Punisher MAX (Ennis #1-60) Discussion *Spoilers*

[thee great one]

I picked up volume 4 of this series. "Up Is Down & Black Is White." (#19-24)

This is the singlest nastiest, most disturbing, grossest thing I've ever seen. But I loved it. In it, it had a guy piss all over Frank's families body, murder his family when he was little, have sex with his fat aunt when he was little, get a blowjob by another guy. This was so incredibly wrong. I hope Ennis never leaves the book. 5/5.

[Terraneaux]

I thought this series was ten different kinds of awesome. I'm really digging "The slavers" as well. This is probably the title that I anticipate coming out the most, after ultimates.

[thee great one]

I thought this series was ten different kinds of awesome. I'm really digging "The slavers" as well. This is probably the title that I anticipate coming out the most, after ultimates.

Welcome. 8)


I agree.. The Slavers was the first arc I started picking up. It's easily one of the best ongoings right now.

[Bass]

Isn't it? Consistently solid.

I think my favourite arc, however, is the first six-issue arc of the current MAX run. But they're all really top notch.

[Ice]

I think my favourite arc, however, is the first six-issue arc of the current MAX run. But they're all really top notch.
I think that's my favorite, too. So much damn good stuff. Only thing...I don't have #1... :cry:

[ProjectX2]

I think that's my favorite, too. So much damn good stuff. Only thing...I don't have #1... :cry:

Welcome Back Frank. There is one way to get it without buying the Punisher MAX trade... Buy the Punisher movie trade. It comes with Punisher movie adaption, first appearance of the Punisher, and if I'm not mistaken, Punisher MAX #1.

[Ice]

Welcome Back Frank. There is one way to get it without buying the Punisher MAX trade... Buy the Punisher movie trade. It comes with Punisher movie adaption, first appearance of the Punisher, and if I'm not mistaken, Punisher MAX #1.
The actual issue? Sweet! Thanks. :D

[ProjectX2]

The actual issue? Sweet! Thanks. :D

Okay, I made a mistake.

[Ice]

Okay, I made a mistake.
Damn. Thanks, anyways.

[Bass]

This series is amazing.

The last scene of #29, which just came out... yeesh. Punisher goes to this grotesque villain and proceeds to torture and scare the **** out of them until he kills them, and the scene is so well written, it just ****ing haunts you. The violence, the pleasure, the terror, and the guilt.

This is not a nice comic at all.

God bless the Punisher.

[Ice]

I know. I was like :shock: and loving it.

[Jackie Estacado]

the punisher belongs to MAX and Ennis - it is a 3-way orgy of violence and depravity, i love it :P

[Ice]

the punisher belongs to MAX and Ennis - it is a 3-way orgy of violence and depravity, i love it :P
Damn, straight! Who else is going to show us a mob boss having sex with his fat aunt in the Marvel Universe? I don't know who!

:lol:

*vomits*

[Jackie Estacado]

ennis just rocks!
he can do over the top violence like the punisher and born and be serious at the same time or do stuff like fury (which i thought was frikkin mental!) or the welcome back frank arc and be funny and sick at the same time.
i prefer the dark, serious, sombre tone of the MAX series - it suits the character so well (like bendis' DD). look forward to every issue (and the game is cool :wink: )

[thee great one]

Issue 29 was awesome. Another great issue. What Punisher did to that woman was sick. It was awesome.

A

[Murgh]

#30 was a good conclusion to this arc. Maybe I'm just a sick bastard but I cheered when I saw Frank pull out the gas can and lighter.

[Jackie Estacado]

we all did, we all did ;)

chk out Nighthawk for some equally as cool 'justice' - if only Batman figured this out years ago.....

[Ice]

My favorite part of this arc is still when Punisher threw the woman at the window a few times before falling out with said window in #29, I think it was. The conclusion was great, and I almost thought the officer and the social worker almost got it on! :lol:

[Bass]

Wonderful comic.

"Don't come back here."

****ing give it to 'em, Frank me boy.

[thee great one]

I loved the coward line. That was brillant. Another great issue.

A

[E]

I'm slowly catching up on this series, picking up vol. 2, 3, & 4 TPBs.

Daaaaaaaaaaymn.

This is, hands down, one of the best books available now. Top 5, easy.

I thought "In the Beginning" was great - "Mother Russia" was incredible.

Can't wait to read "Up is Down and Black is White".

I couldn't recommend this enough - not to the kiddies though!

[thee great one]

I'm slowly catching up on this series, picking up vol. 2, 3, & 4 TPBs.

Daaaaaaaaaaymn.

This is, hands down, one of the best books available now. Top 5, easy.

I thought "In the Beginning" was great - "Mother Russia" was incredible.

Can't wait to read "Up is Down and Black is White".

I couldn't recommend this enough - not to the kiddies though!

I've only read Up is Down and The Slavers. I got my hardcover today with volumes 3 & 4. I'll read it tomorrow. If you like this. You have to get The Punisher - The Cell oneshot. Trust me. You have too. It is a major part of the punisher. Which I just got today.

And Up is Down is the sickest thing I ever read in my life. You have been warned.

[Ice]

I believe E already read The Cell, if memory serves me correctly.

[E]

If you like this. You have to get The Punisher - The Cell oneshot.

Already got it. Loved it.

[thee great one]

Already got it. Loved it.

Yeah I just got it yesterday. I didn't see that coming at all.

[Bass]

This series is so good.

[E]

I just finished vol 4 - "Up is Down & Black is White."

Brilliant as ever. Nice to see some returning characters. And nice that Frank was able to get a little action. :heybaby:

I like that his status with the police dep't was addressed...not sure how it was handled in previous versions of this book but having the cops looking the other way is cool.

[thee great one]

I just finished vol 4 - "Up is Down & Black is White."

Brilliant as ever. Nice to see some returning characters. And nice that Frank was able to get a little action. :heybaby:

I like that his status with the police dep't was addressed...not sure how it was handled in previous versions of this book but having the cops looking the other way is cool.

That was some twisted stuff.....

[E]

That was some twisted stuff.....

No, that was OK. The Auntie Mo stuff was twisted stuff. :sick:

[Ice]

The Auntie Mo stuff was twisted stuff. :sick:
*Vomits*


Also, not spoiling for you, but the cops aren't gone if ya know what I mean. You'll see soon enough. :)

[SeAcoW]

I love ennis. He made punisher so badass i cant believe it. The best marvel book out.

[thee great one]

No, that was OK. The Auntie Mo stuff was twisted stuff. :sick:

That's what I meant, That and gay scene....

[thee great one]

Show me your grill.

The new issue was great. I loved the ending.

A+

[Jackie Estacado]

i agree, shame about the art tho, urgh!

[thee great one]

I finally got the first hardcover.

In The Beginning was incredible. I read a lot of the old punisher issues with Microchip. So his return and their relationship meant something to me. I knew he was going to die. But not like that. That was hardcore. That chick was one horny *****.

"I am so wet right now."

As she's bleeding to die. I didn't realize that Nicky makes his appearance in here.

A+

Kitchen Irish is now one of the top best. I love stories where there are multiple factions all fighting each other. I was hoping to see the old man get a piece of the black guy. It was insane. When they found the treasure. I did not see that coming. I laughed my *** off. That was so awesome.

A+

[E]

That chick was one horny *****.

"I am so wet right now."

You know that's the same chick from Up Is Down and Black Is White right?

[Victor Von Doom]

There no words to describe how good this comic is!!! I just reread all the issues yesterday and they just don't get old.

I'm really liking the return of Barracuda.......I can't wait to see how all this plays out.

[thee great one]

You know that's the same chick from Up Is Down and Black Is White right?

Yeah I realized that. I read the series' arcs backwards. I read 5, then 4, 3, 1, & 2.

[JonnyFreeze]

man that latest issue of Punisher MAX was just awesome. i arrived home on monday, first thing i did on tuesday was tie up my loose ends so u know i had to pick up my comics lol but man what a violent issue and real funny too.

Punisher MAX never fails to deliver. i thought Mother Russia was the weakest arc of the series so far but even that was good in its ways.

[thee great one]

man that latest issue of Punisher MAX was just awesome. i arrived home on monday, first thing i did on tuesday was tie up my loose ends so u know i had to pick up my comics lol but man what a violent issue and real funny too.

Punisher MAX never fails to deliver. i thought Mother Russia was the weakest arc of the series so far but even that was good in its ways.

I found it to be the best. Only cause Nick Fury should always be written that way.

Kitchen Irish was equally awesome. I loved the ending.

[Victor Von Doom]

Only cause Nick Fury should always be written that way.


If you love him in that...you'll love him in Fury (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0785108785/sr=8-5/qid=1147961718/ref=pd_bbs_5/103-9318338-6398237?%5Fencoding=UTF8). Ennis wrote this as well and I think it's flippin great!!!! Probably the best I've ever Fury I've ever read....especially with the last final pages.

[JonnyFreeze]

yeah damn that Fury TPB was good

[thee great one]

I have that downloaded. I am excited to read it now.

[E]

I read the Slavers today and the first 3 issues of Barracuda, so I'm finally caught up.

I can't wait to see how he handles this shark. That is so hardcore.

This is all-around the best Marvel book out there, by far.

[Victor Von Doom]

I read the Slavers today and the first 3 issues of Barracuda, so I'm finally caught up.

I can't wait to see how he handles this shark. That is so hardcore.

This is all-around the best Marvel book out there, by far.


See....Slavers is by far the best arc this book has had. It was so good that it's making this Barracuda arc seem dull. I mean we're 3 issues in and Frank just got owned by a guy who just had his fingers chopped off and his eye stabbed out.

It's good to see Frank humbled like that every now and then. It reminds you that he's still just human.

[E]

See....Slavers is by far the best arc this book has had.

Really? I thought "Up is Down and Black is White" was by far the best. As good as "Slavers" was it is probably the weakest arc yet. That's how good this book is.

And I'm loving the art on "Barracuda" - I wasn't sure at first but it has this warm retro look to it that I'm really into.

[Victor Von Doom]

The Tyger

Summary:
We open to a snowy night with Castle on a roof. As with every issue--a lot of inner monolouge. He says "They'll blame it on Vietam. And they'll be right. And they'll be wrong." That statement right there sets the tone and lesson for the entire issue.

Frank looks down at a larg gathering of people. Mob bosses and underbosses. He sizes up the area and thinks about how the police will know it was him.

Flashback to 1960.

Frank Castle is 10 years old. He witnesses a man on fire running thru the factory yard. His father spots him watching this and sends Frank on his way.

Later that night Frank eavesdrops on his parents talking about the situation. Frank's dad says the guy lit a cigarette in a room filled with all kinda gases. His mother thinks differently. We learn that Frank was a quite child. He found being quiet was easier than asking questions. It was also by being quiet that Frank learned that his mother cried herself to sleep over his stillborn brother. And how he know where dad kept the keys to his lockbox.

Frank's dad thinks his son is fruity because Frank likes poetry. :lol:

Cut to a couple days later we see Frank talking to his first crush. Lauren. He meets up with Lauren and she runs into the apt to grab her notes. Lauren's older brother steps outside and talks to Frank. Sal is in the Marines and home on leave. He says the only reason he comes home is to keep an eye on his sister. He knows Frank has a crush on her and gives Frank a couple bucks to buy her a milkshake.

Later we see Frank in a poetry class taught by Father David. The poem is called "The Tyger" by William Blake (love that poem). Frank and the Father disagree on what the meaning of this poem is. The moral of this scene is where Frank learns the difference between God's law...and the laws of man.

After class Frank and Lauren are walking home and they see a girl they know committ suicide by stepping out in front of a car.

Cut to 3 weeks later. Frank is meeting Lauren again and they're walking down the street. That's when we are introduced to the local mob family. The Rosas. The one face that's pointed out is a young guy named Vincent. He smiles at Lauren and she blushes. Frank sees this but doesn't know what it means. Kids.... :roll:

Frank and Lauren are at the museum Frank is fixated on several "predators". Lauren asks "Why do boys always like monsters?" She kisses him on the cheek. Frank has just discovered girls. :D

Later on we see Frank confronting a bully. Frank punches the bully and and saves the day for some kids. One of the kids is the little brother to the girl who killed herself earlier. Come to find out that Vincent forced himself on the girl and she got pregnant. She had to go away for a bit but when she came back...no more baby and she was to never speak of it again.

