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Fury MAX (Collected Editions)
Fury MAX: My War Gone By, Vol. 2
Collects Fury Max #7-13.
Col. Nick Fury gets a dirty assignment that takes him to Vietnam - and Frank Castle, before he became the Punisher, is tasked to help. Fury must assassinate a Viet Cong general - but when he and Castle are captured in the heat of the war, what do the Viet Cong have in mind for these two POWs? And what is the real reason Fury was sent into the most dangerous place on Earth? Then, Fury comes face-to-face with Barracuda! Learn the origin of the fan-favorite Punisher villain as Fury arrives in Nicaragua to investigate a CIA operation involving the man-mountain. But Barracuda doesn't much like being investigated, and what Fury finds puts the two on a deadly collision course. It's the chilling conclusion of Garth Ennis and Goran Parlov's critically acclaimed masterpiece!
Col. Nick Fury gets a dirty assignment that takes him to Vietnam - and Frank Castle, before he became the Punisher, is tasked to help. Fury must assassinate a Viet Cong general - but when he and Castle are captured in the heat of the war, what do the Viet Cong have in mind for these two POWs? And what is the real reason Fury was sent into the most dangerous place on Earth? Then, Fury comes face-to-face with Barracuda! Learn the origin of the fan-favorite Punisher villain as Fury arrives in Nicaragua to investigate a CIA operation involving the man-mountain. But Barracuda doesn't much like being investigated, and what Fury finds puts the two on a deadly collision course. It's the chilling conclusion of Garth Ennis and Goran Parlov's critically acclaimed masterpiece!
163 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2013
11 people are currently reading
132 people want to read
About the author
Garth Ennis
2,632 books3,190 followersEnnis began his comic-writing career in 1989 with the series Troubled Souls. Appearing in the short-lived but critically-acclaimed British anthology Crisis and illustrated by McCrea, it told the story of a young, apolitical Protestant man caught up by fate in the violence of the Irish 'Troubles'. It spawned a sequel, For a Few Troubles More, a broad Belfast-based comedy featuring two supporting characters from Troubled Souls, Dougie and Ivor, who would later get their own American comics series, Dicks, from Caliber in 1997, and several follow-ups from Avatar.
Another series for Crisis was True Faith, a religious satire inspired by his schooldays, this time drawn by Warren Pleece. Ennis shortly after began to write for Crisis' parent publication, 2000 AD. He quickly graduated on to the title's flagship character, Judge Dredd, taking over from original creator John Wagner for a period of several years.
Ennis' first work on an American comic came in 1991 when he took over DC Comics's horror title Hellblazer, which he wrote until 1994, and for which he currently holds the title for most issues written. Steve Dillon became the regular artist during the second half of Ennis's run.
Ennis' landmark work to date is the 66-issue epic Preacher, which he co-created with artist Steve Dillon. Running from 1995 to 2000, it was a tale of a preacher with supernatural powers, searching (literally) for God who has abandoned his creation.
While Preacher was running, Ennis began a series set in the DC universe called Hitman. Despite being lower profile than Preacher, Hitman ran for 60 issues (plus specials) from 1996 to 2001, veering wildly from violent action to humour to an examination of male friendship under fire.
Other comic projects Ennis wrote during this time period include Goddess, Bloody Mary, Unknown Soldier, and Pride & Joy, all for DC/Vertigo, as well as origin stories for The Darkness for Image Comics and Shadowman for Valiant Comics.
After the end of Hitman, Ennis was lured to Marvel Comics with the promise from Editor-in-Chief Joe Quesada that he could write The Punisher as long as he cared to. Instead of largely comical tone of these issues, he decided to make a much more serious series, re-launched under Marvel's MAX imprint.
In 2001 he briefly returned to UK comics to write the epic Helter Skelter for Judge Dredd.
Other comics Ennis has written include War Story (with various artists) for DC; The Pro for Image Comics; The Authority for Wildstorm; Just a Pilgrim for Black Bull Press, and 303, Chronicles of Wormwood (a six issue mini-series about the Antichrist), and a western comic book, Streets of Glory for Avatar Press.
