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The Punisher Presents: Barracuda #1-5
The Punisher Presents: Barracuda
What? You didn't actually think that a load of buckshot to the chest in shark-infested waters was gonna put him down for good, did you? The Punisher's wildest foe is back...give or take a few body parts - this time he's embarking on a solo mission: playing bodyguard to the son of a dangerous mob boss. Should be a breeze for a guy who went toe-to-toe with Frank Castle and lived to tell about it, right? Guess again. Junior is a hemophiliac - and every crime syndicate in the country can't wait to take a shot at him as payback to his dad. To survive, Barracuda will have to navigate hitmen, corrupt cops, black ops, a Central American strongman and rescue a damsel in distress. No kidding. Collects Punisher Presents: Barracuda MAX #1-5.
120 pages, Paperback
First published October 10, 2007
1 person is currently reading
176 people want to read
About the author
Garth Ennis
2,628 books3,182 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 48 reviews
April 16, 2019
Score: 3.70 out of 5
Grade: 74% (B) | Good
This book was over-the-top and ridiculous, and I enjoyed every page of it! It was funny, had some great moments, and was very entertaining. There were some things I didn’t like, but this was just a fun and good time. Here is my review of The Punisher MAX Presents: Barracuda:
The Good:
I’ll be the first to admit that I was never a huge fan of Barracuda. Besides him being wild and crazy, that's about the extent of his character. But in this fantastic and hilarious solo adventure, I started to appreciate the character more for what he was than for what he wasn’t. By the end I couldn’t stop saying knowumsayin! Now I want to see a Punisher and Barracuda team-up – that would be amazing.
The supporting characters were all uniquely entertaining and good fun! My boy Hemo, aka Oswald, became a hardcore motherf***ing gangster (for a short time) and I literally LOL’d when his story came to a close. I was laughing so hard that I couldn’t even continue reading. Big Chris was clearly meant to resemble Christopher Walken. Even the way it was written resembled Christopher Walken’s iconic speech patterns. Fifty was amazing too! The bond between ‘cuda and Fifty felt organic like they’ve been through some sh** before.
There are a TON of laughs to be had with this one! I appreciate the range of humour used as well –classic slapstick jokes to clever and witty jests to over-the-top and ridiculous gags. Most of the humour comes from the amazing pairing of Barracuda and Hemo. From the start, I knew these polar opposites were going to make for some funny moments, but we even get a couple of heartfelt moments which were nice too. I think it’s in these moments where Barracuda really won me over.
The Bad:
The weakest part of this book was the characters of Mister Lockhart and Bobby. They were more spectators to everything happening and just felt out of place. Whenever the story focused on these two and their associates, they just couldn’t keep up with the funny/over-the-top tone of the story. I just wasn’t interested in them.
It does take the story some time to set everything up and introduce all these new characters, which can feel overwhelming at first. But once the intros are done, the story starts to pick. Also, some of the motivations of the characters weren’t overly interesting – just some more greedy men fighting each other. President Luna’s ending was funny at first, until you realize it was just for a cheap joke. I’m indifferent on his departure – it wasn’t bad, but it also wasn’t good.
Conclusion:
This was a fun detour in the Punisher MAX series. Barracuda and the supporting cast were all great. Some aspects didn’t sit well with me but I still enjoyed it regardless. Some people may not like the over-the-top ridiculousness of it, but I did! This happily surprised me and I came out a bigger fan of Barracuda than I was before.
Grade: 74% (B) | Good
This book was over-the-top and ridiculous, and I enjoyed every page of it! It was funny, had some great moments, and was very entertaining. There were some things I didn’t like, but this was just a fun and good time. Here is my review of The Punisher MAX Presents: Barracuda:
The Good:
I’ll be the first to admit that I was never a huge fan of Barracuda. Besides him being wild and crazy, that's about the extent of his character. But in this fantastic and hilarious solo adventure, I started to appreciate the character more for what he was than for what he wasn’t. By the end I couldn’t stop saying knowumsayin! Now I want to see a Punisher and Barracuda team-up – that would be amazing.
The supporting characters were all uniquely entertaining and good fun! My boy Hemo, aka Oswald, became a hardcore motherf***ing gangster (for a short time) and I literally LOL’d when his story came to a close. I was laughing so hard that I couldn’t even continue reading. Big Chris was clearly meant to resemble Christopher Walken. Even the way it was written resembled Christopher Walken’s iconic speech patterns. Fifty was amazing too! The bond between ‘cuda and Fifty felt organic like they’ve been through some sh** before.
