Punisher: The Bullet That Follows (Punisher

Punisher (2023)

by David Pepose, Dave Wachter (artist), Rod Reis (cover_art)

Collects Punisher (2023) #1-4.

The Marvel Universe meets the next generation of punishment! Frank Castle has disappeared, but evil will always need to be punished. As new threats rise to claim innocent victims, criminals become aware of a dangerous vigilante hunting them from the shadows. Who is the new Punisher? What terrible event put him on his path of vengeance? And as he grimly presses on to complete his mission of punishment, will he make it out alive? Barricaded within his fortified tower, the crime lord known as the Offer is defended by an army of guards, the latest in cutting-edge security and a team of stone-cold super villains capable of slaughtering a battalion. It won't be enough! The all-new Punisher takes on the Fearmaster - and the terror group known as Jigsaw!

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Marvel, Graphic Novels Comics, Superheroes

114 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 29, 2024

Reviews

[Paul · Rating 3 out of 5]

Do we need a new Punisher? Absolutely not. This isn’t Marvel’s first new Punisher and they all get forgotten very quickly when Frank Castle inevitably returns and I’m sure the same thing will eventually happen to this guy.

This being said, this miniseries was fairly entertaining in an action b-movie kind of way and I really liked the artwork, so it wasn’t a complete waste of time.

[Bill Riggs · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun read but do we really need a new Punisher? Frank Castle will be back soon so this seems irrelevant.

[Robert · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Punisher is dead, long live the Punisher?



Joe Garrison is basically Bob Odenkirk's character from Nobody, a retired "Gravedigger" for S.H.I.E.L.D. only his entire family gets wiped out due to Reasons and now he goes full Punisher with a high tech arsenal salvaged from his former employers and a Guy in the Chair (who is a Lady called Triple A), tangling with terrorists and some legit supervillains like Mr. Hyde along the way.


Just an Auditor.

I wish I'd liked it more but if they were going to christen a new Punisher why were they so slavish to the usual tropes? The villainous organization he is foiling is even called Jigsaw. I didn't hate it as, much like John Wick movies, it kept me entertained but high art it was not.


The less said about the 'Stunchuks' the better, as well.

[Khurram · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the same formula that has worked for the Punisher for years. The revenge story is that the mission of the war continues.

Who is the Punisher? What is him his motivation? It is not Frank Castle, but dies that really mske a difference? If you are a fan of the Punisher, like me, you will probably enjoy this. It is the same tried and tested formula.

I am interested to see what happens next. Could there be a clash between the old and new Punisher? Will Frank Castle care that someone else is killing criminals? Also, Marvel/Disney has no problem having two or more characters using the same names. The book finishes with a varient cover gallery.

[allowableman2 · Rating 1 out of 5]

The most soulless Punisher comic in years
They can’t replace Frank

[Emmett Spain · Rating 3 out of 5]

Barely a 3-star read, this brief story has some great art and a dull protagonist who spouts 90s style one-liners when he kills people. I’m not surprised this book was one-and-done. Bring back Frank, already.

[Roman · Rating 3 out of 5]

​​Як ми знаємо минулого року Marvel, на фоні деяких контроверсій навколо Карателя та його лоґо, відправили Френка на пенсію в досить спірній лімітці від Джейсона Аарона (відгуки на яку є на каналі). Незважаючи на це сама мантія Карателя довго не висіла в шафі й ми отримали нового персонажа. Тож давайте дізнаємося яким вийшов його дебют.

Джо Ґаррісон є колишнім агентом Щита, який покинув організацію та зажив щасливим життям. Однак все змінюється коли хтось підриває його будинок, в результаті чого гине його родина, а сам Джо вирішує дізнатися хто це зробив та помститися.

Як бачимо, досить стандартна мотивація для Карателя і на початку я навернув очима. Сценаристом серії був Девід Пепозе, комікси якого я не дуже люблю, однак неочікувано мені лімітка, з багатьма "але", сподобалася. Що мене приємно здивувало так це те, що Пепозе тут викотив невеличкий твіст з тим, що в смерті родини винен не Джо, через те, що колись на Щит працював, а його дружина і як на мене цей рівіл вартувало приберегти до фінального номера для більшого імпакту. Плюс з тогоч що сподобалося можу виділити досить непоганий малюнок Дейва Вехтера. Ну і читається лімітка досить легко, єдине, що відчувається розірваність в оповіді між 2 і 3 номерами. Таке відчуття немов однієї сцени не вистачає. 

