Punisher MAX #2 review

The Punisher hasn’t been the most consistent franchise in the Marvel Universe. Still reeling from the recent Franken-Castle debacle in his self-titled series, Punisher fans deserve a good read. Author Jason Aaron delivers a fistful of Punisher delights and starts this series off with a frickin’ bang. Aaron’s Kingpin is pure genius; he gives the iconic Wilson Fisk a new origin story that establishes his sadistic nature very clearly. Sometimes, too clearly, but hey this is a MAX title. The scene with his father is particularly disturbing to read… and the prison shower…and, well you get the point.

Under the direction of his mobster employer, Fisk is luring Frank Castle into a trap by creating a phantom “kingpin” of the underworld. The issue beautifully parallels the steps of Fisk and Castle as the play cat and mouse. It’s nice silent commentary on the subjective use of violence to achieve a goal, be it virtuous or evil. How thin is the line between vigilante and crime lord? Aaron’s storytelling is crisp and commanding without any filler or wandering.

Veteran artist Steve Dillon is a good fit for this book. He depicts the violence well, nuanced with a ‘less is more’ approach. We certainly see a sufficient share of point blank range mobster executions to last a month, but he captures the horror of what we don’t see. Through facial expressions and smart paneling, Dillion matches the talents of Aaron in conveying story. His lines are too heavy in some faces which drives me nuts, but overall it’s a sharp book.

The last pages are masterfully crafted. This is a polished work that I think is only going to get better.

4.5 out of 5

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