Panišer: Krug krvi

The Punisher (1986) #1-5

by Steven Grant

Legendarni prvi serijal o neustrašivom i okrutnom borcu protiv kriminala

PANIŠER JE U ZATVORU I SADA KRIMINALCI NEMAJU KUDA DA BEŽE!

Nakon što je prvi put drugima otkrio svoj pravi identitet Frenka Kasla, Panišer je zatvoren sa najnasilnijim njujorškim kriminalcima. Ali uspon ka vrhu zatvorskog lanca ishrane prekida Krpež, čovek koji je odgovoran i za Panišerovo hapšenje! Pošto je pogođen tokom bega, Panišer rizikuje život kako bi zadržao ostale zatvorenike iza rešetaka – a on beži uz pomoć Odbora, grupe građana koja bi pre da ga gleda kako hvata kriminalce po gradu nego kako leži u zatvoru. A kada Panišer pokuša da udari na Kingpina, tad započinje borbu za moć u kojoj bi gradske bande mogle međusobno da se zbrišu. Panišeru to odgovara, međutim, kada se nevini nađu usred rata, Kasl mora da povrati mir među onima koje bi najradije da vidi mrtve...

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Marvel, Fiction, Superheroes, Comic Book, Crime

160 pages, Hardcover

Published January 1, 2021

About the author

Steven Grant is an American comic book writer best known for his 1985–1986 Marvel Comics mini-series The Punisher with artist Mike Zeck and for his creator-owned character Whisper.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steven_...

Reviews

[Nicolo · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the extras in this collected edition of the seminal first Punisher miniseries. It includes Mize Zeck's gorgeous, detailed pencils.

If only all the original pencils could be gathered again, it could be potentially an excellent Artist's edition type publication.

[Sophia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Actual rating 3.8 stars.
I enjoyed the first Punisher series!
I loved being able to see into his mind, learning what he deems right and wrong.

Then this whole plot with the Trust. I felt like it was such an interesting concept to have an organisation which seemingly has similar goals to Frank.

Then for it to become completely twisted and Frank actually learning a valuable lesson in return (a lesson that saved his life, sorta?)

I liked reading about this anti-hero (anti-villain?) a lot more than I thought I would.
It made me excited to see what I have next for Frank Castle!

Side note What happens to the dog from ish #5? I never read anything about Frank having a pet.

[Abigail · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have fond memories of digging through San Diego Comic Con dollar comic book bins back in 2001-2003. Most of the comics those early years of attending the con were to complete my Punisher run from his 1985 series. I collected those books back when they first came out but then stopped collecting until early 2000 attending comic book conventions got me back into it and motivated me to obtain "complete runs." Certain titles like Punisher's '85 series are actually quite easy to collect on a budget because most of the books (reader's copies) can be bought for $1-$5 in bargain bins (or now online), making a complete run of those books doable. Anyway this "1-5" collection put together in the hardcover book I read is part of the "classic Punisher" stories and is essential to any Punisher book collection. The actual comics in this series are still quite collectable to this day. I remember it took me a while to get hold of a decently priced copy of #1 in the series. Which is why although I collected his books I never actually got around to reading this story!

I like how it started off with him on Ryker's locked up with a bunch of criminals, just that story alone got my attention. Then the whole business with the Trust was pretty good stuff and neat twists there. I'm glad to finally read this and it has inspired me to dig into more Punisher stories from my collection.

[Andrew✌️ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve only recently approached the Punisher comics through some TV series. When I found the digital edition of this miniseries, I took advantage of it. “Circle of Blood” is one of the best stories I've read lately, my first of Punisher.

The story begins with Frank Castle locked up in prison where he is surrounded by his enemies, some of whom fear him, others would like to tear him to pieces. Here, through the director of the prison, he discovers the existence of a group called "The Trust", driven by his own intentions, to eliminate families and defeat crime by any means, lawful and illicit. The proposal is tempting: to join the group, regain freedom and continue his mission, no longer alone, but with the support of a powerful organization.

