PC POST #366: -REVIEW- THE PUNISHER #14

Becky Cloonan decided to tell us another "one-shot" format story without any link to the previous issues and it worked pretty well once again.

It's been awhile since we had these kinds of stories, but for the Punisher compressed stories with 1 or 2 issues it would work like a charm instead of big arcs.

The premise of this story was good. A huge blackout creates the perfect opportunity for predators to prey on the weak and this is pretty much what is all about. We will see the Punisher dealing with many situations on the streets due to this blackout.

Like the last issue, this new format of storytelling is based on the old standalone stories of the classic Punisher runs that started with Mike Baron as the writer. So every new reader, old or new fans can start to pick up these books without knowing what happened in the previous issues.

Cloonan tells us a compressed story with simple elements but with good action. It's great to see Frank solving "street level" problems without any fancy stuff that normally appears in the current Marvel Universe. This remembered me a lot of some Punisher MAX one-shots that were released years ago.

Cloonan took Frank Castle to a new level in terms of "accessories". Not only he puts down bad guys with his usual guns but he kills them with everything he gets. Being swords or electrifying cables. This is what I call diversity!

Cloonan shows that the Punisher continues to be merciless with cold kills but on the other side more "hero". The events of this story make him save as many people as he could without any sort of premeditation of taking down someone specifically. Only with a handgun and everything he could take on the way to put down criminals.  

Matt Horak presented us with a good artwork and he played very well with it. With all the "blackout" panels Matt Horak gave an extra darkness to the Punisher and the action scenes are really well made.

This issue was mostly "black" but it gives some edge to Horak focus his art on the details that matter the most, the characters and the actions.

As I said in the previous reviews, this formula works! Short stories, one or two issues, solving "street level" problems as if a MAX story would work but only with one issue. It's been good these past two issues and I want to see more! Sadly this run will end in three issues.

Overall Rate: 8.0 / 10 

Posted by Ivo Santos (FB/Twitter)

PC POST #365: [Spoilers SE#7] Why the Punisher joined HYDRA explained with SCANS.

[This article contains spoilers for Secret Empire #7]

"WHY"? 

This was the question many Punisher fans did when they saw the Punisher saying "Hail Hydra" for the first time.

Today that question was answered in the most "dumbest" way possible.

When Black Widow was ready to assassinate Steve Rogers, the Punisher intercepted her and both started fighting each other. For those who are going to read it's a great set of panels with both characters changing fists, kicks among other things. Great action.

Here comes the trouble, I don't believe for a moment that the Punisher would want his family back and see him in what he's become. And I wouldn't believe that after the Cube setting things up, Frank Castle would settle down, put the skull in the closet and living happily with his family for the rest of their lives.

No.

I would've preferred on seeing Frank brainwashed (again!), or this being an impostor, then seeing such bad writing. 

The Punisher wouldn't have joined HYDRA and betray what he represents to all crime, especially this super powered criminal organization.

Even if it was asked by Steve Rogers.

posted by Ivo Santos (FB/Twitter)

PC POST #364: SDCC17: Description of the Punisher footage & More of the Punisher cameo in Defenders!

As I said in the latest post, I predicted that we could get more news about the Punisher series and his cameo in the Defenders show... and guess what, I was right.

During the SDCC in panel H, before the Defenders news, it was time to show a bit more of the Punisher series. And for the luckiest ones they saw a few bits of what will be Marvel's the Punisher!

Unfortunately, i don't have the footage of what was seen in the SDCC, but I got a very detailed description by Silas Lesnick from ComingSoon.net.

The clip begins with an emotional, dreamlike sequence without any dialogue.Frank Castle is sitting with his daughter, playing guitar. Then he’s alone, still playing guitar and the scene cuts back and forth between to time periods as Castle struggles with the loss of his family.

Cut to a title on the screen that reads “Rural Alabama”.

Frank is driving a truck with a photo of his family on the dashboard. He’s following two motorcycles driven by men that appear to be part of a gang called “Dogs of Hell”. There’s a quick car chase, but Castle makes short work of both bikers. He shoots them with a shotgun from his moving vehicle and then backs over their bodies just to be sure.

Cut to Juarez, Mexico. There’s some kind of party happening with a central figure who we follow with crosshairs to an upstairs bedroom.He’s with two women but still in Frank’s crosshairs. There’s a great bit where we hear the gun blast and a full second later the guy’s head explodes.

The shot pulls back to reveal that Frank is a mile away in El Paso, Texas, on the border with a long range sniper rifle.

