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The Punisher (2004) (Collected Editions)
The Punisher, Vol. 7: Man of Stone
The last time General Nikolai Alexandrovich Zakharov encountered Frank Castle, the two men were playing chicken with a dozen nuclear warheads over Moscow. Since then, well, let's just say Zakharov's not the type to forgive and forget. When a mutual enemy of Castle comes with the perfect plan to lure Frank out of his hole, Zakharvo is all ears. That man is Rawlins. His bait? His former wife and sometime Castle flame: O'Brien.
Collects Punisher #37-42.
Collects Punisher #37-42.
144 pages, Paperback
First published April 18, 2007
4 people are currently reading
260 people want to read
About the author
Garth Ennis
2,625 books3,172 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 55 reviews
April 16, 2019
Score: 3.58 out of 5
Grade: 72% (B-) | Decent
Time for a big reunion because we get the return of O’Brien, Rawlins, AND Zahkarov! Throw in Frank Castle with a couple of guns, and now you got yourself a story. There are some fantastic moments in this book, but there are also some underwhelming aspects. Here is my review of The Punisher MAX Vol. 7: Man of Stone:
The Good:
It’s always nice to see a reunion, but even better when the reunion includes two of your favourite characters. Frank and O’Brien have always been a great dynamic throughout this series, and this book is no exception. Although it takes some time for O’Brien to find her place in the story, once she reunites with Frank, that’s when she starts to shine. I wasn’t the biggest fan of how her story ended because it was lazy and lackluster, but she’s still an awesome character.
My biggest fear with the return of Zahkarov was that all he was going to do was conspire behind a closed curtain and avoid getting his hands dirty (like the last time we saw him). But on the contrary, we finally get a good idea of just how evil Zahkarov can be. We get to see just why he’s a piece of sh** and it makes for a stronger narrative. Zahkarov is as bad as they come, but Frank and O’Brien are just as bad.
Another highlight in this book was Frank and O’Brien’s trap that they set up. That whole sequence was awesome. Even at the beginning, I loved watching Frank take down John James Toomey and his goons. There’s also a very small sequence with Frank and a reporter which was really well done. I enjoyed Rawlins, Zahkarov and Captain Dolnovich’s relationship with each other. With a couple twists and turns, I was always engaged with what was happening. I guess what I’m trying to say is that there were standout moments in this story that I enjoyed very much.
The Bad:
There were certainly some issues with the storytelling. Some situations just conveniently worked out for certain characters. Whether it was surviving a brutal shootout or receiving a call just at the right time so that your head wasn’t blown off, these little moments just felt cheap to me. There were also chunks of the story that I didn’t really care for like Rawlins’ backstory (we already know the dude sucks) and Colonel Mitchell, who was a great character, but seemed out of place and slowed down the story.
Although there were moments of great art, there were other moments where the art just looked off. Some action sequences felt choppy and didn’t flow as well as they should have. However, I did enjoy the Russian Eminem in the first chapter – that was great! But overall, there’s just some moments of inconsistent art that took me out of the story.
Note: The art below is actually pretty good, I just couldn’t find a pic that supports my claim (or I’m just too lazy . . . it’s probably cause I’m too lazy).
I also didn’t enjoy how some story arcs ended, most notably O’Brien’s and Rawlins’. O’Brien’s was just stupid and Rawlins’ was just a huge let down. Of course you want these characters to have conclusive and definitive endings, but the way both their stories ended just didn’t meet my expectations. They both deserve better.
Conclusion:
Overall, I had a good time with this book. Of course it isn’t perfect, but it’s still a solid story with its highs and lows. If you want over-the-top action, which these Punisher MAX stories are so good at doing, then this is right in your wheelhouse. Some character endings may leave a bad taste in your mouth and you may find some of the art a little wonky, but as a whole, this was a pleasure to read.
Grade: 72% (B-) | Decent
Time for a big reunion because we get the return of O’Brien, Rawlins, AND Zahkarov! Throw in Frank Castle with a couple of guns, and now you got yourself a story. There are some fantastic moments in this book, but there are also some underwhelming aspects. Here is my review of The Punisher MAX Vol. 7: Man of Stone:
The Good:
It’s always nice to see a reunion, but even better when the reunion includes two of your favourite characters. Frank and O’Brien have always been a great dynamic throughout this series, and this book is no exception. Although it takes some time for O’Brien to find her place in the story, once she reunites with Frank, that’s when she starts to shine. I wasn’t the biggest fan of how her story ended because it was lazy and lackluster, but she’s still an awesome character.
My biggest fear with the return of Zahkarov was that all he was going to do was conspire behind a closed curtain and avoid getting his hands dirty (like the last time we saw him). But on the contrary, we finally get a good idea of just how evil Zahkarov can be. We get to see just why he’s a piece of sh** and it makes for a stronger narrative. Zahkarov is as bad as they come, but Frank and O’Brien are just as bad.
Another highlight in this book was Frank and O’Brien’s trap that they set up. That whole sequence was awesome. Even at the beginning, I loved watching Frank take down John James Toomey and his goons. There’s also a very small sequence with Frank and a reporter which was really well done. I enjoyed Rawlins, Zahkarov and Captain Dolnovich’s relationship with each other. With a couple twists and turns, I was always engaged with what was happening. I guess what I’m trying to say is that there were standout moments in this story that I enjoyed very much.