It’s the starting point for a spiral of violence and death that will make even Frank Castle himself doubt.

It's a wonderful work, divided into 5 chapters, each with a cover that is already a masterpiece in itself. In addition, at the end of the story are the covers and black and white sketches by Mike Zeck.
An unmissable work!

[Sud666 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Circle of Blood was the first Punisher mini-series. It cemented the Punisher as a popular figure and led to him getting his own series. This story was originally published in 1986. Sadly that shows in this work.
I generally try to factor in the time frame when reading older comics. The stories can be cheesy and the quality of the story and art often suffer. But, when I saw this TPB at the comic store I couldn't say no.

The story starts with the Punisher going into Ryker's Island. Last time someone had put drugs into the Punisher's food and caused him to go off the deep end. Now, Punisher is back at Rykers to settle the score. He finds that his nemesis, Jigsaw, is the one who poisoned him. As he tries to deal with Jigsaw, it seems the Punisher has gained the interest of a shadowy organization called the Trust. The Trust wants to fund the Punisher and have him wage a war on criminals. They are willing to help him escape from Rykers and they do so will the collusion of the Warden.

Once on the outside Punisher goes after and seemingly kills Kingpin, but only the Punisher knows that it wasn't Wilson Fisk in the office. Still Punisher goes along with the idea and even calls it in to Ben Ulrich at the Daily Bugle. He's goal is to start a gang war to fill in the vacuum. But things begin to spiral out of control and the Punisher's van is destroyed. The Trust offers to fund his war.

But as things turn out, it's the Trust that is corrupt. The Trust works for Wilson Fisk and is using the war to take out rivals. They also being to use multiple brainwashed criminals and dress them in Punisher costumes. Punisher finds out and dismantles the Trust.

There is more but you can read it of you feel like it. The Punisher is one of my favorite characters and thus this was a worthy buy for me. It is the telling of the original mini-series that I remember. But the story itself? Perhaps back in 1986 this was considered to be cutting edge, but the teeth are showing on this story. The violence is very low key (especially for people used to seeing the Punisher MAX series) and sometimes just plain silly. For example Punisher beats up some prisoners at Rykers but kills none of them, just beats them up, spouts a pithy "Anyone else want some?" and saunters off.

The artwork, while never good, is at least decent and doesn't look bad. It's typical 80's art. At the end of the day I was really torn between giving this a two or a three star review. I was leaning towards the three, but that was because I kept thinking "This was really good for 1986". But this is a story that ought to stand or fall on its own merits, not the time when it was written. Thus 2 stars. (NOTE: In retrospect having considered other opinions I have upgraded the review to a three star based on the time period). It's a pedestrian story, silly and sometimes stupid dialogue and the artwork at best is "ok". Some of the things just did not transition well with time. I much prefer the modern take on the Punisher. I would only recommend this for someone who is a huge Punisher fan and wants to read the mini-series that really put him on the map. Everyone else? Try reading Punisher MAX by Garth Ennis or for something with a similar feel (Punisher goes to Rykers and deals with inmates) check out the wonderful Punisher MAX: The Cell. Feel free to compare the two and you'll see why this classic tale sadly seems dated.

[Tiag⊗ the Mutant · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Punisher's first solo series, the one that started it all, a timeless action thriller with a lot of style, eighties style, very much inspired by movies from the same era, and a blast to read.

[Martin · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Punisher's first solo series from 1986 has stood up pretty well to the test of time. Considering the medium's limitations from that period and the sometimes-cheesy dialogue & narration boxes, this book is quite readable. It doesn't hold a candle to recent Punisher stories, but in all fairness, the two shouldn't be compared: they are products of two very different eras. "Punisher: Circle Of Blood" is still better than most 80's reprints that you can find on the shelves today, and for that reason alone maybe you should read it.

[Frédéric · Rating 4 out of 5]

The mini-series that really started it all and defined the image of the Punisher we all know today.