There are a TON of laughs to be had with this one! I appreciate the range of humour used as well –classic slapstick jokes to clever and witty jests to over-the-top and ridiculous gags. Most of the humour comes from the amazing pairing of Barracuda and Hemo. From the start, I knew these polar opposites were going to make for some funny moments, but we even get a couple of heartfelt moments which were nice too. I think it’s in these moments where Barracuda really won me over.
The Bad:
The weakest part of this book was the characters of Mister Lockhart and Bobby. They were more spectators to everything happening and just felt out of place. Whenever the story focused on these two and their associates, they just couldn’t keep up with the funny/over-the-top tone of the story. I just wasn’t interested in them.
It does take the story some time to set everything up and introduce all these new characters, which can feel overwhelming at first. But once the intros are done, the story starts to pick. Also, some of the motivations of the characters weren’t overly interesting – just some more greedy men fighting each other. President Luna’s ending was funny at first, until you realize it was just for a cheap joke. I’m indifferent on his departure – it wasn’t bad, but it also wasn’t good.
Conclusion:
This was a fun detour in the Punisher MAX series. Barracuda and the supporting cast were all great. Some aspects didn’t sit well with me but I still enjoyed it regardless. Some people may not like the over-the-top ridiculousness of it, but I did! This happily surprised me and I came out a bigger fan of Barracuda than I was before.
April 18, 2013
In some of Garth Ennis’ many books he creates barmy, crazy, utterly bizarre characters that are so interesting they warrant a series of their own. Such is the case with Ennis’ legendary run on the Punisher when he created a formidable opponent for Frank Castle in the shape of Barracuda, a the ultimate gangster gang banger. Where he was left at the end of Punisher MAX, Volume 6: Barracuda, is where the story picks up, a few weeks later but before the events of Punisher MAX, Volume 9: Long Cold Dark.
In this book, Barracuda is entrusted with the haemophiliac son of a Christopher Walken lookalike mob boss to make him a man and murder his rival, a South American drug baron. The action takes the two to a Columbian drug farm and an all out battle between two mob organisations and the American government with Barracuda, a transvestite former army colleague, and the haemophiliac boy caught in the crossfire.
Lots of action, violence, and a sick sense of humour that only Ennis can bring to his books, Barracuda is a raunchy, fun, and adrenaline fuelled comic book that’s very entertaining. Obviously if you enjoyed the character’s actions and hugely enjoyable madness in the Punisher series, this book will be for you. If not then you won’t have missed anything that would detract from the Punisher MAX series. Otherwise, great read from a comics master.
In this book, Barracuda is entrusted with the haemophiliac son of a Christopher Walken lookalike mob boss to make him a man and murder his rival, a South American drug baron. The action takes the two to a Columbian drug farm and an all out battle between two mob organisations and the American government with Barracuda, a transvestite former army colleague, and the haemophiliac boy caught in the crossfire.
Lots of action, violence, and a sick sense of humour that only Ennis can bring to his books, Barracuda is a raunchy, fun, and adrenaline fuelled comic book that’s very entertaining. Obviously if you enjoyed the character’s actions and hugely enjoyable madness in the Punisher series, this book will be for you. If not then you won’t have missed anything that would detract from the Punisher MAX series. Otherwise, great read from a comics master.
August 13, 2010
Motherfuckin' awesome knowhumsayin'? There I just used two of Barracuda's catch phrases in my review, and the word "awesome" isn't one of them. I thought this was an excellent story that had me laughing out loud the whole time. It was fun to have one of Punisher's enemies in a book as the main "hero" and the unpredictable plot had lots of action that fueled the excitement.
After Garth Ennis's huge success with PREACHER he became everyone's favorite author to hate for some reason, this I have never understood.
It is like "Dave Eggers Syndrome" he is so cool and so popular that there is an automatic backlash of haters, huh?, ... whatever people.
So some of Ennis's work seemed like he was trying to prove something (sometimes with overly complicated plots) but this story felt like Ennis was having fun doing what he does best, telling a damn good politically incorrect story chocked full of violence and black humor!
After Garth Ennis's huge success with PREACHER he became everyone's favorite author to hate for some reason, this I have never understood.
It is like "Dave Eggers Syndrome" he is so cool and so popular that there is an automatic backlash of haters, huh?, ... whatever people.