In 2008 Ennis ended his five-year run on Punisher MAX to debut a new Marvel title, War Is Hell: The First Flight of the Phantom Eagle.
In June 2008, at Wizard World, Philadelphia, Ennis announced several new projects, including a metaseries of war comics called Battlefields from Dynamite made up of mini-series including Night Witches, Dear Billy and Tankies, another Chronicles of Wormwood mini-series and Crossed both at Avatar, a six-issue miniseries about Butcher (from The Boys) and a Punisher project reuniting him with artist Steve Dillon (subsequently specified to be a weekly mini-series entitled Punisher: War Zone, to be released concurrently with the film of the same name).
Taken from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garth_Ennis
Another series for Crisis was True Faith, a religious satire inspired by his schooldays, this time drawn by Warren Pleece. Ennis shortly after began to write for Crisis' parent publication, 2000 AD. He quickly graduated on to the title's flagship character, Judge Dredd, taking over from original creator John Wagner for a period of several years.
Ennis' first work on an American comic came in 1991 when he took over DC Comics's horror title Hellblazer, which he wrote until 1994, and for which he currently holds the title for most issues written. Steve Dillon became the regular artist during the second half of Ennis's run.
Ennis' landmark work to date is the 66-issue epic Preacher, which he co-created with artist Steve Dillon. Running from 1995 to 2000, it was a tale of a preacher with supernatural powers, searching (literally) for God who has abandoned his creation.
While Preacher was running, Ennis began a series set in the DC universe called Hitman. Despite being lower profile than Preacher, Hitman ran for 60 issues (plus specials) from 1996 to 2001, veering wildly from violent action to humour to an examination of male friendship under fire.
Other comic projects Ennis wrote during this time period include Goddess, Bloody Mary, Unknown Soldier, and Pride & Joy, all for DC/Vertigo, as well as origin stories for The Darkness for Image Comics and Shadowman for Valiant Comics.
After the end of Hitman, Ennis was lured to Marvel Comics with the promise from Editor-in-Chief Joe Quesada that he could write The Punisher as long as he cared to. Instead of largely comical tone of these issues, he decided to make a much more serious series, re-launched under Marvel's MAX imprint.
In 2001 he briefly returned to UK comics to write the epic Helter Skelter for Judge Dredd.
Other comics Ennis has written include War Story (with various artists) for DC; The Pro for Image Comics; The Authority for Wildstorm; Just a Pilgrim for Black Bull Press, and 303, Chronicles of Wormwood (a six issue mini-series about the Antichrist), and a western comic book, Streets of Glory for Avatar Press.
In 2008 Ennis ended his five-year run on Punisher MAX to debut a new Marvel title, War Is Hell: The First Flight of the Phantom Eagle.
In June 2008, at Wizard World, Philadelphia, Ennis announced several new projects, including a metaseries of war comics called Battlefields from Dynamite made up of mini-series including Night Witches, Dear Billy and Tankies, another Chronicles of Wormwood mini-series and Crossed both at Avatar, a six-issue miniseries about Butcher (from The Boys) and a Punisher project reuniting him with artist Steve Dillon (subsequently specified to be a weekly mini-series entitled Punisher: War Zone, to be released concurrently with the film of the same name).
Taken from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garth_Ennis
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
July 23, 2023
Thirteen issues of Garth Ennis's brilliance across 2 volumes, this one and Fury MAX: My War Gone By Volume 1. A no holds barred look at the old-school Nick Fury, the CIA, American imperialism and corruption, all from the perspective of the man in the field. A truer look at military espionage you may not find. Garth Ennis - what a writer. An 8 out of 12 furious Four Star read.