Steven Grant writes a solid and effective plot, dominated from start to finish by a monolithic and quiet Frank Castle, inclined towards introspection but not stingy with bullets when it comes to taking out the mobsters.
The source of inspiration for the best Punisher stories of some fifteen years later - I'm obviously thinking in particular of Garth Ennis - are there. Look no further.

[Quentin Wallace · Rating 5 out of 5]

First off, I actually read this in the original tradepaperback edition published in the late 1980s, so I am reviewing the series itself rather than this edition.

The Punisher is probably my favorite comic book character, although I do have several. This still remains the definitive Punisher story. Mike Zeck is a very underrated artist, and in my opinion this was probably the best work of his career. This was the story that turned the Punisher from a B-Lister into an A-Lister (although he was then overexposed and it hurt the character a bit, but that's another story.)

This just really showed the potential of the character. A great action story which finally added some depth to the character. If you are a fan of any type of action stories from Mack Bolan to Jack Ryan, you'd probably appreciate this story. It's also not a typical comic book hero story either, so even if you don't read comics you may enjoy this one. Not to mention, I still think the Punisher has the best costume in comics!

I give this one my highest possible recommendation.

[Daniel Sepúlveda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reseña Completa: https://danielhsepulveda.com/punisher...

Puntaje: 4 Estrellas.

Ahora que he terminado la lectura de todos los tomos que adquirí de la Colección Los Héroes Más Poderosos de Marvel, me puse en la tarea de leer en digital aquellos que no compré y hacerles una reseña. En caso de que me fascinen las historias, compraré su respectivo tomo.

Comienzo esta aventura digital con el tomo de Punisher, uno de los personajes más intrigantes de Marvel. En esta ocasión, el tomo de Punisher contiene su primera serie en solitario de cómics, la cual lleva como título “El círculo de la sangre” y está compuesta por 5 títulos.

La historia comienza con Frank Castle siendo llevado a su celda en la prisión, después de ser judicializado por sus crímenes. Obviamente, su fama genera más atención de la que quisiera atraer, por lo que desde el inicio tiene que enfrentar a un par de reos. Todo esto se complica cuando un grupo de criminales planea una fuga en la que, además, esperan acabar con la vida de Punisher. Obviamente esto no funciona y desde aquí todo se saldrá de control.

Esta me ha parecido una historia muy entretenida. No he leído muchos cómics en los que Punisher es el protagonista, por lo que me anoto en mi TBR buscar más historias del personaje. Si bien esta no es una historia de origen, te cuentan un resumen rápido de su background, por lo que es una buena opción para iniciar la lectura de Punisher.

He disfrutado mucho de esta lectura, definitivamente la recomiendo, aunque no es de los mejores cómics del año. Este es un tomo perfecto para quienes quieran dar sus primeros pasos con el Punisher, de seguro no los decepcionará.

[James DeSantis · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Punisher: Circle of Blood kicks off with Frank stuck in prison, but that doesn’t last long. Once he’s out, it’s straight to business, hunting down bad guys with his usual brand of brutal justice. The story is pretty straightforward, with only a few twists along the way. It plays out like a classic action flick: simple, direct, and full of mayhem.

There’s nothing particularly groundbreaking here, but Steven Grant writes an entertaining take on Frank, keeping things moving at a solid pace. The art holds up well too, especially considering it’s from the ’80s. Gritty, punchy, and very much of its time.

Overall, it’s a fun if familiar ride. A solid 3 out of 5.

[Judah Radd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sometimes the classics don’t hold up well.

This is a different story. This is Frank at his best, and is rivaled only by the exquisite MAX series.

My favorite thing about it is that it’s straightforward, brutal, true to the character, and most of all... grounded. It’s a street level punisher doing street level shit. Obviously it’s a bit over the top (one guy slaying the mafia), but it’s still within that window of believability. I really liked it, and it was seasoned with just enough of that dark punisher humor we all love.