The Bad:
There were certainly some issues with the storytelling. Some situations just conveniently worked out for certain characters. Whether it was surviving a brutal shootout or receiving a call just at the right time so that your head wasn’t blown off, these little moments just felt cheap to me. There were also chunks of the story that I didn’t really care for like Rawlins’ backstory (we already know the dude sucks) and Colonel Mitchell, who was a great character, but seemed out of place and slowed down the story.
Although there were moments of great art, there were other moments where the art just looked off. Some action sequences felt choppy and didn’t flow as well as they should have. However, I did enjoy the Russian Eminem in the first chapter – that was great! But overall, there’s just some moments of inconsistent art that took me out of the story.
Note: The art below is actually pretty good, I just couldn’t find a pic that supports my claim (or I’m just too lazy . . . it’s probably cause I’m too lazy).
I also didn’t enjoy how some story arcs ended, most notably O’Brien’s and Rawlins’. O’Brien’s was just stupid and Rawlins’ was just a huge let down. Of course you want these characters to have conclusive and definitive endings, but the way both their stories ended just didn’t meet my expectations. They both deserve better.
Conclusion:
Overall, I had a good time with this book. Of course it isn’t perfect, but it’s still a solid story with its highs and lows. If you want over-the-top action, which these Punisher MAX stories are so good at doing, then this is right in your wheelhouse. Some character endings may leave a bad taste in your mouth and you may find some of the art a little wonky, but as a whole, this was a pleasure to read.
November 5, 2018
In the Beginning
Kitchen Irish
Mother Russia
Up is Down, Black is White
The Slavers
Barracuda
General Zacharov wants answers. He wants answers for what happened in Sudhek. And to that end, he wants Frank Castle. And he's enlisted the help of Rawlins to help. And to get to Frank, they're going to go through Kathryn O'Brien....
Man of Stone is obviously a sequel to Arc 3: Mother Russia, but in many ways it has a lot more in common with Arc 4: Up is Down, Black is White. Hell, O'Brien even says those exact words at one point. And as far as being a sequel goes, it is better in almost every conceivable way.
I won't go too much in Fernandez's art this time around. If you've been following my reviews of Punisher MAX you'll know what my thoughts are on it and honestly there isn't that much more to discuss at this point. Good use of light and shading, good distinct character designs, good environmental setpieces. Everything is good. I'd say here, Frank is looking a little more worn down and that's a good thing. He's been on this crusade for years now. He should look rough around the edges.
On the story, it's decent. Nothing spectacular but it does its job well enough. For Man of Stone, Ennis switched genres again, making this arc more of a military drama than urban crime as has been the case for so long. It's almost like Ennis uses these arcs to experiment with the Punisher and his place in Marvel MAX continuity. On the downside, because of the story structure, you won't find any big climaxes here. If anything the ending is kind of an anti-climax on the action front.
But it's the characters that really shine here and I think that was the focus all along. At its core, this is a story about old soldiers and what happens to them when they are no longer needed/wanted. All of the major hitters of the story have something to contribute in some meaningful way, whether it be through their actions, their dialogue or their inner thoughts.
Kathryn O'Brien is back for this arc and she's probably the most stable of the bunch. She's well aware of the shitty life she leads but she makes the most of what she has nonetheless. Not a moment of her life is wasted or thrown away. You can see that through her words, her sex life, her quiet introspective moments and what is sadly, her final moments in the story.
Rawlins - O'Brien's shitty ex - is what happens when the soldier's life is left behind and you stop giving a fuck. Everything Rawlins does is for himself. He has no loyalties, no morals and no limits. Everything he does is designed to make the reader hate him.
Yorkie's back and this time around, we see what its like when you're a soldier at the end of your rope. Yorkie's been a soldier most of his life, but its here in Man of Stone that we see that beneath the stiff upper lip, he's tired and wants it all to end. He sees the cycle of violence and chaos and sees nothing come of it and wonders if its all worth it. And in the end, when his time is up, he couldn't be happier.
And then we have Zacharov and Frank, two sides of the same coin. For these two, the war never ended. For these two, they would continue fighting forever. And in that vein, these two seem to have a mutual respect for each other, even if one of them is a war criminal and the other is a borderline sociopath. There's a kind of strange honour between them. They might barely function as human beings but even as Zacharov's final words attest:
Kill him (Rawlins), Castle. Our world is bad, but we are soldiers. He is a parasite; He would make the world this way forever.
Man of Stone isn't a perfect story. The ending is kind of weak from typical action perspective but then again, I don't think it was trying to be. This was meant to be more of a quieter introspective story albeit with guns and explosions. It's also a sadder story with one death being both pointless and sad. And given from here on out, we're in the cooldown of Ennis's run, I'd say it's as good an ending as we'll get for these characters.
Next we have Widowmaker.
Kitchen Irish
Mother Russia
Up is Down, Black is White
The Slavers
Barracuda
General Zacharov wants answers. He wants answers for what happened in Sudhek. And to that end, he wants Frank Castle. And he's enlisted the help of Rawlins to help. And to get to Frank, they're going to go through Kathryn O'Brien....
Man of Stone is obviously a sequel to Arc 3: Mother Russia, but in many ways it has a lot more in common with Arc 4: Up is Down, Black is White. Hell, O'Brien even says those exact words at one point. And as far as being a sequel goes, it is better in almost every conceivable way.
