CBR REVIEW: The Punisher #16

[CBR News]

"The Punisher" #16 closes the Greg Rucka-written series and also brings about a conclusion to the story of Sergeant Rachel Cole-Alves for a notable wrap-up to a fantastic run.


Full article here.

[Infestor]

Rucka's run has been the best the character has ever had. Sad to see it end.

[Eric Draven]

Good series that sadly would have been great if it wasn't for Marvel Interference, the mediocre crossover with Daredevil and Spider-man really killed the momentum. Thanks to Punisher, Rucka has certainly gained a fan in me.

[stk]

Repeated mentions in this review of how Frank was a one-dimensional character prior to Rucka. I don't think that was always the case. Baron, for one, brought us a layered character once upon a time.

I'm not a fan of the trend some reviewers fall into letting enjoyment of the New Thing cause them to be overly dismissive of everything that came before.

[MDV]

That review is very positive. I've got to go out to my local comic shop and get a copy of Rachel Cole-Alves #16 ASAP.

[CrazyOldHermit]

This issue illustrates what Rucka has been working so hard to do: evolve the Punisher from a one-dimensional killer to a man with depth and conviction

Rucka has transformed the Punisher from a one-note character to a much deeper and more intriguing person

Reviewer has never read Ennis' or Aaron's MAX runs confirmed. It really annoys me when people act like those great works don't exist or do but are simply mindless "splatter" comics.

But anyway, I am sad to see this series go. I was initially one of the doubters (bordering on hater) but Rucka and Chechetto won me over with badass storytelling and it was cool to see a Punisher who hadn't been at the game so long. I love The Dark Knight Returns more than any other Batman story but I wouldn't be happy if there was only Old Man Batman so why couldn't I give a young Punisher a chance?

I wish this had been able to run for as long as Rucka wanted but of course being a good story just isn't enough.

[aNamored]

Reviewer has never read Ennis' or Aaron's MAX runs confirmed. It really annoys me when people act like those great works don't exist or do but are simply mindless "splatter" comics.

But anyway, I am sad to see this series go. I was initially one of the doubters (bordering on hater) but Rucka and Chechetto won me over with badass storytelling and it was cool to see a Punisher who hadn't been at the game so long. I love The Dark Knight Returns more than any other Batman story but I wouldn't be happy if there was only Old Man Batman so why couldn't I give a young Punisher a chance?

I wish this had been able to run for as long as Rucka wanted but of course being a good story just isn't enough.

Too true.

Having read and just not enjoyed Ennis and Aaron's Punisher MAX (too real for me), with Rucka's Punisher I actually understood and really grew to really like the character and Rachel too (who nearly drove me out more times than I can count.) The military angle is great and I really got a sense of understanding who Frank is, how he operates etc. It was so fascinating to see it from his perspective along with all of the support cast.

I could relate to a Frank Castle near my own age, it just stinks this is over.

[Deep_Sleeper]

I was going to read this book in trades, if I heard good things about it. Rucka's been the kind of writer where I haven't really liked a lot of his stuff, but him on Punisher interested me. I think the Punisher character is interesting, but for one reason or another, I haven't really liked the people who have taken a stab at him. I read the MK Ennis Punisher and along with Steve Dillon, I didn't like it at all. I was interested in Aaron's Punisher until I found out Dillon would be on art. Remender's Punisher just had aspects that I didn't care for (white boots and glove? Lame).

Rucka's take interested me and I will check out the book on trades. I have a feeling once I read the trades, I will think that this is one book that really should have continued.

I guess we'll see.

[turok]

"Evolve the Punisher from a one-dimensional killer to a man with depth and conviction."

After Stephen Grant, Mike Baron, Chuck Dixon, Garth Ennis, Jason Aaron and others. I believe the reviewer when he says he was never a Punisher fan.

[InformationGeek]

Argh, my comic shop didn't get in this week and I've been so looking forward to this. It was my only Marvel title and now it is all over. This has been one hell of story from start to finish for me, especially not even really being a Punisher fan to begin with (I tried the title because Rucka was writing it). It feels sad to see it finally end.

[BrotherUnitNo_4]

Marvel would be crazy not to make a big fat collection out of this. All 16 issues really do add up to a complete story about who Frank is, how he works and why he's the only one who can do what he does.

Watching him take out the shooters was great, and it was sad how things ended for Rachel. Hopefully she can be rehabilitated down the line. Warzone is going to be a bittersweet goodbye.

[Candid Rook]

"Evolve the Punisher from a one-dimensional killer to a man with depth and conviction."

After Stephen Grant, Mike Baron, Chuck Dixon, Garth Ennis, Jason Aaron and others. I believe the reviewer when he says he was never a Punisher fan.

lol. I believe it too. Enjoying Rucka's run but that particular comment was a disservice to the list of great writers who have left their mark on the character, long before Rucka ever got to Frank.

[IAMFeAR7]

Possibly Marvel's best title along with Remender"s Uncanny X-Force, and they're both ending...

[aNamored]

I was going to read this book in trades, if I heard good things about it. Rucka's been the kind of writer where I haven't really liked a lot of his stuff, but him on Punisher interested me. I think the Punisher character is interesting, but for one reason or another, I haven't really liked the people who have taken a stab at him. I read the MK Ennis Punisher and along with Steve Dillon, I didn't like it at all. I was interested in Aaron's Punisher until I found out Dillon would be on art. Remender's Punisher just had aspects that I didn't care for (white boots and glove? Lame).

Rucka's take interested me and I will check out the book on trades. I have a feeling once I read the trades, I will think that this is one book that really should have continued.

I guess we'll see.

I felt the same way you did deep_sleeper and now really like and appreciate Rucka's Frank. The book reads quite well in trade too.

[Candid Rook]

I was going to read this book in trades, if I heard good things about it. Rucka's been the kind of writer where I haven't really liked a lot of his stuff, but him on Punisher interested me. I think the Punisher character is interesting, but for one reason or another, I haven't really liked the people who have taken a stab at him. I read the MK Ennis Punisher and along with Steve Dillon, I didn't like it at all. I was interested in Aaron's Punisher until I found out Dillon would be on art. Remender's Punisher just had aspects that I didn't care for (white boots and glove? Lame).

Rucka's take interested me and I will check out the book on trades. I have a feeling once I read the trades, I will think that this is one book that really should have continued.

I guess we'll see.

If you have a problem with Steve Dillons art then you should check out Ennis' MAX run. Its pretty much the definitive Punisher run and has two of my absolute favourite Punisher artists on it, Leandro Fernandez and Goran Parlov. Its also alot darker and more serious in tone than his MK run. Regarding Ennis Marvel Knights run, alot of it is done by Dillon but the latter half is pencilled by various other artists that may be more to your liking. Its also a bit darker and less humourous than the first half, the final "Confederacy of Dunces" arc aside. If you are interested in checking out Ennis' MAX run start with Punisher Born, as it's referenced in the first and last arcs of his ongoing MAX run.