In class we see Frank staring at Lauren. She begins to cry and runs outta class. That evening Frank stops by Lauren's house to see if she's ok. Lauren's dad answers the door and tells Frank that she's asleep. As he tells Frank this, Lauren's mother yells for Lauren's dad to come quick. Lauren just slit her wrists from the elbow down.

Back at home Frank's family hears about it and his dad tells mom to just be quiet. It's implied that Vincent is forcing himself on girls all over the neighborhood but no one will do anything. She gets mad that no one will stand up to the Rosa family. Frank's dad sets her straight. He says that a group of guys from the hood gathered together to confront the Rosas. The boss let them say their peace then broke every finger of one of the guys in the group. Frank overhears this and goes to his dad's lockbox to get his dad's gun.

Frank hides in the alley across from where Vincent is hanging out. A thug tells Vincent that some girl just called for him and said to meet her in front of the local drugstore. VIncent leaves and heads for the store. Frank follows him.

When Vncent gets to the store, Lauren's brother Sal shows up and beats the piss outta Vincent. Sal drags Vincent to the graveyard where he dug an empty grave. Sal throws Vincent into the grave and pours gasoline on Vincent. Sal lights a cigarette and tosses it on Vincent. All the while Frank is watching in the shadows. He watches Sal stand there in front of the flames. All Frank can think is "Tyger".

The next morning cops show up and start to investigate. Sal is never found out. Frank never sees Sal again until his first tour of Vietnam. Sal was KIA and all Frank saw of him was the body.

On Frank's second your he is hiking thru the jungle and comes across a tiger staring him down. To this day...Frank doesn't know if what he saw was real or not.

Cut to present time with Frank on the roof in the snow.

Frank snipes all the mob bosses and thugs. After his work is done...he leaves. He thinks "They'll blame it on Vietnam. And they'll be right. And they'll be wrong."

We get a few jet black pages with only word bubbles. The conversation is what Frank was hearing when his family was murdered.

It ends with Frank taking the place of the Tyger in poem.








Hotness. Pure hotness. All this one-shot does is show you a small part of what made him what he is today.

I didn't like the art. Too retro looking for me. But pure hotness nonetheless.


5/5



To fully understand the meaning of the Tyger read the poem here (http://www.poemhunter.com/p/m/poem.asp?poem=29400).

[E]

The Tyger was one of the most beautifully poetic comics I've ever read.

I don't have much more to add than that - Vic's summery covered it pretty darn well.

5/5

[Victor Von Doom]

The Tyger was one of the most beautifully poetic comics I've ever read.


So true. I just thought the art was bleh. Had it been the normal artist---great. Since it was a special one-shot if Bradstreet could've done the whole thing---classic.

[ProjectX2]

So true. I just thought the art was bleh. Had it been the normal artist---great. Since it was a special one-shot if Bradstreet could've done the whole thing---classic.

And since it had been delayed from December - it should have been Bradstreet.

[E]

So true. I just thought the art was bleh. Had it been the normal artist---great. Since it was a special one-shot if Bradstreet could've done the whole thing---classic.

That would have been awesome.

I do agree that the art was lacking. I'm not a huge fan of the guy that does the regular book (Fernandez?) but it's decent...this was a step down from that.

This was a rare instance where I didn't feel like the lackluster art took away from the story. It was that good.

[Victor Von Doom]

This was a rare instance where I didn't feel like the lackluster art took away from the story. It was that good.

Indeed.

Even though I hated the art...it didn't detract from the story. It never distracted me from the story.

But the art did make me want a can of Campbell's soup. :?

[Victor Von Doom]

O

M

G





So Frank has faced some tough guys before.......but no one can hold a candle to Barracuda. No one. I know some people have no clue about who Barracuda is and they wanna throw some other names in there. But no one can be as badass as 'Cuda. No one.

Jigsaw? Frank may as well be fighting Corky from "Life Goes On".

The Gnucci Family? Frank vs The Chipmunks and Chippettes.

The Russian? Close.....but still no cigar.

Here is an excerpt from #34 on how lethal 'Cuda is-----WARNING: This is really extreme......but you're in a Punisher MAX thread...so you asked for it.


20-something years ago I was convicted of insider trading in the state of CA, and was unlucky enough to come before a judge whose politics leaned somewhat to the left.

The law, it was explained to me, existed to punish the rich right alongside the poor. An example was to be made, and I was sent to a maximum security prison.

On my first day, 2 men made clear their intention to rape me as soon as an opportunity presented itself. I, naturally, gave the matter some serious thought.

I made enquiries and learned that the most notorious inmate in the prison was a man known as Barracuda. I approached him and made him an offer.

I told him who I was and the kind of money I had waiting for me upon my release. He had a number of contacts on the outside and, so it was not difficult for him to check my story.

Very soon, the 2 men I mentioned were found with their eyelids sewn shut. Each man's eyesockets turned out to contain the other's testicles.

Their eyes were never found.

They lived.


In the last issue, 'Cuda fought Frank and here's the list of what Frank did to him:

Knocked out several of his teeth
Stabbed him in the eye with a knife
Chopped off 4 of his fingers on his right hand
Choked him with barbwire



.....and 'Cuda still kicked Frank's ***.




I love this book. I wanna marry this book and have this book's babies. I :heart: Punisher MAX.

[thee great one]

Pitts, Russian, The Mongolian. They were some of the best.

Pitts was a old hardcore ****er.


The Tyger was great. I enjoyed it. The Punisher loves poetry. That's awesome.

A-

[Victor Von Doom]

There is no NOT loving this comic.

[Victor Von Doom]

Marvel is collecting all the Punisher MAX one-shots and putting them out there together in Sept.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0785122761/qid=1146623055/sr=1-6/ref=sr_1_6/102-9466484-5017733?s=books&v=glance&n=283155

[E]

FINALLY got to read part 4 of Barracuda today.

Wow.

Each guy had his eyes removed and the other guy's balls in their place, and the eyelids sewn shut? Unbelievable. Barracuda is sick, sick, sick.

Is this arc his first appearance? I've never heard of him before this.

Frank feeding the guy to the shark was awesome.

5/5

[JonnyFreeze]

yeah man how ****in good is punisher MAX. consistently good. ****in flawless baby

[supermusli]

I´ve been meaning to read these for a while... are they available in hardcover?

[Victor Von Doom]

FINALLY got to read part 4 of Barracuda today.

Wow.

Each guy had his eyes removed and the other guy's balls in their place, and the eyelids sewn shut? Unbelievable. Barracuda is sick, sick, sick.

Is this arc his first appearance? I've never heard of him before this.

Frank feeding the guy to the shark was awesome.

5/5

Barracuda is awesome!!!! I wanna say I've seen him before in the series but with dreadlocks and as a minor character.......but I might be wrong.



I´ve been meaning to read these for a while... are they available in hardcover?

Not harcover. But they are in TPB. There are 5 volumes available now.

[Ice]

I remember hearing about Barracuda before. Not sure where, but I remember someone talking or mentioning his name.

And I coulda swore there was at least 1 HC. Odd. :?

[thee great one]

Barracuda is awesome!!!! I wanna say I've seen him before in the series but with dreadlocks and as a minor character.......but I might be wrong.




Not harcover. But they are in TPB. There are 5 volumes available now.

There two hardcovers collecting the first 4 volumes. I have them.

And you are thinking of the black irish dude from Kitchen Irish.

Best line in the issue.

"I'll just have to kick the **** out of him in hell"

And I'm getting that trade just for The End issue. That was one of the most hardcore stories out there.

[supermusli]

There two hardcovers collecting the first 4 volumes. I have them.

Thanks! I prefer hardcovers to trades if I can get them..

[moonmaster]

I bought the first trade of this yesterday. I'm officially hooked.

I've got a birthday in a few weeks and I can tell you right now that a huge chunk of my spending money is going towards catching up on this book.

It's pure awesome-ness.

[E]

I bought the first trade of this yesterday. I'm officially hooked.

I've got a birthday in a few weeks and I can tell you right now that a huge chunk of my spending money is going towards catching up on this book.

It's pure awesome-ness.

Awesome. I got in late too - I got the 1st TPB a long time ago because I heard it was good, and it was, but it took me a long time to get 2-4. I'm hooked too. One of my top 3 favorites right now.

[Victor Von Doom]

Awesome. I got in late too....

Story of my comic reading life!!!! Its so time consuming to try and catch up.

I mean I hear everyone tell me about how good Y, Fables, Capt America, etc. is.....and then I gotta play catch up. I kill entire days at book stores.



Welcome to the club Moony!!!! Seriously.....I have not heard one single bad remark about this series. And I don't ever wanna.....if you dig my ditch!!! *shakes fist menacingly but in a warning kinda fashion*

[E]

Story of my comic reading life!!!! Its so time consuming to try and catch up.

I mean I hear everyone tell me about how good Y, Fables, Capt America, etc. is.....and then I gotta play catch up. I kill entire days at book stores.



Welcome to the club Moony!!!! Seriously.....I have not heard one single bad remark about this series. And I don't ever wanna.....if you dig my ditch!!! *shakes fist menacingly but in a warning kinda fashion*

Vic let me go off topic for a second and recommend another for you to get into late - Seven Soldiers of Victory. Friggin' brilliant. The 3rd of 4 TPBs just came out, so there's not a lot to catch up on.

Back on topic - I agree, I've never heard a bad word about this book. Everyone that reads it seems to love it and in a big way.

[moonmaster]

I can't wait to catch up. I've gotta get Born, too. It looks pretty good.

When I first saw the Punisher movie (before ever having read a Punisher comic) I thought it was pretty good, but had no interest in the comics. After reading this, I hate the movie. I wish they would've done it like this and gotten Ennis to write the script.

[thee great one]

I can't wait to catch up. I've gotta get Born, too. It looks pretty good.

When I first saw the Punisher movie (before ever having read a Punisher comic) I thought it was pretty good, but had no interest in the comics. After reading this, I hate the movie. I wish they would've done it like this and gotten Ennis to write the script.

Ennis wrote the video game, which was absolute genius in game form.

The movie's characters were based off Ennis' first Punisher arc "Welcome Back Frank".

[Victor Von Doom]

Ennis wrote the video game, which was absolute genius in game form.

The movie's characters were based off Ennis' first Punisher arc "Welcome Back Frank".

Both were pure hotness in its most primal form.


If Brubaker is a Comic God.....Ennis is your Comic Moses.


BTW---did anyone read Ennis's Ghost Rider? I hadn't heard any opinions on it so I don't know if I'm missing anything.

[Ice]

BTW---did anyone read Ennis's Ghost Rider? I hadn't heard any opinions on it so I don't know if I'm missing anything.
That has it's own thread. Should be in the Marvel Comics forum if I moved it, which I should've.

[Victor Von Doom]

Yousa so kinda! [/mario]

[ProjectX2]

TGO sent me the 4th trade a few months back, because he was going to get the HC.

I liked it. It was over-the-top, but that made it great.

Someday I shall read the rest.

[Ice]

PUNISHER #37 & 38
Written by GARTH ENNIS
Penciled by GORAN PARLOV
Cover by TIM BRADSTREET
"MAN OF STONE" Parts 1 & 2
The last time General Nikolai Alexandrovich Zakharov encountered Frank Castle, the two men were playing chicken with a dozen nuclear warheads over Moscow. Since then, well, let's just say Zakharov's not the type to forgive and forget. When a mutual enemy of Castle comes with the perfect plan to lure Frank out of his hole, Zakharvo is all ears. That man is Rawlins. His bait? His former wife -- and sometime Castle flame: O'Brien.
THERE IS A STRICT NO OVERPRINT POLICY ON ALL MAX TITLES PLEASE CHECK YOUR ORDERS AND PLACE THEM BY THE FOC.
32 PGS. (each)/Explicit Content ...$2.99 (each)
Two issues in September!!!! :drooling:

:rockon:

[Victor Von Doom]

Two issues in September!!!! :drooling:

:rockon:


OH YEAH!!! http://img222.imageshack.us/img222/6630/koolaid4ij.gif

[E]

And building off one of the best arcs thus far. Can't wait.