I won't go too much in Fernandez's art this time around. If you've been following my reviews of Punisher MAX you'll know what my thoughts are on it and honestly there isn't that much more to discuss at this point. Good use of light and shading, good distinct character designs, good environmental setpieces. Everything is good. I'd say here, Frank is looking a little more worn down and that's a good thing. He's been on this crusade for years now. He should look rough around the edges.
On the story, it's decent. Nothing spectacular but it does its job well enough. For Man of Stone, Ennis switched genres again, making this arc more of a military drama than urban crime as has been the case for so long. It's almost like Ennis uses these arcs to experiment with the Punisher and his place in Marvel MAX continuity. On the downside, because of the story structure, you won't find any big climaxes here. If anything the ending is kind of an anti-climax on the action front.
But it's the characters that really shine here and I think that was the focus all along. At its core, this is a story about old soldiers and what happens to them when they are no longer needed/wanted. All of the major hitters of the story have something to contribute in some meaningful way, whether it be through their actions, their dialogue or their inner thoughts.
Kathryn O'Brien is back for this arc and she's probably the most stable of the bunch. She's well aware of the shitty life she leads but she makes the most of what she has nonetheless. Not a moment of her life is wasted or thrown away. You can see that through her words, her sex life, her quiet introspective moments and what is sadly, her final moments in the story.
Rawlins - O'Brien's shitty ex - is what happens when the soldier's life is left behind and you stop giving a fuck. Everything Rawlins does is for himself. He has no loyalties, no morals and no limits. Everything he does is designed to make the reader hate him.
Yorkie's back and this time around, we see what its like when you're a soldier at the end of your rope. Yorkie's been a soldier most of his life, but its here in Man of Stone that we see that beneath the stiff upper lip, he's tired and wants it all to end. He sees the cycle of violence and chaos and sees nothing come of it and wonders if its all worth it. And in the end, when his time is up, he couldn't be happier.
And then we have Zacharov and Frank, two sides of the same coin. For these two, the war never ended. For these two, they would continue fighting forever. And in that vein, these two seem to have a mutual respect for each other, even if one of them is a war criminal and the other is a borderline sociopath. There's a kind of strange honour between them. They might barely function as human beings but even as Zacharov's final words attest:
Kill him (Rawlins), Castle. Our world is bad, but we are soldiers. He is a parasite; He would make the world this way forever.
Man of Stone isn't a perfect story. The ending is kind of weak from typical action perspective but then again, I don't think it was trying to be. This was meant to be more of a quieter introspective story albeit with guns and explosions. It's also a sadder story with one death being both pointless and sad. And given from here on out, we're in the cooldown of Ennis's run, I'd say it's as good an ending as we'll get for these characters.
Next we have Widowmaker.
November 26, 2007
It's difficult to convince people just how incredible this series is just because the main character is a big name-brand superhero, and because it's most amazing aspects are so subtle, unflashy, and unpretentious, despite the constant violence. But this book is a constant, month by month masterpiece in characterization and plot construction. Every blow connects, everything is paced perfectly; he can build a subplot for years without you even noticing what he's doing or change everything in a single violent panel. I'm pointing out this collection because it contains my single favorite issue of the series, but ideally you should start with the first volue of the MAX series and keep reading until you're caught up.
September 18, 2011
A character from an earlier book in the series (Vol 3: Mother Russia), a bloodless Russian General accused of atrocious war crimes, is back with the aim of killing Frank Castle. How better to bait him than on the killing grounds of the notoriously unconquerable Afghanistan?
Throw in another character who is killing men who raped her earlier in the series, and one helluva bomb, and you've got Vol 7 in the legendary Punisher Max series.
The story is military heavy as Frank receives help from the Brits and takes down the Ruskies, but it's still the same Frank who walks the streets of American cities taking out gangsters. It's similar to "Punisher: Born" in that regard, except the jungles of Vietnam are substituted with the unforgiving mountains and deserts of Afghanistan as Frank and the Russian General play cat and mouse through this stark scenery.
"Man of Stone" is as dark a story as Garth Ennis has ever told and an excellent continuation of this fantastic series. If you're a fan, you'll love it.
Throw in another character who is killing men who raped her earlier in the series, and one helluva bomb, and you've got Vol 7 in the legendary Punisher Max series.
The story is military heavy as Frank receives help from the Brits and takes down the Ruskies, but it's still the same Frank who walks the streets of American cities taking out gangsters. It's similar to "Punisher: Born" in that regard, except the jungles of Vietnam are substituted with the unforgiving mountains and deserts of Afghanistan as Frank and the Russian General play cat and mouse through this stark scenery.
"Man of Stone" is as dark a story as Garth Ennis has ever told and an excellent continuation of this fantastic series. If you're a fan, you'll love it.
July 26, 2016
It's been a while since Frank has seen any action overseas, and Ennis transplants The Punisher to the Middle East in order to tie up some loose ends.
After he learns he's been targeted by a nameless Russian enemy, Frank reaches out to his old MI6 pal Yorkie (last seen in "Kitchen Irish") and learns that O'Brien (the foul-mouthed merc with something of a crush on Castle, last seen in both "In The Beginning" and "Up Is Down & Black Is White") is being targeted as a means of drawing him out. It turns out that C.I.A. spook Rawlins (seen in both "Mother Russia" and "Up Is Down & Black Is White"), who also happens to be O'Brien's bastard of an ex-husband (having literally thrown her off a plane and into years of Al Qaeda captivity in an effort to save a drug stash) has teamed up with former Soviet General Zakharov, aka "The Man of Stone" (and the primary villain from "Mother Russia"), who has it out for Castle after the events at the missile silo.