Definitely a must read. Grant, Duffy and Zeck rule. Zeck’s artwork is especially awesome and would hold up today, decades later.

[JL Shioshita · Rating 4 out of 5]

Frank Castle comes out the gate swinging. This limited series keeps you guessing as to what's going to happen till the very end. Is it gonna be a prison drama, a crime thriller, some weird take on the Manchurian Candidate...I don't know but it's fun from to start to finish. It's like watching an awesome action movie from the 80s.

[Bill Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

I remember getting this series at the gas station when I was a kid. It was like nothing I had read before, and I have to say it holds up fairly well. Definitely an '80s book, but not as dated as some series can be.

[Pete R. · Rating 2 out of 5]

Non-stop graphic violence, flimsy plotting, wooden dialog and stiff artwork. Mildly entertaining at best.

[Matt · Rating 2 out of 5]

Like an 80s action movie, the narrative style reminds me of Frank Miller.
A number of times, the futility of killing criminals is brought up and then dismissed. Eh, just got to kill all of em. That's the only way to stop crime.

[Your_Average_Magical_Girls_Fan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Essential reading for all Frank Castle fans, but don't expect much bloodshed from this because you won't find it.

[Heather · Rating 2 out of 5]

Mit dem Punisher hatte ich bis dato auch nicht viel am Hut gehabt, aber man sagte mir sehr oft, dass er einer der interessanteren Charaktere im Marvel-Universum sei.
Well... bei dieser Ausgabe kann ich ja noch davon ausgehen, dass es einfach dem Alter geschuldet ist, denn die Erstveröffentlichung liegt in den 80er-Jahren und man merkt es.
Nicht nur an dem Zeichenstil, der zwar okay ist, aber aus manchen Perspektiven schon ein wenig seltsam aussieht, sondern auch an der Erzählweise, die in der damaligen Zeit sicher modern und cool war, wo heutzutage allerdings schon ein wenig cringe mitschwingt – und gerade bei so einem Anti-Helden wie dem Punisher ist es schon sehr auffällig.

Die Geschichte an sich klingt auf den ersten Blick schon recht interessant und scheinbar war sie auch in der Vergangenheit ein Knackpunkt für das gesamte Punisher-Franchise.
Nur auch irgendwie blöd, wenn wirklich keiner der Charaktere so wirklich sympathisch rüber kommt.
Auch auffällig war, dass es nur eine weibliche Figur gab, die in eine so klischeehafte Rolle gesteckt wurde und somit quasi nur das Mittel zum Zweck bildete.
Fast genauso überflüssig war eine winzige Sidestory über einen Sohn, der Rache nehmen wollte.

Man konnte die Sammlung schnell durchlesen und stellenweise war es recht kurzweilig, doch kann ich bereits jetzt schon sagen, dass sie schnell in Vergessenheit geraten wird, denn mehr als einen schnellen Read hat mir der Band nun wirklich nicht gegeben.
Wahrscheinlich eher was für eingefleischte Fans.

[Nate]

The Punisher had been appearing in various Marvel titles for a decade, but it wasn’t until this 1986 mini that he got his own series. I think this set a good foundation for the Punisher going forward. The story’s pretty standard: Frank gets out of prison and goes after mobsters, all the while losing trust in the secret org that hired him. Circle of Blood is a bit dated, but I think it holds up okay. It’s very much in the vein of 80s action movies like First Blood and The Terminator. Later Punisher comics would get more brutal and layered, but writer Steven Grant captures Frank’s voice and cold demeanor well enough.

Mike Zeck pencils the first four issues, with Mike Vosburg taking over the last one. Zeck’s art has a stylized and energetic tone that I quite like; his pencils for the entire first issue are tacked on the end of the book, and they look highly detailed and dynamic in their raw state. It’s a shame the inks and colors obscure some of that detail. Vosburg’s art is more in the Marvel house style of the time.