[nigma]

..........wow.......and i thought that 100 bullets and DMZ were hard.....but marvel really let them get away with this, marvel has earned back a little bit of respect.

what really makes this GREAT is the layout and coloring, the dark shades and tones mixed in with with thought "squares". there arn't too many huge page splashes and when there are, there worth it. all-in-all there are a good mix. And you don't have the punisher talking too much, and the few words he does say are what i call power words. Where one word takes the place of seven. Also, what this comic does that others doesn't is that it shows that hes also just human, like the rest of us.

one of the better lines were.

"theres a reason they put the scope on top" *bang*

"after im done.....you wanna get in the sack?"........"why not" (i think thats the line)

and i have to give it to the artist, there aren't too many out there that can make you FEEL the emotion, but this guy finds a way to, and it works. you feel the blood, the calmness, the anger, the coldness, and you WANT to join the crusade.

[Victor Von Doom]

one of the better lines were.

"theres a reason they put the scope on top" *bang*


Yeah...that has to be my favorite line outta the series. But the line "Don't come back..." at the end of the Slavers arc---when you see what he does in context to that line. Shivers dude....shivers.

[nigma]

Yeah...that has to be my favorite line outta the series. But the line "Don't come back..." at the end of the Slavers arc---when you see what he does in context to that line. Shivers dude....shivers.

call me diamond hearted....i had a smile on my face when that panel came up, it was....how do i say this so i don't come off as a jerk....there are very few things that put me on auto hulk-out crazy mode....and that story dealt with an issue that does just that.

[Victor Von Doom]

call me diamond hearted....i had a smile on my face when that panel came up, it was....how do i say this so i don't come off as a jerk....there are very few things that put me on auto hulk-out crazy mode....and that story dealt with an issue that does just that.

So awesome. What is it about the anti-hero doing good that brings a smile to our faces?

[nigma]

So awesome. What is it about the anti-hero doing good that brings a smile to our faces?

maybe cuz its something we'd do ourselves if we knew how to get away with it? its not a I CAN SAVE THE WORLD WITH MY (fill in power).

[Victor Von Doom]

maybe cuz its something we'd do ourselves if we knew how to get away with it? its not a I CAN SAVE THE WORLD WITH MY (fill in power).

Maybe. There is a sense of more realistic escapism in the Punisher than say Sentry.

[nigma]

There is a sense of more realistic escapism

and so he has said the magic words....realistic

[Victor Von Doom]

and so he has said the magic words....realistic

Well about as realistic as one can be in a world where men can walk on walls.

[nigma]

Well about as realistic as one can be in a world where men can walk on walls.

and so far, there hasn't been a single "super" person seen or mentioned.

[Victor Von Doom]

#35 just came out.....and it was ok. Nothing too spectacular. No violence....well aside from one death. But it wasn't by Frank or Barracuda so whatever.

This was an all story issue. Ennis does a great job in tying the story behind this mess up and prepping you for the finale next issue.


I can't wait.

[ProjectX2]

I just finished reading the first arc, and it rocked. The Punisher is hardcore. The story was great. The art wasn't as bad as I thought it would be.

I can't wait to get caught up with this series. :rockon:

[Victor Von Doom]

I just finished reading the first arc, and it rocked. The Punisher is hardcore. The story was great. The art wasn't as bad as I thought it would be.

I can't wait to get caught up with this series. :rockon:

Welcome to the cult---I mean club. :wink:


It is sooooo worth your time to get caught up.

[E]

I'm glad people are getting into this. The worst thing that could possibly happen would be for this book to go the way of Supreme Power back to Marvel Knights because of numbers.

[ProjectX2]

Welcome to the cult---I mean club. :wink:


It is sooooo worth your time to get caught up.

I thought I joined the club when I read "Up is Down and Black is White"?

Anyway, I'm half way through "Kitchen Irish". Maginty is a big scary ****.

[Victor Von Doom]

I thought I joined the club when I read "Up is Down and Black is White"?

Uhhhhh..........its a new club for every arc you finish? :? Yeah....that's the ticket. For every arc you complete--you move up a rank in the club and are shown it's inner secrets. Yeah....that'll do.

http://img207.imageshack.us/img207/6954/booyaev2.gif Boo-yah!!! Good save!!! Go retcon!!! :lol:


Anyway, I'm half way through "Kitchen Irish". Maginty is a big scary ****.

Maginty is a member of Ultimate Defenders compared to Barracuda. I'm telling you....the book only gets better. You might not like "Mother Russia"...but it picks up again right after that!!! :rockon:

[ProjectX2]

Ice and TGO say Mother Russia is their favourite arc.

[ProjectX2]

Just finished Kitchen Irish. It was cool, and the art was pretty good as well. I still liked In The Beginning more, though.

I knew the chest was either going to contain a bomb or perhaps Nesbitt's head or something, and then it would have turned out the Houdini guy was behind it all. But it was a bomb. It was still awesome though.

On to Mother Russia.

[Victor Von Doom]

Ice and TGO say Mother Russia is their favourite arc.

They know nothing!!! "Slavers" is everyone's favorite. :lol:



Actually---"Mother Russia" is still damn superb. Not my favorite arc...but still so much more better than a lot of stuff out there.

[moonmaster]

I picked up "Up Is Down and Black Is White", today. I'm reading it tonight.

Here are my Punisher MAX plans as of now: I'll try to get "The Slavers" whenever I can. "Barracuda" will be out in a few months and I plan to get it, but I think I'll start getting it monthly with the next arc (I believe it begins in September. I'll have to check.) and pick up "Barracuda" later.

[Ice]

Yes, the next arc begins in September with not one, but TWO issues!

[ProjectX2]

I forgot to post that I caught up to Punisher MAX. It's fun. I prefer the first three arcs more, though.

Plus, I read The Cell and Born. They were pretty good as well. Ennis was born to write The Punisher.

[Victor Von Doom]

I forgot to post that I caught up to Punisher MAX. It's fun. I prefer the first three arcs more, though.

Plus, I read The Cell and Born. They were pretty good as well. Ennis was born to write The Punisher.

You gotta find "The Tyger" too. Probably one of the best written one-shots to date.

[moonmaster]

You gotta find "The Tyger" too. Probably one of the best written one-shots to date.
They're putting all the one-shots into a trade.

[ProjectX2]

They're putting all the one-shots into a trade.

Hardcover, I think.

[Victor Von Doom]

Hardcover, I think.

Yeah...HC.

Punisher MAX One-Shot Collection (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0785122761/qid=1146623055/sr=1-6/ref=sr_1_6/002-4895076-9397661?redirect=true&s=books&v=glance&n=283155)

[moonmaster]

"Up Is Down and Black Is White" may be my new favorite arc. Nicky is sick. The worst thing about him is how he's so ****ed-up, yet he seems so polite and charming sometimes. It was great to see so many characters come back and the series to tie itself together so nicely. The Punisher was badass as usual: His one night killing spree, taking out Rawlins eye, and what he did to Nicky. It was nice to see the Punisher finally get some action. He deserves it. My favorite scene was probably Frank and O'Brien fighting Teresa. Brutal beyond belief.

[E]

"Up Is Down and Black Is White" may be my new favorite arc. Nicky is sick. The worst thing about him is how he's so ****ed-up, yet he seems so polite and charming sometimes. It was great to see so many characters come back and the series to tie itself together so nicely. The Punisher was badass as usual: His one night killing spree, taking out Rawlins eye, and what he did to Nicky. It was nice to see the Punisher finally get some action. He deserves it. My favorite scene was probably Frank and O'Brien fighting Teresa. Brutal beyond belief.

TOG liked it because Nicky was shtooping his own aunt.

He's weird like that. TOG, I mean.

[thee great one]

TOG liked it because Nicky was shtooping his own aunt.

He's weird like that. TOG, I mean.


What can I say?

[moonmaster]

TOG liked it because Nicky was shtooping his own aunt.

He's weird like that. TOG, I mean.
Makes sense.

And plus, TOG likes 'em big, and they don't come no bigger than "Auntie Mo'".

[nigma]

"Up Is Down and Black Is White" may be my new favorite arc. Nicky is sick. The worst thing about him is how he's so ****ed-up, yet he seems so polite and charming sometimes. It was great to see so many characters come back and the series to tie itself together so nicely. The Punisher was badass as usual: His one night killing spree, taking out Rawlins eye, and what he did to Nicky. It was nice to see the Punisher finally get some action. He deserves it. My favorite scene was probably Frank and O'Brien fighting Teresa. Brutal beyond belief.

thats one of the reasons that its #2 on my list of must read trades..... the same themes are also in preacher........i don't know what Garth has it with gays and guns....but he makes it work.....

[moonmaster]

thats one of the reasons that its #2 on my list of must read trades..... the same themes are also in preacher
Preacher is the ****.

........i don't know what Garth has it with gays and guns....but he makes it work.....
Gays and Guns=Good, Gays with Guns=GREAT.

[thee great one]

I've read the first arc of Preacher. That stuff is gold.

[moonmaster]

My addiction worsens. I got "The Slavers" today. I'm reading it tonight.

5 trades in about a month. Ridiculous. The only series I've collected faster is New X-Men. I got the first two trades of it as a Christmas present and after reading them, I immediately went out the next day and got the other three that were out at the time.

So now, I'm unofficially caught up. I haven't read "Barracuda", but there are too many issues at the moment to get so I'll have to wait for the trade in a few months. I'll start reading it monthly with "Man of Stone". I also plan to get the one-shots (either by finding them at my LCS or getting that damn expensive HC), and "Born".

Meanwhile, I've got two trades worth of "Authority: Revolution" to pick up before the new series launches.

[ProjectX2]

"The Old Man"? Isn't the next arc "The Man of Stone"?

Born is great. The perfect origin to Frank Castle. The Cell is cool too.

And as you already know, Revolution rocks and I am currently waiting for my comic shop to order them in as well.

[Victor Von Doom]

Hmmmm........#36 was kinda lackluster. Nothing too suprising. Not the best issue. But then again, with the exception of the character Barracuda, the arc was still great in itself, but it was the weakest arc thus far.

3.5/5

[moonmaster]

"The Old Man"? Isn't the next arc "The Man of Stone"?
Yes it is. What the hell are you talking about?

[moonmaster]

I had some extra cash today, so I picked up "The Tyger". Good stuff. It's great to see Frank Castle as a kid.

I love how Ennis has shaped the Punisher. Most comic book heroes (or anti-heroes) are made who they are by one single event. But in the real world, people's motivations come from a lifetime of experience and someone's "defining moment" may not be what you expect. The Punisher wasn't set on his path by the death of his family, or his time in Vietnam, or his experiences as a child. It's been a slow series of occurences. The Punisher may be the first "superhero" who's origin story encompasses his entire life.

[Victor Von Doom]

I had some extra cash today, so I picked up "The Tyger". Good stuff. It's great to see Frank Castle as a kid.

I just reread all the one-shots and I have to say that "The Tyger" is officially my favorite of them all. More than "The Cell"....more than "The End". Had Tyger been a few issues longer....it would've beaten out "Born". I love it that much.



I love how Ennis has shaped the Punisher. Most comic book heroes (or anti-heroes) are made who they are by one single event. But in the real world, people's motivations come from a lifetime of experience and someone's "defining moment" may not be what you expect. The Punisher wasn't set on his path by the death of his family, or his time in Vietnam, or his experiences as a child. It's been a slow series of occurences. The Punisher may be the first "superhero" who's origin story encompasses his entire life.


Well put.

[E]

I love how Ennis has shaped the Punisher. Most comic book heroes (or anti-heroes) are made who they are by one single event. But in the real world, people's motivations come from a lifetime of experience and someone's "defining moment" may not be what you expect. The Punisher wasn't set on his path by the death of his family, or his time in Vietnam, or his experiences as a child. It's been a slow series of occurences. The Punisher may be the first "superhero" who's origin story encompasses his entire life.

