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)