What do you think?
Rate this book
The Punisher (2004) (Collected Editions) #6-10
The Punisher MAX by Garth Ennis Omnibus, Vol. 2
The Punisher takes on all comers as his bloody war on crime continues! Frank Castle has faced some fearsome foes in his day, but none as stone-cold rotten to the bone as the Barracuda - you don't want to see him smile! Then, Frank enters a grudge match with a Soviet war criminal known as the Man of Stone. But even that hell can't match the fury of five women scorned: Frank killed their husbands, and now they're out for payback. Plus, the Punisher hunts the biggest game of all! Barracuda seeks bloody revenge! And tales from Frank Castle's beginning and end - featuring his childhood and his last stand in an apocalyptic future. Nobody takes Punisher to the MAX like Garth Ennis! COLLECTING: PUNISHER (2004) 31-60, PUNISHER PRESENTS: BARRACUDA 1-5, PUNISHER: THE TYGER, PUNISHER: THE CELL, UNISHER: THE END
1008 pages, Hardcover
First published August 13, 2008
5 people are currently reading
221 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
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
July 8, 2018
A middle aged, white, American, hetero male sees corruption, and knows that the only way to solve it is with violence, and to do it alone. Fuck the system. Those bureaucrats and politically correct whiners don't know anything about the reality of how to deal with this scum. Let The Lone Hero deal with it like A Man. . . . PART TWO!
The tone of the series begins dark and cynical, a character study of a man driven to madness by the horror of war. It dives pretty quickly from this into pure pulp and exploitation, with occasional glimpses of brilliance, and far more instances of embarrassing cheesiness, and the occasional flirtation with outright fascism. At its best, it's a thoughtful look into the nature of violence, revenge, and the psychological impact of war. Most frequently, it is middling satire. At its worst, it ought not to be read by any human with a brain, and especially not those without one.
The following is my breakdown of the arcs and single issues contained in this collection.
Barracuda:
Of the Punisher Max series, this was the first story I've read where Frank Castle targets white businessmen instead of gangsters who happen to be persons of colour. It was a welcome change to show that Castle can battle white collar crime like blue collar crime. Barracuda was a formidable villain. The violence against the principle female character was pretty gross, though, as was the depiction of her as a sex addict, being the only female. Those details brought down a solid three star book to two for me.
Two Stars
Man of Stone:
This story puts Frank Castle in a war zone, where his character always makes the most sense. The Punisher doesn't really belong next to super humans in tights who fight aliens. But he is completely believable in combat. So, this makes for a straight ahead, believable war graphic novel, if not one that gives any particular insight into or growth for the eponymous character. More sexist treatment of a female character mars the story, though it is very mild compared to other arcs in the series.
Three Stars
Widowmaker:
Garth Ennis is kind of sick, I think. This could have been so good. I think I know what he was going for. It had elements I liked. But in the end the exploitation tone just ruined it. It's gross. I'm going to need to take a break from this series for a while. Maybe forever.
One Star
My thoughts on the first half of this omnibus, read in March 2018, as published in The Complete Punisher Max Volume 3:
I hope these three arcs represent the lowest point of the entire series. I simply could not handle it if it got worse.
That last story had so much potential. It could have been the best one yet based on the premise. Instead, it took a great idea for a character and just shat all over her. Because she was a woman, maybe? Eh?
This guy can't write a female character in this book that isn't a villain, a victim, or a sex addict (or all three).
So, I'll be waiting a month or more before continuing with the next story. If I do.
+++
(Months later . . .)
Barracuda:
Okay. I've watched enough exploitation cinema in the last couple of months to feel like maybe I can get where this is supposed to be coming from. In this title, Barracuda is the protagonist, rather than Punisher. He is a lot funnier on his own, and a lot easier to laugh at and with as the "hero" of the story. As the villain in a Punisher book, it can sometimes be punishment to the sensitive reader to have a jive-talking, grill wearing, black gangster cliche getting beaten down by a white bread fascist vigilante. That said, as much fun as he is, there isn't much here that Robert Kirkman didn't already do much better with Negan. For those fans of Negan who don't care to be too picky, there is probably something here for them to love, too.
Three Stars
Long Cold Dark:
Even as exploitation genre storytelling, this is just weak. It's gross to look at. It's paper thin. It is emotionally manipulative - but hey, exploitation. The art isn't even trying to be consistent. This is a waste of time. I mean, the title has been worse than this. But not much else has.
