prison for no apparent reason...really that is a summary of this issue.

Gerads art continues to be solid and is something that I enjoy in the book but the writing style and the decisions of how to deliver the story puzzle me. Two issues ago I felt that Edmondson was building a long-term or slow-burn story here that would pay off really well but as of this point I just don't see it happening. There is a large amount of random devices being thrown together as well as coincidence and I can only suspend my disbelief for so long.

In conclusion, I typically like crossover events and think that they add substance to stories like the Punisher but this one left me scratching my head. Unless I am missing something big here...which I very well could be, I am going to go ahead and say that I think that this issue was the weakest so far in the series.

Do you agree or disagree with me? Leave your comments in the thread below!

OVERALL SCORE:  5.5 out of 10

Next issue will be again reviewed by Ivo.

PC POST #217: -REVIEW- Black Widow #9

posted by Ivo Santos (twitter/facebook)

I haven't been following this book but since the Punisher is in it i will do a short review...

It was a pleaseant issue well written by Edmondson, it was very interesting to see Punisher and Black Widow they were never partners in this uncommon encounter, each one of them got his own mission. Widow wanted intel on Chaos and Punisher escaped from the plane and wanted to kill every goon that belonged to Crossbones and get back to L.A.
 

There is a great fighting scene with Black Widow and Crossbones, very well written and Phil Noto did a pretty good job on the details of her movements and fluidity in combat.

I like Phil Noto's artwork and i've seen it in Thunderbolts, but i think it lacks a bit of vivid colors, in my opinion.

In this issue ( i don't know what happened in past issues...) but Widow seemed a bit edgy while interrogating a chinese mechanic of the ship, and guess what Frank stopped her for almost kill this man. At this point she was more punisher than Punisher. But it was good seeing Frank with a good word of advice to her.

OVERALL RATE: 7 / 10

PC POST #216: -PREVIEWS- PUNISHER AND BLACK WIDOW #9

A month has passed since we read issue 8 and finally next issue is next wednesday! Can't wait to see the beggining of this crossover with Punisher and Black Widow. Both books will show the same event but with the perspective of each character. So you might want to pick up both books to experience this crossover completely.

PUNISHER #9

BLACK WIDOW #9

For this issue of Punisher #9 will be reviewed by Neil Byce and i will review Black Widow #9, so stay tunned for the upcoming days.

posted by Ivo Santos (twitter/facebook)