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Post by thebarkingshark on May 4, 2005 2:24:26 GMT
I stopped reading Punisher a few years ago because I was getting burned out on it and I was sick and tired of reading about that god damn Russian with tits. I did pick up the first trade of the Max series and thought it was pretty good. Anyway, I decided to pick it up again starting with the new storyline: Up is Down and Black is White.
Man, it's really kicking ass! I really like Nick Cavella, he's one bad motherf***er! I just read the new issue and I loved the flashbacks of how he killed his family and how he later killed Auntie Mo... good stuff! Can't wait until Frank and Nicky meet up, should be pretty ugly. -SHARK DIGGLER
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Post by Gray Lensman on May 4, 2005 2:37:27 GMT
I'm pretty much in the same boat as you, Shark.  I liked "Welcome Back, Frank", but the MK ongoing series did very little for me. A lot of it is Ennis trying to be funny, but I don't think the Ennis brand of humor worked for this title. That said, the MK series had two redeeming features: the Ireland issue and the Elektra issue, both of which were very good. It took Born and the MAX series for Punisher to turn back around. I don't think you can go wrong with anything with Nicky Cavella in it. Cavella is easily the best new villain out of Marvel in many years. Certainly the best Punisher villain that I'm aware of. When Ennis is on form, MAX Punisher hits hard and takes no prisoners... which is as it should be. Even Kitchen Irish, which isn't quite up to the rest of the series, is still better than a lot you'll find at Marvel. Mother Russia was awesome, and I suspect the current arc will be a winner if Ennis keeps up the current pace. This is the kind of work I like seeing from Ennis. I hope he doesn't decide to leave for a long while. |
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Post by Dark Phoenix Rising on May 4, 2005 15:47:07 GMT
Glad I'm not the only one enjoying the series.... However, what took you so long? |
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Dr. Doom
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Post by Dr. Doom on May 4, 2005 17:14:07 GMT
You definitely aren't the only one enjoying it, DragonLord. Punisher has consistently been in my top ten since I started picking it up again when it moved from MK to MAX.
My favorite arc, by a rather wide margin, is Mother Russia. That was one kickass arc. I would recommend that you pick up all the MAX issues out so far, Shark. None of them are bad, though I agree with Steve the Kitchen Irish arc was weaker.
Even if you don't like the story in Punisher, you'll always be in for a good slugfest.
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Post by Elliot Kane on May 5, 2005 14:06:29 GMT
Yeah, Punisher is a great series, and as MAX is probably the best the character has ever been,
Kitchen Irish felt like Ennis going through the motions, sadly, but the rest of his worrk on MAX Punisher has been stellar.
You guys know I'm a huge Ennis fan, but this & 303 are genuinely two of the best titles on the market.
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Dr. Doom
Apprentice
I will not eat cat poop.
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Post by Dr. Doom on May 5, 2005 16:39:23 GMT
What is 303?
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Post by Elliot Kane on May 5, 2005 18:22:24 GMT
Doom... It's a comic Ennis has got Avatar to publish, about a Russian colonel and the Lee Enfield rifle he picks up in Afghanistan. He's an old soldier who's seen it all, sent back in there one last time to investigate a mysterious plane crash. More than that would spoil it, but if you get the chance to read the first issue, I think you'll get the appeal It's definitely aimed at a mature audience, so won't appeal to everyone. And I mean Vertigo-mature here... |
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Dr. Doom
Apprentice
I will not eat cat poop.
Posts: 428
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Post by Dr. Doom on May 9, 2005 17:28:35 GMT
So not the wanton violence mature then? Bah. ;D
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Post by Elliot Kane on May 9, 2005 17:35:09 GMT
Hey - it's Ennis. Of COURSE there's wanton violence ;D
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Dr. Doom
Apprentice
I will not eat cat poop.
Posts: 428
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Post by Dr. Doom on May 10, 2005 17:55:25 GMT
Sounds pretty cool. How many issues is that into now?
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Post by Elliot Kane on May 10, 2005 18:40:10 GMT
303 is on issue 3 or 4 right now, Doom. Not sure which. It's very new though, so back issues should be very easy to find |
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Post by Elliot Kane on May 23, 2005 21:11:06 GMT
Anyone read The Cell? Very good stuff - typical bleak, violent Ennis - but I loved it |
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Post by thebarkingshark on Sept 13, 2005 8:00:51 GMT
Just finished reading Up Is Down and Black Is White. [Censored]ing awesome! I love Garth Ennis! Loved the whole arc, too bad Nicky Cavella is dead. I'm going to have to buy all the issues I missed out on from the MAX series because I wasn't a big fan of Punisher's Marvel Knights run. The new arc started out decent, I really liked the two cops, especially the gay black dude. Anyway, Loving Punisher right now  -SHARK DIGGLER |
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Post by Elliot Kane on Sept 13, 2005 8:37:43 GMT
I think Punisher is currently the best thing Marvel are publishing. Granted that isn't against enormous competition, but it's been one of the best titles for a long time now.
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Post by Gray Lensman on Sept 13, 2005 12:34:32 GMT
I wasn't a big fan of Punisher until it went MAX. Generally, this run has been awesome now that Ennis took the brakes off. Before that, there were a couple of decent issues here and there, but overall it wasn't that great. Now it's some of my favorite stuff from Ennis. This new arc is starting off rather nicely. Actions have consequences (usually of the bloody kind) in this book. I'm really interested in finding out what would be so bad that Punisher would take this mission. Knowing Ennis, I expect it should be thoroughly nasty. |
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Post by philster on Sept 13, 2005 16:04:06 GMT
Hey guys - why don't you stop with complimenting the book and starting DISCUSSING it, y'know? I mean, I never have to fear spoilers when I come in here. C'mon guys. Start talking.  |
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Post by Gray Lensman on Sept 13, 2005 17:08:37 GMT
Fair point, I suppose. A lot of times, I don't go into great detail because some people (such as Elliot) don't get their books until weeks later. Or I've made the basic points elsewhere. I will say this, though. I will miss Nicky Cavella. Where most Punisher villains tend to be cannon fodder, Cavella was more than that. He was smart, he had believable ambitions, and he was a match for Castle in terms of viciousness, effectiveness, and sheer daring. Most Punisher villains wouldn't have dared to attempt half of what Cavella did in the MAX run. This time, I figure that he is pretty thoroughly dead. (Cavella previously had the distinction of being the rare Punisher villain not to meet a gruesome end in his first appearance). He pretty much has to be, considering that he hurt Frank badly and desecrated his family's graves. That kind of demands an especially nasty kind of payback... which he got, going by the end of "Up Is Down" and some lines from the last issue. Cavella is the kind of villain this book needs, and he'll be sorely missed. Still, I'm sure Ennis has lots more brutal villains in store ahead. |
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Post by Terrordar on Sept 14, 2005 6:15:32 GMT
Punisher is truly one of my favorite comics. I love what Frank said at the end of the last issue. *grins*
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Post by dvdavenport on Sept 14, 2005 20:06:39 GMT
The new Punisher series is the best Marvel MAX series being published today. Er, wait. I think it's gonna be the only one, soon.  |
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Post by Gray Lensman on Sept 14, 2005 21:19:01 GMT
Yeah, Punisher will be the last MAX title after Supreme Power goes to MK.
Which is probably for the best. Ennis is the only one I trust at Marvel to handle a MAX title right now anyway.
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-SHARK DIGGLER