One Star
Valley Forge, Valley Forge
Though the complete omnibus does not end after this story, this is the most recent, and final published arc of Garth Ennis' run on The Punisher Max. The final three issues in this collection are one shots that were published two years before this arc was published. So, this can be read as the conclusion of Ennis' full story of The Punisher in this uncensored, adult line. It ends as it began, with the Vietnam War, returning to the story of Frank Castle as he was in Born, and examining his convictions and life in the years following. It is a fitting end to the series, striking a more serious and contemplative note rather than the absurdity and exploitation feel of some of the other arcs in the series. Unfortunately, it also feels like it comes too late, like Ennis didn't quite have the passion or energy to create as powerful and meaningful a book as he did with Born. I also imagined that he may have had this story in mind from the beginning. But with all the issues, and years, intervening between those amazing first stories and this one, it comes out like a whimpering end. The art is inconsistent. Huge blocks of text (both text on the illustrated page, and actual full pages of prose) interrupt the story, expositing when illustrating could have been more powerful. Of course, to tell the full story that he has here, including the score of pages of prose text, he would have needed to make it twice as long. To do it justice, he would have needed a dedicated, consistent artist. Personally, I could have done without any of the Barracuda nonsense in order to just see this story done well. A disappointment.
To readers like me, who loved Born, I would definitely recommend checking out this conclusion to the story that began, even skipping all the good and the bad in between in this whole series. It is worth reading, just to see where it might have gone, even if this collection didn't quite get there.
Three Stars
The Tyger (one-shot - published before Valley Forge, Valley Forge)
~~~
This long single issue is better than many of the longer form stories in this collection. However, it did more to showcase how poor most of the other stories are in this omnibus than it did to actually distinguish itself as genuinely good.
Three Stars
The Cell (one-shot - published before Valley Forge, Valley Forge)
~~~
The Cell is one of the better, even among the best, of the stories in this entire two volume omnibus. It seems clear to me that Ennis is much better with this character in short form stories than a continuing narrative. All of the best stories in his collection are the shortest. All of the most overlong stories (ahem Barracuda) are the most middling and inane. This single issue is a much better end to the character arc begun in Borne than was the actual conclusion, Valley Forge Valley Forge. This is the gritty, violent, simple, and human story that makes an adult rendering of The Punisher so worth reading. It doesn't completely stand on its own, like Borne, or some others. Some previous knowledge of the character and backstory is necessary. But even if only the most elementary knowledge of the character present, this is powerful.
Five Stars
The End (one-shot - published before Valley Forge, Valley Forge)
~~~
Okay, this was actually fucking fantastic. In this story set in a post-apocalyptic future, Frank Castle must escape from prison to wreak vengeance on behalf of the earth and most of the human race by tracking down the few left that are responsible for its near extinction. I was expecting something more like Old Man Logan (or Logan, the film), The Dark Knight Returns, or Spider-Man Reign. Instead, it's more like an epic eighties dark sci-fi action flick. Something starring Clint Eastwood, but jacked and with a lot of guns, and shot in orange. Gunfire and flame. Sick. Okay, this whole omnibus isn't worth it. But these last three stories, right after reading Borne, would be about all you would need to read to get Punisher's best of, I think. It's enough to elevate these last three stories. But it isn't enough to elevate the omnibus, both volumes of which are worth skipping.
Five Stars
CONCLUSION:
In this second and last omnibus of this complete collection of Garth Ennis' Punisher Max series, interesting ideas and premises with great potential mostly range in execution between basically competent and offensively bad.
I do recommend the first couple of arcs in the first omnibus, and the final major arc in this one for the sake of conclusion. The three one-shots follow the concluding arc beautifully, despite being published out of order. But as a whole, this exhaustive two volume omnibus does not really give us a series of fantastic or must read comics, and some are shockingly bad often enough that this definitive collection of the series is worth skipping. Of the two, this volume is certainly the lesser.