[Paul · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thing is, at the end of this trade paperback, they have reproductions of the pages from the first issue at the pencil level, and it`s pretty nice artwork.
Then something happened during the inking and/or coloring that completely messed it up.
This needs a make-over in the art department.

The story is classic Marvel Punisher. The couple of scènes where the Punisher sorta feels guilt over what he`s doing are pretty pathetic, though. Kinda like having Ah-nold do a crying scene.

This was another book given to me by Goodreads friend, Martin, thanks Martin, as you can probably see I`m trying to keep the `good stuff` for last :-)

[Kris Shaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

There was a time when I loved the Punisher, and this was it. My comic book collecting friend from way back when these issues were published bought these, and we'd sit there and “share” our comic books. This series was worlds more violent than anything going on in Marvel Comics at the time, and it was gold to this (at that time) 12 year old boy. This was pre-Robocop and Die Hard, mind you. I loved the mindless violence of the '80s.

Mike Zeck's artwork is great, and you just don't see action scenes with this type of “movement” from one panel to the next anymore. Zeck is a master storyteller, and I wonder where he is today.

I was suffering from a round of upgrade-itis, a condition that plagues us collected edition obsessives who want the best reproduction, best linework, best color restoration, best binding, etc., available. I saw this hardcover, sealed and brand new, in a $10 box at the Detroit FanFare. How could I resist this, a beloved mini-series from my golden age of the mid-'80s, in hardcover? I couldn't, and I didn't. I opened it up to read, and to my horror...glued binding. Not just glued binding, but the evil, unholy, blacker-than-black glued mousetrap binding that Marvel once used. Oh, the humanity! I have become so spoiled by and accustomed to the wonderful sewn binding that Marvel uses in this Premiere Classic line of hardcovers that I simply forgot that things weren't always so. Now this story is a two-fisted read on both levels: First, the action and violence make this a pulse-pounding read. Second, the binding is so tight that if you take even one hand off of it at any point in the book...snap! Like a mousetrap!

Adding further insult to this injury is the occasionally muddy linework. This was recolored using computers. Allow me to clarify...all of these books are re-colored by computer, but there are generally two methods: one is to let the computer “fill the shape”, which is way faster but can saw off lines. The second is “by hand”, where the colorist has to go in and painstakingly fill in the spaces. I prefer the latter method because the integrity of the linework is maintained better. It is, of course, more expensive to use this method, which is why it is typically reserved for the more high end collections like Masterworks, but that is where my OCD lays.

My advice is to get the original 1988 trade paperback printing or the floppies. I wish that I didn't dump mine off on eBay for this “upgrade”. I am on the extreme end of anal-retentiveness when it comes to this kind of stuff, so your mileage may vary. Maybe you like occasionally bad reproduction and glued binding...it takes all kinds I guess.

[Pedro Plasencia Martínez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nada mal para ser la primera colección en la que El Castigador camina solo, a sus anchas, sin ser un villano de segunda o un acompañante de otro superhéroe de Marvel. El dibujo sorprendentemente ha envejecido muy bien para ser de los 80 y ya aparecen aquí asesinos con caras desfiguradas (un recurso que luego se ha repetido varias veces), ambientes carcelarios, guerras de mafiosos (un clásico obligatorio) o enfrentamientos memorables en el metro (de nuevo, un elemento que recuperaron otros autores con el personaje en números posteriores). La idea de que haya un grupo de gente poderosa apoyándole no me acaba de convencer en ningún momento y se hace raro que Castle acepte tan rápido y sin remilgos a colaborar con ellos, pero es una necesidad narrativa que sirve para que estos números avancen hacia el punto que los autores ya han marcado. Otra espina clavada que quizás no guste a los lectores nuevos que se han acostumbrado a las películas y a la serie, es la escasez de violencia gráfica, porque en esta miniserie queda algo apagada o fuera de escena, con decapitaciones que se insinúan pero que no se muestran y con tiros que no dejan agujeros sangrientos en los cuerpos. En general, recuerda bastante a las apariciones que hizo el personaje en los números de Daredevil ideados por Frank Miller, aunque con menos misericordia y con más bajas mortales.