Cut to JFK Airport in New York. A grey suited businessman enters a bathroom stall. He’s talking on the phone. “I’m the last one?” he says. “Well, it doesn’t matter. I’ll be there soon.” But not if Castle has anything to say about it. He enters the bathroom and comes right into the guy’s stall, closing the door behind him.

Frank winds up strangling the guy on the stall as two other guys enter the bathroom and laugh at the weird noises coming from the stall. “Get a room, you guys!” they shout.

Let's wait for Netflix to release the Punisher trailer or this footage to the public.

If you think the news end here, relax it doesn't.

Deadline wrote that the episode of the Defenders started with a fight scene when we see Iron Fist and Jessica Jones trying to save an injured Punisher from the Hand. This short clip started before the opening credits of the first episode of the Defenders, that was exclusively premiered yesterday during the SDCC.

Now more than ever, I really want to check out the Marvel's Defenders and see not only about the main characters but how it will be the Punisher cameo.

Until then I will wait for the Netflix to release the Punisher trailer in the upcoming weeks.

posted by Ivo Santos ( FB/Twitter)

PC POST #363: It's confirmed! The PUNISHER makes his appearance in the Marvel's the DEFENDERS!

The most epic moment happened today when Netflix Korea posted a promo for Marvel's the Defenders we hear Stan Lee narrating with cool lines and at the end of the promo, we see Jon Bernthal's as the Punisher!

I believe the Punisher will make a small cameo in the series, much like what happened in Shadowland comic book, when he appears and rescues the street level heroes.

And this promo says it all when we hear the Punisher saying... 

"Looks like I got here just in time..."

I like to think that he will be "in time" to save the Defenders from some trouble.

Marvel's Defenders will hit Netflix on August 18, 2017. More news might leak during SDCC (San Diego Comic Con) this weekend. 

posted by Ivo Santos (FB/Twitter)

PC POST #362: NEW teaser, logo and skull released for Marvel's the Punisher!

It took sooner than I thought the release of the new teaser for the upcoming Marvel's the Punisher tv series to be premiered on Netflix.

This teaser has only 7 seconds and it doesn't show more than the new skull and logo. There is no info about the release date, we only know it's in November this year.

I really like the new skull design, they clearly based on the skull from 2004 but the lines aren't so clear and sharp.

2004 skull

What I like more about the new skull is the detail, it looks aggressive and gives us the feeling that it's spray painted.

San Diego Comic Con is this weekend, we can only hope that a new trailer and release date can be unveiled.

Posted by Ivo Santos (FB/Twitter)

PC POST #361: THE PUNISHER solicitations for October 2017!

Finally, it was released the Punisher solicitations for October by Newsarama and we are presented with a new and probably the most awaited series from a few years back!

Seat back.

The Punisher MAX: Platoon: #1 & #2

Garth Ennis (W) & Goran Parlov (A&C)

The Punisher was born in Vietnam, Frank Castle had already become a dark legend of the battlefield. Stories about him were told in whispers, if at all. Now the legendary Punisher team of Garth Ennis and Goran Parlov (PUNISHER MAX, FURY MAX) brings the first of those stories to light: the tale of Frank Castle’s first command and his first kill. Don’t miss this epic new series!

32 PGS. (EACH)/MAX/Parental Advisory …$3.99 (EACH)

The Punisher #17

Becky Cloonan (W), Matt Horak (A) Declan Shalvey (Cover)

STARING DEATH IN THE FACE!

• FACE was a live wire in the wilderness. In New York City, he’s an armed bomb…

• And THE PUNISHER is all that stands between him and 8 million souls…but he’ll have to blend in with high society to do it.

• A confrontation we’ve been building to since issue #1, and Frank Castle in a TUX! You ALREADY KNOW you CAN’T miss this!

32 PGS./Parental Advisory …$3.99

It's curious that there is nothing about The Punisher#218: Frank Castle War Machine when most of the Legacy titles will start in October. Which leads me to believe that we will have that story later this year.
The Punisher: End of Days miniseries is not seen in this solicitations. We will probably get it next year. 

-Posted by Ivo Santos (FB/twitter)

PC POST #360: Punisher MAX: The Platoon teased by the Editor-in-Chief!

The long awaited miniseries was teased in the past few days by Axel Alonso on Twitter. There isn't not much about the comic itself, just a couple of panels with dialogues. But it was pretty cool just to read and tease all the fans about it.

Finally, we will get Garth Ennis back in the game with the help of Goran Parlov in the artwork.

It's been years since they talked about this project and you can learn about what happened and more details here.

We will see an earlier version of Frank Castle. It's the prequel of Punisher MAX: BORN, and we will see a "rookie" Frank Castle in his first tour in Vietnam.