☠
Read as trade paperbacks The Punisher Max Complete Collection Volumes Three and Four
Max/Marvel 2004/2018
Illustrated by Goran Parlov, Leandro Fernández, Lan Medina, Howard Chaykin, John Severin, Lewis LaRosa, and Richard Corben
Two Stars (Volume 2 of Omnibus)
Three Stars (Complete Omnibus)
February 24-July 7, 2018
☠
The tone of the series begins dark and cynical, a character study of a man driven to madness by the horror of war. It dives pretty quickly from this into pure pulp and exploitation, with occasional glimpses of brilliance, and far more instances of embarrassing cheesiness, and the occasional flirtation with outright fascism. At its best, it's a thoughtful look into the nature of violence, revenge, and the psychological impact of war. Most frequently, it is middling satire. At its worst, it ought not to be read by any human with a brain, and especially not those without one.
The following is my breakdown of the arcs and single issues contained in this collection.
Barracuda:
Of the Punisher Max series, this was the first story I've read where Frank Castle targets white businessmen instead of gangsters who happen to be persons of colour. It was a welcome change to show that Castle can battle white collar crime like blue collar crime. Barracuda was a formidable villain. The violence against the principle female character was pretty gross, though, as was the depiction of her as a sex addict, being the only female. Those details brought down a solid three star book to two for me.
Two Stars
Man of Stone:
This story puts Frank Castle in a war zone, where his character always makes the most sense. The Punisher doesn't really belong next to super humans in tights who fight aliens. But he is completely believable in combat. So, this makes for a straight ahead, believable war graphic novel, if not one that gives any particular insight into or growth for the eponymous character. More sexist treatment of a female character mars the story, though it is very mild compared to other arcs in the series.
Three Stars
Widowmaker:
Garth Ennis is kind of sick, I think. This could have been so good. I think I know what he was going for. It had elements I liked. But in the end the exploitation tone just ruined it. It's gross. I'm going to need to take a break from this series for a while. Maybe forever.
One Star
My thoughts on the first half of this omnibus, read in March 2018, as published in The Complete Punisher Max Volume 3:
I hope these three arcs represent the lowest point of the entire series. I simply could not handle it if it got worse.
That last story had so much potential. It could have been the best one yet based on the premise. Instead, it took a great idea for a character and just shat all over her. Because she was a woman, maybe? Eh?
This guy can't write a female character in this book that isn't a villain, a victim, or a sex addict (or all three).
So, I'll be waiting a month or more before continuing with the next story. If I do.
+++
(Months later . . .)
Barracuda:
Okay. I've watched enough exploitation cinema in the last couple of months to feel like maybe I can get where this is supposed to be coming from. In this title, Barracuda is the protagonist, rather than Punisher. He is a lot funnier on his own, and a lot easier to laugh at and with as the "hero" of the story. As the villain in a Punisher book, it can sometimes be punishment to the sensitive reader to have a jive-talking, grill wearing, black gangster cliche getting beaten down by a white bread fascist vigilante. That said, as much fun as he is, there isn't much here that Robert Kirkman didn't already do much better with Negan. For those fans of Negan who don't care to be too picky, there is probably something here for them to love, too.
Three Stars
Long Cold Dark:
Even as exploitation genre storytelling, this is just weak. It's gross to look at. It's paper thin. It is emotionally manipulative - but hey, exploitation. The art isn't even trying to be consistent. This is a waste of time. I mean, the title has been worse than this. But not much else has.
One Star
Valley Forge, Valley Forge
Though the complete omnibus does not end after this story, this is the most recent, and final published arc of Garth Ennis' run on The Punisher Max. The final three issues in this collection are one shots that were published two years before this arc was published. So, this can be read as the conclusion of Ennis' full story of The Punisher in this uncensored, adult line. It ends as it began, with the Vietnam War, returning to the story of Frank Castle as he was in Born, and examining his convictions and life in the years following. It is a fitting end to the series, striking a more serious and contemplative note rather than the absurdity and exploitation feel of some of the other arcs in the series. Unfortunately, it also feels like it comes too late, like Ennis didn't quite have the passion or energy to create as powerful and meaningful a book as he did with Born. I also imagined that he may have had this story in mind from the beginning. But with all the issues, and years, intervening between those amazing first stories and this one, it comes out like a whimpering end. The art is inconsistent. Huge blocks of text (both text on the illustrated page, and actual full pages of prose) interrupt the story, expositing when illustrating could have been more powerful. Of course, to tell the full story that he has here, including the score of pages of prose text, he would have needed to make it twice as long. To do it justice, he would have needed a dedicated, consistent artist. Personally, I could have done without any of the Barracuda nonsense in order to just see this story done well. A disappointment.