А тепер до мінусів та суперечливих моментів. Почнімо з того, що оскільки у нас тут серія про нового Карателя то значить нам потрібні й нові Джиґсо та Мікрочіп. Останнім тут є Тріпл Ей, дівчина з якою Ґаррісон працював ще коли був у Щиті. І про неї я взагалі нічого не можу сказати, вона ніяк не розкрита, однак я розумію, що у нас тут всього 4 номери і всього не вмістиш. Початково я взагалі хотів написати, що нам взагалі не говорять звідки наш гг її знає, але слава Богу, що я переглянув перший номер ще раз і побачив, що на одній панельці мимохідь згадується, що вони разом працювали. А тепер про Джиґсо тут це не лиходій якому Френк обличчя понівечив, а таємна організація. І от у мене питання, а нахуя їх тоді так називати? Можна ж було б спокійно створити окрему загрозу для Джо яка б й відрізняла його від Френка, а не відкривати філію "Tangent Comics" у Марвел.

А, ну і найголовніше від чого в багатьох може пригоріти це ідіотизм з лоґо. Суть у тому, що Джо починають називати Карателем через те, що його форма агента Щита віддалено нагадує череп і люди починають думати, що він йде по стопах Френка, що нервує самого Джо. І мені насправді дуже подобається момент у фіналі коли Ґаррісон усвідомлює та визначає, що він такий же як Френк. Але бля, Марвел, ну якщо ви хочете відійти від черепа, то може просто не будете його використовувати, а не шукатимете обхідні шляхи як би неочевидно засунути його в дизайн. 

Загалом лімітка про нового Карателя вийшла середнячком, який можна сміливо можна пропустити. Однак за рахунок деяких хороших моментів та непоганого малюнку вона мені все-таки сподобалася. Джо Ґаррісон ніколи не зможе замінити Френка Кастла, однак потенціал в ньому є і я був би не проти якоїсь нової лімітки про нього (добре, що ван-шот "Timeless" натякнув, що він ще повернеться).

[Rahul Nadella · Rating 2 out of 5]

There's absolutely no reason for this book, ditching Frank Castle for another person with an extremely similar origin is quite meaningless. Joe's family was killed because of his wife and they really don't delve into that at all. He never questioned if he knew his wife as well as he thought he did. All of the internal conflict is just eliminated for cheap action that makes no sense. Unfortunately, the people getting killed are all one-dimensional, generic evil goons for a painfully standard evil organization that we have no reason to care about. If it was a diplomatic gathering he never would have been able to crash through the window. Not to mention that he didn't care about the people getting showered with glass. Then he and Jigsaw fell out of a window at least 4 stories high and just landed without a scratch. I don't know what this is but this isn't the Punisher. There is nothing to make the reader care about this character.

[Guilherme Smee · Rating 3 out of 5]

O Justiceiro está morto, longa vida ao Justiceiro. Depois dos vários problemas que a Marvel teve com o Justiceiro ligado ao movimento Blue Lives Matter, ela resolveu fazer seu arco derradeiro sob o comando de Jason Aaron. Mas para não perder a marca, criou um novo Justiceiro. Ele é um ex-agente da SHIELD com métodos nada ortodoxos, que é acusado de matar a própria família. Em sua luta para se livrar das acusações, ele veste um colete à prova de balas que dá a impressão de estar vestindo uma caveira. Por isso, ele passa a ser apelidado de Justiceiro pela imprensa e pela polícia. A história é bem qualquer coisa, e os desenhos de Dave Watcher convencem mais que o roteiro de David Pepose. Além disso, acredito que o personagem não tenha se saído tão bem quanto a Marvel desejava, porque ao fim desta minissérie é prometido um retorno do personagem, algo que até então não foi anunciado. Será que ele vai cair no esquecimento assim como a fase Justiceiro Anjo? Só podemos conjeturar, mas com um especial do Justiceiro de Jon Bernthal anunciado, é possível que o velho Justiceiro volte também para os quadrinhos.

[Quentin Wallace · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eh. I think all Punisher fans have reached a general consensus, and it's that Frank Castle is the Punisher, and anyone else is a poser.

This series really isn't bad, but it's not the Punisher. This is an ex SHIELD agent using sci fi weapons and calling himself the Punisher, while not really being the Punisher.

The creative team did as good a job as possible I think, but people just aren't ready to accept a new Punisher. I think Marvel just needs to bring Frank Castle back.

