Review #1 by @Ivo
Forget all the Punisher stories you have read, this particularly story is a different take than the usual we are used to. This is a crime story, don't expect any high body counts or a killing spree Frank Castle.
I'm going to be frank, i had to read this 2 times, at first i found the story boring, i'm not used to this kind of stories and all the "mechanics" that happens in the courtroom it's not on my favorite things to read.
But i've read it a second time and my initial thought changed a bit.
But i've read it a second time and my initial thought changed a bit.
Frank turned himself in for killing the missing district attorney Alex Shapiro, anyone that knows Frank, this isn't the regular "modus operandi", but he is definetely cooking something.
We got some action scenes when the cops arrested Frank in the precinct, when some cell mates visit Frank and in the flashbacks during this issue when he is at the court. That's all the action we have for this issue.
Guggenheim introduced us a new character Lisa Santos, she is a public defender. I really like her, strong personality and she isn't afraid of Frank. But she knows this kind of attitude of Frank isn't normal, she suspects that he is thinking of commiting a crime in the court.
Storywise we see that Guggenheim has some real knowledge of how the courtroom works and he is building an interesting Punisher. Like i said before this isn't the regular shoot em up issue, this is a mastermind Frank. He is fighting with his mind instead of the bullets and i really like this. I really want to see how this will wrap up, specially when Frank showed Lisa some kind of "formula" of his how to do list.
The art is just amazing Leinil Yu is one of my favorite artists, to me he could be the official Punisher artist with Marco Checcheto. I haven't see this kind of art since Checcheto leave the Punisher. Great work for Sunny Gho in the colors too.
PLOT: 3/5
ART: 4.5/5
COVER: 4.5/5
ENTERTAINING LEVEL: 3/5
Review #2 by @neil4LOST
Trial of the Punisher #1 is an instant classic. It is in the same vein of Rucka's storytelling style in that it is both gritty and incredibly smart. It is a story of a man that is not only smarter than everyone else but he has more conviction than ever.
From the very first scene to the very last panel the reader is treated to a courtroom style drama in which Castle is calculating his every move...and the moves of everyone else. It is clear that Punisher has a very clear method to his madness in the way he walks straight into the closest police station to turn himself in.
The story moves quick without sacrificing the story and this two-part story is shaping up to arrive at a thrilling conclusion. With this good of a premise, the way the story is being told and the intelligence in how it is being told it is too bad that this story arc couldn't last for several more issues.
Lastly, the art is spot on and is somewhat comparable to the amazing Checchetto. Yu draws each character with lots of life and a large amount of intrigue.
Overall score: 4.5 out of 5