2014 read
2014 read
October 29, 2023
"Oh, how we abuse our warriors' faith. We send them to fight for unspeakable things . . . We are both bound for hell, Colonel Fury. But I hope you find a comfortable place to wait." -- General Letrong Giap, North Vietnamese Army (retired), offering words of cold comfort to his former adversary
The My War Gone By miniseries wraps not a moment too soon with another volume that jumps between the decades (involving actual notable military events) AND is just as depressing as hell. It kicks off with CIA operative Nick Fury returning to Vietnam in 1970 - when the 'Conflict' was now in full swing - and on a bold clandestine mission with none other than Frank Castle (eventually to be known as the vigilante 'The Punisher,' but here still serving his hitch in the USMC) in what was probably the best segment - especially their breakout from a POW jail - between the two narratives. However, like the initial volume things settle into an increasingly unpleasant or sour tone as some of the moments in the finale, set in 1984 during the Contra War of Nicaragua, were often disgusting. Scribe Ennis can craft a plausible war story, but I think he too often veers into that contemporary style of not having any and/or severely breaking down the heroic or honorable figures (sort of like what was done to Luke Skywalker and Han Solo in the recent trilogy of Star Wars films from 2015-2019), which can quickly become tiresome or annoying for fans of established characters.
The My War Gone By miniseries wraps not a moment too soon with another volume that jumps between the decades (involving actual notable military events) AND is just as depressing as hell. It kicks off with CIA operative Nick Fury returning to Vietnam in 1970 - when the 'Conflict' was now in full swing - and on a bold clandestine mission with none other than Frank Castle (eventually to be known as the vigilante 'The Punisher,' but here still serving his hitch in the USMC) in what was probably the best segment - especially their breakout from a POW jail - between the two narratives. However, like the initial volume things settle into an increasingly unpleasant or sour tone as some of the moments in the finale, set in 1984 during the Contra War of Nicaragua, were often disgusting. Scribe Ennis can craft a plausible war story, but I think he too often veers into that contemporary style of not having any and/or severely breaking down the heroic or honorable figures (sort of like what was done to Luke Skywalker and Han Solo in the recent trilogy of Star Wars films from 2015-2019), which can quickly become tiresome or annoying for fans of established characters.
November 5, 2013
A few years ago, Jason Aaron wrote the final story for the version of the Punisher where Frank was a man in his 60s, a grizzled veteran of the Vietnam War, giving Frank his longed-for death after fulfilling his vengeful mission in the final pages of Punisher MAX. The new version of the Punisher that emerged was in his 30s and a veteran of an unnamed war so as not to date him – the current version of the Punisher.
In the same way, Garth Ennis has written the final story of the classic Nick Fury in his 13-issue run, Fury MAX. The old white guy who fought in WW2 and had whacky spy adventures in the hands of Jim Steranko is given his last gasp as newer Marvel readers expect to see Sam Jackson Nick Fury interacting with Tony Stark and Steve Rogers. And while the handover from classic Nick Fury to Sam Jackson Nick Fury happened in the bizarre comic Battle Scars, Ennis gives Fury the proper send-off the character deserves, incorporating his vast knowledge of 20th century warfare from books like War Stories and Battlefields, to give us Fury MAX.
I wasn’t very impressed with the first Fury MAX book – it was a slow burner, which is fine, but got too slow and inadvertently showed Fury to be a less interesting character than first thought or more of a blank slate. The second book takes off thanks to the inclusion of two characters Ennis works best with – Frank Castle the Punisher and Barracuda. If you’ve read Ennis before you’ll have come across his Punisher MAX books and know how sublimely good they are – essentially the same story in every book but still utterly brilliant. When Volume 2 opens in 1970 Vietnam and a young Frank Castle sits from the side of a Huey, the story immediately crackles with energy as Frank – pre-Punisher – teams up with Fury to assassinate a Viet-Cong general.
Frank is an action man – every time he appears, he’s got a gun and he’s going to use it. Each time we see him, he’s on a mission and the story moves unstoppably forward as the character practically drags the writer and artist along with him, toward his enemy. You could argue Fury is the same way but as demonstrated in the first Fury MAX, Fury is more considered and politically savvy – he too can fight but knows when and when not to making him a less driving narrative force. This second book improves because it’s much more exciting as Frank appears and we get practically non-stop action until he leaves the story (pick up The Punisher: Born by Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson to see what happens to Frank next).