Confused yet? "Man of Stone" starts off a bit convoluted and relies on a few too many contrivances to bring its core cast together, but once they do, the sparks really start to fly, and it's a treat seeing characters who for the most part have taken very distant roles in the series come together and interact. We get a rare glimpse at Frank's vulnerable side, and suffice to say the journey he's about to go on may start pleasant enough, but it's quick to take a bad turn.
The structure of "Man of Stone" is interesting. After a 3-issue set up, most of the main conflict seems to start and stop in a rather abrupt manner, and we're left with most of the key players eliminated and a somber aftermath for the final issue. The pacing in this series is just fine (maybe a bit too rapid, to be honest, as I'd have loved to see even more of these characters), but the overall structure to this story arc struck me as a bit disjointed, as if there was a lot more Ennis originally planned to work in.
In any case, this is a terrific Punisher storyline, and it's a treat to see so many elements of Ennis' Punisher universe come together. The O'Brien/Rawlins subplot is particularly satisfying, and the personal toll that interacting with those two takes on Frank is some of the best character development he undergoes in the series.
(Oh, and the action, as usual, is fantastic, and one particular trick Frank uses to free himself is featured in the 4th episode of "Daredevil"Season 2. See if you can spot it!)
After he learns he's been targeted by a nameless Russian enemy, Frank reaches out to his old MI6 pal Yorkie (last seen in "Kitchen Irish") and learns that O'Brien (the foul-mouthed merc with something of a crush on Castle, last seen in both "In The Beginning" and "Up Is Down & Black Is White") is being targeted as a means of drawing him out. It turns out that C.I.A. spook Rawlins (seen in both "Mother Russia" and "Up Is Down & Black Is White"), who also happens to be O'Brien's bastard of an ex-husband (having literally thrown her off a plane and into years of Al Qaeda captivity in an effort to save a drug stash) has teamed up with former Soviet General Zakharov, aka "The Man of Stone" (and the primary villain from "Mother Russia"), who has it out for Castle after the events at the missile silo.
Confused yet? "Man of Stone" starts off a bit convoluted and relies on a few too many contrivances to bring its core cast together, but once they do, the sparks really start to fly, and it's a treat seeing characters who for the most part have taken very distant roles in the series come together and interact. We get a rare glimpse at Frank's vulnerable side, and suffice to say the journey he's about to go on may start pleasant enough, but it's quick to take a bad turn.
The structure of "Man of Stone" is interesting. After a 3-issue set up, most of the main conflict seems to start and stop in a rather abrupt manner, and we're left with most of the key players eliminated and a somber aftermath for the final issue. The pacing in this series is just fine (maybe a bit too rapid, to be honest, as I'd have loved to see even more of these characters), but the overall structure to this story arc struck me as a bit disjointed, as if there was a lot more Ennis originally planned to work in.
In any case, this is a terrific Punisher storyline, and it's a treat to see so many elements of Ennis' Punisher universe come together. The O'Brien/Rawlins subplot is particularly satisfying, and the personal toll that interacting with those two takes on Frank is some of the best character development he undergoes in the series.
(Oh, and the action, as usual, is fantastic, and one particular trick Frank uses to free himself is featured in the 4th episode of "Daredevil"Season 2. See if you can spot it!)
September 17, 2025
As the American military continues to wage a war solely to turn a profit overhead, Frank’s war on crime takes him up against a russian war criminal and a slimy little pissant named Rawlins.
Kathryn O’Brien in many ways represents an early days version of The Punisher as her path into a life of darkness and violence is only beginning. She knows what kind of life she lives and is okay with that, all leading to it’s logical conclusion, dying a sad pointless death as is the case with so many soldiers.
Nikolai Zakharv plays off Frank as a worse take on what Frank could have become, Zakharov committed entirely to his war as it’s all that gives his life purpose, coming to it’s logical conclusion as Frank towers over him and kills him.
William Rawlins (the perfect representation of what Punisher MAX is all about) about how certain people will cause great amounts of harm and violence and profit from the pain they’ve caused, as Rawlins has been doing for his entire life. Likewise, Rawlins ultimatelt gets the death that he deserves and that he’s inflicted on so many others.
Frank, however, continues on much as he did before only this time fully cementing himself into the crosshairs of the american military and all the fucked up shit they’ve done.
“Two things you can do for me, she said. One was be there, so she didn’t take her last breath alone. The other was a thing I’m good at.”
Kathryn O’Brien in many ways represents an early days version of The Punisher as her path into a life of darkness and violence is only beginning. She knows what kind of life she lives and is okay with that, all leading to it’s logical conclusion, dying a sad pointless death as is the case with so many soldiers.
Nikolai Zakharv plays off Frank as a worse take on what Frank could have become, Zakharov committed entirely to his war as it’s all that gives his life purpose, coming to it’s logical conclusion as Frank towers over him and kills him.
William Rawlins (the perfect representation of what Punisher MAX is all about) about how certain people will cause great amounts of harm and violence and profit from the pain they’ve caused, as Rawlins has been doing for his entire life. Likewise, Rawlins ultimatelt gets the death that he deserves and that he’s inflicted on so many others.
Frank, however, continues on much as he did before only this time fully cementing himself into the crosshairs of the american military and all the fucked up shit they’ve done.