To readers like me, who loved Born, I would definitely recommend checking out this conclusion to the story that began, even skipping all the good and the bad in between in this whole series. It is worth reading, just to see where it might have gone, even if this collection didn't quite get there.
Three Stars
The Tyger (one-shot - published before Valley Forge, Valley Forge)
~~~
This long single issue is better than many of the longer form stories in this collection. However, it did more to showcase how poor most of the other stories are in this omnibus than it did to actually distinguish itself as genuinely good.
Three Stars
The Cell (one-shot - published before Valley Forge, Valley Forge)
~~~
The Cell is one of the better, even among the best, of the stories in this entire two volume omnibus. It seems clear to me that Ennis is much better with this character in short form stories than a continuing narrative. All of the best stories in his collection are the shortest. All of the most overlong stories (ahem Barracuda) are the most middling and inane. This single issue is a much better end to the character arc begun in Borne than was the actual conclusion, Valley Forge Valley Forge. This is the gritty, violent, simple, and human story that makes an adult rendering of The Punisher so worth reading. It doesn't completely stand on its own, like Borne, or some others. Some previous knowledge of the character and backstory is necessary. But even if only the most elementary knowledge of the character present, this is powerful.
Five Stars
The End (one-shot - published before Valley Forge, Valley Forge)
~~~
Okay, this was actually fucking fantastic. In this story set in a post-apocalyptic future, Frank Castle must escape from prison to wreak vengeance on behalf of the earth and most of the human race by tracking down the few left that are responsible for its near extinction. I was expecting something more like Old Man Logan (or Logan, the film), The Dark Knight Returns, or Spider-Man Reign. Instead, it's more like an epic eighties dark sci-fi action flick. Something starring Clint Eastwood, but jacked and with a lot of guns, and shot in orange. Gunfire and flame. Sick. Okay, this whole omnibus isn't worth it. But these last three stories, right after reading Borne, would be about all you would need to read to get Punisher's best of, I think. It's enough to elevate these last three stories. But it isn't enough to elevate the omnibus, both volumes of which are worth skipping.
Five Stars
CONCLUSION:
In this second and last omnibus of this complete collection of Garth Ennis' Punisher Max series, interesting ideas and premises with great potential mostly range in execution between basically competent and offensively bad.
I do recommend the first couple of arcs in the first omnibus, and the final major arc in this one for the sake of conclusion. The three one-shots follow the concluding arc beautifully, despite being published out of order. But as a whole, this exhaustive two volume omnibus does not really give us a series of fantastic or must read comics, and some are shockingly bad often enough that this definitive collection of the series is worth skipping. Of the two, this volume is certainly the lesser.
☠
Read as trade paperbacks The Punisher Max Complete Collection Volumes Three and Four
Max/Marvel 2004/2018
Illustrated by Goran Parlov, Leandro Fernández, Lan Medina, Howard Chaykin, John Severin, Lewis LaRosa, and Richard Corben
Two Stars (Volume 2 of Omnibus)
Three Stars (Complete Omnibus)
February 24-July 7, 2018
☠
June 22, 2022
Through and through, from volume 1 to volume 2, this is a masterpiece. Garth Ennis is the Quentin Tarantino of graphic novels, this also doesn’t read like your typical comic book…this is a novel. Each story keeps you in suspense. I love how Garth was able to tie it all in together from the first volume all the way to “The End” literally. Some of the best I’ve ever read and so fitting for todays day and age, in terms of how evil the world truly is and whom really is in charge. Garth gave Frank an identity, a purpose. This isn’t just a collection of killings and action scenes. I’m surprised no one has turned these stories into movies or a series.
My only gripe is with Marvel and the binding of this Omnibus. I spent a fortune on it via eBay, since it’s out of print and the spine is literally falling apart. I had to do tons of patching and gluing to keep this one together forever on my shelf. It’s kind of comically synonymous actually, my physical copy of this book is holding on by a thread, sort of like, Frank Castle.
My only gripe is with Marvel and the binding of this Omnibus. I spent a fortune on it via eBay, since it’s out of print and the spine is literally falling apart. I had to do tons of patching and gluing to keep this one together forever on my shelf. It’s kind of comically synonymous actually, my physical copy of this book is holding on by a thread, sort of like, Frank Castle.
