Friday, May 29, 2015

PC POST #251: -PREVIEW- Punisher #19 "Last Days"

Nathan Edmondson (W), Mitch Gerads (A/C)

* One of the Punisher's allies falls. Someone's picked the wrong fight.

* The Punisher steps back into a War Zone.

* Frank Castle is out for punishment, but the clock is ticking...





This issue will be out in June, and from what we see from it, the story between Punisher and the Howling Commandos is far from over, going to the Middle East in mission with them for his "Last Days" makes sense to me.
Let's see if the writing are at the same level as the artwork which seems really great.


posted by @ivomgs

Wednesday, May 20, 2015

PC POST #250: -REVIEW- Battleworld #1 "Soldier Supreme"



 -REVIEW-
BATTLEWORLD #1 
(Might contain spoilers)


After 24 years, Doc Punisher is back. Somehow Marvel wanted to bring him back for this first issue of Battleworld that didn't add nothing to the plot.

But for those seeking a fun story with plenty of action at least for 11 pages you will have it. I wouldn't recommend this issue for those Punisher fans that are fans of realism because this is a Punisher with the powers of Doctor Strange so, if you are this kind of fans, you should stay away out of this comic.

Let's get to the business, the action of this comic happens in the reign of 2099*.

Doc Punisher is being hunted by the Infernal Four ( Spider-Man, Ghost Rider, Hulk and Wolverine). This Infernal Four are evil alternate versions of the current heroes that we all know and they want to bring the Doc Punisher in because he was crossing borders and Doom which is a "God" doesn't tolerate traveling between reigns.
Doc Punisher or Frank is in total control of his body only with Strange acting as some inner voice or like his conscience. Frank knew that fighting those guys or even accepted their request to be judged in the "Deadlands" would be a death sentence but even so, Frank never run out of the fight and try to beat em all up.

Personally, i really liked how Williamson portrait the character. He portrait him like a badass and someone that knows the risks and doesn't run out of the fight. Being this a bit "over the top" Punisher it was spectacular how he handled Spider-Man, Ghost Rider and Hulk. It was really enjoyable how easily he handled these guys using a combo of magic weaponry.
I really liked the fast paced story ( maybe it was a bit too fast), but it fits really well in only 11 pages.

The artwork of Mike Henderson was simply amazing. Since i saw the early previews, i was really impressed and now i'm now convinced how good he is. I didn't knew his work but now, i would like to see him do some more work in a Punisher comic.
I should give some credit to the colorist Jordan Boyd he did a great work coloring this issue.

I will not say that i liked the ending of this story ( for obvious, reasons) but definetely ended like it should have and to me, the objective of this comic was fulfilled. It was really entertaining and enjoyable. Great work of this creative team.

OVERAL RATE: 7.5 out of 10 

*There is no more earth-616 and earth-1610 ( Ultimate Universe) both worlds collide and now it's called Battleworld. Battleworld is divided in reigns and Dr. Doom is the God of this "new" universe.



PS: There will be no review of Ultimate's End #1 because the Punisher only appear in the first page that is set in the present. All the action is set three weeks before of the inner monologue of Frank. It's very likely that we will see Frank again in this title when the action is back in the present.

posted by @ivomgs
















 

Friday, May 15, 2015

PC POST #249: -PREVIEW- Ultimate's End




• MILES MORALES and the rest of the heroes of the ULTIMATE U face final extinction
• As the end of their world becomes inevitable, will the heroes’ heartbreaking sacrifices make any difference?
• The dramatic end of an era begins here!

Next week the Punisher will have another appearence and this time on Ultimate End #1. I don't know which version of the character is, but due to the his suit it seems the Punisher from 616.

But why gunning both sides of each Universe? I hope this is some kind of preview like the covers from Rucka. It would be cool if he was the only one to stop this fight between heroes, look at the irony here!

I hope Bendis don't write a nutso Punisher. I really do.

posted by @ivomgs





PC POST #248: -PREVIEW- Battleworld #1 feat. Dr. Punisher!




When the Marvel Universe and the Ultimate Universe collide, there is only…Battleworld!

• Featuring the fights, battles and blow-ups that are just TOO BIG for Secret Wars!

• When a Dr. Strange-possessed Punisher goes on the run, only Spider-Man, Wolverine, Hulk and Ghost Rider can track him down!

Next Monday we will have the first issue of Battleworld that will be featuring Dr. Punisher and some rogue Hulk, Spider-Man, Wolverine and Ghost Rider.

This is somewhat related with the What If: Wolverine was Lord of the Vampires, when Dr. Strange possessed the Punisher but both Wolverine and Dr. Punisher died, so i guess Marvel don't care for continuity anymore.