Well put - I think that is also how they've been writing Daredevil. I don't think it's a coincidence that those are Marvel's 2 best books.

[Victor Von Doom]

Baxter sent this to me from another site that has a bunch of mockeries of comics.......

http://img186.imageshack.us/img186/7488/maxbl6.jpg


Funny stuff....:lol:

[moonmaster]

Baxter sent this to me from another site that has a bunch of mockeries of comics.......

http://img186.imageshack.us/img186/7488/maxbl6.jpg


Funny stuff....:lol:
NOOOO!!! Not the Eskimos!

[E]

NOOOO!!! Not the Eskimos!

If Frank Castle says Eskimos need to be punished, then dammit, Eskimos need to be punished.

Never trusted those ****ers anyway.

[Victor Von Doom]

If Frank Castle says Eskimos need to be punished, then dammit, Eskimos need to be punished.

Never trusted those ****ers anyway.


Exactly. Those seal-clubbers need to be tought a lesson.


Up next.........those filthy gypsies.

[thee great one]

"Let's rub noses like the eski.."

"Rub this"

*Sticks shotgun in face*

BOOM!




I read the final issue to Barracuda. It was good and different. But this was easy the worst arc yet.

[Victor Von Doom]

It was good and different. But this was easy the worst arc yet.

I would have to agree. But even still---a less than stellar Punisher MAX arc is still better than a LOT of other comic arcs out there now.

The thing about "Barracuda" was that it's different. This was all about business--not gangsters.

[thee great one]

I would have to agree. But even still---a less than stellar Punisher MAX arc is still better than a LOT of other comic arcs out there now.

The thing about "Barracuda" was that it's different. This was all about business--not gangsters.

I don't disagree.

[E]

http://www.silverbulletcomicbooks.com/rage/index1.htm (this URL is temporary)

Loads of cool news, especially about Bradstreet toward the end here:


ATR: How do you avoid stagnation/repetition in the Punisher Max series (mobster of the week)? So far fans and critics agree that Ennis' run on Punisher Max is a seminal one…to what do you attribute that to?

AA: The supporting characters, mainly. The Punisher’s world is populated by 3-dimensional characters -- including the villains who, of course, really, really deserve to get killed. And then there’s the twists: Who saw Frank’s battlefield romance with O’Brien coming?

ATR: Why do you think Ennis' run has been so well received? What elevates it from some of the 90s pseudo-exploitation Punisher tales that were just action sequences and big guns?

AA: Garth is writing this for an adult audience. He’s not looking to push Fanboy’s buttons; he’s looking to write a compelling thriller.

ATR: What is coming up next after the MAN OF STONE arc? Who will the Punisher tackle next?

AA: Big stuff. For starters, there will be big heartbreak for Frank. Yes, heartbreak. That gristly muscle in his chest still pumps blood through his body, so it still qualifies as a heart -- and it’s going to have to carry a heavy weight after the events of “Man of Stone.” Frank will carry this load could through the following arc -- “Widowmaker” – and deal with the full ramifications of his actions in the arc that begins in issue #50. Yes 50 issues and going strong. I don’t spoil anything about that arc, but we’ve got big plans that are sure to raise interest. Besides that, Garth is writing his first PUNISHER SPECIAL limited series, which we’ll be announcing soon. Let’s just say it started when Garth killed a character and I said, “What the **** are you doing?”
What the hell, Ill give ATR readers the scoop on the PUNISHER SPECIAL limited series, you heard it here first:
PUNISHER SPECIAL: BARRACUDA. Yes, that's right, he's not dead. What --you thought that a load of buckshot to the chest in shark-infested waters was enough to put that sunuva***** down? Suffice it to say, he's back -- minus a few body parts -- and pissed as hell.
PUNISHER SPECIAL: BARRACUDA is a 5-issue limited series that picks up shortly after the events in the just-completed "Barracuda" arc, and bridges the gap to the events in PUNISHER #50. In other words, while Frank is dealing with the nasties in "Widowmaker" (PUNISHER #43-49), Barracuda is dealing with his own little problem: escorting the unfortunate hemophiliac son of a dangerous mob boss on his first criminal caper.
Pops decides that junior's been mollycoddled long enough and sends him out to make his bones, with Barracuda as his bodyguard. What follows is five issues of pure mayhem as every crime syndicate in the country takes a shot at young "Hemo," all hoping to pay the mob boss back for the various wrongs he's dealt them over the years. Throw in the forces of law and order, who take a natural interest in the proceedings, and a bona fide damsel in distress, and you've got the recipe for series that's going to have people talking and dispel any doubt that Barracuda isn't the most resourceful and lethal enemy Frank Castle's made for himself in some time.
Indeed, Barracuda will make clear his intention to return to plague Frank once again, hinting at an angle he's working that even the Punisher won't be expecting. We'll reveal his angle in the arc that begins in PUNISHER #50.

ATR: Any more one shots planned? By Ennis or by other writers?

AA: We’ve got the Punisher Xmas Special out this December, “The List,” written by Stuart Moore and illustrated by C.P. Smith. We’ve got the PUNISHER SPECIAL limited series. And I’ve got a nifty one-shot that’s coming out sometime next year that I’m also very excited about that. And then there’s PUNISHER WAR JOURNAL, our Marvel Universe title, written by Matt Fraction and Ariel Olivetti. It’s like the forty ounce of super hero comics.

ATR: Which artists are lined up after the MAN OF STONE arc? Any truth to the rumor that JRJR will be working with Ennis on a Punisher arc soon? Any chance of Tim Bradstreet doing interiors?

AA: Too soon to talk about that rumor. Let’s just say John’s got lots on his plate. As for Tim Bradstreet – we’ve been talking about that possibility for year.

[Victor Von Doom]

http://www.silverbulletcomicbooks.com/rage/index1.htm (this URL is temporary)

Loads of cool news, especially about Bradstreet toward the end here:

I am so ****ing excited about everything that was mentioned!!!!

More Barracudda? Hells yeah!!!
Bradstreet possibly doing interiors? O SWEET JESUS!!!

[thee great one]

Sweet stuff. The new issue seems to be a great start to this arc.

[Prometheus]

Does anyone know if the Punisher MAX series and the Marvel Knights one are in continuity?

[Fuzzy Birds]

Does anyone know if the Punisher MAX series and the Marvel Knights one are in continuity?

They are, it's just that the MAX series consciously shies away from spandex and all that.

[Prometheus]

They are, it's just that the MAX series consciously shies away from spandex and all that.

oh okay cool thanks...i'll guess ill stick with the MAX series then

[Ice]

The man behind Punisher's awesome damn covers, Tim Bradstreet.

http://images.comicbookresources.com/cons/phoenix2006/Phx_Tim_Bradstreet.jpg

[moonmaster]

Best cover artist working today.

I could look at his covers for hours.

[E]

Best cover artist working today.

I could look at his covers for hours.

Because you are gay for Punisher?

[moonmaster]

Because you are gay for Punisher?
:roll: No!



:scared:



*masturbates to "Up Is Down and Black Is White" trade*

[E]

:roll: No!



:scared:



*masturbates to "Up Is Down and Black Is White" trade*

Oh yeah, the one where the guy was boning his aunt.

You have issues.

[moonmaster]

Oh yeah, the one where the guy was boning his aunt.

You have issues.

Don't forget when Rawlins is giving Nicky a blowjob!

And yes, yes I do. You should know that by now.

[thee great one]

I enjoyed the new issue. I can't wait for the showdown between the Man Of Stone and the Punisher.

[thee great one]

Punisher - Widowmaker. (http://www.comicbookresources.com/news/newsitem.cgi?id=8584)

New arc starting in Jan. ****in awesome.

[thee great one]

"You cold?"

"No."

"You lonely?"

"No."

"You want to jump my bones anyway?"

"Sure."





He killed the baby. That was sick.

[Victor Von Doom]

I enjoyed the new issue. I can't wait for the showdown between the Man Of Stone and the Punisher.

No **** man!!! I cannot wait to see if Ennis has Frank and The General face off hand to hand or in some kinda gunfire battle. I also cannot wait to see Frank Vs General's #2 Man.


Punisher - Widowmaker. (http://www.comicbookresources.com/news/newsitem.cgi?id=8584)

New arc starting in Jan. ****in awesome.

Sweet preview!!! Don't know how I missed that one.


"You cold?"

"No."

"You lonely?"

"No."

"You want to jump my bones anyway?"

"Sure."





He killed the baby. That was sick.

The Man of Stone is hardcore. Hell---even moreso than Barracuda. The way the Generla just stood there in the gunfight was amazing!



So far this arc is turning out to be incredible. I love how Ennis is tying everything together. He's got nods to:

In the Beginning
Kitchen Irish
Mother Russia
Up Is Down, Black Is White

That's incredible.

So far Slavers is still at the top.....but this looks like it could be in the top 3.

[thee great one]

I want the Widowmaker arc to be Punisher killing the Desperate Housewifes.

[omega234]

He killed the baby. That was sick.

Man of stone indeed. Gotta say, Frank sure does know how to pick the sickest of the sick. Nicky Cavella, Barracuda and this beyond crazy general who didn't blink at all that gunfire. Personally I loved the fight between the Barracuda and Castle. Classic in my eyes. Cannot wait to see how this turns out.

[Willverine]

You know, Punisher MAX has consistently been one of my favorite books. It always delivers, issue after issue, and this arc has been excellent so far.

I propose two new laws:

1.) Garth Ennis is the only man qualified and allowed to write Punisher comic books, until such a time Garth Ennis handpicks his own successor or dies.

2.) In any Punisher-related work, Frank Castle is not drawn wearing black and white spandex. The Punisher MAX image should be the final model for any Punisher stylesheets in any Marvel continuity including Ultimate Marvel, 616 and otherwise. The spandex sucks!

[E]

2.) In any Punisher-related work, Frank Castle is not drawn wearing black and white spandex. The Punisher MAX image should be the final model for any Punisher stylesheets in any Marvel continuity including Ultimate Marvel, 616 and otherwise. The spandex sucks!

A-freaking-men. Punisher in spandex is just about the stupidest thing ever. Ultimate Punisher is the absolute worst - I hate it. What a piss-poor lazy job they did with that.

[Victor Von Doom]

A-freaking-men. Punisher in spandex is just about the stupidest thing ever. Ultimate Punisher is the absolute worst - I hate it. What a piss-poor lazy job they did with that.

I'll agree......to an extent. I still like spandex Punisher. But mainly due to sentimental reasons.

But yeah...from now on he needs to be MAXed out.

[moonmaster]

You know, Punisher MAX has consistently been one of my favorite books. It always delivers, issue after issue, and this arc has been excellent so far.

I propose two new laws:

1.) Garth Ennis is the only man qualified and allowed to write Punisher comic books, until such a time Garth Ennis handpicks his own successor or dies.

2.) In any Punisher-related work, Frank Castle is not drawn wearing black and white spandex. The Punisher MAX image should be the final model for any Punisher stylesheets in any Marvel continuity including Ultimate Marvel, 616 and otherwise. The spandex sucks!
YES.

[omega234]

Did anyone read the latest issue of Punisher that just came out today?

[nigma]

this was a more confusing issue then anything else. there was a 'jump' in time that didn't make sense. From when she parts ways with the British guy and meets up with Frank. But when? Cuz on sec shes walking off and the next the man of stone is flying towards a trap.

Of did i miss a page somewhere?

[omega234]

this was a more confusing issue then anything else. there was a 'jump' in time that didn't make sense. From when she parts ways with the British guy and meets up with Frank. But when? Cuz on sec shes walking off and the next the man of stone is flying towards a trap.

Of did i miss a page somewhere?