November 16, 2024
(Zero spoiler review) 4.5/5
My favourite of the three Garth Ennis omnibus for sure. The stories here hit so much harder than the first omnibus, with Ennis able to curb his tendency to spill over from the sublime to the ridiculous (for the most part, anyway). Only the 'Real Housewives of the Mafia' story (Widowmaker), not landing with me.
Everything Ennis does, even his less than stellar work is infinitely readable. The man knows how to craft a story to keep those pages ticking over, despite the artwork, which it must be said, was generally a downgrade from the first collection. Goran Pavlov, who did the lions share of the issues here, seemed to deteriorate in quality as the book progressed. Not sure why Leandro Fernando didn't continue receiving every other run, but all in all, it was perfectly acceptable, though nothing revolutionary. The three one shots to round things out gave us Richard Corben and John Severin, which made for a pleasant surprise, even if those stories weren't Ennis' finest hour.
Given the current climate in 2024, it is still hard to believe there was ever an incarnation of Marvel that allowed these stories to be published. I certainly wouldn't recommend anyone risk their long term well being to see what passes for the modern incarnation of the Punisher, but regardless of how safe and sanitised he has become, we can at least be grateful that a writer with the chops of Garth Ennis got to spend such a long and fruitful time with the character.
Marvel reprinted the first of these omni's recently, which I thought they never would. I'd suggest holding out for a reprint of this, because it is likely going to be rather expensive on the secondary market. 4.5/5
OmniBen.
My favourite of the three Garth Ennis omnibus for sure. The stories here hit so much harder than the first omnibus, with Ennis able to curb his tendency to spill over from the sublime to the ridiculous (for the most part, anyway). Only the 'Real Housewives of the Mafia' story (Widowmaker), not landing with me.
Everything Ennis does, even his less than stellar work is infinitely readable. The man knows how to craft a story to keep those pages ticking over, despite the artwork, which it must be said, was generally a downgrade from the first collection. Goran Pavlov, who did the lions share of the issues here, seemed to deteriorate in quality as the book progressed. Not sure why Leandro Fernando didn't continue receiving every other run, but all in all, it was perfectly acceptable, though nothing revolutionary. The three one shots to round things out gave us Richard Corben and John Severin, which made for a pleasant surprise, even if those stories weren't Ennis' finest hour.
Given the current climate in 2024, it is still hard to believe there was ever an incarnation of Marvel that allowed these stories to be published. I certainly wouldn't recommend anyone risk their long term well being to see what passes for the modern incarnation of the Punisher, but regardless of how safe and sanitised he has become, we can at least be grateful that a writer with the chops of Garth Ennis got to spend such a long and fruitful time with the character.
Marvel reprinted the first of these omni's recently, which I thought they never would. I'd suggest holding out for a reprint of this, because it is likely going to be rather expensive on the secondary market. 4.5/5
OmniBen.
July 26, 2022
Very graphic in violence and with language that is very much explicit, it is still one of the best anti-war narratives out there. Issues 50 to 60 especially were outstanding
February 19, 2025
Garth Ennis finishes out his run on Punisher Max with a bang. Though I think this collection is weaker than the previous volume overall, the highs reached here are the highest of the entire run.
Barracuda - A helluva way to start this collection, Barracuda certainly starts this collection on a proper note. The corporation provides a satisfyingly hatable villain while does his thing, but the real star here is the titular Barracuda. An unsettlingly charming presence, Barracuda shines in this story and quickly cements himself as one of the best Punisher villains of all time.
Man of Stone - Certainly less over the top than its predecessor, Mother Russia, Man of Stone provides an at least somewhat more ground war story for Frank Castle to trudge his way through. Much like Frank, this story was when I finally came around on O’Brien as a character. Right when she’s ripped away. Easily one of the most satisfying endings of the entire run.
Widowmaker - Ultimately I think this is my least favorite story in the entire Punisher Max line. In spite of a great premise and some interesting ideas, it never really goes anywhere with them and sports an ending that is Garth Ennis falling into his worst tendencies. I think over a longer series, or even just focusing the relationship between Frank and Jenny would made this much better. Though the opening of the second issue with Frank shutting down the child pornography ring is one of the best Punisher moments of all time.