The second story arc takes place in Nicaragua, 1984, where we’re introduced to Ennis’ own creation, Barracuda, the fan-favourite Punisher villain, before he became the Punisher’s villain. Fury uncovers shady drug operations taking place in this poor country, run by his own country and facilitated by ‘Cuda, and shuts it down. Barracuda’s a great character who’s smart despite his thuggish appearance and way of speaking, and a formidable opponent and tactician. He’s also got a sense of humour about him that borders on sadistic and slapstick and is practically a force of nature unto himself. Fury going up against Barracuda would be one hell of a fight (check out Barracuda’s own spinoff book by Garth Ennis and Vols 5 and 9 of Punisher MAX also by Ennis to see more of the character).
But rather than give us out and out warfare, Ennis chooses to take a more critical look at these particular wars. Vietnam, Nicaragua, Iraq – these are not honourable wars, they are shameful ones, driven by greedy, cynical men exploiting patriotic young men and destroying entire countries and generations for money. I’m not saying Ennis has big balls for condemning the American Military in these conflicts, especially as considered opinion on these subjects firmly sides with him, but Ennis does use them to show Fury up to ultimately be something of a small, pathetic man, which is an extraordinary conclusion to build to.
As legendary a soldier as Fury was, he still participated in these horror-shows, he still did what his country told him to do, he still blindly followed orders. In the same way that Ennis posited an original interpretation of the Punisher by saying that Frank became the Punisher in Vietnam rather than in Central Park the day his family were gunned down by gangsters, Ennis defines his version of Fury as a man who so loves war that regardless of the reasons, he will be a part of it because that’s his entire purpose for being – and that is beyond sad. Which isn’t to write Fury off entirely, he does try to repent, he does do some good in his time, and his actions save lives, but by the end I feel Ennis was leaning one way in his look at the character.
Fury MAX Volume 2 is a good but really dark read. This is a book where a dead baby, umbilical cord still attached, face half mashed by a military boot, gets punted at Fury like a football – and that’s not the worst thing you see here. It’s Ennis looking with disgust upon American foreign and military policy of the last 50 years and coming to some unexpected ideas about a character you’d think would be portrayed heroically by the end. Ennis writes a fascinating character study of Nick Fury and for that alone this book is worth a checking out, but it is a draining read that’ll leave you empty by the last page.
In the same way, Garth Ennis has written the final story of the classic Nick Fury in his 13-issue run, Fury MAX. The old white guy who fought in WW2 and had whacky spy adventures in the hands of Jim Steranko is given his last gasp as newer Marvel readers expect to see Sam Jackson Nick Fury interacting with Tony Stark and Steve Rogers. And while the handover from classic Nick Fury to Sam Jackson Nick Fury happened in the bizarre comic Battle Scars, Ennis gives Fury the proper send-off the character deserves, incorporating his vast knowledge of 20th century warfare from books like War Stories and Battlefields, to give us Fury MAX.
I wasn’t very impressed with the first Fury MAX book – it was a slow burner, which is fine, but got too slow and inadvertently showed Fury to be a less interesting character than first thought or more of a blank slate. The second book takes off thanks to the inclusion of two characters Ennis works best with – Frank Castle the Punisher and Barracuda. If you’ve read Ennis before you’ll have come across his Punisher MAX books and know how sublimely good they are – essentially the same story in every book but still utterly brilliant. When Volume 2 opens in 1970 Vietnam and a young Frank Castle sits from the side of a Huey, the story immediately crackles with energy as Frank – pre-Punisher – teams up with Fury to assassinate a Viet-Cong general.
Frank is an action man – every time he appears, he’s got a gun and he’s going to use it. Each time we see him, he’s on a mission and the story moves unstoppably forward as the character practically drags the writer and artist along with him, toward his enemy. You could argue Fury is the same way but as demonstrated in the first Fury MAX, Fury is more considered and politically savvy – he too can fight but knows when and when not to making him a less driving narrative force. This second book improves because it’s much more exciting as Frank appears and we get practically non-stop action until he leaves the story (pick up The Punisher: Born by Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson to see what happens to Frank next).