So some of Ennis's work seemed like he was trying to prove something (sometimes with overly complicated plots) but this story felt like Ennis was having fun doing what he does best, telling a damn good politically incorrect story chocked full of violence and black humor!
November 14, 2024
This was okay. Barracuda is a Punisher villain who caught on with some readers and ended up getting his own limited series. This is about a coup in a Latin American country with some some gangsters, the FBI, the CIA, the DEA, an ex porn star, a molesting priest, a cross dressing mercenary, a hemophiliac kid...wow, in hindsight there was a lot going on here.
Over the top Garth Ennis. Nuff said.
Over the top Garth Ennis. Nuff said.
July 4, 2013
This miniseries is HILARIOUS. So over the top ridiculous, it would be a great B-Movie. Barracuda is a Punisher baddy, but here he's the anti-hero of his own story with pedophile priests, hemophiliacs, anal porn stars, transvestites, spooks, South American dictators and a whole lot of non-PG comic. Just a riot. Not for everyone for sure, but I enjoyed it as it was done, especially the bad guy who was literally Christopher Walken, even called 'Big Chris'.
November 27, 2011
In the Punisher comics, Barracuda is a nutzoid Stagger-Lee type asshole, sex-crazed and gigantic, always smiling, one-eye lost, and those front teeth replaced by "F-U-C-K" in gold. In other words a villain who could easily become a likable antihero, and that's exactly what we get here. Garth Ennis takes this to the limit, with a Christopher Walken gangster fobbing his pencil-necked hemophiliac "heir" off on Barracuda in order to mess with some Latin American dictatorship. Plot includes a pedophile priest, a black transwoman named "Fifty" who partners with Barracuda, an ex porn star, a Ronald Reagan statue, and all manner of sexcapades, bloodbaths, and double-crossings. Contrived, yes, but still very delicious, and I'm surprised Barracuda doesn't have his own regular series.
June 19, 2014
This is a perfect tie-in to the Punisher MAX series. Garth Ennis is foul and irreverent. I love it. Barracuda is a side character that is so ridiculous, he could only have been created by Garth.
This book is not for the easily offended.
I want Fifty to get her own book.
This book is not for the easily offended.
I want Fifty to get her own book.
May 2, 2020
To było i chore, i świetne. Nie wiem w jaki sposób to wyszło Ennisowi, ale mimo, iż spodziewałem się kilku momentów, które de facto trafnie przewidziałem, (vide motyw z Hemo... ops. Oswaldem) to i tak rozbawiło mnie to momentami, (nawet aż za bardzo) zważywszy na kontekst całej tej historii. I mimo, że jest ona zamknięta w stu procentach, bo doskonale wiemy co dzieję się z Barracudą (całość dzieje się pomiędzy pierwszy a drugiem spotkaniem z Castle'm) przy okazji drugiego spotkania z Punisherem to i tak cieszy fakt, iż Ennis dał nam szansę jeszcze raz spojrzeć na tego chorego psychopatę, który na swój sposób budzi... sympatię? To jest dopiero dziwne...
Barakudę wzywa do siebie niejaki Chris, głowa mafijnej rodziny, jak żywo stylizowana na pewnym aktorze... Ma on pewien biznes do kogoś zwanego El Presidente. Gość z którym "negocjuje" w sprawie dostaw narkotyków, zażyczył sobie nieco więcej mamony. Jest to nie do przyjęcia, więc oferuje psycholowi zadanie zlikwidowania dostawcy. Przy czym jest tutaj mały haczyk. Mafiozo chce też aby jego młody syn zmężniał i zabił wroga sam, po to aby zdobyć niezbędny szacunek na "dzielni". Szkopuł w tym, iż syn jest chory na hemofilię i jakiekolwiek draśnięcie może go zabić...
Jest to tak kuriozalny wątek, że aż kręciłem głową. Zresztą jest ich tu cała masa. Na miejscu cel, okazuje się znajomkiem Barakudy, niejakim Leopoldem. Towarzyszy mu Wanda, nieco wygasła gwiazda filmów porno, która mi kilka "analnych " rekordów. Jest były ksiądz Fannery, który zdecydowanie za bardzo lubi dzieci. A do akcji wkroczy jeszcze jeszcze "Półka", czyli pewien charakterystyczny transwestyta. Menażeria zaiste jednocześnie kuriozalna, co i zapadająca w pamięć. Z dziką przyjemnością śledziłem ich poczynania i wewnętrzne gierki.