Barracuda Max - A vertigo-inducing change of tone from the previous arc, Barracuda Max is really its own beast. Ennis fully commits to the insanity of Barracuda in a way that makes it hard to imagine this is connected to the previous Punisher stories. An over the top, disgustingly brutal action comedy that’s somewhat dated and features a few undoubtedly problematic elements. All that is to say though that Barracuda is such an incredibly entertaining character to read that you just can’t look away. Overall very solid.
Long Cold Dark - Back in line with Punisher Max up to this point, Long Cold Dark provides an excellent end for the character of Barracuda and one of my favorite arcs in the entire series, easily the most emotionally charged. Here, Frank and his humanity is put front and center with some absolute gut punch moments. From Frank’s Dream of his family to final few pages, this story shows absolutely unravel as his humanity is unwillingly brought to the surface. Of course though, he’s already too far gone.
Valley Forge, Valley Forge - Garth Ennis ends his Punisher Max run on a bang, bringing the story full circle back to where it started with Born. Captain Howe is really the protagonist of this story and provides a great ideological opposition for Frank to play off of. The excerpts of the fictional book Valley Forge, Valley Forge are excellent reads in and of themselves and provide an excellent ending to this story.
The Tyger - A fascinating look at Frank Castle’s childhood that shows where the Punisher really began without going so far as to make him a through and through psychopath from birth. One of my favorite stories from the entire run.
The Cell - Another absolutely incredible one-shot, The Cell puts the Punisher behind bars, providing an excellent staging ground for this story. From Frank’s calculated moves to incite a riot at Rikers, to the brutal psychological torment of the five wise guys he’s after, and ending with the heart-stopping revelation of why these five men in particular. The Cell comes out as one of absolute favorite Punisher stories of all time and makes me wish we could have gotten more one-shots like it from Ennis.
The End - An interesting note to end this collection on. In spite of its name this story really isn’t about Frank at all, it’s about the war on terror and everything around it that inevitably sets us on a path of destruction. It’s a story completely and utterly devoid of any hope or life. Even for a character like Frank Castle, this was just a bit too much for Me. However, my main issue with this story was that I just couldn’t get into the art. There’s some beautiful spreads sprinkled throughout of the landscapes but everything else didn’t work for me, especially the human anatomy that makes everyone look too small. All that being said, the last few pages of this story where a dying Frank stumbles through the wasteland, trying in vain to save his family, is just about the best ending the character could get.
Barracuda - A helluva way to start this collection, Barracuda certainly starts this collection on a proper note. The corporation provides a satisfyingly hatable villain while does his thing, but the real star here is the titular Barracuda. An unsettlingly charming presence, Barracuda shines in this story and quickly cements himself as one of the best Punisher villains of all time.
Man of Stone - Certainly less over the top than its predecessor, Mother Russia, Man of Stone provides an at least somewhat more ground war story for Frank Castle to trudge his way through. Much like Frank, this story was when I finally came around on O’Brien as a character. Right when she’s ripped away. Easily one of the most satisfying endings of the entire run.
Widowmaker - Ultimately I think this is my least favorite story in the entire Punisher Max line. In spite of a great premise and some interesting ideas, it never really goes anywhere with them and sports an ending that is Garth Ennis falling into his worst tendencies. I think over a longer series, or even just focusing the relationship between Frank and Jenny would made this much better. Though the opening of the second issue with Frank shutting down the child pornography ring is one of the best Punisher moments of all time.
Barracuda Max - A vertigo-inducing change of tone from the previous arc, Barracuda Max is really its own beast. Ennis fully commits to the insanity of Barracuda in a way that makes it hard to imagine this is connected to the previous Punisher stories. An over the top, disgustingly brutal action comedy that’s somewhat dated and features a few undoubtedly problematic elements. All that is to say though that Barracuda is such an incredibly entertaining character to read that you just can’t look away. Overall very solid.
Long Cold Dark - Back in line with Punisher Max up to this point, Long Cold Dark provides an excellent end for the character of Barracuda and one of my favorite arcs in the entire series, easily the most emotionally charged. Here, Frank and his humanity is put front and center with some absolute gut punch moments. From Frank’s Dream of his family to final few pages, this story shows absolutely unravel as his humanity is unwillingly brought to the surface. Of course though, he’s already too far gone.
Valley Forge, Valley Forge - Garth Ennis ends his Punisher Max run on a bang, bringing the story full circle back to where it started with Born. Captain Howe is really the protagonist of this story and provides a great ideological opposition for Frank to play off of. The excerpts of the fictional book Valley Forge, Valley Forge are excellent reads in and of themselves and provide an excellent ending to this story.