Not at all. In Issue #39, we first see O'Brien and Castle making out but the next page after from then on out, we went back a day to see everything that happened before that moment. Yorkie turning O'Brien over, giving her a note with the location where she is to meet Castle and key code to the U.S. depot for the weapons and supplies, Castle on the plane talking to that idiot Varick who tells him about who the Man of Stone is, Frank seeing that he picked up a tail and losing it easily after he sets it to be a trap, O'Brien meeting Castle the location Yorkie gave her, Zakharov preparing the men and the helicopter, Yorkie meeting back up with his men and finally Frank and O'Brien getting into the mountains to which O'Brien says something similar to what she said during the beginning of the issue.

In Issue #40, naturally Varick was easily found and killed. Frank and O'Brien are setting up the trap that he left for Zakharov by letting that tail from the last issue keep up with him just enough to see where he was going, which he the Man of Stone knows of and has a trap of his own and it all goes down from there with the extremely interesting situation of Frank Castle giving himself up after Zakharov threatens to kill about 400 villagers. Does this help?

[thee great one]

The next issue is going to rock.

[moonmaster]

I'm getting the new issue this week, but so far I'm really enjoying this arc. The art is great. I think it's the colorist.

[JonnyFreeze]

"You cold?"

"No."

"You lonely?"

"No."

"You want to jump my bones anyway?"

"Sure."



lol that was a great start to the issue. and the song she sang towards the end was great too.

[E]

I just re-read Mother Russia.

That might have been the best arc. Balls-to-the-wall action, non stop.

[thee great one]

I just re-read Mother Russia.

That might have been the best arc. Balls-to-the-wall action, non stop.

You have seen the light.

[omega234]

Wonder what the Punisher is going to do to Rawlins.

[ProjectX2]

Frank hiding a razor in his wound: ****ing awesome.

[moonmaster]

I read "Barracuda". It was all right. The Barracuda is badass, though. Can't wait for his mini-series next year.

Frank hiding a razor in his wound: ****ing awesome.
I yelled "EEWWWW!!!" outloud when he did that. That's just one of those things that just freaks me the **** out.

And poor O'Brien. I saw it coming, but still...

[moonmaster]

My newest review...

The Punisher
By Moonmaster

Consistency is a very hard thing to achieve nowadays, especially in the comic book industry. Modern comics have been hampered by constant delays and hit or miss writing. During a long tenure on a series, even the best of writers can falter. Yes, consistency is very hard to achieve, but Garth Ennis makes it look easy.

The Irish-born writer got his start writing his ultra-violent magnum opus about religion in America, "Preacher". "Preacher" was a colossal success, and Ennis has been working steadily ever since. He's developed a distinct style, marked by extreme violence, gritty realism, and dark-as-dark-can-get humor. Essentially, Ennis was born to write The Punisher. He got his first crack at the character along side his "Preacher" partner, artist Steve Dillon. But it wasn't until "Marvel Knights Punisher" was cancelled and the series was transitioned to Marvel's mature readers imprint (Marvel MAX) that things really took off.

For those of you who don't know, The Punisher is Frank Castle: A Vietnam vet whose family was gunned down in a mob shoot out in 1976. Ever since then, Castle has waged a one-man war against crime, becoming one of the most feared and hated men on the planet. I must admit, I had very little interest in The Punisher before I began reading Ennis's work. I thought of The Punisher as nothing more than a pointless, one-dimensional anti-hero from an archaic age of gun toting psychopaths and gratuitous violence. "Punisher MAX" changed all that.

The series is good. Very good. Each tightly written arc is a hard boiled tale of crime and violence, populated by an array of some of the most original characters you're going to see anywhere.

Ennis has a particular talent for writing villains, villains that you just love to hate. He goes all out to show you exactly how justified The Punisher is in getting rid of these people. There's Nicky Cavella, a twisted mobster who killed his parents as a child and is willing to go to unspeakable extremes to destroy Frank Castle. There are the human traffickers from Eastern Europe who sell teenage girls into prostitution and murder children. There's Barracuda, a seven-foot-tall monster of a man with an affinity for offensive orthodontia and watching people be eaten alive by tiger sharks. They're all awful people who receive equally awful "punishments".

But of all the cast members, none is more complexly written than the star of the series. Garth Ennis took a simple, revenge-driven killer into something much, much more fascinating. "Punisher MAX" was preceded by a mini-series called "Born", billed as "the real origin of The Punisher". This mini-series focused on the one factor that so many writers seem to have overlooked. Frank Castle is a Vietnam vet.

Ennis has shown his love for war stories, especially those set in Vietnam, many times before. "Born" brings Ennis's talent for writing real, hard-edged war stories to Captain Frank Castle's last days at war. And in this story, we find out the true nature of the man that would be The Punisher, the real drive behind his war. In the jungles of Vietnam, Frank Castle discovered that he enjoyed killing, and that he was very good at it. By the time the war was nearing it's end, he found himself dreading the return to normalcy and peace. For these reasons, he made a deal. He made a deal with something dark, and much bigger than he or any man. He would be able to continue to do what he does best, but he would have to pay a price. That price was his family. The Punisher is not who he is by necessity, but by choice.

This kind of brilliant writing and characterization is only hampered by the art, which has always been a sore point when it comes to the series. The artists have generally ranged from decent, to near-intolerable. What makes the art even more painful are the brilliant covers by Tim Bradstreet, which sport some of the most magnificently photo-realistic detail that you're ever bound to see. One can only hope that the rumors of Bradstreet doing an entire story in the future turn out to be true.

Despite the ugly visuals, "Punisher MAX" is one of the most consistently excellent books being published today, and arguably the best thing Marvel Comics is publishing as of now. The current arc, "Man of Stone" is wrapping up right now and Volume 6: "Barracuda" was released earlier this month. This book is addictive, and if you start reading you won't be able to stop. But be warned: This book is rough with a capital R. You'd be hard pressed to find a more gruesomely violent or expletive-filled book (And if you did, it would probably be something else written by Garth Ennis). It's a great read though, and if you can stomach it, it's well worth picking up.

[thee great one]

Nice.

[omega234]

I agree with all except for the art. Well...outside "Barracuda" anyway. Didn't like the art at all but thanks to the great story, it was easy to overlook. Almost oddly enough, the Punisher is not highly talked about here.

[thee great one]

The art is the awesome. I didn't like the art of Barracuda.


She was blown up by a mine? What a lame death. But still powerful with Frank staying with her.

The next issue is going to pwn.



Did anybody else read the X-men special? That was MAX good.

[E]

FINALLY got caught up on this arc.

O'Brien dead?! Noooooo!

Hiding the razor under his skin - hardcore. Holy crap. I almost puked.

Throwing the baby over the cliff - also hardcore.

This is the coolest book ever.

[thee great one]

The conclusion was very awesome.

The opening dialogue was the best in the book yet...

"Be Strong Captain, What Is There To Be Afraid Of? He's Only Death".


And Rawlins got his.

[omega234]

Rawlins should of known better than to try his little trick with the knife. I also had to respect the way the General went. I thought he might cower when the Punisher was at him but he didn't. Man of stone indeed. Just gave Mr. Castle the facts.

[ultimatedjf]

On CBR, Mark Millar said that Punisher and Ex Machina are his favorite comic book series of 2006.

[ProjectX2]

#43 rocked. You can tell Ennis is mocking Desperate Housewives with these crazy chicks.

And the end... woah.

[omega234]

Frank it seems is going to have his hands full....I'm looking forward to finding out exactly what those women did to our lady that we saw beating that man in half with her fists.

[ProjectX2]

Obviously they cut her **** off... and I'm pretty sure that's not the only thing they did. I'm more concerned with why they went to such an extreme... :shock:

[omega234]

Obviously they cut her **** off... and I'm pretty sure that's not the only thing they did. I'm more concerned with why they went to such an extreme... :shock:

The **** I know, but like you, I'm sure that's not the only thing they did either. What did this woman do and what is she going to do these women when she more than likely gets her hands on them? I wonder if even Frank will say "damn".

[thee great one]

Do we have a future type Punisher coming?


And the way he handled the kiddie ring. Hardcore.

[Bass]

This, I think, is one of the best comics I'm reading at the moment. It's just ****ing superb.

[thee great one]

Anybody picked up the first issue of the Barracuda mini? It was great.

[E]

#44 was hardcore.

The looks on the kids' faces whose parents Frank killed was creepy as I-don't-know-what. Especially the older one; he was catatonic.

I'm not sure I understand who the woman is at the end sitting at the table eavesdropping on the widows. Maybe I just need ot go back and reread the previous issue...?

[thee great one]

#44 was hardcore.

The looks on the kids' faces whose parents Frank killed was creepy as I-don't-know-what. Especially the older one; he was catatonic.

I'm not sure I understand who the woman is at the end sitting at the table eavesdropping on the widows. Maybe I just need ot go back and reread the previous issue...?

The chick with no boobs from eariler.

[Bass]

"Jenny Cesare" I believe.

This is one of the most enjoyable comics I've ever read. I love it. And the Barracuda mini is superb! It pikcs up where the Barracuda arc finishes - they explain away his death in just a sentence. I love it. ^_____^

[Victor Von Doom]

Wow.......I just got caught up with the new "Widowmaker" arc. Wow... :shock:


I still have no clue who the boob-less chick is and how she's gonna play into this.

I liked that Ennis actually went back and drew from actual past victims of Frank that we know of and not some random women hellbent on revenge. It makes it easier to connect with them and also how he's beginning to tie in past events from his series.

Now whether or not that helps or hinders the book is yet to be seen. I always liked the fact that each of the arcs were independant and a new reader could come in and pick up wherever they felt like instead of having to read "Up Is Down, Black Is White" in order to get what was behind "Man of Stone". But I guess that's neither here nor there.




Another thing I loved was how Ennis carefully separated the "2 Franks". There's always been 2 sides to Castle. There's the side that carries out the evil necessities in a straight-forward manner like taking out mob bosses with .50cal. Boom and straight to the point. Then there's the sadistic side that takes pleasure in torturing someone because they deserve it. Seeing how kills a man measures how much personal hatred is involved for him. It shows his heart and the part that makes him human.............albeit a bit twisted for his ability to do these things.

And in this difference is what the women take note of and plan to exploit.




On another Punisher note----like Moony and several others who've noted this---Ennis has crafted Frank to not have an actual origin. But instead a man formed by the horrific events in his life. In this aspect, we get actual character development that separates this incarnation of Frank from the one dimensional gun-toting killer in the past.

I've noticed thru the series that Frank was actually on the way to caring again looked to be on the road to humanity once again with O'Brien. Whether he wanted to admit it or not---he developed feelings for her. Her death hit him (which I expect will be played out in the future). So the character seemed to grow, and just when you thought it looked like he might actually stop what he's doing and could possibly have a life again---the one thing in the world he cared about was killed. Thus driving him back into the darkness.

**** me this book is orgasmic.





And the Barracuda mini is indeed flippin' amazing! Expect more from me on this in the future.

[Bass]

It's a damn fine comic. I love how you say Ennis has 'deepened' the Punisher by saying 'the focal point of his becoming the Punisher is not the death of his family', and showing that Frank has always had these tendencies.

I love it because you say he 'deepened' it - but look at what he did. He lessened it. He said, "you don't know how Frank went crazy. He's kinda always been this way."

He's LESSENED the explanation to his motivation for killing, yet you think he's DEEPENED it.

And deepened it he has, for this simple reason: YOU, the reader of the comic, now involve yourself more fully into The Punisher's frame of mind as you draw from yourself the conclusions for his drive. What made Punisher the Punisher? The death of his family? The Vietnam war? Or that incident that occurred when he was a kid?

Ennis has magnificently enriched the character by demonstrating a simple truth - one event does not make a person. There is no 'specific' reason, no sole cause, that people do the things they do for what they want.

And he understands that to involve an audience, you leave the mystery to motivations. You state clearly WHAT the characters want, but you leave their reasons for wanting it, vague.

I can't stand it when someone goes, "Oh, I kill people because I was felt up as a kid" or "I want to save the world because my friend died" or whatever.

The mystery of characters' motivations is integral. The Byronic hero is a mystery man, because, characters are not people - they're works of art. They can't stand up to scrutinity. So the mystery is needed to keep them interesting, and to draw the audience further into them.