“Two things you can do for me, she said. One was be there, so she didn’t take her last breath alone. The other was a thing I’m good at.”
June 13, 2019
"The Punisher" efsanesini New York-Hell's Kitchen'dan çıkarıp Afganistan'a kadar götüren bir macera "Taş Adam". Üstelik karşısında vaktinde orayı işgalde önemli rolü olan bir Rus Generali ile var. Uzlaşısız, eyvallahsız kısaca alışık olduğumuz ve böyle sevdiğimiz bir Punisher bölümü. Aksiyon dozu yüksek.
July 21, 2020
El más flojo de la serie hasta ahora, aunque le doy 3 estrellas por el final. Se nota que a esta altura de la serie tanto los guiones como los dibujos comienzan a decaer
May 24, 2010
I've been reading a lot of Punisher graphic novels lately, and I just sort of picked this one to mention here on GoodReads/Facebook, because I think it's exceptionally well done. It's more or less the Marvel superhero equivalent of Donald Westlake/Richard Stark's Parker series: lean, very mean, and action packed stories about men (mostly men, at any rate) who are up to no damned good.
The artwork in this volume is also quite nice, I think. And while it helps to have read the earlier volumes, it's certainly not necessary. You can pretty much dive in anywhere and enjoy. This is as good a place as any to start.
The artwork in this volume is also quite nice, I think. And while it helps to have read the earlier volumes, it's certainly not necessary. You can pretty much dive in anywhere and enjoy. This is as good a place as any to start.
September 17, 2008
The final story of Frank and O'Brian. Ennis does a wonderful job of showing the conspiracy of American involvement in 9/11, and other "terrorist" attacks as a result of dirty money. Nice.
June 19, 2013
Loved it.
March 24, 2010
One of the series' best, in my opinion.
April 16, 2020
Zabójczo dobra passa Ennisa trwała bardzo długo i kiedyś musiało dojść do zadyszki. "Człowiek z kamienia" jest na pewno dobrą pozycją, ale po zakończeniu lektury czułem nieco zmęczenie materiałem, a i zakończenie pewnych wątków wydawało mi się bardzo pośpieszne i bez pomysłu na niektóre rzeczy. Nie wiem czy to było spowodowane ilością miejsca, które autor mógł wykorzystać, czy fakt, iż kontakt Ennisa z serią dobiegał do końca i wypadało pokończyć wątki, ale nie miało na nie odpowiedniego pomysłu.
Całość jest kontynuacją historii z trzeciego tomu przygód Punishera w formule MAX pt. Mother Russia, gdzie Frank ruszył z polecenia Nicka Fury'iego na ściśle tajną misję w głąb Rosji. Więcej nie nadmieniam, bo warto zobaczyć tamten tom. Tu z kolei mamy kilka wielkich powrotów. Głównym przeciwnikiem jest znany nam towarzysz generał Zahkarow. Jako patriota nie może przełknąć upokorzenia, jakie jego kraj doznał z rąk Castle'a i zamierza rozegrać własną grę, a która polega na zwabieniu Punishera w pułapkę i wyciśnięciu z niego informacji o dawnej operacji.
Frank jednak jest nie w ciemię bity i umyślnie "daje się" podpuścić. Rozpoczyna się makabryczna gra w jednej z dawnych republik radzieckich i o dziwo Frank nie będzie w całym tym bałaganie sam. Wraca znana nam skądinąd agentka O'Brian, tworzą z Castle'm iście wybuchowy duet. A jak O'Brian, to i Rawlins. Nadszedł czas na wyrównanie starych rachunków.
W przeciwieństwie do poprzednich odsłon w "Man of Stone" nie ma miejsca na "właściwą" prezentację przeciwnika. Owszem, mamy ukazane w formie wspominek, jaki to Rosjanin potrafił być, ale nie jest aż tak ciekawą postacią jak chociażby makaroniarze z pierwszego tomu. Mało tego, już więcej i ciekawiej autor rzecze o pewnym dowódcy wojsk amerykańskich, który wspomaga tutaj Castle'a, nie bez przykrości ze strony dowództwa.
Akcja gna przed siebie i ma "momenty", ale jest tutaj kilka zbyt prostych rozwiązań fabularnych i to tyczy się w zasadzie wszystkich postaci, może za wyjątkiem radzieckiego generała. Wątek O'Brian woła o pomstę do nieba. bo charakterną agentkę sprowadzono do napalonej "piczy", która potrafi pociągnąć za spust i to nie tylko broni... Tym bardziej, że na przełomie całego runu to jak na razie jedyna partnerka Franka.
Fernandez jak zwykle spisuje się świetnie. Jego postacie "wyglądają" odpowiednio źle, miejscami wręcz karykaturalnie, ale podkreśla to tylko tom historii Ennisa. Jest krwawo, ale goście od kolorów nie oszczędzają na jasnych barwach.
Mam wielką nadzieję, że Ennis pożegna się z Frankiem ostrym i mocnym akcentem, gdyż cała seria zdecydowanie na to zasłużyła. Nie mniej autor poniżej pewnego poziomu nie schodzi i nadal omawiany tom czyta się wyśmienicie, ale po tym co działo się wcześniej... Spodziewałem się zwyczajnie więcej. Charakterów, jak i "tego czegoś".