The second story arc takes place in Nicaragua, 1984, where we’re introduced to Ennis’ own creation, Barracuda, the fan-favourite Punisher villain, before he became the Punisher’s villain. Fury uncovers shady drug operations taking place in this poor country, run by his own country and facilitated by ‘Cuda, and shuts it down. Barracuda’s a great character who’s smart despite his thuggish appearance and way of speaking, and a formidable opponent and tactician. He’s also got a sense of humour about him that borders on sadistic and slapstick and is practically a force of nature unto himself. Fury going up against Barracuda would be one hell of a fight (check out Barracuda’s own spinoff book by Garth Ennis and Vols 5 and 9 of Punisher MAX also by Ennis to see more of the character).
But rather than give us out and out warfare, Ennis chooses to take a more critical look at these particular wars. Vietnam, Nicaragua, Iraq – these are not honourable wars, they are shameful ones, driven by greedy, cynical men exploiting patriotic young men and destroying entire countries and generations for money. I’m not saying Ennis has big balls for condemning the American Military in these conflicts, especially as considered opinion on these subjects firmly sides with him, but Ennis does use them to show Fury up to ultimately be something of a small, pathetic man, which is an extraordinary conclusion to build to.
As legendary a soldier as Fury was, he still participated in these horror-shows, he still did what his country told him to do, he still blindly followed orders. In the same way that Ennis posited an original interpretation of the Punisher by saying that Frank became the Punisher in Vietnam rather than in Central Park the day his family were gunned down by gangsters, Ennis defines his version of Fury as a man who so loves war that regardless of the reasons, he will be a part of it because that’s his entire purpose for being – and that is beyond sad. Which isn’t to write Fury off entirely, he does try to repent, he does do some good in his time, and his actions save lives, but by the end I feel Ennis was leaning one way in his look at the character.
Fury MAX Volume 2 is a good but really dark read. This is a book where a dead baby, umbilical cord still attached, face half mashed by a military boot, gets punted at Fury like a football – and that’s not the worst thing you see here. It’s Ennis looking with disgust upon American foreign and military policy of the last 50 years and coming to some unexpected ideas about a character you’d think would be portrayed heroically by the end. Ennis writes a fascinating character study of Nick Fury and for that alone this book is worth a checking out, but it is a draining read that’ll leave you empty by the last page.
July 22, 2024
Two more missions that also include guest appearances by Frank Castle (pre-Punisher) and Barracuda.
1970 Vietnam - Assassinate a Viet Cong general
1984 - Nicaragua Fury deals with Barracuda who is running a drug operation
Ramps up the violence and horrors of war. I really liked the tie-in with Ennis's Punisher series. A satisfying conclusion to a pretty good series.
1970 Vietnam - Assassinate a Viet Cong general
1984 - Nicaragua Fury deals with Barracuda who is running a drug operation
Ramps up the violence and horrors of war. I really liked the tie-in with Ennis's Punisher series. A satisfying conclusion to a pretty good series.
September 7, 2017
Garth Ennis - writer
Goran Parlov - artist
This is Ennis & Parlov at their best. A bloody, melancholy meditation on the cold war and American imperialism. Very heavy stuff, but with more than enough action, adventure and humanity to keep from dragging the story down.
5/5 highly recommended
Goran Parlov - artist
This is Ennis & Parlov at their best. A bloody, melancholy meditation on the cold war and American imperialism. Very heavy stuff, but with more than enough action, adventure and humanity to keep from dragging the story down.
5/5 highly recommended
December 19, 2017
Ennis does Fury right
It's been a long time since I have read a mainstream comic with a legitimately tragic end and Ennis does deliver on that. Partly it is tragic because the conflict of scales: corrupt American politics, degeneration of boomer idealism, and a good man passing away. Strong writing for an "edgy" comic with superhero tie-ins.
It's been a long time since I have read a mainstream comic with a legitimately tragic end and Ennis does deliver on that. Partly it is tragic because the conflict of scales: corrupt American politics, degeneration of boomer idealism, and a good man passing away. Strong writing for an "edgy" comic with superhero tie-ins.
February 11, 2025
This is the best Fury MAX comic yet. Arcs that were established three graphic novels ago were resolved. A particularly well-written villain met his fate. Fury faces the repercussions of his actions.
All of this is shot through with Garth Ennis's authorial voice. While some may see in him a cynic, I see the brokenhearted and disillusioned. He's a man who fell in love with the American promise, but who hasn't reconciled himself to the American reality. For Ennis, the story of the Cold War is a story of venality and cowardice. For me, it's a story of blundering semi-competence.