The Tyger - A fascinating look at Frank Castle’s childhood that shows where the Punisher really began without going so far as to make him a through and through psychopath from birth. One of my favorite stories from the entire run.
The Cell - Another absolutely incredible one-shot, The Cell puts the Punisher behind bars, providing an excellent staging ground for this story. From Frank’s calculated moves to incite a riot at Rikers, to the brutal psychological torment of the five wise guys he’s after, and ending with the heart-stopping revelation of why these five men in particular. The Cell comes out as one of absolute favorite Punisher stories of all time and makes me wish we could have gotten more one-shots like it from Ennis.
The End - An interesting note to end this collection on. In spite of its name this story really isn’t about Frank at all, it’s about the war on terror and everything around it that inevitably sets us on a path of destruction. It’s a story completely and utterly devoid of any hope or life. Even for a character like Frank Castle, this was just a bit too much for Me. However, my main issue with this story was that I just couldn’t get into the art. There’s some beautiful spreads sprinkled throughout of the landscapes but everything else didn’t work for me, especially the human anatomy that makes everyone look too small. All that being said, the last few pages of this story where a dying Frank stumbles through the wasteland, trying in vain to save his family, is just about the best ending the character could get.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 27, 2026
More Punisher goodness from Ennis is this continuation of his MAX run. Many of the plotlines established in volume one come to a head in this second volume. This volume also features fan favorite, foil to the Punisher, and deliberately satirical racial caricature of Baraccuda. He's a sadistic psychopath that is nonetheless charismatic and hilarious. It's a shame to see people put off by his over the top nature and "problematic" racial stereotyping when there's a particular story reason for it.
Volume one wasn't without its social and political messaging, but volume two felt like it really doubled down and hammered in its points. In particular, we see pointed criticism towards the politicians dragging their countries into pointless and bloody wars, corporations and executives who seek to profit off the misery and suffering of others, and the impact this leaves on those who are made to suffer as victims of these evils. And of course, we continue to get a personal examination and character study of the Punisher himself, also a surprisingly engaging and insightful treat despite how static of a character Punisher is. Ennis really knows how to write his characters.
This book contains some really good stuff, it's hard to pick out favorites. I loved the "Widowmaker" and "Valley Forge, Valley Forge" arcs. The one-shots at the end -- "The Tyger", "The Cell", and "The End" -- were also great too.
Ennis' Punisher MAX run is THE Punisher run in my opinion.
Volume one wasn't without its social and political messaging, but volume two felt like it really doubled down and hammered in its points. In particular, we see pointed criticism towards the politicians dragging their countries into pointless and bloody wars, corporations and executives who seek to profit off the misery and suffering of others, and the impact this leaves on those who are made to suffer as victims of these evils. And of course, we continue to get a personal examination and character study of the Punisher himself, also a surprisingly engaging and insightful treat despite how static of a character Punisher is. Ennis really knows how to write his characters.
This book contains some really good stuff, it's hard to pick out favorites. I loved the "Widowmaker" and "Valley Forge, Valley Forge" arcs. The one-shots at the end -- "The Tyger", "The Cell", and "The End" -- were also great too.
Ennis' Punisher MAX run is THE Punisher run in my opinion.
January 30, 2023
Bello è bello, ma non come il 2 , sarebbero 3.5 stelle sinceramente
Bellissimo e cattivissimo barracuda, bella la sua costruzione e come continua a dare filo da torcere al nostro frank
Molto belle le 3 storie in appendice , soprattutto la seconda, dove frank si vendica dei suoi carnefici
Anche qua tanto da pensare,sul vietnam e sul integrità del esercito americano, quanto c’è di vero nelle parole di ennies?
Bellissimo e cattivissimo barracuda, bella la sua costruzione e come continua a dare filo da torcere al nostro frank
Molto belle le 3 storie in appendice , soprattutto la seconda, dove frank si vendica dei suoi carnefici
Anche qua tanto da pensare,sul vietnam e sul integrità del esercito americano, quanto c’è di vero nelle parole di ennies?
April 10, 2023
Che bomba.
March 31, 2024
4.25 out of 5 stars. Not on the same level as the first omni but still solid if a little loopy.
November 27, 2023
Brutal and dark and beautiful in it's own ugly way.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews