Only a Forty-Five and Eight Bullets: Enter the New Punisher
Written: May 08 '03 (Updated May 09 '03)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: The Punisher is back...and with more guns.
Cons: Some of the dialogue and drawings are suboptimal.
The Bottom Line: Good graphic novel. Excellent for fans or people just starting. The Punisher is scary-cool and fun to read. Nearly enjoyable to the last page...
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| avepythagoras's Full Review: Garth Ennis - The Punisher: Confederacy of Dunces |
First Thoughts:
I have a forty-five. He has a submachine gun. My night goes downhill from there.
I figured with the new comic book-to-film craze it was time to return to my passions of early adulthood and read some comics. I haven't read a comic book in about six or seven years, and I figured it was about time I enjoyed some brainless fun. Maybe I just didn't know what to do with my tax-return? A wad full of cash burning a gapping whole in my pocket. Or maybe the demons made me do it, those damn maniacal voices, suggesting all sorts of crazy ideas, like inventing a cloned army of Henry Kissingers to take over the world and supplant the crank-case Rael as supreme ruler of the known universe. I've always wanted my own galaxy...but I digress.
Anyways, before I had a chance to run down to the local comic book shop, I was preempted and given a copy of The Punisher: Welcome Back Frank by a drinking buddy of mine, who thought it was an ample college graduation gift. Apparently, a few nights back, we talked for a few hours about the new X-men movie, and how much we enjoyed reading comics when we were younger, you know, one of those warm bouts of nostalgia, a longing for our lost, youth-like innocence and the care-free no worries attitude of yore. What better way to celebrate my four-year intellectual achievement than by reading comics, he thought? It seems fate works in mysterious ways. So, already possessed by a maniacal, demon-controlled craving for comic books, I was more than happy, well probably ecstatic, to read this particular collection of the new Punisher Series.
I always liked the Punisher as a comic book character. Mostly because, unlike majority of the other superheroes, he doesn't rely on some fated superpower, some freakish overdose of chemical-X, or some unknown genetic mutation. He has only his wits, his guns and his psychotic desire to inflict copious amounts of pain upon a world corrupted by the tyranny and villainy of unjust men. The Punisher is a cold, dark and angry anti-hero, the vigilante king, and the original 'Boon-dock saint'--we've all seen the movie--, but without all the religious hog-wash. Frank Castle, a famed Vietnam commando, and all round bad-a@@, goes postal upon the seedy New York underbelly after his wife and child are brutally murdered gang-land style. Thus, Frank, armed with hatred and a cold vendetta, moved to clean the streets, one dead mafia soul at a time.
I'm not sure how the old series ended, but from what I garner, The Punisher was either killed, or had some religious experience, wherein he was taken to heaven and given the chance to live the life he always wanted... wife and child, house with white picket fence...but the angel of death within Frank just couldn't rest. And he gave up on heavenly happiness and was cast out, his cold-heart frozen completely. Besides an eternity of praise and worship just couldn't cut it, I mean there are no Uzis or 45s in Heaven, after all, there was still work to be done...
The Story is now under new Management.
Punisher has been given a new look, a new feel, and a new story. Hot from the success of the Preacher Series, Garth Ennis and Steve Dillon rework the classic Punisher into a new, Hollywood style gun slinging mafioso blood-fest. The body count rises with each page, as Frank Castle returns to bring street justice back to the 'Hood. This twelve issue collection chronicles Frank's return to New York and his war against the Gnucci family and its Dona, Ma Gnucci. The Crime bosses of New York have grown soft, ripe for open season. But while Frank is out playing, copy-cat vigilantes begin to work the city over, killing criminals in the name of different causes and ideologies, and generally confusing public opinion. As New York holds it breath, N.Y.P.D creates a hopelessly worthless task-force with the intent of bringing the Punisher down--the only problem, no one wants the Punisher caught. Surrounded by a world of drastically-increasing violence, Frank grabs hold of his trusty Uzi and descends into the maelstrom. When all is said and done, will Frank be the last man standing? Things only get worse, as Ma Gnucci unleashes the mindless psychopathic strongman known only as 'The Russian', could this battle be Frank's last? Does the Punisher have what it takes to go all the way and bring the Gnucci family to its knees?
What I Think:
Now all I have to do is dig these bullets out of myself...not bleed to death...sew up the holes and heal.
Despite the voices in my head telling me to give this review five stars, I won't. So, screw them. Punisher is very enjoyable comic book, I did have a few problems. God, though, I do love the cover, very smooth, very well done, makes me happy to see a sleek and savvy Frank Castle wielding a mammoth PSG-1 sniper rifle. In this instance, it is worth judging this book by its cover. But, not entirely. The first half of the book is great, the art is crisp and well done. The images flow with the text, and move the story. But by chapter 8, things get bad. The art and writing seems to slacken a bit, and the story begins to drag. As the Punisher slowly whittles the Gnucci family arsenal into extinction, things just get a little tiresome. So Ennis and Dillon bring in 'The Russian,' a hulking brute of a psychopath who opens the proverbial can of brutal Sergeant Slaughter style whoop-a@@. I guess they wanted to heighten the tension, give the Punisher a dose of his own medicine. But it just comes off second rate. Especially when the brute of a pinko starts to talk about his favorite comics...nothing like a little bit of the old Marvel meta-promotion. It’s just a little over the top is all.
Ennis invents some rather interesting ways to kill a person and part of the fun is watching an out-gunned and desperate Punisher taunt a pack of polar bears into a murderous mafia mauling frenzy. Or tripping a very obsequiously fat fellow on top of someone, in order to smother them in a sea of human fat. Some of the methods are vile, and look quite painful. But fun all the same. Thank god it’s only a comic book...
If you are into comics and haven't yet made it around to reading the Punisher, I would recommend it. A very fine specimen. I had a fun time reading it. It is the best place to start reading the Punisher, if only to prepare for the movie next summer. Good comic book, good graphic novel. And while it cost about $25, I say it’s worth it. Made me nostalgic for the glorious days of yesteryear, getting in trouble in school for reading comics instead of history, having the teacher confiscate my precious comic and promptly throw it away. God I hated it when she did that...that was my allowance she was throwing away.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
avepythagoras
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Location: Gainesville, FL
Reviews written: 38
Trusted by: 14 members
About Me:
Should be back soon, maybe...
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