Regardless, one can't deny that Ennis has crafted a well-told story with a distinct point of view. I'm told there's one collection in this line. I look forward to learning what's in store.
All of this is shot through with Garth Ennis's authorial voice. While some may see in him a cynic, I see the brokenhearted and disillusioned. He's a man who fell in love with the American promise, but who hasn't reconciled himself to the American reality. For Ennis, the story of the Cold War is a story of venality and cowardice. For me, it's a story of blundering semi-competence.
Regardless, one can't deny that Ennis has crafted a well-told story with a distinct point of view. I'm told there's one collection in this line. I look forward to learning what's in store.
May 27, 2017
marvel evrenine ait okuduğum çizgi romanların en az heyecan veren serisinin ikinci ve son kitabı
September 29, 2017
Il Fury di Ennis è un drogato di guerra: l'abbiamo subodorato nel volume precedente e lo vediamo bene adesso: quando l'invecchiamento ritardato del nostro gli consente di assistere alla dissoluzione del suo unico vero amico e della donna che ha sempre amato. E gli consente di capire bene quanto non fosse mai riuscito a gestire davvero la sua vita. Shirley Defabio, davanti a un bicchiere di qualche liquore, ammette a denti stretti che avrebbero potuto salvarsi a vicenda, ma hanno scelto entrambi di cedere alle proprie pulsioni: la voglia di comodità per lei, la voglia di stare in mezzo al massacro di lui. E' proprio Shirley lo specchio perfetto di questo quadro desolante dell'eroe, secondo la rappresentazione iconoclasta di Ennis. Volume davvero bello, toccante, che trascende il genere bellico o eroistico per concentrarsi sulle relazioni o sulla loro mancanza.
February 23, 2014
This is not the Nick Fury, the cool spy in the Marvel superhero universe or the one that appeared in Max Punisher. This is like a memoir of a soldier addicted to war type story and he wasnt old enough to appear in heroic World Wars but he played along in the 1950s-1980s all the ugly little wars where he knew he was doing the work for people with more money interest than helping the native people in different countries.
It became a more serious, dark war story than the violent heroic war comics i expected with appearences of characters like Frank Castle and Barracuda. It showed well how pointless some local wars are before they happen and even more in hindsight.
It became a more serious, dark war story than the violent heroic war comics i expected with appearences of characters like Frank Castle and Barracuda. It showed well how pointless some local wars are before they happen and even more in hindsight.
June 16, 2014
La hostia. Garth Ennis en estado puro, Furia es un personaje que mola y si lo metes en fregaos como las vergonzosas guerras de los USA, más todavía.
April 22, 2015
Brutal.
January 14, 2019
The only reason I’m giving this 5 stars is because I can’t give it 6 or 7 stars. It’s perfect. One of the best things I’ve ever read.
That ending... jesus christ... the emotional notes ring, and they ring loud and true. There’s so much to unpack.
This is not a feel good story by any means. The themes of loss, disillusionment, regret and a wasted life are laid on thick, and it works.
Don’t get me wrong, there’s still the fun and awesomeness of Fury being goddam Nick Fury... but there’s so much more there too.
“My War Gone By” as a whole (parts 1 and 2) distinguishes itself from The Punisher MAX in a very exciting way. Nick Fury is NOT Frank Castle lite. He’s a very unique and well constructed character. He’s conflicted. He’s unsure of himself... but he also has a strength of character that is unmatched, however unconventional it is.
Goran Parlov is a veteran of the Garth Ennis MAXverse, and this is some of his best work yet. His drawings are so visceral and engaging. The carnage, the lust, the cruelty, the melancholy... it’s all so strong. His characterizations convey Garth Ennis’s vision perfectly.
“Fury: My War Gone By” is comics and storytelling at it’s finest.
That ending... jesus christ... the emotional notes ring, and they ring loud and true. There’s so much to unpack.
This is not a feel good story by any means. The themes of loss, disillusionment, regret and a wasted life are laid on thick, and it works.
