PC POST #374: -REVIEW- Edge of VenomVerse: War Stories - Deal with the Devil

Edge of Venomverse began and Declan Shalvey took his chance to be the writer and artist of this 8th-page story of Edge of Venomverse: War Stories #01.
I didn't know how he would be as a writer but I was very pleased with everything I read!

As the reader can imagine an 8th-page story has to be very compressed in terms of story and action and it worked like a charm. Declan Shalvey had enough time to develop Frank and show the readers what he can do with the symbiote.

This is the third time we see Frank using a symbiote, well technically two times. The one we saw in War Journal wasn't the real symbiote it was more of an exoskeleton fueled by Venomechs created by Stuart Clarke aka Rampage.

In terms of character, the excuse Declan used in the comic for Frank using the symbiote was a bit "forced" I don't imagine Frank making pacts with symbiote so easily but the way Declan wrote it was more than worth a read. 

This Frank doesn't control the symbiote yet and I don't know if he will appear in the upcoming issues of Venomverse but it's a fun reading for every Punisher fan and especially for those who read the "What if... The Punisher was possessed by Venom" by Kurt Busiek will see some sort of nostalgia about it.

I always praise the artwork of Declan Shalvey in the Punisher covers and this is no different. I really liked his artwork. Very solid and very detailed in the weapons and everything around the panels. Great motion in the action scenes.

The tone of this comic was spot on and I will not forget to credit Chris O' Halloran for the great colors we were presented in this comic and every panel.

I want to see more of this "Venomised" Punisher in the upcoming issues of Edge of Venomverse, it was a very interesting concept that will probably help the "resistance team" in getting rid of the "Poisons"

Overall Rate: 8.5 / 10

posted by Ivo Santos ( FB / Twitter)

PC POST #354: Venomverse War Stories: The Venomized Punisher

It's been announced for weeks that will be a story event for Venom, called the "Venomverse" with Eddie Brock as Venom,

Today it's been announced that we will have a short story featuring the Punisher but Venomized!

Revealed here; I'll be writing/drawing a Venomized Punisher story for VENOMVERSE: WAR STORIES https://t.co/pnxh9H08uB

— Declan Shalvey (@declanshalvey) 30 de maio de 2017

After 25 years, we will get to see once again a "Venom Punisher", last time it was during a What if story called "What if... Venom Possessed the Punisher".

It was a great story and one of my favorites "what if stories".As "Venom Punisher", Frank goes hunting down the major crime figures of the Marvel Universe and struggles himself to control the symbiote turning his actions to be more and more violent against villains and heroes.

Great story wrote by Kurt Busiek with art of Luke McDonnell.

 















Couldn't be more excited to see once again this Venomized Punisher and with a talented artist like Declan Shalvey i can expect nothing less than epic. 

Posted by Ivo Santos

PC POST #199: -REVIEW- THUNDERBOLTS #23

posted by @ivomgs

-REVIEW- 

-

THUNDERBOLTS #23

After the Thunderbolts sent Mercy to hell, it's time for another mission but these it will break the team apart since Flash asked the team to put the symbiote down. Thunderbolts vs. Venom!

This issue has plenty of action and the tone was slighly changed, for once, we got an issue that was serious without excessive comical moments and the only funny moments were featured by Deadpool which were all great as it has always been since the beggining of this book.

The team is in the Crucible and symbiote is on the loose, Flash let the symbiote take over, so Venom is more dangerous than ever hunting each one of the team.

Charles Soule give us a great issue and showed us how to write a fast paced story with kick ass action, in this issue we have seen something that we haven't seen since this book began... the Thunderbolts have worked perfectly like a real team and every member got his own purpose in the fight. There couldn't be other way to put down a savage Venom.

About the artwork Kim Jacinto did a decent job, but personally i didn't like at all his Elektra. The other characters were well designed.

Ismael Silva as the colorist did as always a good job at the coloring.

FINAL NOTE: I really liked this issue and it's one of my favorites after Thunderbolts #12 and the Annual. I was really impressed by the pace and a great improvement (in my opinion) in the tone that Soule put into this issue.