Tym bardziej, że jest tu też masa ponurego humoru, który trafił centralnie w moje gusta. Kapitalna scena w śmigłowcu nad aktywnym wulkanem zostanie chyba ze mną do końca życia. Ckliwość z jaką obchodził się psychol z dzieciakiem, jaki został mu oddany pod opiekę, była momentami... rozczulająca. Każda postać jest tu "jakaś". I zazwyczaj jest to "chora" postać. Jak dobrze znów widzieć prace Parlova. Jego postacie są cudownie przerysowane, ale też tak pełne życia. I te kolory. Chciałoby się go oglądać więcej.
Nie dziwię się, że fani tak mocno chcieli więcej tego szajbusa, że Ennis dał im to czego potrzebują. To historia przerysowana i przegięta zarazem, która może obruszyć, ale może i nieziemsko ubawić. Ja jestem w tej drugiej grupie. Pięć zeszytów znikło jak z bicza strzelił, pozostawiając pewien niedosyt.
Barakudę wzywa do siebie niejaki Chris, głowa mafijnej rodziny, jak żywo stylizowana na pewnym aktorze... Ma on pewien biznes do kogoś zwanego El Presidente. Gość z którym "negocjuje" w sprawie dostaw narkotyków, zażyczył sobie nieco więcej mamony. Jest to nie do przyjęcia, więc oferuje psycholowi zadanie zlikwidowania dostawcy. Przy czym jest tutaj mały haczyk. Mafiozo chce też aby jego młody syn zmężniał i zabił wroga sam, po to aby zdobyć niezbędny szacunek na "dzielni". Szkopuł w tym, iż syn jest chory na hemofilię i jakiekolwiek draśnięcie może go zabić...
Jest to tak kuriozalny wątek, że aż kręciłem głową. Zresztą jest ich tu cała masa. Na miejscu cel, okazuje się znajomkiem Barakudy, niejakim Leopoldem. Towarzyszy mu Wanda, nieco wygasła gwiazda filmów porno, która mi kilka "analnych " rekordów. Jest były ksiądz Fannery, który zdecydowanie za bardzo lubi dzieci. A do akcji wkroczy jeszcze jeszcze "Półka", czyli pewien charakterystyczny transwestyta. Menażeria zaiste jednocześnie kuriozalna, co i zapadająca w pamięć. Z dziką przyjemnością śledziłem ich poczynania i wewnętrzne gierki.
Tym bardziej, że jest tu też masa ponurego humoru, który trafił centralnie w moje gusta. Kapitalna scena w śmigłowcu nad aktywnym wulkanem zostanie chyba ze mną do końca życia. Ckliwość z jaką obchodził się psychol z dzieciakiem, jaki został mu oddany pod opiekę, była momentami... rozczulająca. Każda postać jest tu "jakaś". I zazwyczaj jest to "chora" postać. Jak dobrze znów widzieć prace Parlova. Jego postacie są cudownie przerysowane, ale też tak pełne życia. I te kolory. Chciałoby się go oglądać więcej.
Nie dziwię się, że fani tak mocno chcieli więcej tego szajbusa, że Ennis dał im to czego potrzebują. To historia przerysowana i przegięta zarazem, która może obruszyć, ale może i nieziemsko ubawić. Ja jestem w tej drugiej grupie. Pięć zeszytów znikło jak z bicza strzelił, pozostawiając pewien niedosyt.
May 10, 2017
The action is as ridiculous as you would expect when you have Ennis as a writer. It's funny how he can combine a deadly killer, a banana republic setting complete with revolutions, a coup, a paedophile, a hemophiliac, an ex-pornstar, a guy who was forced into multiple sex acts, a transvestite, a drug empire... did I get them all? Oh, and a lot of shooting and blowing stuff up. It's beautiful to watch this story unfold. In the end Barracuda doesn't get his drug empire, but you have to appreciate his sunny disposition.
Barracuda was recently beaten up by the Punisher and let for dead in the ocean. He doesn't die as easily, so he is back on the streets intent on causing mayhem. Barracuda visits Chris Angelone, a Christopher Walken look-alike mob boss. Big Chris asks him to take care of Oswald, his hemophiliac son and only heir, on a job against South African dictator Leopoldo Luna, president of Santa Morricone and old business associate who increased prices on a drug deal. What Angelone doesn't know is that Barracuda and Luna are old friends since Barracuda helped put Luna in power.
Barracuda was recently beaten up by the Punisher and let for dead in the ocean. He doesn't die as easily, so he is back on the streets intent on causing mayhem. Barracuda visits Chris Angelone, a Christopher Walken look-alike mob boss. Big Chris asks him to take care of Oswald, his hemophiliac son and only heir, on a job against South African dictator Leopoldo Luna, president of Santa Morricone and old business associate who increased prices on a drug deal. What Angelone doesn't know is that Barracuda and Luna are old friends since Barracuda helped put Luna in power.
July 27, 2025
Vuelve uno de los villanos más carismáticos de la etapa Ennis y del universo de Punisher en general para hacer estallar una revolución en una isla perdida con un narcodictador, una ex-estrella porno, con el heredero hemofílico de un jefe mafioso y también con un travesti soldado. Gamberrismo puro, tacos por doquier, humor guarro, caos y desenfreno en un número de relleno que deja completamente de lado la seriedad y el realismo de otros números de la colección. Los lectores más inmaduros lo gozarán y lo pondrán por las nubes, pero no deja de ser un entretenimiento menor que no invita a reflexiones precisamente.
ENGLISH
One of the most charismatic villains of the Ennis era and the Punisher universe in general returns to spark a revolution on a remote island with a narco-dictator, a former porn star, the hemophiliac heir of a mob boss, and a transvestite soldier. Pure hooliganism, swearing everywhere, dirty humor, chaos, and debauchery in a filler issue that completely abandons the seriousness and realism of the other issues in the series. Immature readers will enjoy it and praise it to the skies, but it's still a minor entertainment that doesn't exactly invite reflection.
ENGLISH
One of the most charismatic villains of the Ennis era and the Punisher universe in general returns to spark a revolution on a remote island with a narco-dictator, a former porn star, the hemophiliac heir of a mob boss, and a transvestite soldier. Pure hooliganism, swearing everywhere, dirty humor, chaos, and debauchery in a filler issue that completely abandons the seriousness and realism of the other issues in the series. Immature readers will enjoy it and praise it to the skies, but it's still a minor entertainment that doesn't exactly invite reflection.
September 1, 2025
2.5 stars in reality.
This felt like going back to Punisher's Marvel Knights era of Garth Ennis, and clearly that was worse than the MAX series.
All the things I hated from the previous series came back in this one.
My main issue with this are the outlandish characters that exist just for shock value and nothing more.
We can start with Barracuda for starters. He is just a brute to 'make a Punisher like foe' that survives everything and kills anyone. In some cases is portrait as smart and then as dumb... it just does not make sense to me.
Fifty is just transvestite Barracuda, nothing to add to the story beside shock value in her looks and what happens with Luna.
Hemo could have been more interesting but is side-lined pretty hard until the end.
The story is OK, nothing more than that. But honestly it did not go anywhere and most characters added here ended up dying... so what was the point?
I guess Barracuda will make a comeback in the main title of the Punisher, but do we really need him?
This felt like going back to Punisher's Marvel Knights era of Garth Ennis, and clearly that was worse than the MAX series.
All the things I hated from the previous series came back in this one.
My main issue with this are the outlandish characters that exist just for shock value and nothing more.
We can start with Barracuda for starters. He is just a brute to 'make a Punisher like foe' that survives everything and kills anyone. In some cases is portrait as smart and then as dumb... it just does not make sense to me.
Fifty is just transvestite Barracuda, nothing to add to the story beside shock value in her looks and what happens with Luna.
Hemo could have been more interesting but is side-lined pretty hard until the end.
The story is OK, nothing more than that. But honestly it did not go anywhere and most characters added here ended up dying... so what was the point?
I guess Barracuda will make a comeback in the main title of the Punisher, but do we really need him?
March 6, 2024
Barracuda no esta muerto !!!, y eso es mucho decir para alguien que peleo contra Punisher, y si, termino sin un ojo y con 04 dedos menos, pero esta vivo y con una misión que implica un país tropical lleno de militares, la CIA, gansters y muchos mas enemigos de los esperados.
LO BUENO: Me hizo reír, con escenas gore, chistes pasados de raya, y un Goran Parlov que ajusta su estilo a lo que se pide y se divierte muchísimo.
LO MALO: Hay dos Garth Ennis, cuando es brutal, serio, seco, que te duele, con guiones que se te atoran en la garganta y otro que es exagerado y mete cosa loca y ridícula tras otra, y si, este libro es de la segunda categoría y te hueles todo lo que va a pasar y te saca risas, pero lo olvidas a los minutos de haberlo terminado.