[Josef Ploski · Rating 4 out of 5]

The original Punisher, Frank Castle, came out of the 70's and the fallout of the Vietnam War. Frank went through a lot over the last 50 years and so it was time to retire him...for the moment. This new fella Joe Garrison is a good start to a new Punisher for the 21st century. These first few issues provide more super-villains and monsters than Frank generally dealt with in his core missions where he was going up against the mafia, the mob, and organized and less than organized crime and criminals in general, but I like it. This not your dad's punisher, but he has possibilities if Marvel (and my extent parent company Disney) handle him right. Only time will tell...

[Ross · Rating 3 out of 5]

Here's a lesson in writing yourself into a corner...

Frank Castle has been the Punisher for AGES. They decided, in the previous story, to make him a ..deathbringer(?) and supernatural powered leader of The Hand. It good pretty crazy. Wife got resurrected. He could fly. There's not much you can do with a character who's based on revenge and tasted how powerful godhood could be.

Bench him. Write him off. Heck, you could even say they killed Frank Castle (Weirdworld is punishment enough for most Marvel transgression)

This is, essentially an updated reboot of the themes of the character.

It's always a revenge story
It's always about loss of family
It's always an 'average' guy beating the odds
...it's pretty much the 'Deathwish' movie from the 70's, but toned down for kids

So, this update has a former SHIELD 'Gravedigger' (their black ops guys) survive an explosion at his home that kills his wife and kids. He teams up with a knowledgeable techie that used to work with him in SHIELD. They're going to get answers and make the people who planned the murders, pay.

-----
Bonus: This isn't a bad reboot. Let Frank Castle rest for awhile.
Bonus Bonus: Marvel tried giving other people the Punisher chestplate in the 90s. This is better.

[Gauthier · Rating 3 out of 5]

Joe Garrison is the new Punisher. His family is killed, but this time, it's not in a cross-fire. They were specifically targeted. Joe will stop at nothing to find who the perpetrators are. However, when he is ready to give up and join his family, he has an epiphany and makes it his mission to continue the work of the Punisher until his time comes again.

This story is an attempt at refreshing the Punisher genre by bringing us a new character with a different origin story. However, the story remains highly similar, and so it feels like a half-hearted attempt. Fans of the Punisher will find all they like: a character impervious to the pain inflicted on him as long as he gets to get the world rid of criminals. As the story goes, Joe Garrison initially does not see himself as the Punisher's heir, but he slowly embraces his role.

As I often mention in my reviews of Punisher books, my favorites are the ones that are set in a realistic atmosphere. That means no superheroes, no superpowers, no weird costumes, etc. Therefore, while the story was entertaining, it did not leave a lasting impression on me, and I believe it will join an already long list of unimpressive Punisher stories.

[Sandra · Rating 2 out of 5]

Joe Garrison ist ein ehemaliger SHIELD-Agent, der nach dem Tod seiner Familie zum Punisher wird. Ein neuer Punisher? Ja, nur leider ist Garrison eine billige Kopie des Originals Frank Castle. Die Hintergrundgeschichte ist sehr unoriginell, es gibt keine Wendungen, der Inhalt dieses Bandes ist so fade wie sein Protagonist.

Joes Familie wurde wegen seiner Frau getötet, nur dass man nicht erfährt, weshalb. Man erhält keinerlei Informationen, was hinter dem tödlichen Anschlag auf seine Frau und Kinder steckt, stattdessen muss der ganze Aspekt für billige Action weichen, die ebenfalls keinen Sinn ergibt. Leider sind die Randfiguren, die getötet werden, allesamt eindimensionale, austauschbare üble Schläger für eine allzu offensichtlich standardmäßige schurkische Organisation, die bei mir als Leserin keinerlei Interesse geweckt hat.

Das einzige, was sich sehen lassen kann, ist das Artwork, ansonsten sticht in diesem Buch nichts hervor, das man als interessant bezeichnen könnte. Schade, hätte man mehr draus machen können. Bitte bringt Frank Castle wieder zurück!

[Josh · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm not against the idea of someone else being a Punisher. Your family gets killed, so you put on a skull t-shirt and kill the shit out of some bad people. It isn't like making a new Spider-Man, Hulk, ect. where the same fantastical set of circumstances has to keep happening causing your suspension of disbelief to constantly be tested with each new one. I would wholly believe, in universe, there would be loads of copycat Punishers out there.

All that said, the biggest problem with The Bullet That follows is that it is as bland as its protagonist. After four issues, I couldn't tell you a single thing about Garrison other than that he isn't Frank Castle, and unfortunately that's all there is to him. He's off brand Frank with the edges filed down.