Don’t get me wrong, there’s still the fun and awesomeness of Fury being goddam Nick Fury... but there’s so much more there too.
“My War Gone By” as a whole (parts 1 and 2) distinguishes itself from The Punisher MAX in a very exciting way. Nick Fury is NOT Frank Castle lite. He’s a very unique and well constructed character. He’s conflicted. He’s unsure of himself... but he also has a strength of character that is unmatched, however unconventional it is.
Goran Parlov is a veteran of the Garth Ennis MAXverse, and this is some of his best work yet. His drawings are so visceral and engaging. The carnage, the lust, the cruelty, the melancholy... it’s all so strong. His characterizations convey Garth Ennis’s vision perfectly.
“Fury: My War Gone By” is comics and storytelling at it’s finest.
December 14, 2025
Y aquí llega lo que parece que se presentó como reclamo a Garth Ennis para presentar esta nueva colección Max. Y era poder insertar en este relato a Frank Castle (y Barracuda) a la hora de atender a los eventos ligados a Vietnam en la cronología de este Nick Furia alternativo. Por supuesto, estos personajes no se comen el protagonismo de Furia. Pero sí que se notan más esenciales en el planteamiento general de esta historia que los secundarios aparecidos desde el arranque y que tiran de forma mejor de ese atisbo de humanismo en el personaje que incluso se pisoterá de formas rayando lo deleznable en según qué casos. ¿Y al final para qué? Porque si bien de cara el final Ennis parece poder darle un desenlace de cierto prestigio a este accidentado recorrido vital entre conflictos bélicos sinsentido por los viles intereses de una Nación insaciable como logró en la distinguida competencia con obras como El Soldado Desconocido. Al final "Mis Guerras Pasadas" solo supone otro ejercicio de "enfant terrible" del mundo del cómic por parte de Ennis de enfangar otro icóno del mundo "Pijamero".
January 13, 2021
4.5 stars. Gut wrenching. This volume is much better than the first with its inclusion of Frank Castle, pre-punisher born and Barracuda, before he becomes a Punisher villain. Ennis doesn't hesitate to portray Nam, Iraq, and many of these wars in a negative light. Showing how patriotic great young men put their lives on the line while politicians used them for greed and corruptive purposes. He doesn't say that outright but its shown and woven naturally in the story. On top of it, Old Nick Fury at the end, despite his "legendary " status is still a very flawed man, missing many pieces of his life that he gave up to be back in war. War gave him purpose but at the end, he is alone. The few people who he cared about dead, as he now copes with his demons through drinking and venting on a recorder. It's a brutal storyline but well done and is a great send off to the Fury of Old (Pre-Sam Jackson Version).
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 11, 2024
"The morning we met, he... It was outside the embassy in Saigon. He was a little disappointed in me. Looked at the flag on top of the building, asked if I believed it meant anything at all. I said I thought it should. Asked him what he thought it meant. He said I was a cynic, that we shouldn't waste each other's time. Then he said I wouldn't believe him if he told me, anyway. So I said -- try me. He told me it had to do with the debt we owed to the past, and the responsibility we owed to the future. He said it was right there for all to see. Blood on the bandaged wounds of brave men -- and all the stars in the sky."
An Irishman writes the most beautiful description of what the American flag could have -- or should have -- but never really has -- represented. I don't know if this is Ennis's masterpiece, writing-wise, but it's up there, for sure.
An Irishman writes the most beautiful description of what the American flag could have -- or should have -- but never really has -- represented. I don't know if this is Ennis's masterpiece, writing-wise, but it's up there, for sure.
June 2, 2019
Not for the faint of heart, Garth Ennis continues his MAX tale of Nick Fury descending into the madness of the Cold War -- participating in covert missions from Vietnam (where he meets an Army sniper named Frank Castle) to the drug-corrupted Contra wars of Nicaragua.
Ennis, ably assisted by Goran Parlov on art, is able to plumb the depths of his cynicism, his use of violence to demonstrate a point, and his many political axes to grind. But beyond polemic, this is a deeply awful and tragic story, grounded in far too much reality for comfort. It's not something I'd reread casually, but I don't regret for a moment reading it.