I don't know what we will see in this issue since it's going to be divided in two, Dr. Punisher story and M.O.D.O.K. 

Well i'm looking for the bright side of this and i'm not taken too serious, i can't compare with Angel Punisher or Franken-Castle because this isn't directly related to the canon Punisher. Dr. Punisher is a brand "new" character and an alternate version of the Punisher from other alternate universe.

But i understand those who don't like these kind of  "Punisher" versions, the Punisher is supposed to stay away out of supernatural elements but this isn't the real Punisher, it's the only way i can tolerate something like this, and since i liked a lot the What if story, this worth a shot.

Not to mention the artwork by Mike Henderson, it's simply amazing!

Prepare yoursefls for weirdness because Battleworld IS the weirdness incarnated.

posted by @ivomgs

Thursday, May 7, 2015

PC POST #247: -REVIEW- PUNISHER #18 + Secret Wars #1 (Punisher Cameo)

-REVIEW- 
PUNISHER #18  (SPOILERS)


In this issue Edmondson present us a Frank with his motives very sharp and very focused in his mission and what he has to do to keep going the war.

This issue began really good with fast pacing issue and a nice touch by Mitch Gerads and Brent Schoonover on the plate of the SUV that Frank was driving (ASM-129).This issue marks one of the best issues of Mitch Gerads artwork, very clean and sharp. Personally i think he can do better work portraying daylight scenes than night time.

Seeing Frank executing Hector Dos Soles in public was kind of awkward but it didn't shock me but it was a shame it was "censored" when in the last pages he was shooting bad guys in the head. Either way, i like it, it was one of the few cool things in this issue.

One of the things we learned in this last issue was the mask Frank used, wasn't to conceal his identity but it was just part of a cool gear he uses. The mask was growing on me and it was very cool, but in the end it doesn't make any sense, since he takes off the mask in front of cameras. 

One thing that turned out to be funny was seeing how the media changed opinion when Frank executed Hector in public. Seconds before he was public enemy #1 and after shooting Hector he was almost national hero. Don't know if shooting a ganglord in front of national tv would help Frank get his image clean. I was always expected that Falcon America would give the recorder to the press of something but no, it wasn't needed he just shoot Hector in the head and he was clean as water. I don't buy this but i can live with it.
It was cool seeing the Howling Commandos again while seeing Frank executing Hector on tv and Thomas (his weapons supplier) too.

What ruined this issue was the last pages. The former officer Stone appears and she seems not knowing that Frank is now a hero ( for killing a gang lord in front of the world) and she blames him for everything that happened in L.A. suddently she stabs him Loot, Frank didn't fight back not even for the honor of his friend. Frank is losing too much blood and Loot i doubt he will survive this and both characters are together most likely in the last moments of Loot.

Didn't like what Edmondson done in here. Once again, he lost in his own comic. Once again he was owned by a nobody. And i don't remember in 20 years of reading Punisher comics that a stab could stop Frank. Specially after his companion was injured by Sam Stone that calls herself now "Memento".
Don't know if there is somewhat a tie-in in issue #19 because of Memento's actions but i'm expecting some payback, it would be really bad if it doesn't happen anything.

Pros:
  • The Punisher executing Hector dos Soles;
  • And cool fighting/shooting sequences with some criminals in the last pages;
  • I loved the tribute of ASM 129;
  • Great artwork by Mitch Gerads and Brent Schoonover, these two make quite a team.   
Cons:
  • Once again Frank lost in his own comic and didn't fight back to help his friend Loot. 

OVERALL RATE : 5 / 10


Secret Wars #1 ( Punisher Cameo)

There isn't too much to talk here, because there is only two panels with the Punisher but it was quite worth it.
It seems that Frank intercept an email sent by Kingpin to some supervillains to watching live to the downfall of the heroes while they fail to save the world.
When everyone is celebrating, Frank appears with an automatic weapon lock and load to fill everyone a new set of holes in their bodies.

Here goes the two panels:



Jonathan Hickman did something really good that some writers forget, the Punisher punishes. And it's obvious that in his last minutes of life he would do what he does best, killing criminals. Great touch and i didn't expect for seeing the character in this comic, specially in Secret Wars the main book of this event. Glad he did it.

posted by @ivomgs

Friday, May 1, 2015

PC POST #246: -PREVIEW- PUNISHER #18

(W) Nathan Edmondson / (A) Mitch Gerads & Brent Schoonover






Frank’s long quest for vengeance over the massacre of a small Mexican village reaches its end.

What will happen to those Frank has left in his wake? 

On sale next Wednesday 6th of May.