Brandon Borzelli's Geek Goggle Reviews
PunisherMax #14
MAX (Marvel Comics)
Aaron, Dillon & Hollingsworth
Frank Castle sits in solitary confinement as he contemplates his past and awaits his death at the hands of the angry prison population. Once again, this title delivers an excellent story that just feels original in its exploration of the characteristics that make up both Frank Castle and the Punisher. Aaron has created another interesting incarnation of a threat in the form of Big Jesus and manages, through flashbacks, to bring back the basic mafia thugs that pushed Castle into becoming the Punisher in the first place. It's an excellent read.
Frank struggles with his past in this issue. It comes to light that while in Vietnam two of his platoon were killed when Frank fell behind and was separated from the group. Frank eventually caught up to his company but the two men who went looking for him were killed and mutilated by the enemy. After the killers were found (presumably they were the correct men) Frank was the first to slaughter them. This sequence all helps to establish that fire that lives inside Castle. However, this was during a war and not in everyday street life.
In another flashback, of when Frank had his first job, Frank backs away from performing some justice on a man who killed a woman in his work place. Frank's restraint is strange because although the man was not a criminal prior to the killing of the woman, he certainly became one after he hung her on a meat hook.
Finally, Frank finds himself washing dishes in a mob bar and he takes action on some criminals. The events of the two prior flashbacks help him to connect the dots in terms of when he should or should not act. Aaron does a great job linking these character building moments.
The only part of the issue that seems to drag is when Castle is in prison. Not only does it feel like the pending confrontation is taking forever, but there is the aspect of Nick Fury walking into his cell that confused me. I wasn't clear until later on what exactly had occurred.
Dillon delivers a great visual story. He has a wide range of expressions and reactions and his panels where the prisoners are hiding their knives are cringe-worthy illustrations (in a good way). The only downer is some of his characters appear too similar to that of Castle. When stretching a book over three generations of the character it seems imperative that no other characters in the book look even a little like him.
This book is another example of how a creator can do something different with a long running character. Aaron is exploring territory that could fit into any existing back story of Frank Castle/Punisher that has been written already. There is nothing radically different in here but it is a fresh approach to the character. This is consistently one of the best reads each and every month.
4.5 out of 5 Geek Goggles