There is no information about the release date of this miniseries, but I strongly believe that it will be released this year.

Article by Ivo Santos (FB/Twitter)

PC POST #359: The first official Punisher poster released and probably more in SDCC 2017!

Yesterday was a great day for every Punisher fan who was waiting for some news of the upcoming Punisher series.

Finally Marvel released this amazing poster with the artwork of Joe Quesada.

Joe Quesada drew this poster exclusive for San Diego Comic-Con 2017 that will take place next week.

He captured perfectly the dark and deadly place that Frank Castle lives in. Not to mention the high detailed sniper and the painted skull in his chest. 

Unfortunately, there is no information about the release date of this series, but it will be premiered in November. If I could guess, I would bet it will be in November 10th. But let's wait for the official word on it.

We are still waiting for a new Punisher teaser or a trailer, i'm still counting to see something in the SDCC!

Earlier this week 'the Punisher' director series Stephen Surgik gave an interview to Combat Radio and gave us a hint about the tone of the series.

It is different than the other Marvel shows as far as it is an adult drama. There are no superpowers. You know the Punisher is a character who is based on vengeance, fundamentally. His family is a victim of some horrific thing. But the character himself is well-known and the way that they approach it is very different from the other shows.

We can still continue to follow the Punisher's dark path of vengeance and tormented by the tragic events his family suffered.

I couldn't be more excited for this series!

Ivo Santos ( FB/Twitter)

PC POST #358: -REVIEW- THE PUNISHER #13

The Condor's arc is over and Frank Castle is back in New York. After some vacations he goes back to his bunk and finds out one of his weapons was stoled and he tries to find out who has it.

The way this story was written it makes the perfect chance for non Punisher readers jump on board. It has a great resume of what happened in the past 12 issues.

This story is full of classic elements when Frank goes all detective to find out about his missing gun. Particularly i really liked this story, it's compressed and even explores a bit of Frank's humanity in the way he interacts with all the characters of this story.

There are funny moments in this story when we see Frank's intimidating a little kid because of his "lost" gun and the way both characters talk ended like a parental advice. In the last pages of this issue Frank even intervenes in a domestic fight.

This story doesn't have the non stop action or the huge body count that Cloonan used to present us in the current run but all is good for the sake of good storytelling and it was a good change of pace. 

The art of Kris Anka was pretty good. I really liked how Kris designed Frank Castle, in the first pages we can clearly see his face and details but when he is interrogating some characters about his gun, his face was drawn with a huge shadow covering his eyes. It was a great touch.

Matthew Wilson deserves some shout out too for the ambient he colored, sometimes too much vivid colors but when Frank Castle appeared the colors toned down becoming a little darker. It was a great detail and i really like it.

Once again Declan Shalvey and Jordie Bellaire pretty much nailed the cover on this one. It's funny to see how the Punisher is portrayed in this cover with a not so innocent resemblance of Jon Bernthal. 

Overall rate: 8 / 10

posted by Ivo Santos (@ivomgs)

PC POST #357: -REVIEW- Deadpool vs The Punisher #04

Penultimate issue of this fantastic series didn't fail to impress. Aside from the shocking ending at the end of this issue, Fred Van Lente gave us a great entertaining miniseries so far with the great artwork of Pere Perez.

The plot was somewhat sacrificed for a great action scenes due to the fight among Taskmaster vs the Punisher and Deadpool. But fear not, this was a great reading.

The fighting scenes were well built by Van Lente and Perez, like last issue it was amazing seeing Frank showing some great martial art skills against Taskmaster.
Frank was always a martial artist but sometimes writers forgot about that, it was a breath of fresh air to see Frank being master in many disciplines and used specific techniques against Taskmaster.

Van Lente's writing in this book is very simple without any kind of weird twists, this is a story of two antiheroes who don't fall in love for each other but they know they have to work together to accomplish their objectives, Frank wants the codes to cut out the financial support of the criminal parties and Deadpool wants to save Hudson.

Deadpool and Punisher are very different from each other but Van Lente's make it work perfectly. He makes sense and built a good synergy between them. 




Pere Pérez is an amazing artist, the fighting panels are astonishing. Great motion between characters and specially the techniques applied in the fight. Either Van Lente or Pérez knows their martial arts. 
Ruth Redmond deserves some shout out too because she was part of this amazing art and give life to every panel of this comic with her beautiful colors. 

Great cover by Declan Shalvey and Jordie Bellaire, i still think that this should be on the 5th issue and not on the 4th but either way it's top notch artwork. Both characters beaten up to death just makes this cover the most epic of this series.

Overall Rate: 9 out of 10 

posted by Ivo Santos (@ivomgs)