If you explain the motivation, you not only alienate the audience (who rightly feel as if, "why am I even here?"), but you trivialise the character by boiling them down to a single event. Think about it - when is Spider-Man annoying? When he goes, "I'm Spidey because my uncle died. My uncle died and it was my fault." Get over it! "I'm Batman because my parents died. This makes me Batman. I'm sad." Get over it! They're ******* whiners, their motivation is bollocks.

However, such events can be used incredibly well, not to explain motivation, but to deepen and enrich conflicts - look at "Up is Down and Black is White" to see the use of backstory to create story and conflict. Punisher doesn't ***** about why he's Punisher. Now, while it's true, Spidey is a different character and maybe, would complain about his lot - Ennis' Punisher talks just as much as Spidey, and his thoughts are not explaining his motivation. It's counterpoint narration designed to add to a progressing, turning, story. The whining of Spidey (or Batman) halts narrative drive, stagnating the story as the character explains why he does what he does - resulting in the audience stepping out of the character and feeling for the character. But before, they were feeling WITH the character.

I find this title exhilerating to read.

[nigma]

through that whole rant you made Bass, all i could think of was BKV and why i loved his Runaways...and i agree with ya and VVD. what Ennis also does best is he provides the story from more than just one viewpoint.

you don't just see it from Franks side, you see how scared people really are of Frank and what there trying to do.

he did the same thing with Preacher, he gave you J. Custers side. and also brought you into the mind of the twisted freak he was up against that arc.

[Ninja4peace]

I have a question regarding continuity, basically Ennis wrote punisher when it was on marvel knights and now he's on it on MAX, but is it a continuation, and is Punisher MAX taking place in 616? or is it in it's own MAX verse with some of the other titles like Cage and Fury, or is it like Ennis-verse?..I'm basically asking a good place to start, I read a couple of the one shots (tyger and the end) and I love preacher so I want to get into this, just wondered if I jump in to Punisher MAX will that spoil the marvel knights run..I doubt it but I want to make sure.

[ProjectX2]

I have a question regarding continuity, basically Ennis wrote punisher when it was on marvel knights and now he's on it on MAX, but is it a continuation, and is Punisher MAX taking place in 616? or is it in it's own MAX verse with some of the other titles like Cage and Fury, or is it like Ennis-verse?..I'm basically asking a good place to start, I read a couple of the one shots (tyger and the end) and I love preacher so I want to get into this, just wondered if I jump in to Punisher MAX will that spoil the marvel knights run..I doubt it but I want to make sure.

Continuity is kind of tricky, but Punisher MAX is pretty much stand alone. It's basically Ennis's versions of characters, so it doesn't affect regular 616 continuity or whatever.

[Ice]

Continuity is kind of tricky, but Punisher MAX is pretty much stand alone. It's basically Ennis's versions of characters, so it doesn't affect regular 616 continuity or whatever.
But isn't all placed in 616, even though it stays away from what goes on everywhere else?

[ProjectX2]

But isn't all placed in 616, even though it stays away from what goes on everywhere else?

No clue. I wouldn't think so, especially since War Journal may contradict some things, and Ennis's Fury is way different.

[Ninja4peace]

And I heard Fury keeps appearing in it, even after secret war.

[Ice]

And I heard Fury keeps appearing in it, even after secret war.
He only appeared during Mother Russia that I remember off.

Of course, I could be mistaken.

[Bass]

I'm pretty sure it's like Nextwave.

It's so good, it doesn't matter how it fits to the other titles. It doesn't need them, and adding it to the other titles diminishes it somewhat.

It's the Punisher.

To quote a kid on the premier episode of the fifth (and final) season of Angel: "Dude, do you read the Punisher? He kills EVERYBODY." :lol:

[Ninja4peace]

I'm pretty sure it's like Nextwave.

It's so good, it doesn't matter how it fits to the other titles. It doesn't need them, and adding it to the other titles diminishes it somewhat.

It's the Punisher.

What about Fury MAX though...i think we can at least say it's in continuity with other MAX things Ennis wrote, I was just curious about the marvel knights stuff, but seems to have been cleared up. thanks guys

[Victor Von Doom]

What about Fury MAX though...i think we can at least say it's in continuity with other MAX things Ennis wrote, I was just curious about the marvel knights stuff, but seems to have been cleared up. thanks guys

Basically your best bet is to forget Punisher MAX's continiuity standpoint in 616 and just start with "Punisher: Born" then move onto "Vol.1 - In The Beginning".

[Bass]

What about Fury MAX though...i think we can at least say it's in continuity with other MAX things Ennis wrote, I was just curious about the marvel knights stuff, but seems to have been cleared up. thanks guys

The thing with the Marvel Knights run is that Ennis wrapped up all the loose threads and all the characters in both volumes of the Marvel Knights runs that he did. The MAX series is a 'continuation' I suppose, in that the Marvel Knights titles are 'backstory', but are, as of the moment, completely irrelevant to the current MAX arcs.

Best not to worry 'bout it none.

[Bass]

I think we all know that Punisher is going to die next issue. Sure, he gets out of these situations every six issues and kills everyone, but this time, I'm sure he's dead.

Unless Jenny Cesare, like O'Brien before her, saves his ***.

But that'll never happen. Punisher's dead.

I love this comic so much.

[Hibiki]

I think we all know that Punisher is going to die next issue. Sure, he gets out of these situations every six issues and kills everyone, but this time, I'm sure he's dead.

Unless Jenny Cesare, like O'Brien before her, saves his ***.

But that'll never happen. Punisher's dead.

I love this comic so much.

But, but, i just started reading it. The End, i read it. it's in continuity.

[nigma]

I think we all know that Punisher is going to die next issue. Sure, he gets out of these situations every six issues and kills everyone, but this time, I'm sure he's dead.

Unless Jenny Cesare, like O'Brien before her, saves his ***.

But that'll never happen. Punisher's dead.

I love this comic so much.

damn that WAR JOURNALS!!! (we gotta blame something)

[ProjectX2]

The latest issue was very good. Frank Castle FTW!

[thee great one]

I liked his massarce. That was great.


I do love this housewifes group.

[E]

Great issue. The massacre scene was cool, and I'm amused that the Widows seem to have baited Frank better than anyone else.

Of course he's going to slaughter them anyways o it doesn't make much difference.

I suppose that brings up a question about this book...when does "Frank Castle slaughters enemy" get old as a plot? Does it no matter as long as the story leading up to it is good?

[Bass]

We want him to kill everyone. It gets tired when we don't care about him getting them. Ennis has to create incredibly vile/engaging villains that we WANT to see Frank kill. If he does that, we'll keep picking it up.

[Victor Von Doom]

I suppose that brings up a question about this book...when does "Frank Castle slaughters enemy" get old as a plot?

But that's the basis of the character. It's what he does. Nobody says "I'm tired of seeing Spidey swinging thru the air and webbing up bad guys." do they?

But I guess you have a point. If we all know what he's gonna do....why continue to read? I think it's how he's gonna do it, is what intrigues us. When he shoots useless thugs...who cares? But when we see him gut a man or light a man on fire....that's what gives us the erection. Err---umm.....ahem. :shifty:



So yeah...it's all about how.



After rereading this arc so far....I think Frank knows it's a trap. I don't think the women have tricked him at all. I think maybe at first he might've believed them....but then the girl seemed so insistent and everything seemed too easy that now he knows he's being set up.

And with this being a group of women...we're not gonna get the soft side of Frank Justice. He's gonna view them just like the men and it's gonna get ugly.

[Ninja4peace]

Ok I just read the last few arcs. A coupla things.

Tying the guys intestines round the tree branches has gotta be one of the sickest things i've seen al year. I love it. Slavers is my best arc..or maybe mother russia...that one did have an awsome ending

And who was the girl Jen Cooke. She met the punisher and said something about the subway tunnels that she saw..but didn't tell the police. I'm guessing this is from the Marvel Knights series.

And in Man of Stone, near the start I didn't quite understand why the British were in there and what they wanted with O'Brien.

But I really love the series. I like how it seems these arcs last few weeks but are spaced about 6 months apart so It kinda keeps real time. and he always shouts back to the previous one a bit like "oh yeah I pissed off some of the right people and got this police anti-vigilante initiative thing".

I think the weakest arc has probably been Kitchen Irish..but even that was a bit of fun. and had really terrifying realistic villains.

There's just so many awsome lines in it like "they put the sights on top for a reason"

Love it

[Bass]

And who was the girl Jen Cooke. She met the punisher and said something about the subway tunnels that she saw..but didn't tell the police. I'm guessing this is from the Marvel Knights series.

Yeah, basically she stumbled across this guy in the sewers who killed homeless people and made a mountain out of their corpses and slept underneath it. The Punisher was in the sewers and so they met up. It wasn't a particularly good story, so you're not missing much. Slavers is much better.


And in Man of Stone, near the start I didn't quite understand why the British were in there and what they wanted with O'Brien.

I'm pretty sure that's explained in the issue. O'Brien first appears in the first MAX arc and Yorkie appears for one issue in the Marvel Knights series. So it's all there.


But I really love the series. I like how it seems these arcs last few weeks but are spaced about 6 months apart so It kinda keeps real time. and he always shouts back to the previous one a bit like "oh yeah I pissed off some of the right people and got this police anti-vigilante initiative thing".

The continuity is really something. At the moment we've got Punisher squaring off against the widows of Mafia capos he's killed in "Widowmaker". I reckon the next arc might see the return of Barracuda. :D


There's just so many awsome lines in it like "they put the sights on top for a reason"
Love it

It's a great comic. :rockon:

[thee great one]

Another great issue. That new chick is pretty hardcore.

[Ninja4peace]

Thanks Bass. I'll probably get round to reading the MK Punisher one day. I mean yeah it's a pretty self contained series. so I'm guessing there's only a few characters from before (Micro, Jen cooke, Fury and Yorkie) and They're all pretty much explained anyway.

Yeah I think I read somewhere that the barracuda mini is gonna lead up to the arc that starts with issue 50 and the widowmaker arc is 7 issues long for a change.

[omega234]

Yeah I think I read somewhere that the barracuda mini is gonna lead up to the arc that starts with issue 50 and the widowmaker arc is 7 issues long for a change.

This is true. That sick bastard Barracuda is going to give the Punisher a real difficult time second time around too.

[Bass]

Thanks Bass. I'll probably get round to reading the MK Punisher one day. I mean yeah it's a pretty self contained series. so I'm guessing there's only a few characters from before (Micro, Jen cooke, Fury and Yorkie) and They're all pretty much explained anyway.

Honestly? As much fun as the Marvel Knights are... I reread his Marvel Knights recently after re-reading all the MAX arcs and I have to say, they pale in comparison. Garth Ennis' work has matured so much that his non-MAX Punisher stories seem almost childish in comparison. You'll probably enjoy the non-MAX stuff, but what's coming out now is the best he's done. Which is the way it should be. This title rocks so much.


Yeah I think I read somewhere that the barracuda mini is gonna lead up to the arc that starts with issue 50 and the widowmaker arc is 7 issues long for a change.

I love Barracuda. I'm just worried that his next appearance will be his last!

(This was the problem with Punisher vs Bullseye - at most, only one of them should've gotten out alive, as much as it pains me to say.)

[Ninja4peace]

I just re-read The Tyger and The Cell, after getting up to date. I think these are excellent. The Cell is just scarey like the image of the guy holding two heads and frank just saying "I can start a riot; I can get out....I'm gonna start killing now"..So F*ing Awsome. And I like how the Tyger..I'm guessing it's his first mission...and frank says "someone will do some digging...vietnam...then they'll find a cluster**** called firebase valley forge"..i.e. the end of Born...I'm so getting my own copy of first to last..as well as various others

[Bass]

Hell yes. The Cell was brilliant. The Tyger - Garth Ennis has just enriched this second-tier character to a point he almost doesn't deserve. It's such a joy to read.

[thee great one]

Have you read The End yet?

Dude that was some cold ****.

[Ninja4peace]

I think I almost prefer punisher to Preacher in a way..well...maybe...I'll explain why. there's that bit in salvation where there's that ex-nazi guy who's started a new life and he's not hurting anyone and seems an alright guy..he was even gonna make jesse's mom happy. And Jesse finds out and gives him a noose and tells him to hang himself...didn't quite sit well with me...

..see if the Punisher ever does anything like that..it's ok cuz he's the punisher...he's not meant to be right.. his code of ethics is just if you're a killer or rapist or slaver or whatever he's gonna killl you, it's not right but it makes sense to him. I might not agree sometimes (although i think so far i have done) but he's not supposed to be a "hero" he's just supposed to be a character..and he definitely is.

[Bass]

It's the whole 'guilty pleasure' thing. If Punisher was a real person, we'd probably find him repugnant. But he's not real, so it's cathartic. Garth Ennis makes sure the bad guys are really deserving of being killed, so we want Punisher to kill these guys. The question of morality in regards to real life are irrelevant because we know this is essentially, a western. Let's shoot up the bad guys! :D

[Random]

Garth Ennis makes sure the bad guys are really deserving of being killed, so we want Punisher to kill these guys. The question of morality in regards to real life are irrelevant because we know this is essentially, a western. Let's shoot up the bad guys! :D

Thats how I always picture the Punisher, not just a guy who goes around killing criminals, but only goes after the ones the law wont or cant touch, he's trying to catch the holes in the system.

[Ninja4peace]

Ok so maybe what I'm saying is..ennis makes me hate all the villains in Punisher,, but that ex-nazi guy in Preacher didn't seem at all evil and I didn't think what Jesse did was not only not right, but just not Needed. Yeah I like that explanation of the punisher catching the criminals the law can't.

[Ultimates]

Tell that to a holocaust survivor :wink:

http://www.readwritethink.org/lesson_images/lesson416/holocaust-victim.jpg

[Ninja4peace]

Ok yeah delicate subject. And I haven't read preacher for a while so my memory might not be what it was. I can't remember exactly what it was that the guy turned out to have done (I didn't think it was too much seeing as how he knew it was all horribly wrong and tried to get out of germany as soon as possible), but I thought jesse would've been more forgiving like with arseface and hoover when they tried to kill him, he says "never mind about it you're a good person you didn't mean it" or whatever.
Generally I think it was difficult for people both sides of the war, both sides took casualties, but It's also pretty bad if you're fighting for something you know is wrong because if you don't they'll kill you..you think the right thing is still just to fight them even if it means you'll die and someone else will take your place..yes that's the right thing to do, but it's not always gonna be easy. I'm just glad it all happened before my lifetime and that Hitler didn't win. I'm not gonna say anymore on the subject being that this is thread is about punisher.

[Victor Von Doom]

That new chick is pretty hardcore.

It gets even more hardcorerer....

http://img264.imageshack.us/img264/6829/pun49hk1.jpg




Ennis...I love you.

[Ninja4peace]

What!!!...Bet she did that cuz he's his idol. I'm sure frank has nothing to do with it and he'll be pissed when he finds out.

[Victor Von Doom]

What!!!...Bet she did that cuz he's his idol. I'm sure frank has nothing to do with it and he'll be pissed when he finds out.

I'm thinking its more of a false-advertisement. More than likely---I'll bet Frank won't be able to or chooses not to kill these women....but she does it instead.

She'll wanna play sidekick to Frank and he won't have it.



I'm thinking it'll end with either him killing her because she killed those women.....or him letting her go off into the world alone.

[Bass]

It gets even more hardcorerer....

http://img264.imageshack.us/img264/6829/pun49hk1.jpg

Ennis...I love you.

:rockon:

[Ninja4peace]

I'm sure Frank has killed women before...thinks....surely...hmmmm

[Victor Von Doom]

I'm sure Frank has killed women before...thinks....surely...hmmmm

Well I know he killed that woman involved in the slave ring. But normally he doesn't kill women.

[Ninja4peace]

Oh yeah and the kiddie **** mum at the start of this current arc. And I know there were evil women like the incestious mafia aunt Teresa ..god she was scarey..(up is down arc i think)

[Gideon Stargrave]

Well I know he killed that woman involved in the slave ring. But normally he doesn't kill women.

He fed Ma Gnucci to Polar Bears. And then he lit a house on fire with her still in it. And when she jumped out, he kicked her back in.

[Victor Von Doom]

He fed Ma Gnucci to Polar Bears. And then he lit a house on fire with her still in it. And when she jumped out, he kicked her back in.

I think you're missing the overall point.

[Gideon Stargrave]

I think you're missing the overall point.

That he feeds old women to polar bears?

[Ninja4peace]

That he feeds old women to polar bears?

The Punishess

[Victor Von Doom]

I read Barracuda#4 today. It was the first thing I read as soon as I picked up my weekly purchases.


MORE! I NEED MORE! I LOVE YOU ENNIS! HAVE MY CHUBBY MULATTO BABIES! TEACH THEM TO WRITE THIS STUFF SO THAT THEY MAY READ IT TO ME IN MY OLD AGE! MORE! I NEED MORE BARRACUDA LIKE GOLLUM NEEDS THE PRECIOUS!


Seriously....anyone who read Punisher MAX needs to be reading this! And the cover.....totally misleading.

[Ninja4peace]

I think Fifty is a cool character. Yeah I'm surprised at how good this mini is turning out..i thought it was just gonna be a bit of Ennis on auto-pilot, but it's another great story with half a dozen warring factions. Love it

[olavthehairy]

A fiendish shop keeper held out a copy of "Slavers" and said "give it a try".

3 months later I have picked up every single bit of Punisher Max ever published, pimped it to every friend and they have reacted the same.

Read comics because you want to see the bad guys taught a lesson?
Then thank God for Garth Ennis.

Ennis + Punisher MAX = Grown Up Comic Heaven.

I liked Preacher, loved Fury Max and absolutely coveted War Stories, but Punisher MAX is the one.

Hah, just read Troubled Souls and For A Few Troubles More. Helluva change in a couple of decades.

[thee great one]

After reading the new issue of Barracuda,

I want a mini set in the past with a meeting between the Russian and Barrauda.

[Bass]

Does anyone else kinda hope that Barracuda gets his own title? While I'm looking SO forward to what Barracuda has in store for Punisher and why he needs all that money and power (#50 anyone?) I also don't want him to do so because... dammit. Punisher's got to kill him. I want him to kill him, but I also want Barrcuda to live... DAMN YOU ENNIS!

Also, regarding Widowmaker, I'm thinking that Jenny's return to Frank after killing her nemeses will either be to put them both out of their misery, or to have Frank kill her. Or maybe have sex. Something's going on with Jenny. I really don't know what, but there's something here. She might turn out to be a recurring character in the comic. And then there's that cop... #49's also the seventh-part of Widowmaker instead of the usual six, and of course the next issue is #50... something... something particularly profound is about to happen.

On another note, I just saw an episode of Shark today in which the antagonist, a serial killer, gets away with six particularly horrific murders. It was at this moment I prayed for The Punisher. I want a TV show of the Punisher. One six-issue arc = Two episodes. The Punisher is so unbelievably cathartic. It's like 300, except... 299 less and set in the present day. And more different.

I really want a The Punisher TV show. From HBO. Or at least, a good film. Seriously, if I was in anyway capable of it, I'd just hire Garth Ennis to write the Punisher film. His MAX work is just incredible.

[Ninja4peace]

Also, regarding Widowmaker, I'm thinking that Jenny's return to Frank after killing her nemeses will either be to put them both out of their misery, or to have Frank kill her. Or maybe have sex. Something's going on with Jenny. I really don't know what, but there's something here. She might turn out to be a recurring character in the comic. And then there's that cop... #49's also the seventh-part of Widowmaker instead of the usual six, and of course the next issue is #50... something... something particularly profound is about to happen.

I think Barracuda will kill Jenny in issue 50. Theres something particularly profound.

I don't want Barracuda to die, now that the character has been built so much. And it's a cool character, i don't want him to just get killed. C'mon he's like the anti-punisher he has to exist

[Bass]

Totally. He's so much better than Jigsaw.

[Joe Kalicki]

Ninja4Peace!

[Victor Von Doom]

Does anyone else kinda hope that Barracuda gets his own title? While I'm looking SO forward to what Barracuda has in store for Punisher and why he needs all that money and power (#50 anyone?) I also don't want him to do so because... dammit. Punisher's got to kill him. I want him to kill him, but I also want Barrcuda to live... DAMN YOU ENNIS!

Also, regarding Widowmaker, I'm thinking that Jenny's return to Frank after killing her nemeses will either be to put them both out of their misery, or to have Frank kill her. Or maybe have sex. Something's going on with Jenny. I really don't know what, but there's something here. She might turn out to be a recurring character in the comic. And then there's that cop... #49's also the seventh-part of Widowmaker instead of the usual six, and of course the next issue is #50... something... something particularly profound is about to happen.

On another note, I just saw an episode of Shark today in which the antagonist, a serial killer, gets away with six particularly horrific murders. It was at this moment I prayed for The Punisher. I want a TV show of the Punisher. One six-issue arc = Two episodes. The Punisher is so unbelievably cathartic. It's like 300, except... 299 less and set in the present day. And more different.

I really want a The Punisher TV show. From HBO. Or at least, a good film. Seriously, if I was in anyway capable of it, I'd just hire Garth Ennis to write the Punisher film. His MAX work is just incredible.


I hate following Bass' posts. Anytime you think you have something to add...he's alread said it. And by the time you think of getting to something profound to add to the post....your fingers get tired.

Ugh.


Anyways....I'm thinking that Jenny will go and try to kill the women....but she'll slip up and need some help. Despite that Frank appeared to sit this one out---he'll have shadowed her instead. He'll help out---they'll both live...and meet up at Jenny's place later. Where she'll ask Frank to kill her. Mostly because she has nothing left to live for and doesn't want to end up with Frank's life. Frank will kill her outta compassion.

The cop is gonna get killed. I dont know why...but I think that he'll figure this mystery out and get killed by one of the widows.

I honestly believe Ennis is saving Cuda for the next arc altogether. No guest spot here. And I seriously want Cuda to stay alive. He needs to live. He just needs to be that character that always ends up coming back. And then after his 4th or 5th appearance.....kill him off in the most grandest way possible.






And as far as a show...seeing as how the average HBO show's seasons consist of 12-13 epsiodes---I'm thinking that you could just stretch out each issue to fill an hour's worth of show. Extra dialogue here....a random mugging thwart with voice overs for internal monologue and thoughts....expand on the villains' side a bit. You could easily fit one issue to a whole show. And the whole season could consist of 2 arcs. The biggest problem I see is possibly tying each arc together to get the real impact of the season finale. Or the season finale could just consist of the arc conclusion and let it be that.

And have one episode each season devoted to Ennis' one-shots.

I'm still working on how Born would fit into the show.

[Iceshadow]

How many trades of this series is out? I'll probably pick it up later this year after I've caught up up on some of my other trades.

[Bass]

Anyways....I'm thinking that Jenny will go and try to kill the women....but she'll slip up and need some help. Despite that Frank appeared to sit this one out---he'll have shadowed her instead. He'll help out---they'll both live...and meet up at Jenny's place later. Where she'll ask Frank to kill her. Mostly because she has nothing left to live for and doesn't want to end up with Frank's life. Frank will kill her outta compassion.

I don't think it's compassion. She willingly stayed with a man she knew committed awful crimes. Part of me thinks that Frank will say, "Run". If she doesn't... blam.


The cop is gonna get killed. I dont know why...but I think that he'll figure this mystery out and get killed by one of the widows.

He might become the new Soap!


I honestly believe Ennis is saving Cuda for the next arc altogether. No guest spot here. And I seriously want Cuda to stay alive. He needs to live. He just needs to be that character that always ends up coming back. And then after his 4th or 5th appearance.....kill him off in the most grandest way possible.

I agree - I doubt 'cuda's involved in Widowmaker in anyway. But I don't know about Barracuda coming back again and again. Cavella, Zhakarov, Rawlins - none of them lasted more than two rounds. I don't think Barracuda will either (but then, none of them got their own minis...) - I'd love to know what Ennis has planned.