Całość jest kontynuacją historii z trzeciego tomu przygód Punishera w formule MAX pt. Mother Russia, gdzie Frank ruszył z polecenia Nicka Fury'iego na ściśle tajną misję w głąb Rosji. Więcej nie nadmieniam, bo warto zobaczyć tamten tom. Tu z kolei mamy kilka wielkich powrotów. Głównym przeciwnikiem jest znany nam towarzysz generał Zahkarow. Jako patriota nie może przełknąć upokorzenia, jakie jego kraj doznał z rąk Castle'a i zamierza rozegrać własną grę, a która polega na zwabieniu Punishera w pułapkę i wyciśnięciu z niego informacji o dawnej operacji.
Frank jednak jest nie w ciemię bity i umyślnie "daje się" podpuścić. Rozpoczyna się makabryczna gra w jednej z dawnych republik radzieckich i o dziwo Frank nie będzie w całym tym bałaganie sam. Wraca znana nam skądinąd agentka O'Brian, tworzą z Castle'm iście wybuchowy duet. A jak O'Brian, to i Rawlins. Nadszedł czas na wyrównanie starych rachunków.
W przeciwieństwie do poprzednich odsłon w "Man of Stone" nie ma miejsca na "właściwą" prezentację przeciwnika. Owszem, mamy ukazane w formie wspominek, jaki to Rosjanin potrafił być, ale nie jest aż tak ciekawą postacią jak chociażby makaroniarze z pierwszego tomu. Mało tego, już więcej i ciekawiej autor rzecze o pewnym dowódcy wojsk amerykańskich, który wspomaga tutaj Castle'a, nie bez przykrości ze strony dowództwa.
Akcja gna przed siebie i ma "momenty", ale jest tutaj kilka zbyt prostych rozwiązań fabularnych i to tyczy się w zasadzie wszystkich postaci, może za wyjątkiem radzieckiego generała. Wątek O'Brian woła o pomstę do nieba. bo charakterną agentkę sprowadzono do napalonej "piczy", która potrafi pociągnąć za spust i to nie tylko broni... Tym bardziej, że na przełomie całego runu to jak na razie jedyna partnerka Franka.
Fernandez jak zwykle spisuje się świetnie. Jego postacie "wyglądają" odpowiednio źle, miejscami wręcz karykaturalnie, ale podkreśla to tylko tom historii Ennisa. Jest krwawo, ale goście od kolorów nie oszczędzają na jasnych barwach.
Mam wielką nadzieję, że Ennis pożegna się z Frankiem ostrym i mocnym akcentem, gdyż cała seria zdecydowanie na to zasłużyła. Nie mniej autor poniżej pewnego poziomu nie schodzi i nadal omawiany tom czyta się wyśmienicie, ale po tym co działo się wcześniej... Spodziewałem się zwyczajnie więcej. Charakterów, jak i "tego czegoś".
August 4, 2021
Punisher's actions against Russian organized crime will bring unwanted attention from the dishonored general seeking revenge against the people who assaulted power plant he was responsible for (few issues back, assault by Frank and Fury). Wanting to prove that attack was planned and executed by US general will create a trap for Frank and bring him to the wastelands of Afghanistan for .... conversation I think is what they both call it, rest of the world would say...... I don't think normal people have a name for it :)
As is case with all other MAX series Punisher books this one is especially bloody. I like the old/new (now almost obsessive) notion that Russians are always big, subtle as tractor, walking around with the machetes hacking people left and right. This is becoming such a cliche that it is ridiculous. Above almost always crosses wires with the (I guess irresistible) attempts to say - ho and behold they are gruesome murderers but they have valor and honor (criminals, yeah right). I do not know why do they insist on this - if these are criminals let them be dont make them pariahs that just found themselves on the wrong side. At least guys Frank is fighting against do not fall into this category of accidental criminals.
Because of this whenever I see Russians as bad guys in US media I cannot stop but giggle because they represent them all as US and Europe robber barons and their private armies from the beginning of the 19th century and go baddie-baddie (and then make films about 1920's gangsters like they are lost values of ages past..... go figure).
In any case due to the area where action takes place, this one reads more like adventure pulp fiction than other books. There are choppers, desert, agents, paramilitary troops, hi caliber weapons and people (yup, not only Punisher) seeking vengeance. There is also loss (which again made me giggle considering that Punisher is as friendly as grizzly waking before spring) - in one word true escapism and it feels like watching good old action movie from 80's and 90's.
Art is very good - you can just see how Punisher is not a subtle guy, never was. His rage against everything Evil in the world just burns and burns and at some point [when Frank truly gets upset] it spills over and then it is end game for any opponent he can see and touch. To see how dark he truly is just open any page of this issue. He is tormented soul caught into never-ending war.
Recommended to all fans of adventure-paperback-stories and Punisher in particular.
As is case with all other MAX series Punisher books this one is especially bloody. I like the old/new (now almost obsessive) notion that Russians are always big, subtle as tractor, walking around with the machetes hacking people left and right. This is becoming such a cliche that it is ridiculous. Above almost always crosses wires with the (I guess irresistible) attempts to say - ho and behold they are gruesome murderers but they have valor and honor (criminals, yeah right). I do not know why do they insist on this - if these are criminals let them be dont make them pariahs that just found themselves on the wrong side. At least guys Frank is fighting against do not fall into this category of accidental criminals.
Because of this whenever I see Russians as bad guys in US media I cannot stop but giggle because they represent them all as US and Europe robber barons and their private armies from the beginning of the 19th century and go baddie-baddie (and then make films about 1920's gangsters like they are lost values of ages past..... go figure).