Ennis, ably assisted by Goran Parlov on art, is able to plumb the depths of his cynicism, his use of violence to demonstrate a point, and his many political axes to grind. But beyond polemic, this is a deeply awful and tragic story, grounded in far too much reality for comfort. It's not something I'd reread casually, but I don't regret for a moment reading it.
May 23, 2018
A notch above the usual Ennis MAX PUNISHER stories, and two notches above his previous, sillier, hut still enjoyable Nick Fury tales (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...). It's a changeup in tone similar to Ennis' Marvel Knights vs MAX Punisher. I assumed this was a continuation of those but it's really not - so now I have to go find Volume 1.
[Minus a star for the hack artist not drawing Fury like Sam Jackson, tho'. . . ] ; )
[Minus a star for the hack artist not drawing Fury like Sam Jackson, tho'. . . ] ; )
May 5, 2020
One of the best Ennis has ever written
Simply amazing. I'm not going to give anything away. I'm just going to say, I've read a lot of Ennis. Hitman is zany fun mostly. Preacher is not for the squeamish, but it makes one think. War Stories is historical fun. Fury is different. Fury is an open look at America's mistakes. At thinking we can fix anything. It also has a few panels, where fury is at the Viet Nam memorial, that brought tears to my eyes. Simply brilliant.
Simply amazing. I'm not going to give anything away. I'm just going to say, I've read a lot of Ennis. Hitman is zany fun mostly. Preacher is not for the squeamish, but it makes one think. War Stories is historical fun. Fury is different. Fury is an open look at America's mistakes. At thinking we can fix anything. It also has a few panels, where fury is at the Viet Nam memorial, that brought tears to my eyes. Simply brilliant.
June 3, 2024
4.5
The conclusion of the epic, sprawling Fury Max arc is an assured and devastating thing, with an emphasis on politics, regret and trauma rather than violent action scenes or bloody battles. Anyone who dismisses Ennis as an edgelord should probably expand their reading of the bloke, because this is genuinely powerful stuff.
The conclusion of the epic, sprawling Fury Max arc is an assured and devastating thing, with an emphasis on politics, regret and trauma rather than violent action scenes or bloody battles. Anyone who dismisses Ennis as an edgelord should probably expand their reading of the bloke, because this is genuinely powerful stuff.
October 16, 2024
It is legitimately unfair how good this book is - and that it’s out of print.
Best read together, this series is Ennis at his war telling best, aided with hindsight that those in the thick of it (50s - 80s) couldn’t see - or bear to consider. The series ends not with a triumphant look back at the past, but with a broken man struggling to deal with the sins of the best of intentions.
Best read together, this series is Ennis at his war telling best, aided with hindsight that those in the thick of it (50s - 80s) couldn’t see - or bear to consider. The series ends not with a triumphant look back at the past, but with a broken man struggling to deal with the sins of the best of intentions.
August 30, 2018
The stunning conclusion to another bloody and gripping tale by Garth Ennis.
I would have read this book much quicker if I was not so shocked and awed.
A fantastic tale with a very thought provoking ending.
I would have read this book much quicker if I was not so shocked and awed.
A fantastic tale with a very thought provoking ending.
December 10, 2020
The first volume was a tad choppy, but it lays the groundwork for the gut-punch ending of disappointment in issue #13. Nice to see everyone but Fury getting older as the years roll by (including sudden male pattern baldness).
November 18, 2017
Garth Ennis' Fury MAX and Punisher MAX runs are two of my favorite comic books published to date.
April 26, 2018
Well... that was depressing.
August 23, 2019
ABSOLUTE RATING: {3.5/5 stars} (Rounded Up)
STANDARDIZED RATING: <4/5 stars>
STANDARDIZED RATING: <4/5 stars>
November 23, 2019
The history is spot on, but the character interactions are sad.
October 2, 2020
Even better than the first volume.
October 21, 2021
Great Finale
Really good follow-up to the first. God this shit is depressing though...😁 Nick Fury just can't catch a break .
Really good follow-up to the first. God this shit is depressing though...😁 Nick Fury just can't catch a break .
March 17, 2023
"No matter how many times i lie down, i just cant seem to die"
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