ENGLISH
Not bad for the first issue in which The Punisher walks alone, at ease, without being a second-rate villain or a sidekick to another Marvel superhero. The art has surprisingly aged very well for a 1980s story, and we already see killers with disfigured faces (a feature that has since been repeated several times), prison settings, gangster wars (a must-see classic), and memorable subway confrontations (again, an element that other authors revived with the character in later issues). The idea of ​​a group of powerful people supporting him doesn't quite convince me at any point, and it seems odd that Castle agrees so quickly and without hesitation to collaborate with them, but it's a narrative necessity that helps these issues advance the point the authors have already made. Another thorn in the side that new readers who have grown accustomed to the films and the series may not like is the lack of graphic violence, which in this miniseries is somewhat subdued or left out, with decapitations hinted at but not shown, and gunshots that leave no bloody holes in the bodies. Overall, it's quite reminiscent of the character's appearances in the Daredevil issues created by Frank Miller, albeit with less mercy and more fatalities.

[Michael Emond · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of the earliest Punisher stories, just as he was gaining popularity and about to launch his own title. What strikes you is how amazing Mike Zeck's art starts out but then..sadly loses focus near the end and finally disappears for the final issue. That is a huge disappointment in this tale - that both Zeck and the writer bowed out for the final issue. I am not sure why - but it could be due to the fact this was originally supposed to be four issues and was extended to five.
The tale isn't too revolutionary but it is well done. The highlight is issue one and Punisher starting off in jail and being part of a prison break. Then he gets recruited by The Trust to help them fight THEIR war on crime. From there it gets a little convoluted but - very predictably - the Trust isn't as cool as they seem and the Punisher ends up being betrayed by them.
Even though I like the Punisher now - he is hard as nails and no compromise. You can see Marvel still trying to turn him into a more palatable hero here. Sure he kills but by the end you see him reconsidering his harsh tactics.
Overall - it is an above average tale from the 80's but not as solid as some of the best writing you see today. However, a must for fans of the Punisher to see his early beginnings.

[Jaime Guzman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Back in 1986 this was the comic that really introduced The Punisher to the world. It was pretty gritty for comics back then and very well written by Steven Grant with epic art by Mike Zeck, especially in issue one. Wow!
While I do love Mike Zeck as an artist the art work starts to go down after issue #1 until issue #5 where artist Mike Vosburg takes over and takes a quick downturn. Vosburg does kind of well emulating Zeck's kinetic art but there are some scenes that look somewhat messy to me.
I mean how can you top that explosive first issue by Mike Zeck?!
So here's the story. After escaping prison Frank Castle aka The Punisher goes after some crime families that are in a middle of a mob war.
A vigilante organization called the Trust tries to enlist The Punisher and assist him with everything he needs to get the scum off the streets.
Things get a bit out of hand as the Trust take things into their own hands and with the use of a whole gang of their own Punishers to try to get rid of all of the crime families in the city in one fell swoop with The Punisher left as collateral damage.
We all know that ol' Frank won't take too kindly to being knocked off and begins to leave both members of the crime families and the Trust in body bags.
If I could I would have given this 3.75 stars.

[Sandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Der Punisher ist eine der faszinierendsten Figuren von Marvel und bekommt hier einen weiteren Must-Have-Band mit seinem allerersten Solo-Abenteuer.

Die Geschichte beginnt damit, dass Frank Castle im Gefängnis landet, wobei man nicht erfährt, warum. Hinter Gittern erregt seine Berühmtheit allerdings mehr Aufmerksamkeit als ihm lieb ist, und so muss er sich von Anfang an mit einigen Mithäftlingen auseinandersetzen. Als eine Gruppe von Kriminellen einen Ausbruch plant, bei dem auch Punisher beseitigt werden soll, wird er von einer Organisation freigelassen, um auf den Straßen New Yorks für Ordnung zu sorgen. Das klappt natürlich nicht, und von da an gerät alles außer Kontrolle.