In any case due to the area where action takes place, this one reads more like adventure pulp fiction than other books. There are choppers, desert, agents, paramilitary troops, hi caliber weapons and people (yup, not only Punisher) seeking vengeance. There is also loss (which again made me giggle considering that Punisher is as friendly as grizzly waking before spring) - in one word true escapism and it feels like watching good old action movie from 80's and 90's.
Art is very good - you can just see how Punisher is not a subtle guy, never was. His rage against everything Evil in the world just burns and burns and at some point [when Frank truly gets upset] it spills over and then it is end game for any opponent he can see and touch. To see how dark he truly is just open any page of this issue. He is tormented soul caught into never-ending war.
Recommended to all fans of adventure-paperback-stories and Punisher in particular.
October 25, 2024
Punisher MAX Vol. 7: Man of Stone
Marvel. Collects issues 37-42
Bullets are expended and blood spilled in the first several pages. It’s the Punisher. What did you expect?
Meet Kathryn O’Brien. She’s out to settle personal scores and has a history with Frank.
Meet Rawlins, O’Brien’s ex-husband. CIA turncoat. Rawlins is on O’Brien’s list, having tried to kill her. Heroin deal gone bad.
Rawlins has formed an uneasy alliance with Soviet war criminal Genera Nikolai Zakharov, the Man of Stone. Zakharov looks like Moscow’s version of the Kingpin. Big, bad, and bald. Emphasis on bad.
That’s the principal cast. Things happen. Mostly grim.
Zakharov has a not-so-secret weapon, the payload beneath his helicopter. MOAB aka Massive Ordnance Air Blast aka Mother of All Bombs, capable of turning anything to ash within a thousand yards.
As a result, Frank winds up as Zakharov’s prisoner on the chopper. He’s not a prisoner for long. Things go to Hell for Zakharov.
His helicopter in flames, his bomb detonated, Zakharov lands in an Afghanistan desert, stranded in the sands with a broken neck. No shade or water. Good luck. The Punisher and a large stone ends Zakharov.
O’Brien could have used some good luck too. She steps on a landmine. Dying, she requests two things from Frank – Finish Rawlins and complete her list, two names remain to be crossed off.
The Punisher fulfils her requests.
Best quotes:
“Why the f*<% do Americans like Benny Hill?”
“I’d like to f*<% you right here and now, you know that?” “Everything in moderation.”
This volume has ties to Vol. 3: Mother Russia. I recommend reading that volume first.
The art in issue 41, Chapter 5, is particularly strong, especially after O’Brien dies. Great four panel sequence.
Next volume, here I come.
Marvel. Collects issues 37-42
Bullets are expended and blood spilled in the first several pages. It’s the Punisher. What did you expect?
Meet Kathryn O’Brien. She’s out to settle personal scores and has a history with Frank.
Meet Rawlins, O’Brien’s ex-husband. CIA turncoat. Rawlins is on O’Brien’s list, having tried to kill her. Heroin deal gone bad.
Rawlins has formed an uneasy alliance with Soviet war criminal Genera Nikolai Zakharov, the Man of Stone. Zakharov looks like Moscow’s version of the Kingpin. Big, bad, and bald. Emphasis on bad.
That’s the principal cast. Things happen. Mostly grim.
Zakharov has a not-so-secret weapon, the payload beneath his helicopter. MOAB aka Massive Ordnance Air Blast aka Mother of All Bombs, capable of turning anything to ash within a thousand yards.
As a result, Frank winds up as Zakharov’s prisoner on the chopper. He’s not a prisoner for long. Things go to Hell for Zakharov.
His helicopter in flames, his bomb detonated, Zakharov lands in an Afghanistan desert, stranded in the sands with a broken neck. No shade or water. Good luck. The Punisher and a large stone ends Zakharov.
O’Brien could have used some good luck too. She steps on a landmine. Dying, she requests two things from Frank – Finish Rawlins and complete her list, two names remain to be crossed off.
The Punisher fulfils her requests.
Best quotes:
“Why the f*<% do Americans like Benny Hill?”
“I’d like to f*<% you right here and now, you know that?” “Everything in moderation.”
This volume has ties to Vol. 3: Mother Russia. I recommend reading that volume first.
The art in issue 41, Chapter 5, is particularly strong, especially after O’Brien dies. Great four panel sequence.
Next volume, here I come.
March 9, 2024
¨ Trampa no era la palabra. Invitación, mas bien¨.
El querido Castle hace un tiempo se metió en la mismísima Rusia y acabo con un montón de soldados , destruyo un plan criminal , y pues ahora, el General que estuvo a cargo vuelve por venganza, y vaya que correra sangre.
LO BUENO: Tenemos al Garth Ennis bueno: Una trama pesada, con un transfundo real, lleno de sangre, genocidios, con un Castle imparable que no sonríe ( pero si copula ) , que en un subtexto te cuenta mil cosas sobre el y se agradece. Los rusos y Rawlins son un buen enemigo, y la soldado que hace equipo con Castle , se hace querer y , la charla de Frank con Yorkie , es densa y te desarma.
