Product Description: The Punisher's in prison, but he can't complain... now the criminals have nowhere to run! But while he's in gray, his trademark black-and-white look's being used by an army out to wipe out the mob and anyone else in the way! Marvel's vicious veteran vigilante finds out who to kill and who to trust in his original mini-series! Collects Punisher #1-5 (1986).
The name says it all! I recently read this hardcover collection of that great mini-series that catapulted The Punisher to comics superstardom. His vigilante approach to solving crime is efficient but not without consequences. While battling his own inner demons, Frank Castle wrestles with the toll his actions take on the innocents who sometimes get caught in the middle. Unlike so many other heroes, The Punisher doesn't have superpowers to rely on. He only has his military training and his conscience to guide him. Mike Zeck's incredible work is nicely collected in this hardcover.
The early and defining Punisher story The Punisher managed to achieve massive popularity when this mini-series from writer Steven Grant and artist Mike Zeck hit the stands, and there is a reason why. The Punisher: Circle of Blood is an early and defining story that began to really cement the Punisher's concepts and characterization, in a way that even his creator Gerry Conway was never able to do. At its whole, there isn't really a whole lot to Circle of Blood story wise, as Frank Castle takes on the mob. While Circle of Blood is a defining story in the Punisher mythos, the story itself hasn't aged all that well, especially when compared to the Punisher we see nowadays; the merciless vigilante portrayed by Garth Ennis in the excellent and mature readers only Punisher MAX title. However, Mike Zeck's artwork is still spectacular even all these years later, as his renditions of Frank Castle remain some of the best that the character has ever seen. Now that Circle of Blood has been reprinted in this handsome Marvel Premiere Classic hardcover, it is worth checking out for new and older readers alike, especially if the darker, modern take on Frank isn't to your liking.
A great story This is a great reprint of the first Punisher mini-series. Fair warning though, this mini-series is also included in the Essential Punisher collection (albeit in black and white), which is cheaper and has a lot more stories in it. If color doesn't matter to you, then you might want to go that route.
Could have been much, much, better!!! Thank god the Punisher isn't written like this any more. This Punisher is too caring and far too weak!!!! And you know people Mike Zack is never coming back to do more Punisher work. He had his run and it's OVER.
Almost good This story would have been sooo good if it weren't for the two last issues. The brain washing is what killed it for me. I have seen to many stories where some group of people are trying to create a race of super soldiers. It took away the reality feel to it that the book has half the time. And the Punisher was too caring. He was skocked when he saw a little girl get shot or couldn't believe that angel betrayed him.
I am so glad that Ennis gives a better and more meaner and more colder Punisher.
Anything Goes Trivia
Trevor
Megaton Man
