Miscellaneous Comments:    14 November 1999

    This is a superb start to things.

    A prison story.

    Frank is behind bars.

    And out for revenge.

    Somebody drugged him (last time he was in) and he wants to get even. The trail leads to a crime boss and from there to an even bigger crime boss. One who is planning to make an escape real soon. Unless The Punisher can stop him.

    As I said, this is a superb start to things.

    Type of Series: Action-Adventure.

    Similar Comics: I don't know of any. Daredevil is a bit like it, I suppose.

    Typical Issue: Frank Castle (The Punisher) sets his sights on some bad guy, trails them and (eventually) blows them away.

    Strengths: Good writing and a likeable hero.

    Weaknesses: Repetition.

    Plotting: Top notch.

    Logic: Everything in this issue is perfectly reasoned out.

    Originality: The Punisher is your typical vigilante hero.

    Ending: Excellent. The various bad guys have been dispatched, The Punisher is back in business (with a powerful secret group behind him) and - somewhere out in the world - somebody has just put out a hit on him. Cool.

    Re-Readability: This is an extremely re-readable issue. A succession of excellent action set-pieces, one after the other. The bulk of the story is a long chase. The break out is in progress and Frank Castle is out to stop it. It's thrilling stuff, no matter how many times you read it.

    Impressive Characters: Frank Castle. Shirtless and striding through the chaos, he comes across as very heroic.

    Impressive Writers: All praise is due to Steven Grant who does a fantastic job.

    Impressive Artists: Mike Zeck draws a great Punisher (although not my favourite version of Mr. Castle, it is still a great one).

    Impressive Dialogue: "I am like the hurricane. There's calm in my eye. And I'd like to blow them all away…"

    Impressive Scenes: Several.

    The first scene. The entrance of The Punisher. First we see the prisoners talking about him. In awe. Then, striding down the corridor… We see him… The Punisher.

    The scene where he cell mate tries to get tough with him is also impressive. Corny and cliched, yes, but damn impressive as Frank mops the floor with the hapless goon and tells him the way things are gonna be.

    The battle with Jigsaw. Frank appears helpless as his nemesis closes in with a broken bottle. But Frank isn't helpless. He easily breaks loose and starts to crush the bottle inside Jigsaw's hand. Awesome.

    And the entire final sequence of scenes is impressive, as Frank chases and - ultimately - brings down the escaping prisoners.

    Continuity: Some. Reference is made to Frank's drugged up behaviour.

    Guide:

    Reviews:

    Other Info:

GRADE: A

Review by Michael Leddy

Comments are welcome: rikerdonegal@hotmail.com

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