PC POST #394: PUNISHER: PLATOON is over! But Ennis work with Frank Castle isn't.

Punisher: Platoon #6, was released today and it ended in the best way possible. Still got reviews of issues #4, #5 and #6 to make for the blog but I will keep it spoiler free for you to enjoy the great news below.

After reading Punisher: Platoon #6, I thought Ennis was done with his work with the Punisher, at least for a while. But no! In the letters page, Ennis just gave all the readers some insight of his future plans if they are approved.

"Pretty soon we will see our hero-- on his second tour of duty, now with the Marine Recon-- fighting shoulder to shoulder with the one man who loves combat even more than he does.
Beyond that, I'm talking with the editor Nick Lowe about another Punisher story, a contemporary one this time,  featuring... Well, I may have said too much".

So let's make some sort of breakdown of this statement.

I couldn't be more excited to see that Ennis work with the Punisher is far from being done. It seems that he's born for the character as the time goes by, more and more I believe in this.

Looks like Ennis is already preparing two gifts to all Punisher fans, first, a sequel to the Platoon when Frank enters the Marine recon. Ennis hints us that he will fighting be with "one man who loves combat even more than he does", there aren't many characters in the MAX universe who could share this feeling with Frank, my guess will be a guest appearance of Nick Fury.

The second piece of good news is that we might have a modern story of the Punisher. Ennis didn't unveil details if it's a MAX story or set in 616 Universe but if he's writing I'm on board. Day one.

Written by Ivo Santos

PC POST #389: -REVIEW- PUNISHER: THE PLATOON #3

First of all, I want apologize for the lack of time and updates to the page. It was a very busy December and finally, I can give you full reviews of the past Punisher issues. Platoon #3 and #4 and The Punisher: War Machine #219.

Let's get into business!

Garth Ennis is a genius when he sets the reader into historic events. He told us great stories in BORN, FURY MAX and now THE PLATOON. We have to take off the hat to him because he really does his homework.

In this issue, Frank Castle's Platoon will face a new obstacle that once again will test Frank Castle leadership skills.

Ennis like in the previous issues shows us a Frank Castle committed to the job like he used to show us while being the Punisher. He's willing to take risks for the safety of his Platoon, even if he has to do something illegal and this is pretty much the premise of this issue.

While reading pages we get to know that Frank Castle deeds on previous issues are well known for some US bases on Vietnam. He's a popular marine among the higher ranks.

One thing to that needs to be said is that there is a lack of action. It's in the same vein as issue #1 where Ennis dedicated the pages of this issue to the storytelling. But it was well worth it.

The art of Goran Parlov continues to present us an extreme quality. All the scenes, the background and especially the background are very well designed. With the amazing storytelling and the talented artist such as Parlov, everything goes smooth and pleasant. 

The colors of Jordie Bellaire are in perfect sync with Parlov's art. The tone of this issue overall is great not too colorful but with the perfect dose of color. 

The cover is great showing Frank Castle leading his Platoon ready for action. One thing that I didn't mention is the Punisher skull.The skull designed by Parlov is becoming one of my top 3 of all time.

OVERALL RATE: 8.5 / 10

Review by Ivo Santos

PC POST #380: -REVIEW- PUNISHER: THE PLATOON #1

After four years on hold, this project came to life. Welcome to the Platoon! The first tour of Frank Castle that excelled the expectations.

Before starting this review I want to share how I miss Garth Ennis writing. Over the years we have been presented with some mediocre writers that don't get the character at all. 

But Ennis was born for the Punisher and despite one or two mistakes he did for the character ( in my opinion), he is by far the best Punisher writer of this new century.

Here is a good issue that reminds us that before all the retcon Marvel did in 2012 to the war origins of Frank Castle, he was a Vietnam veteran. This story guide us to his first tour when he has zero combat experience.

I was expecting to see a rookie Frank Castle but Ennis avoided that kind of cliché. Frank Castle has indeed zero experience but he's a genius in the battlefield being two or three steps forward from the rest of the Platoon.

If you liked "Valley Forge, Valley Forge", this book is for you. Ennis did show us some POV views about Frank and sent us directly to the past. We basically travel through time from present to the past. Frank's story is being told by someone who knows him well.

The success of this first issue had the hands of Goran Parlov and Jordie Bellaire. I would even risk saying that this is his best work in a Punisher book.

Great visuals, not too fancy but great. He has the ability to makes the readers focus on what matters. I really liked how he portrayed Frank Castle. Frank has a huge built and his body stands out the rest of the Platoon.

His expression was well caught. Despite the apparent lack of experience, his eyes reveal a huge self-confidence and an unbreakable will. 

This issue is a set up for all the upcoming issues, don't expect action in it but the storytelling did all the work that I didn't feel the need for action and expect some comeback characters from Punisher MAX and Fury Max!

Overall Rate: 8.5 / 10

Posted by Ivo Santos 

PC POST #368: MARVEL'S THE PUNISHER teaser in detail plus Easter Eggs!

Last Friday all of us were surprised by the latest Punisher teaser, exactly in the same day Defenders were released.

Check out the trailer:

"All the things that I'd done...
Memories... They never hurt me.

But the past... it's more than memories.

It's the devil you sold your soul to.
He's coming...

He's coming to collect."

This teaser as everyone seen it is based in Frank's past and present. Looks like we will go back and forth through his memories and his darkest past in the military. Through most of this teaser, we see Frank slamming a hammer into the concrete and makes the skull.

The Family

During this teaser, we see some flashbacks of his family. In one of the scenes, we see someone (might be Frank) holding a picture of his family and we see him and his two kids visiting New York.

It's curious to see that, Frank's family was recast for the Punisher season 1.

The Military:

In most of this teaser, we see Frank's background as a Marine. We were presented with a very dark teaser. As a matter of fact, it wasn't a surprise due to what Blacksmith said about his "dark" past in Daredevil season 2.

This particular scene we have seen at the end of Daredevil season 2 when Frank punches this picture and gets the CD that says "Micro".

We get to see this fighting scene when Frank wastes two guys with synchronizing fighting style.

In this scene we see someone targeting "Maria Castle" and shoot her in the head. This seems to be some sort of dream or hallucination because she died in Central Park.

It's quite hard to figure it out who is being tortured but from the looks of it, it seems to be Frank's squad. For moments I thought of Billy Russo, but the image isn't clear.

On these scenes we see Frank assaulting some guy and he looks like he got his eye injured. And guess who is it?

RAWLINS!

Yeah, Rawlins was a good choice as a character to be in the series. He was a CIA covert agent who did a lot of wet works for CIA and for "himself". It's a bit different from the MAX story but Frank Castle did take his eye out while torturing him.

I still think that Cleve Gorman from "Return of Big Nothing" would be a better choice due to his story with Castle during his early days in the Marine Corp.

Netflix/Marvel will retcon some details about Frank's war origin, aside from being an originally a Vietnam to Afghanistan veteran like was revealed in Daredevil season 2. 

It was revealed in Daredevil season 2 that Frank wasn't a saint during his days in the Marines. Col. Schoonover ( Blacksmith).
In this picture, we see some sort of covert operation with a small squad that probably is Frank's squad.

Don't know exactly what is this image but it looks like a "farewell". Or something he did that he will know he will regret it in the future. It's probably related to the next image.

I'd totally miss this one if Shaun Griffin didn't warn me. But why would Frank burn his vest? 

Homage to Punisher MAX: BORN

"It's the devil you sold your soul to."

Don't know if this was just an homage to this specific story just for the teaser or that will be mentioned in the series. I really hope not. I hope they stay away from supernatural elements like "pacts with the devil" and stay grounded to reality.
This specific scene the "sacrifice" that cost this pact was the only thing i didn't like from "BORN".

Either way, I'm really pumped up for this series and finally, we got this teaser from Defenders. Now we can have the release date and the actual trailer! 

Ivo Santos (FB/Twitter)

PC POST #353: Goran Parlov talks about The Punisher "Platoon" miniseries and more!

For those who missed this interview by Les Commis Des Comics, Goran Parlov talked a bit about the upcoming Punisher miniseries "The Platoon", Barracuda and the many styles of Frank Castle he worked on these years. 

Goran Parlov started to explain why this project took three years to be finished. 

"I had this opportunity to work with Mark Millar and we created Starlight and i just politely asked if i could have time for myself to do my own creator project..." He continued. "The Platoon was postponed, and i took my time to write Starlight and i returned to do the Platoon."

The interviewer asked if the Platoon is the Punisher's origin story, Goran replied:

"Yes, you will see Frank Castle as innocent guy who never killed anybody before, just a guy who arrived in Vietnam... okay, he's never been innocent but you know, we will see the youngest Frank Castle ever."

Goran was asked about the creation of Barracuda, what did he add to the character or it was Ennis script.

" I add the visuals, but i remember the first episodes, i didn't know he will become an important character so, i didn't pay so much attention to Barracuda. As matter of fact when i see the first panels of Barracuda, i'm not happy with it, he wasn't characterized well enough... it's my frustration. Later i realized it could be a very funny character and very important.character at least for me... "

Goran continued... "A few episodes later, he became what i really wanted him to be, his face and his exaggerated figure.

Goran talked about his favorite fight in Punisher MAX, the final battle of Punisher vs Barracuda..

"...They kept mutilating each other and at some point i really didn't know how human body looks like without all those parts... The nose, the ears, the eyes, the fingers, the arms, the legs, the axe in the chest.. and you know... what's left of the human body?" 

He continued "...Barracuda is all about exaggeration... We exaggerated as much as possible and in the end Frank put 30 bullets from an AK... and i hope he's dead."

Goran was asked about his favorite Punisher style, Punisher MAX, Punisher vs Marvel Universe or the Platoon version.

"The Punisher MAX version. I feel connected with that kind of character. Although the Punisher vs Marvel Universe was completely another universe that doesn't have anything to do with the MAX character, so i wanted to destinguish the two Punishers and that was the reason... I thought the ponytail was a cool thing to add, even because i hoped that later i could remove the ponytail and make him look like the Conan. At the end of the book he looks very much like the Conan the Barbarian."

At the end of the interview he talks again about the Platoon...

"I'm really proud of the Platoon. I can't wait to see it published and i hope you enjoy it."

Editor's note: Personally i can't wait to see you and Ennis together in this miniseries, it's been too long and you should work more together! 

Posted by Ivo Santos (@ivomgs)

Check out the full interview here!

PC POST #332: "Back to 'Nam", Ennis and Parlov are back with a sketch of the "Platoon".

Yes!! The project is still alive. The long promised miniseries featuring Frank Castle in his first tour in 'Nam is in production.

Goran Parlov shared this morning a sketch of this long awaited series.

For those who don't know Parlov and Ennis will join forces again to take on the character, a great creative team to give us once again the Frank Castle we love, the original, the Vietnam bad ass.

Click on the link to see the news back in 2013.

Three long years of waiting and it's finally happening. Can't wait!

Ivo Santos | @ivomgs