OVERALL RATING: 4 / 5

PC POST #194: -REVIEWS-SSM Team up #10 & Thunderbolts #22

posted by @ivomgs

SUPERIOR SPIDER-MAN TEAM UP #10

-REVIEW-

(W)Kevin Shinick(A)Marco Chechetto

Spock ( Spider-Man/Doc Ock) isn't dealing really well with the betrayal in his own nest. He was suprise by most of his henchmen suround him and wanted to kill him.

Daredevil and Punisher are helping him to survive. 

Like the previous issue Frank is very active on this one and do what he does best... killing scum. I really liked this portrayed Frank from Shinick. He's a talker like in Edmondson run and like his ongoing Frank got charisma. 

There are a lots of good moments like Frank shooting Spidey's henchmen blind by a flash grenade and specially when he recover "his" glider (very well equipped with government missile drones and with a skull on the center) and destroyed a giant spider robot built by Spock. He saved both Daredevil and Spider-Man to be drowned. 

Marco Checchetto really did like always a great job in this issue. He's one of my favorite Punisher artists for the moment.

OVERALL RATING: 4 / 5

THUNDERBOLTS #22

Thunderbolts are in Hell making deals with Mephisto to get out of there and give a new home to Mercy. But they have something to do first take out Guido from the throne of king of Hell... While Punisher and Elektra are fighting a brutal Mercy asking questions about the rest of the crew!

Since this new arc began we can see that major improvements have been made in this book. Not only Charles Soule writing is more solid and the artwork has been really good since Barberi is on board.

Don't know why but normally last issues of the arcs written by Soule it happens that i like them a lot and this one it's another of that issues!

I was expecting a bit more from the fight with Rulk and Guido (aka Strong Guy). Yeah he is a good guy, but i thought i would seen a brutal fight between these two. 

While some are fighting in Hell others(Punisher & Elektra) are fighting for their lives when they are facing Mercy. This battle was really good.

Great turn of events when Mephisto was completely owned by the Leader's when he make some important changes in the deal and saved the day... Mercy was pulled to hell and Deadpool recovers an interesting feather that restored Frank's health when he was about to losing his life due to the beat he received from Mercy and to take most of the damaged when he and Elektra fall down due to Mercy disappearence to Hell. 

Interesting homage that Soule make to a certain Punisher run... 

I think i'm beggining to understand this book a lot better and this was definetely a lot better than the previous issues.

OVERALL ISSUE RATING: 4 / 5

ARC RATING: 3.5 / 5 

PC POST #186: -REVIEW- Thunderbolts #20

posted by @Ivo

THUNDERBOLTS #20 

(MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS)

 

Thunderbolts found a new place to settle (After the sub got sink by Thanos forces), new member (Ghost Rider) and a new mission, give a new address to Mercy... In Hell!

In overal i liked this issue. Charles Soule gave us an entertaining reading keeping a good balance between humour, action and plot.

I really liked the arrival of Ghost Rider, since the beggining of this book i thought that GR should have earned a place in this team so this was a good surprise when they announce it.

What i liked the most is that, FINALLY Ross viewed Mercy as a  problem and someone he can't control (after she killed dozens of people and aliens in Infinity-tie in). I can foresee that Mercy will be the most difficult challenge that this team has ever faced. Personally in 19 issues i never found any difficult challenge that this team couldn't make it. 

This was a set up issue, but i believe this will be a starting point to something good.

Carlo Barberi artwork is amazing! I like his artwork and to me one of the best that we have ever seen in this book. I like his style, he draws beautifully every character. I have just one thing to point out as a "downside"... The face of Flash is very similar to Johnny.

I have to mention Israel Silva (Colorist) he did a wonderful job in setting this "dark tone" to the book. In past issues i always thought it were overly colorful... Great work by Israel Silva.

OVERAL RATING: 4 out of 5

PC POST #183: *REVIEWS*: THUNDERBOLTS #19 & ANNUAL #01

posted by @Ivo

THUNDERBOLTS #19

Road Trip! This issue is Leader centric like Soule did with the Punisher (#12) and Mercy (#13). After the events of the Infinity arc the team goes on a road trip in the Punisher's Battle Van ( please Mr Soule, don't call it War Wagon, War Wagon is what the Executioner used on his missions).