And as far as a show...seeing as how the average HBO show's seasons consist of 12-13 epsiodes---I'm thinking that you could just stretch out each issue to fill an hour's worth of show. Extra dialogue here....a random mugging thwart with voice overs for internal monologue and thoughts....expand on the villains' side a bit. You could easily fit one issue to a whole show. And the whole season could consist of 2 arcs. The biggest problem I see is possibly tying each arc together to get the real impact of the season finale. Or the season finale could just consist of the arc conclusion and let it be that.

And have one episode each season devoted to Ennis' one-shots.

I'm still working on how Born would fit into the show.

I gotta disagree. I think if they did a Columbo type of show which is about 75-90 minutes long, you could fit an entire arc in that, and if you did, that show would be a HUGE hit. Sure, you could stretch it as you say, but then it'll be too much like many other shows around today. You'd have to add things that are either inconsequential or not really part of what makes Ennis' Punisher so great and it would only slow the pace. I mean, Ennis' work is paced so wonderfully, you could take six issues (140 pages) and make that an incredibly well-paced, action adventure for tv.

As for Born - it doesn't go in the show. Born is really good, but it adds an element of the supernatural that isn't part of the series proper. It's never brought up (maybe #50 will bring it up but I doubt it). You wouldn't want to place it into the show - first, there isn't enough to make a full movie about or feature-length super special episode, and secondly, from a production stand point, it would probably be vastly uneconomical as you'd have to recreate 'Nam, get loads of extras and what not, for just one storyline, unlike the rest of the show which is set in the Big Apple.

... I want my Punisher TV.

[ProjectX2]

A Punisher MAX series would rule. I think it'd work best if they did an arc = 2 episodes (same with a Fables TV series, actually), however, I'd like it if they did original plots as well.

I just want Punisher killing things on TV. It would be awesome.

[Ninja4peace]

I think if they were transferring the arcs directly over to tv, they'd be really heavily censored. I'm thinking in the 2nd or 3rd arc where they're in the russian missile silo for most of the arc just killing as loads of soldiers get sent to their deaths. If they showed that on TV they'd be so much backlash. That's why i'd rathner if they were made into live-action, I'd rather they did it as films. Fitting a story arc to each film. I generally feel 6 issues is about the length of a film, especially if it reads cinematically. (I don't know how they're gonna condense 12 solid 9-grid issues of watchmen to 2/3 hours).

If they did a punisher TV series, I'd rather they kept the coat and everything. But it just wouldn't be the punisher if they didn't keep the death count up, but if they did people would complain. I don't know how they'd do it.

Bass said something about supernaturalness in born. I'd never thought about it , I'm guessing its the voice that talks in black,, (and the bit where the narrator just gets chucked on a plane was a bit wierd, i think that's more metaphorical than supernatural). For the most part of Born i figured the voice was almost like franks split personality, his berserker rage letting go into pure carnage. But then there's the line at the end about I'm gonna kill your family. But it doesn't explicitly say that, i think it just says now you just need a little push (and as the reader we all know what that's gonna be).

I wouldn't think it's necessarily supernatural, maybe Ennis thought he could go either way, I think it was touched on briefly with Micro in the first arc but mostly i think it's something he wrote that before he knew exactly what punisher Max was gonna be like. He wouldn't at this point pull up something from what he wrote 4/5 years ago. (Well there was that "sniper inceident" from his second tour).

[Bass]

I think if they were transferring the arcs directly over to tv, they'd be really heavily censored.

Not on HBO. :D

It'd only be censored if they stupidly thought the sow should be aimed at teenagers and shown at 9pm... which would probably happen. :(


Bass said something about supernaturalness in born. I'd never thought about it , I'm guessing its the voice that talks in black,, (and the bit where the narrator just gets chucked on a plane was a bit wierd, i think that's more metaphorical than supernatural). For the most part of Born i figured the voice was almost like franks split personality, his berserker rage letting go into pure carnage. But then there's the line at the end about I'm gonna kill your family. But it doesn't explicitly say that, i think it just says now you just need a little push (and as the reader we all know what that's gonna be).

I wouldn't think it's necessarily supernatural, maybe Ennis thought he could go either way, I think it was touched on briefly with Micro in the first arc but mostly i think it's something he wrote that before he knew exactly what punisher Max was gonna be like. He wouldn't at this point pull up something from what he wrote 4/5 years ago. (Well there was that "sniper inceident" from his second tour).

There's a line from the voice that says it's been doing this (creating 'Punishers') for a long time. There's an implication something has given Frank the resolve to Punish. Which was cool for Born. The ambiguity turned it into an almost horror war story. Pretty cool. But I'm very happy that it's not being delved in to or being brought up in the series proper. I don't think you want that element in the series for a variety of reasons.

[Victor Von Doom]

I gotta disagree. I think if they did a Columbo type of show which is about 75-90 minutes long, you could fit an entire arc in that, and if you did, that show would be a HUGE hit. Sure, you could stretch it as you say, but then it'll be too much like many other shows around today. You'd have to add things that are either inconsequential or not really part of what makes Ennis' Punisher so great and it would only slow the pace. I mean, Ennis' work is paced so wonderfully, you could take six issues (140 pages) and make that an incredibly well-paced, action adventure for tv.


I don't know man. I still gotta disagree. With all the extra stuff that goes into making a show and the extra couple of seconds or minutes it takes to go from panel to panel in the comics could be used with small extra stuff that could fill up the 50 minutes HBO uses for their shows.

At least if I was making the show I know I could.

All the "fluff" I'm adding wouldn't detract from the story at all. I'm basing the show on the pacing style of Deadwood and The Sopranos. It would all work out.


Unless your show was one of the few HBO shows that was just a 30 minute series.



It all works out in my head.

[Bass]

All the "fluff" I'm adding wouldn't detract from the story at all. I'm basing the show on the pacing style of Deadwood and The Sopranos. It would all work out.

Yeah, I'm not because it ain't Sopranos or Deadwood. It's Punisher. Super-death western! Rarrgh! :D

[Victor Von Doom]

Yeah, I'm not because it ain't Sopranos or Deadwood. It's Punisher. Super-death western! Rarrgh! :D

I don't want it to be another Deadwood/Soprans...I'm likening the pace to it.

I.........nevermind.





Anyways I'm sad that I must almost another 30 days to get my Barracuda finale and more Punisher MAX. Tear. :sad:

[Bass]

I don't want it to be another Deadwood/Soprans...I'm likening the pace to it.

I know, but even the pace is unlike those shows! Those shows deal with personal and inner conflicts, but Punisher is all about the gunishment!


Anyways I'm sad that I must almost another 30 days to get my Barracuda finale and more Punisher MAX. Tear. :sad:

Hold me.

[Ninja4peace]

I know, but even the pace is unlike those shows! Those shows deal with personal and inner conflicts, but Punisher is all about the gunishment!

BRASSEYE!! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dRZo8CHsgp8)

[Bass]

*dances*

YAY! Someone got it! :D

[Ice]

Punisher MAX Annual #1!! :rockon:


PUNISHER MAX ANNUAL #1
The Story: THE HUNTED
Award-winning TV scribe Mike Benson (Entourage) and Laurence Campbell (WOLVERINE) you a pulse-pounding, self-contained story!
Eddie Gands is the sole survivor of Tommy “Mad Dog” Schultz’s gang. The Punisher cut through them like a chainsaw through butter, and now Eddie’s on the wind, traveling through the dark underbelly of the city in a desperate attempt to evade the crosshairs of the Punisher’s rifle. His only hope? An intricate web of back-alley connections that just might give Eddie home court advantage over his pursuer. That is, unless the Punisher is playing an entirely different game.
48 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

[Bass]

I dunno. It's not Garth Ennis. I'm skeptical of any Punisher without Ennis. BUT, it is MAX, so I'll definately give it a look over.

[ourchair]

Punisher MAX Annual #1!! :rockon:Is this Mike Benson's first comics gig? Because hopefully he isn't one of those TV writers who suck at comics, like Daniel Knauf.

[Victor Von Doom]

I dunno. It's not Garth Ennis. I'm skeptical of any Punisher without Ennis. BUT, it is MAX, so I'll definately give it a look over.

Ditto.

[Ice]

I dunno. It's not Garth Ennis. I'm skeptical of any Punisher without Ennis. BUT, it is MAX, so I'll definately give it a look over.
I'm just happy it got an annual.

[ProjectX2]

The annual should have been done by Ennis and Bradstreet.

[Ice]

The annual should have been done by Ennis and Bradstreet.
Seriously. Much better team.

[moonmaster]

Does anyone else kinda hope that Barracuda gets his own title? While I'm looking SO forward to what Barracuda has in store for Punisher and why he needs all that money and power (#50 anyone?) I also don't want him to do so because... dammit. Punisher's got to kill him. I want him to kill him, but I also want Barrcuda to live... DAMN YOU ENNIS!

Also, regarding Widowmaker, I'm thinking that Jenny's return to Frank after killing her nemeses will either be to put them both out of their misery, or to have Frank kill her. Or maybe have sex. Something's going on with Jenny. I really don't know what, but there's something here. She might turn out to be a recurring character in the comic. And then there's that cop... #49's also the seventh-part of Widowmaker instead of the usual six, and of course the next issue is #50... something... something particularly profound is about to happen.

On another note, I just saw an episode of Shark today in which the antagonist, a serial killer, gets away with six particularly horrific murders. It was at this moment I prayed for The Punisher. I want a TV show of the Punisher. One six-issue arc = Two episodes. The Punisher is so unbelievably cathartic. It's like 300, except... 299 less and set in the present day. And more different.

I really want a The Punisher TV show. From HBO. Or at least, a good film. Seriously, if I was in anyway capable of it, I'd just hire Garth Ennis to write the Punisher film. His MAX work is just incredible.
How come I never responded to this?

:rockon: I've been talking about a Punisher MAX show on HBO for ages.

I'd do one arc an episode, which I think would be totally acheivable. Add in some new stories (possibly written by Ennis, if he's got the time), and adapt the various one-shots and you've got at least two or three seasons of excellent television.

I gotta disagree. I think if they did a Columbo type of show which is about 75-90 minutes long, you could fit an entire arc in that, and if you did, that show would be a HUGE hit. Sure, you could stretch it as you say, but then it'll be too much like many other shows around today. You'd have to add things that are either inconsequential or not really part of what makes Ennis' Punisher so great and it would only slow the pace. I mean, Ennis' work is paced so wonderfully, you could take six issues (140 pages) and make that an incredibly well-paced, action adventure for tv.

As for Born - it doesn't go in the show. Born is really good, but it adds an element of the supernatural that isn't part of the series proper. It's never brought up (maybe #50 will bring it up but I doubt it). You wouldn't want to place it into the show - first, there isn't enough to make a full movie about or feature-length super special episode, and secondly, from a production stand point, it would probably be vastly uneconomical as you'd have to recreate 'Nam, get loads of extras and what not, for just one storyline, unlike the rest of the show which is set in the Big Apple.

... I want my Punisher TV.
If they did a Punisher MAX show and didn't do a BORN episode, I'd go to Hollywood and tie them to a tree with their own intestines. I don't care how expensive/difficult it would be.

I gotsta have it.

[Ninja4peace]

Just so long as Born wasn't done like the prequel episode in prison break series one, which was completely unneeded and told us nothing we didn't know. If it were more like the Heroes "6 months ago" episode, where we weren't really sure what was going on at the start. I think Born could be done really well, but it needs to be done seriously and in quite a dark way. Like Jacobs ladder the film.

[Ice]

Lying in the Gutters reports:



"From the solicitation to "Punisher" #51. "It's the grudge match of the century. In this corner, the 6'4", 220-pound force of nature known as the Punisher . . . And in this corner, the 6' 6", 300-pound engine of destruction know as Barracuda . . . The prize? A 7-pound, 10-ounce bundle of joy."

Whose bundle of joy? I understand the Punisher is a daddy again. Kevlar diapers? "