Obwohl es sich hier nicht um eine Ursprungsgeschichte handelt, hat die Story den typischen 80er Jahre Action-Charme, auch wenn man ihr den Zahn der Zeit anmerkt. Erstveröffentlicht im Jahre 1986, sind die Zeichnungen und Kolorierung typisch für die damalige Comicwelt.
Die Handlung ist (für Macho-Verhältnisse) ausgewogen und endet zufriedenstellend. Der Band kann zwar nicht mit den späteren Werken von Garth Ennis mithalten, aber es ist eine kurzweilige Lektüre.

[Alexander Engel-Hodgkinson · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.4/5

Having been collecting the first volume of The Punisher (1987-1995) consisting of The Punisher, War Zone, War Journal, and a few other mini-series, crossovers, and a slew of specials, I finally have it--Circle of Blood. The one that put Frank Castle on the map. The one that sparked a demand that... that almost died in '97.

Now that I've read this, I can say I'm not disappointed. The artwork is okay, but not amazing by any stretch, and the violence is somehow even more toothless than in the run that followed shortly after this was published. The dialogue is far from great, and its few good ideas are not fully realized. But what the hell. Grant's take on the character does the character justice, which is pleasing enough. Jigsaw's pretty annoying, and I have no fucking idea why writers let him live for so long.

Overall, Circle of Blood is pretty decent, though age has let it down some.

[Michael Galarneau · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not a huge Punisher fan, but this was an interesting read. It is a collection of his first mini series. I am not sure what I was expecting. while the story had a lot of violence, it wasn't nearly as violent as the two Punisher movies or his recent appearance in the Daredevil Netflix series. Of course, this was a mini series that came out during the reign of the Comic Code Authority. Long before Marvel introduced its Max line of comics of which Punisher was a staple. This series also seemed to have Punisher actually regretting a lot of his actions, which doesn't seem like something that is typical for his character. Still, it's not a bad read if you are looking for a simple Punisher story.

[teohjitkhiam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Since I am extremely partial to the comic book medium, most of them get 4 or 5 stars, no different to what I believe for this Steven Grant-Mike Zeck collaboration of the Punisher mini-series from the 80s. Back when I was the kid, I was, and still am, wowed by Mike Zeck's painted covers for this series & his sparse yet action-packed artwork. I can still recall those frustrating hours expended then with a crappy watercolor set & even crappier attempts trying to replicate those comic book covers. And Steven Grant kept the story arc strictly non-supervillain i.e. local crime families struggling to the top in the wake of the Kingpin's supposed killing at the hand of the Punisher, makes this a well-grounded origin story for a character bereft of superpowers.

[Mark · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is the famous miniseries that made the Punisher a superstar in the 80s. I have to say I’m a little underwhelmed by the whole thing. It’s a rather thin story with weak characterization. Frank Castle comes across as a little one note and flat. Maybe that’s the point since he’s supposed to be a sociopath only interested in murdering criminals but he’s a bit dull as the main character here. Most of his motivation is explained rather than illustrated. The depiction of the underworld is unconvincing, as well. It feels like they were either constrained by Marvel convention of the era or they were content with the cliches of standard 80s crime drama. Admittedly, I’m not a Punisher fan but I was hoping for something with a bit more oomph.

[Bobby · Rating 3 out of 5]

Frankie’s first miniseries reads like a 4th rate Schwarzenegger 80s movie.

A lot of the art here makes it look like Namor was a model for Frank, especially in panels where Frank is gliding through the air with his chin low.

It is what it is. It feels like it could gritty DC 80s vigilante book, like what they were doing with Green Arrow at the time. Like most of this stuff, it doesn’t age well, but it’s a snapshot of its time and where comics were at the time.

Thematically, maybe there’s something here about mindless (literally) violence, but really The Punisher just shoots a lot of bad guys.