Punisher War Zone #4
Summary: Captain America is positive that Punisher will be coming back to Manhattan to spring his former accomplice, Sgt. Alves. Black Widow is sure Punisher is back in town by this point, so Cap sets up his team, leaving Wolverine out since he warned Punisher that the Avengers were coming. Cap replaces Alves with Widow in the transport van, and follows the van himself, with Thor following by air. As for Spidey, he's watching Alves, who was still in the courtroom. However, Punisher has LITERALLY thought of everything. Punisher sets up a few goons to dress like him to attack Cap's van and the transport van, distracting them. He also managed to break into Stark Tower(ponder that one for a while... He broke IN to STARK TOWER!!!), incapacitate Stark AND steal a suit of Iron Man's armor, which he proceeds to use!!! With no real trouble!!! Iron Punisher enters the courtroom and blasts Spidey, leaving with Alves, ending this issue.
Thoughts: Okay, here's the thing, if Punisher really managed to take Tony Stark out, IN HIS TOWER, and then stole Iron Man armor and proceeded to use it(because it's apparently as easy to use as your basic computer), then this issue was horrible. However, I'm holding out hope that the Iron Man in the courtroom was really Tony Stark, and that his taking Alves was some misdirection. I mean, how else would Spidey get blasted by Iron Man that easily!? Was his spider-sense on the fritz again or something? So yeah, I guess Punisher has become as smart as Joker during the Death of the Family storyline. And that's just plain annoying...
Score: 4 1/2 out of 10.
Jeez Cap, learn how to drive!!
Reading this series has gotten me interesting in picking up other issues from Rucka's run. I've never particularly liked the Punisher, but I really like what I've seen.
ReplyDeleteDid anybody read Remender's work on the Punisher by the way? Given that he's one of my favorite writers, I'm considering trying to hunt down the trades. I'd appreciate hearing some opinions on what was good/bad about those books.
I've only heard good things about Rucka's Punisher run. I actually wish I had started picking it up myself.
ReplyDeleteDidn't Remender do Franken-Castle? I'm pretty sure that was him... Man, he really rose through the ranks these past few years, hasn't he?
I have enjoyed this mini. However, I feel the same way about the punisher flying the suit thing as you do. I didn't even think that it COULD be iron man though! here is to hoping...
ReplyDeleteAnd yes Rucka's punisher run was great all the way through. Unfortunately he lost his artist for this mini (the fantastic Chechetto) but Ruckas treats punisher as a silent killer stalking his prey in the shadows for a good part of the run, and it works. If marvel wouldn't have put the punisher on thunderbolts, rucka would still be writing. His run is only 16 issues and this min, definitely worth a pick-up if you can find em.
I sure hope it was Tony in that suit... Punisher is good and all, but I don't think he's "Infiltrate Stark Tower and use some Iron Man armor" good...
DeleteYeah, I read that Rucka was LIVID about Punisher joining the T-Bolts. I think I read that he didn't want to work for either of the Big Two anymore. I'll have to remember to check my shop for any trades tomorrow.
LOL, yeah Franken-castle was Remender. Was it that bad?
ReplyDeleteCap I believe it, I regret not getting into Rucka's Punisher when it came out. I first noticed it in the Omega Drive crossover - Chechetto's art wowed me, and I thought the writing was good (even though the crossover didn't really resolve anything, it did establish Alves as going rogue to accomplish her goals). Shame I never followed up.
I honestly don't know... I've only read the two issues that crossed over with Daken... I know the hardcore Punisher fans HATED it(there's one at my LCS and he STILL won't read Remender's work!), but since I've never been a huge Punisher fan, I don't know if it would bug me much. The premise did sound a bit... well, dumb. But who knows how the execution was.
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