I liked this issue, because this issue is more darker and serious than we are used to. Plot wise it's very well done. This issue is based on Leader plans to eliminate the team inside the Battle Van while they are traveling. As the most smarter member his arrogance takes the best of him and in my opinion he take out the team too easily but like he said in the end there are many variables that can change his plans. And the probability to him to fail are huge since Ross and specially Frank don't trust him at all.

About the artwork, Walta did in my opinion better job than Palo's giving the same cartoonish taste without making too weird.

Overal Rating: 3 out of 5

THUNDERBOLTS ANNUAL #01

For this annual the creative team changed as the writers are Acker and Blacker and in the pencils Lolli Matteo and guess what they did a really good job in portraying all the characters in this book.
I was a little ceptic at first and i asked myself how this team will handle with magical stuff... Well the old motto "fight fire with fire" is applied perfectly in this issue.

So, Dr. Strange went rogue and the only way to stop him his using this team of antiheroes, with no magic powers...
Acker and Blacker did an amazing job in this issue, it's action packed and they seem to find some good balance between street level characters vs magic characters. This still got good humour and some crazy lines.
The final battle was kind of surprise to me in way, but Frank has showed in past to resist magic tricks like the Ghost Rider's "Penance Stare" so it was cool to see Frank endure magic attacks of "Dr. Strange".

The artwork is just amazing by Matteo Lolli, it's best artist i've seen in this book! I wish he can do more issues in the future for this title.

Overal rating: 3.5 out of 5

PC POST #179: -REVIEW- THUNDERBOLTS #18

posted by @Ivo

REVIEW

THUNDERBOLTS #18

This is the best arc so far, Charles Soule gives us a really nice plot when we can find anything: action, comedy and even a sexy moment.

Punisher, Elektra and Venom are in the bunker wasting criminals and looking for the Paguros. When the Nobili's family was exposed by inhuman gas and transformed into real Inhumans. The two sons (Carmen and Joseph) both died the first one killed himself and the other got shot in the head by the Paguros criminals, the only inhuman remnant is the dad Gordon Nobili who probably will be after Punisher to avenge his sons deaths.

In this issue we discover how powerful Mercy is, while she pretty much handles most of Thanos forces by herself, finally we get some Mercy action and see what she is capable of. On the other side Ross can't control her which definetely she will become a threat in the future.

Deadpool is in the restaurant and he finally discovers why he was so obssessed by it, meanwhile the Paguros arrived to the restaurant and Deadpool kills them.

In the end Frank and Elektra goes to the battle van to "celebrate" together the successful mission.

OPINION

Charles Soule is doing a great job "recovering" this book after Daniel Way passed the mantle to him. He is portraying pretty well the characters in general and built a decent plot. Although i think the Thunderbolts just overpowered the Paguros, they didn't really pose a threat to the team in my view.

I was expecting some showdown between the task force and the inhumans but sadly that not happen but i'm looking forward to see more from Gordon "Inhuman" Nobili in the future.

Another that i found it kind of odd was Frank and Elektra "celebrate" together, i thought at the end of issue #12 the "relationship" of these two had vanished when Frank found out that she let Orestez escape.

I liked the touch of the name of the pizza restaurant P' Pizza with some note in latim " Nobis Est Domi" that means Us At Home, Us at home P'(aguros) Pizza. Really cool!

It's really a shame that the artwork didn't keep up the same quality as the writing, i have seen some works of Jefte Palo, he even was the artist in one-shot Punisher MAX: Little Black Book, and i loved his work in that story. Don't know why he pick this kind of art for this book, maybe it's because the humour... i don't know.

Tedesco (Covers) and GURU eFX have been really constant in terms of quality in this book.

OVERAL SCORE: 3.5 / 5

ARC SCORE: 3.5 / 5

 

PC POST #178: -PREVIEW- Thunderbolts #18

posted by @Ivo

Here goes another preview of Thunderbolts. This will be the conclusion of this "Infinity" arc we will see how the Task force ( Punisher, Elektra and Venom) will stop the Nobili's and how Red Hulk will stop Mercy's mayhem!

Don't forget to pick it up next Wednesday 20th.

-PREVIEW-

THUNDERBOLTS #18

PC POST #173: -REVIEW- THUNDERBOLTS #17

posted by @Ivo

REVIEW

THUNDERBOLTS #17

(W) Charles Soule/ (A) Jefte Palo/ (C) Julian Tedesco

Another issue of Thunderbolts is out and you know what? It was incredibly fun!

After last issue that in general was really decent and the only inconsistencies i found were about the Punisher characterization, this one was really a good comic to read with all the action we have for the first page to the end.

We got in this issue three "events"... Punisher, Venom and Elektra finally attacking the Paguros headquarters, Red Hulk and Sterns finding a way to stop Mercy's mayhem and finally Deadpool's quest for his slices of pizza as we see in the cover.

I will begin with Deadpool's quest, he is a comedian, with all hell went loose on the streets and this guy is searching for some slices of pizza not to mention the way he traveled (with style) to the restaurant. I think this book sometimes got an excessive humour but i can't enough of Deadpool's jokes or his way of thinking. Charles Soule really nailed the character.

Punisher is leading the attack on Paguros HQ and Soule's give us really nice panels filled with action like this books deserves. And at the end of this issue we got a twist that involved Nobili's family.

I really liked how Soule did his role in this issue, personally i think the dosage of humour was well measured and fit perfectly in every situation. I'm looking forward on how Ross will stop Mercy and to see how our "Task Force" (Punisher, Venom and Elektra) will handle the Nobili's. They will definetely have something to say to our "Task Force". 

About the art, i'm getting used to but still not for me, Jefte Palo's got talent but the way choose to do the art in this book it's not adequate, in my opinion. Color FX like i have said before, give some extra boost to the quality of the art, in a good way.

The covers from Tedesco keeps the same quality as always.

PLOT: 4 / 5

ART: 3 / 5

COVER: 4 / 5

OVERALL RATING: 4 / 5

 

 

PC POST #172: -PREVIEW- THUNDERBOLTS #17

posted by @Ivo

This seems that next issue will be action packed with Punisher, Venom and Elektra attacking the Paguros on their headquarters. Don't forget, next week, on 23rd of October !

PS: Astonishing cover by Tedesco!

-PREVIEW-

THUNDERBOLTS #17

PC POST #170: -REVIEW- THUNDERBOLTS #16

posted by @Ivo

-REVIEW-

THUNDERBOLTS #16

(W) Charles Soule (A) Jefte Palo (C) Julian Tedesco

Thunderbolts #16 comes out and this one is action packed! We got Red Hulk crackin' some aliens heads, Deadpool is hack n' slashing some aliens and looking for a slice of pizza, Punisher, Elektra and Venom finally arrive in the Paguros headquarters after beating a dozen of punks while the earth is being invaded and Supernova ( one of the lieutenants of Thanos) is trying to steal the Leader's secrets, and were blasted by Mercy, finally she has done something for the team ( or for herself?).

This issue has a whole is decent but i got a few concerns about the Punisher in this issue... First of all we finally know what were inside the box that the Punisher transported in the van... its a bomb. A really big one. The Paguros as soon as they find out about the invasion they hide themselfs in a bunker. Since Red Hulk were occupied, Frank tried to smoke them out of their hiding using the bomb, when he set the timer something went wrong and instead of marking ten minutes it were ten seconds.  Thanks to Venom he saved the team, sent the bomb to a ship, destroying it and opening a hole in the bunker of the Paguros.

This isn't Frank. To me he wouldn't mess with a bomb without some proper knowledge on how to use it. He put the team in danger and first of all the mission.

Frank in the last issues is behaving like some "junkie" that only cares about killing criminals no matter what. I know that his mission of life is killing them, but i rather prefer a cold Punisher than a Punisher almost drooling to kill. He is more than this, in my opinion.

The art improved a bit to and the action scenes are decent too, the colors of this issue are great thanks to GURU eFX. Besides the same problems i have with the bodies of the characters, there is one panel before when Supergiant is breaking the sub, the Leaders head are exaggeratedly tall.

Tedesco cover is fine, but he has done better in the past issues. It lacks a bit of color and detail.

OVERALL SCORE: 3/5

PC POST #166:-REVIEW- THUNDERBOLTS #15

posted by @Ivo

-REVIEW-

THUNDERBOLTS #15

PLOT (SPOILERS): This issue begins with Punisher, Elektra, Deadpool and Venom stuck in the traffic while they transport some misterious box that Frank had in his possession. Deadpool's is tired of being in the traffic and leaves the van and hang himself in the city to find some food. He tells the team that he will help them kill the Paguros when they find them.

In the sub Sterns( The leader) hides from Ross that the team is in danger while the city is being invaded by unidentified objects.

Back into the team they are trying to gathering intel on the Paguros without success, they find some thugs on the street, Elektra lures them into the van while Flash web them up in the back of the van for interrogation.

They got nothing on the thugs they caught and when they leave Frank leaves them a little "present" for them without Flash noticing it.

They found the Nobili family (the guys that were beat by the Paguros in the first issue) they lure them into the van and without any special effort they spill it out the werebouts of the Paguros. The team notices some explosion, Deadpool's too, suddendly the subway stops and we see a panel with the team and Deadpool looking in the sky with dozens of ships invading the city.

In the sub we see Mercy doing some sort of "meditation" and suddendly she felt millions of people thinking about death while Sterns is carefully watching her.

Ross discovers that the city is being invaded and confront Sterns he pretends to be surprised and without Ross authorization he surfaces the sub right in the middle of the alien ships.

-OPINION-

WRITING: Charles Soule keeps giving us some of his quality writing and a great dynamic between the team. The dialogues between the characters are great and his Deadpool like i said in the last review is very funny. There is great moments like the discussion in the van with Frank breaking up some nonsense talk between Deadpool and Venom. Elektra's lurings the thugs and The Punisher giving some "goodies" to the thugs. Did i mention that Deadpool dialogues in this issue are great? Every appearece he gets in this issue are great!

ART: Nothing new to add, i'm still not used to this art, it looks decent when Palo's is closing up the characters but in distance their design is odd it seems really sketchy.

COVER: Like always Tedesco covers are top notch, great colors and a dark tone like this book should be. His Red Hulk is great, the best i have seen in this comic like the other characters. Well done Mr. Tedesco.

ENTERTAINING LEVEL: I have talk about pretty much of the entertaining level in the "writing" section. This book don't have the action that the previous issue had but the pace of the story is great. The team has to deal with two things the Paguros and the invasion. I'm quite curious too see what this will lead. Is there some consequences to The Leader's actions? Either way good issue.

FINAL EVALUATION: 3.5 OUT OF 5.

PC POST #165: -PREVIEW- THUNDERBOLTS #15

posted by @Ivo

Hello everyone here goes the preview of Thunderbolts #15 on sales in 18th of September.

Deadpool's quotes are very funny.. Charles Soule is doing great!

PC POST #164: Punisher Solicitations for December 2013

posted by @Ivo

Hi everyone, it's been awhile since we posted but unfortunately there wasn't too much news Punisher-related.

This month will change though, we will have Trial of Punisher #1 miniseries and Thunderbolts #15.

For now i will announce some Punisher/Thunderbolts solicitations for December 2013.

 

THUNDERBOLTS #19
CHARLES SOULE (W)
GABRIEL HERNANDEZ WALTA (A)
Cover by JULIAN TOTINO TEDESCO
• The Thunderbolts hit the road in the Punisher’s War Wagon!
• A team that gets along this well will be a dream on a road trip, right?
• RIIIIIIIIGHT…

THUNDERBOLTS ANNUAL #1
BEN ACKER & BEN BLACKER (W)
Matteo Lolli (A)
Cover by CARLO BARBERI
• The Thunderbolts’ new mission? KILL DOCTOR STRANGE.
• Of course, they’re gonna need a pretty special arsenal for that.
• “Thrilling Adventure Hour” creators Ben Acker & Ben Blacker take the Tbolts on a whirlwind tour of the Marvel Magicverse!

PC POST #163: -REVIEW- THUNDERBOLTS #14

posted by @Ivo

THUNDERBOLTS #14

-REVIEW-

(W)Charles Soule / (A) Jefte Palo / (C) Julian Tedesco

This arc begins with Red Hulk, Venom, Deadpool, Elektra, Punisher and the Leader, hunting some cow exposed to gamma radiation but don't get me wrong this "cow" is as dangerous as it seems harmless. 

After beating up this monster they reunite at their HQ (the submarine) and Ross explains to the team that it's time for each one of them pick a mission (like he did for himself in the previous arcs) and the team will do it for anyone that is chosen, no questions asked. 

Luckily for Punisher he was the chosen one in the draw, he pick some very powerful mob family the "Paguros". They seem to control most of the crime in NYC, always in the shadows of the gangs, they let the gangs do their dirty work. Frank never managed to kill them. 

Frank choose the field team: Venom, Elektra and Deadpool and the tactical support Ross and the Leader.

In the end of this issue we see planet Earth with many spaceships approaching... "Infinity" is coming...

-OPINION-

PLOT: Glad that Soule is on board and he arrived at the right time to put this team at the spotlight for this "Infinity" event. I like how he written all this story even the battle with the huge gamma cow that seems like a pokémon monster was a very entertaining to read.

This issue has a good sense of humour with Deadpool and his crazy talks and more important than humour, Soule seems to catch everyone's personality flawlessly.

Another important thing, the interaction between all the team is great in my opinion, couldn't expect more from him. Besides this being a mission designed for the Punisher, everyone gets their own space to shine, once again thumbs up for Mr. Soule.

ART: Until now this is the only letdown for me, the characters seems to be drawn for morning cartoons, huge chins and some with no waist. This art seems more like sketchy than the final work. It's weird because there are times when the panel closes in for a specific character we see some good details.

Good work for GURU eFX with coloring of all the issue, nothing to add.

COVER: Like always Tedesco has accostumed us with good covers and this one is no exception, i would like to see him doing the interiors in the near future. From what i have seen, he deserves it.

ENTERTAINING LEVEL: I liked this issue a LOT, my favorites until now were T-Bolts #12 and now #14, good dynamics between the team, ACTION, humour and enough plot to keep us hoping (desperately) for the next issue. Let's hope Soule continues to give us this quality and i believe he will.

FINAL EVALUATION OF THIS ISSUE: 4 out of 5.

PC POST #162: -INTERVIEW- Thunderbolts in Infinity and Beyond

posted by @Ivo

Once again Charles Soule given us some details of what we can expect for the upcoming arc of Thunderbolts and beyond.

Newsarama: This month’s Thunderbolts puts this black ops team in the middle of the Infinity event series while still putting them square in New York City. Can you tell us about this arc, and how it works within the Infinity event? 

Charles Soule: In Thunderbolts #14, we see them embark upon a new mission, whose direction is steered by the Punisher. He, somewhat unsurprisingly, wants to use the team to destroy a NYC-based mob family, and they're off to the races. Completing that mission becomes massively more difficult when the events of Infinity come into play. However, Frank Castle is not the sort of guy who gives up when the going gets tough. It's a really fun arc with great moments for everyone in the cast, and it lays out some neat ideas for stories going forward. Five issues, 14-18, and I am very happy with how it's turned out.

Nrama: This mob family the team is going after is called the Paguros, and is a group that have been a thorn in Frank’s side for some time. What makes them such a threat that Punisher would need a team of super-heroes – and a Hulk – to take them down?

Thunderbolts #15

Soule: This is something I lay out in the issue - basically, the Paguros were once a powerful mob family in New York, but in the wake of RICO, the Punisher's crusade and various other elements that have made it significantly less profitable (and healthy) to operate on the front lines of criminal activity, the family has gone behind-the-scenes. They've become a one-stop-shopping criminal support organization - they help fledgling enterprises get running, and they're the reason new gangs pop up as soon as Frank takes them down. Castle didn't even realize they existed for a while - he just knew that new scum was taking the place of the old scum a little faster than it should. There's more to the Paguros, but you'll find out in the story. Basically, I wanted to come up with a good, old-fashioned mob family nemesis (with a twist) for Frank, and I think I did that with the Paguros. They're pretty fun.

Nrama: The solicitations for September’s Thunderbolts #15 give away some spoilers that Thanos’ army is going to come up right in the middle of this street-level mission for the team. What can you say about that?

Thunderbolts #15

Soule: Well, New York City has always been a center of superhero activity in the Marvel U. So, from Thanos' perspective, if you're going to send troops to subdue Earth, NYC is probably where you want to start. I'm treating the alien/cosmic aspects of the story almost like the weather. You can't plan for a freak rainstorm - sometimes they just happen. Frank Castle finds it extremely frustrating that his one shot at getting the Paguros - targets he's been after for years - might get thrown off track by an alien invasion, but as I mentioned, he's a roll with the punches sort of guy. He might even figure out a way to turn the situation to his advantage.

Nrama: Speaking of team dynamics, Thunderbolts has introduced one of the most surprising and striking power couples in comics – the Punisher and Elektra. How’s that work?

Soule: This comes up a LOT when I talk to fans about the series. To make it clear, I don't see Punisher and Elektra as a romantic couple. I see them as a pairing of convenience. They aren't declaring eternal love to each other. However, Elektra is stunningly gorgeous, Frank probably has a sort of scarred, grizzled appeal, and why shouldn't they grab a little quality time when it makes sense? As we saw back in Thunderbolts #12, Frank's a bit conflicted about some of the things Elektra's done, even going so far as to declare her worthy of Punisher-style punishment. That's not going to go away - but neither is the "relationship" (I hesitate to even call it that.) Men and women get together for all sorts of reasons, and they stay together for all sorts of reasons, even when it's not perfect. Things will evolve with these two, and I think readers will dig how it plays out.

Thunderbolts #15

Nrama: You took over this series back in issue #12, and already you’re making strides to make it your own. Is there any other potential recruits to the team you’d love to have the opportunity to add at some point?

Soule: You know it. There will be a membership shuffle in Issues 20-23 (that's the current plan, at any rate). We'll get at least one new member for the team, and at least one will leave - but that's all I'll say about it. I've already written an issue featuring a new face, and let's just say that they fit in perfectly. I can't wait to see the red and black design for this one. (Yes, I'm being incredibly pronoun non-specific there - all you really know is that the character has a face. And no, before you start thinking it's M.O.D.O.K. (because he's basically all face), it's not M.O.D.O.K. Although, hmm...)

Thunderbolts #15

You can check the full interview by clicking in the following link Newsarama.

-OPINION-

After reading the interview i was very excited to see how Soule planned out the future of the team.

+ I really want to know more about Paguros and their role in this arc and i got the feeling that they're not the regular mobsters that Frank is used to fight;

+ It seems that Marvel planned out 20+ issues for this book which is a good thing if they keep the good quality we have seen in the last two. But as always, it depends on the sales that i believe it will increase with this "Infinity" event;

+ Good to have some hints for the upcoming new members to this team;

- I have to get used to Palo's art but in the images of issue #15 it seems that they are a little better or is just my eyes deceiving me.

I definetely will follow this book and expect a review for issue #14. This book is released tomorrow, so don't forget to buy it.

PC POST #159: -PREVIEW- THUNDERBOLTS #13

posted by @Ivo

-PREVIEW-

THUNDERBOLTS #13

PC POST #155: -PREVIEW- Thunderbolts #12 & Infinity!

posted by @Ivo

This new issue marks the beginning of a new era for Thunderbolts with Charles Soule as the driver of this truckload full of anti-heroes. This marks the return for this issue of Steve Dillon at the pencils. I'm really looking forward for this issue.

At the bottom of the page there is some hints about the Thunderbolts role in "Infinity".

THUNDERBOLTS #12

-PREVIEW-

 @CBR

For the Infinity news Charles Soule opened up a little bit the veil of the upcoming issue #14 of Thunderbolts...

“Thunderbolt Ross made the same offer to each of these operatives,” says incoming writer Charles Soule. “‘I have a bunch of gamma-related messes in my past that I want to clean up, and I need a team to do it. If you do one for me, then we’ll do a mission for each of you.’”

Seasoned killers like Punisher, Elektra and Deadpool tow plenty of ghosts in their wake, haunted by missions gone awry, challenges unmet, and targets that got away. The chance to attack those pet projects with a robust vigilante squad proves hard to pass up. With Frank Castle’s name drawn from the proverbial hat, the mercenary points to a notorious New York crime family long due for eviction.

“When INFINITY happens, obviously all of [the Punisher’s] meticulous planning goes straight to hell,” Soule says.

Surfacing in lower Manhattan, the Thunderbolts need to navigate up to the Bronx.

“New York City traffic and transportation is bad enough at the best of times, and certainly getting up to the north end of the island in the middle of an alien invasion is no joke.”

Frank Castle refuses to abandon his quarry, even in the face of extraterrestrial strife or transit delays. Of course, gridlock represents only part of the problem. The crime family at the center of the mission slams down on the panic button. 

“The alien invasion forces them to bunker up, making the job all that much harder,” shares Soule.

@MARVEL

PC POST #153: REVIEW: Thunderbolts #11

posted by @Ivo

Thunderbolts #11

Review

This issue begins with Deadpool and Venom talking in a parking lot about betraying Ross, Venom is troubled about what Mercy did to some people on Kata Jaya.

We see Punisher, Red Hulk, Leader and Elektra on a subway while Leader explains what happened with the cellphones of the people that were around them on last issue.

Then we see Orestez doing some publicity of his book and in the public, Orestez spot his sister Elektra. The Punisher tries to shoot him but she stopped Frank from doing it. Ross is with them too and he turns to Red Hulk at that time a bunch of crymson dynamos invades the room. 

Orestez begins to record on a cellphone all the battle inside the room, Elektra says to Red Hulk that Orestez wants to be a martyr and make them look like the real terrorists. Red Hulk doesn't care, in the heat of the battle we see the Leader going to a computer room and hacking all communications from CIA.

On other panel we see Deadpool and Venom capture an helicopter from the police. 

Back into the conference room Red Hulk is fighting all crymson dynamos all by himself.

Back on Frank while he is looking from Orestez he sees the recording cellphone and sees that Elektra is escaping with Orestez from the building.

Venom and Deadpool rescued Ross from the building when he beat all the crymson dynamos. Frank reached Elektra and asks her about her brother and she said he was gone.

On the last page we see Leader talking with Mercy and talked about how much he has learned about himself since he was awaked by Ross. Mercy says to that his true purpose is to lead.

-OPINION-

Well this issue marks the end of a cycle, Daniel Way will leave the book to pass the torch do Charles Soule. 

Unfortunately in the beggining of this arc i got high hopes for this book but it ended as a huge let down. I even think that it went worse than the first arc.

About this issue, almost everything was done wrong the only thing i liked was the dialogue between Deadpool and Venom about betraying Ross, it's a cool dialogue between these two characters. I would wanted that Venom could ask Ross why Mercy incinerated that people on Kata Jaya, why thinking on betrayal when he could avoid that and ask him directly.

In the last review i mentioned that Frank wasn't doing nothing relevant for two issues, but with this one the count increases for three issues. He appeared more on this one but he didn't had any relevant action for a character like him. 

Why he is on this team, when we don't see what he does best? 

Why Red Hulk got all the action by himself and the other characters didn't had any activity or action by themselfs? Is this really a team book?

And why did i get the feeling that we didn't saw too much of a threat to this team, in two arcs?

Why Daniel Way keeps showing us split scenes without link them? In the last issue Red Hulk escaped with Elektra and the Leader from a possible bomb, leaving Frank behind. Red Hulk probably jump a few miles away from the possible bomb radius and in this issue we see them all together in a subway. This is just an example there are more in this issue.

One thing interesting is that i got the feeling that Mercy got a secret agenda and wants to turn the Leader against Red Hulk or the team. Her plans are unknown but in the upcoming issue it will be explained, i guess.

About the art, don't know what happened to Phil Noto and GURU eFX this book seems that somewhat they ended it in a hurry, the art went worse and the coloring didn't help a bit. What GURU eFX helped in the first arc and has done a good work in the beggining of this arc they throwed away all that i said about them previously...

The cover art was ok.

One interesting note, it seems that GURU made some mistake by coloring Orestez while escaping with Elektra like he was the Leader.

I don't have nothing to Daniel Way he make me believe on the potential of this team, i was always a ceptic about Frank's integration. Way have done good stuff but it wasn't enough to satisfy what i was expect from this book, i wish him the best for his upcoming projects.

PLOT: 2/5

ART: 3/5

COVER: 3/5

ENTERTAINING LEVEL: 2/5

FINAL EVALUATION OF THE ARC: 2/5