I think David Wachter is is a fine choice for a Punisher artist, and pairing him with Dan Brown was a good call. I wouldn't mind seeing them handle a story thats a little darker and bloodier with some teeth to it.

[Gregory · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the book. I understand retiring Frank Castle because he has been weaponized for the wrong reasons instead of being a commentary on the failure of the Justice System for not protecting citizens.

Joe Garrison is a new character and a former SHIELD Operative who became the Punisher following the death of his family. I want future writers to make him a great character and not a copy of his predecessor. Garrison deserves that the same way that Kyle Rayner was when he was the new Green Lantern and different from Hal Jordan. Marvel should use this opportunity to make that happen naturally.

[Timo · Rating 2 out of 5]

So, Marvel is trying it again: replacing a popular character with other dude and calling him with familiar name. Has that ever worked in the past?
This was not all bad, but that Joe Garrison is not Punisher not matter how much his wife and kids are murdered by bad persons and some people around call him "Punisher". If this would be any another violent adventure wanking around Marvel world, this would have been better. But the whole Punisher bit put me off.

[Beastyos · Rating 2 out of 5]

#notmypunisher

It's not great or even good, every issue is just this new punisher fighting b-list marvel villains with semi interesting weapons and he fights a version of jigsaw too I guess.

I know this is teasing to a new Punisher series staring Joe as the punisher, but I honestly don't think he's different enough as a character to Frank to warrant it, he's basically just high tech punisher and that's all.

[John Shaw · Rating 2 out of 5]

VOLUME 14
(FFS)
Of Punisher comics.

Wee see another soldier
set off in search of Vengeance
after His family is slaughtered.

This time it is a retired S.H.I.E.L.D.
wet ops agent
VS.
A retired Special Forces Marine.

It really is little more than
the same melody
in a slightly different key.

Not terrible
But certainly not great.

[Chad · Rating 2 out of 5]

There's a new Punisher in town and he's not very interesting. He's a SHIELD agent who's family was killed. Now he's out for answers. There's just not enough story here. I'm a fan of Pepose's and hate that I didn't care for this, but sometimes it happens. Especially when you're working for hire instead of yourself.

[B · Rating 3 out of 5]

I get the sense that Frank Castle has become more political than some folks want. Thus, a new Punisher. But this Punisher is so similar to the standard Punisher that I'm not sure why to do this exercise at all.

Maybe to write out the Vietnam component that becomes more and more confusing over time?

[alejandro galvez · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not bad. But watered down.

The story was not bad, but this is PG style violence. Very watered down. Death scenes are kept at a minimum or completely "off-camera". Not what it used to be. I recommend checking out old X from Dark Horse as a replacement. Punisher is no longer himself. And I don't see that changing for a long time.

[Craig · Rating 3 out of 5]

This isn't too bad--ex-SHIELD agent goes on a vengeance spree when his family is murdered. His SHIELD armor kind of looks like the Punisher's skull and crossbones, so everyone assumes that must be who this is. Joe Garrison isn't Frank Castle, but do we really need Castle back? I suppose it's only a matter of time...

[Facundo Aqua · Rating 2 out of 5]

Salvo algunas cosas del arte, que es agil y cumple, la historia es increíblemente sosa, una historia de origen forzada por la garganta sin necesidad alguna de que sea tan pobre. ¿Un nuevo Punisher? ¿Por qué no? ¿Pero así de pedorro? No gracias.

[Travis Duke · Rating 1 out of 5]

A new punisher? How about a new boring punisher? Because that is what you get in this vol. 1. The backstory is very unoriginal, there is no twists (yet), and the story is very paint by numbers. The art is just OK. NOTHING stands out as interesting in this book.... sad.

[Powerman61 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Punisher: The Bullet that follows(2023-)) Superb Reading

Great issue of the Punisher. I really enjoyed the storyline from start to finish.
The artwork was great , and set the bar high for future issues.

[Spencer Scott Holmes · Rating 4 out of 5]

A spin off Punisher

Just know what you are getting into here and it's a good read. It's a different Punisher character, an ex shield guy, so he uses a lot of technology based weapons. A few of these books and then it will return back to classic Frank Castle.

[Patrick · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 Stars

[Gabriel A · Rating 3 out of 5]

Stupid violent fun. New Punisher named Joe Garrison.
I liked the art.

[Daniel Butcher · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s fine. I understand how this dude got the moniker…maybe he’s more likable than Frank but likely not by much.