LO MALO: Me duele decir que el arte de Leandro Fernandez no me gusto, y no porque sea malo, sino que yo soy fan del tipo desde Queen & Country , The Discipline, y ...THE OLD GUARD !!!, y acá tuve que revisar...¿no era Russ Braun ?, ¿Darick Robertson? , y hay un par de portadas de Tim Bradstreet que no están a su nivel...¿Farnk en el suelo de Afganistan en chaqueta de cuero, disparándole a un Helicoptero?...no se, falta de tiempo, o de interés, pero el tipo tiene ilustraciones muy épicas y esta no es una de esas.
El querido Castle hace un tiempo se metió en la mismísima Rusia y acabo con un montón de soldados , destruyo un plan criminal , y pues ahora, el General que estuvo a cargo vuelve por venganza, y vaya que correra sangre.
LO BUENO: Tenemos al Garth Ennis bueno: Una trama pesada, con un transfundo real, lleno de sangre, genocidios, con un Castle imparable que no sonríe ( pero si copula ) , que en un subtexto te cuenta mil cosas sobre el y se agradece. Los rusos y Rawlins son un buen enemigo, y la soldado que hace equipo con Castle , se hace querer y , la charla de Frank con Yorkie , es densa y te desarma.
LO MALO: Me duele decir que el arte de Leandro Fernandez no me gusto, y no porque sea malo, sino que yo soy fan del tipo desde Queen & Country , The Discipline, y ...THE OLD GUARD !!!, y acá tuve que revisar...¿no era Russ Braun ?, ¿Darick Robertson? , y hay un par de portadas de Tim Bradstreet que no están a su nivel...¿Farnk en el suelo de Afganistan en chaqueta de cuero, disparándole a un Helicoptero?...no se, falta de tiempo, o de interés, pero el tipo tiene ilustraciones muy épicas y esta no es una de esas.
September 13, 2022
"Muž z kamene" navazuje na "Matičku Rus" a na "Dole je nahoře, černá je bílá". Takže máme zpátky ruského Generála Zacharova i O'Brienovou. Navíc si Punisher udělá výlet do Afghánistánu. To znamená více vojenský příběh, než masakrování gangsterů a mafiánů. Frank Castle zde opět nemá tolik prostoru, kolik obvykle mívá v New Yorku (to zní celkem neuvěřitelně v afghánských horách, že?), ale mi to docela vyhovuje. Mám rád, když příběh sleduje víc osob a jejich cesty se pak sbíhají a kříží. Obvykle pak bývají záporáci plastičtější a vy je můžete více nenávidět. Tuhle knihu jsem si opravdu užil. Bylo to jako sledovat dobrý špionážní film. A to i díky skvělé kresbě a barvám.
March 9, 2018
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
March, 2018
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
March, 2018
August 27, 2025
General Zacharov wants to kill the Punisher because of the events of volume 3 and lures him into Afghanistan.
O'Brien and Rawlins are also present in this story.
I really like O'Brien, clearly a flawed character that gets her literal ending in this book.
The premise sounds good but again... the execution was just OK. I did not gobble this volume up. I think I had 3 sessions of reading to finish this while other volumes where 1 or maybe 2 sessions.
I'm just not as hooked as with previous volumes, I just hope this gets back on track.
O'Brien and Rawlins are also present in this story.
I really like O'Brien, clearly a flawed character that gets her literal ending in this book.
The premise sounds good but again... the execution was just OK. I did not gobble this volume up. I think I had 3 sessions of reading to finish this while other volumes where 1 or maybe 2 sessions.
I'm just not as hooked as with previous volumes, I just hope this gets back on track.
September 16, 2025
bu afganistan, şu ülkenin operasyonları, bu ülkenin operasyonları mevzuları kafa karıştırıyor ama güzel cilt yine, 3,5/5. onun dışında t***ban mevzularında İslam ve Müslüman isimlerinin hiç geçmemesi güzel bi şey, ikisinin bu kadar meşhur kitlelere ulaşan bir çizgi romanda beraber anılması, aynı sanılması üzerdi ve saçma olurdu
May 17, 2017
I can't help but look askance at any Punisher story set outside the USA. Sort of a bias on my part. But, given those parameters, this is a good one, as it revisits (and concludes the stories of) several important characters from previous issues.
September 25, 2017
After the diversion of Barracuda, this volume returns to the aspects of the book that really make the series sing; building on the character work and plot threads that Ennis started weaving back in the very first issue. It doesn't quite live up to "Up Is Down..." but it certainly gets close.
January 15, 2020
Tento diel je znova klasický Frank Castle.
On versus zlý big boss. Tento raz je to jeho starý známi ruský Kingpin. . Ale prišlo mi, že priamo v tomto dieli ukázal Ennis ako je veľmi doma v armádnom svete.
On versus zlý big boss. Tento raz je to jeho starý známi ruský Kingpin. . Ale prišlo mi, že priamo v tomto dieli ukázal Ennis ako je veľmi doma v armádnom svete.
February 21, 2024
The Russian General from volume 3 returns and is after Frank. There is also the return of O'Brien, who is one of the better characters in this series and who has a great dynamic with Frank.
This isn't as great as the two previous volumes, but it is still very good.
This isn't as great as the two previous volumes, but it is still very good.
June 9, 2017
No happiness to be found here...
October 9, 2017
Zharkov is a great adversary for the Punisher and throw in the Rawlins' angle, the stakes are sufficiently raised.
November 15, 2018
Ennis has grown weary of Punisher...
February 16, 2019
o maluco ta em pedaços (rawlins)
November 27, 2019
Rawlins could have died in a bloodier way
June 20, 2020
Classic Punisher from Garth Ennis.
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