LO BUENO: Me hizo reír, con escenas gore, chistes pasados de raya, y un Goran Parlov que ajusta su estilo a lo que se pide y se divierte muchísimo.
LO MALO: Hay dos Garth Ennis, cuando es brutal, serio, seco, que te duele, con guiones que se te atoran en la garganta y otro que es exagerado y mete cosa loca y ridícula tras otra, y si, este libro es de la segunda categoría y te hueles todo lo que va a pasar y te saca risas, pero lo olvidas a los minutos de haberlo terminado.
December 20, 2024
I read Punisher presents Barracuda
Punisher Max has a lot of comedy and absurd elements but most stories boil down to a very dark and purposeful analysis of human nature.
This is just stupid hilarious bullshit
The comic opens with Barracuda scaring the shit out of 50 Cent and ends with him making someone explode from a light slap on the back.
It’s great
It’s is to put it bluntly…
Horrifically racist, homophobic, transphobic, nihilistic, purposefully ugly and stupid. It’s a farcical portrayal of humanity made by two masters at the top of their craft set out to make the most stupidly hilarious piece of shit possible.
In other words Barracuda is kino.
Punisher Max has a lot of comedy and absurd elements but most stories boil down to a very dark and purposeful analysis of human nature.
This is just stupid hilarious bullshit
The comic opens with Barracuda scaring the shit out of 50 Cent and ends with him making someone explode from a light slap on the back.
It’s great
It’s is to put it bluntly…
Horrifically racist, homophobic, transphobic, nihilistic, purposefully ugly and stupid. It’s a farcical portrayal of humanity made by two masters at the top of their craft set out to make the most stupidly hilarious piece of shit possible.
In other words Barracuda is kino.
August 6, 2025
Vulgarmente asquerosa, depravada y demencial, tal como su protagonista. Esperaba mayor alusión a Punisher o una conexión más directa, creo que se desaprovecha la oportunidad de revisitar el pasado de tan pintoresco personaje en un escenario de índole mayormente política.
Caricaturesca, con un humor muy negro y con todo lo explícito que se puede ser, esta serie no es para los débiles de estómago. Abraza a su protagonista y lo lleva en un viaje de degenere total. Interesante, divertida pero argumentalmente me pareció algo aburrida, mezcla demasiados personajes que aparecen poco y se sienten sin relevancia. Me agradó el estilo de dibujo alocado.
Caricaturesca, con un humor muy negro y con todo lo explícito que se puede ser, esta serie no es para los débiles de estómago. Abraza a su protagonista y lo lleva en un viaje de degenere total. Interesante, divertida pero argumentalmente me pareció algo aburrida, mezcla demasiados personajes que aparecen poco y se sienten sin relevancia. Me agradó el estilo de dibujo alocado.
March 8, 2018
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
March 2018
Two Stars
March 2018
February 25, 2024
I loved Barracuda from Punisher volume 6, and it looks like he was a pretty popular villain seeing as he got his own miniseries. This was just as good as Ennis's Punisher series.
Barracuda is hired by a mob boss to mentor his hemophiliac son and accompany him to assassinate a South American drug lord. Unfortunately for him, Barracuda has his own plans.
This series is over the top, insane and a whole lot of fun, although not for the squeamish or easily offended. Looking forward to seeing more of Barracuda in future Punisher volumes.
Barracuda is hired by a mob boss to mentor his hemophiliac son and accompany him to assassinate a South American drug lord. Unfortunately for him, Barracuda has his own plans.
This series is over the top, insane and a whole lot of fun, although not for the squeamish or easily offended. Looking forward to seeing more of Barracuda in future Punisher volumes.
July 11, 2025
4.5/5. Almost wanted to round this one up, it's terrific satire. I'm grateful Ennis saw the value in his character, Barracuda, and made this stand alone graphic novel. Hilarious and incisive, Ennis really has a feel for the darkside of America and Barracuda is one wildly entertaining depiction of it. Cannot recommend this enough to Punisher max fans.
August 10, 2025
Una miniserie centrada en Barracuda, ese peazo animal, en la que no aparece Frank Castle. Oyes, me ha gustado más que el volumen anterior en el que se nos presenta al malote. Tiene más humor. Y el hijo del mafias, Hemo, pobretico mío, mola telita con sus gafas. ¿Aparecerá más Barracuda? Me gustaría, a que negarlo.
April 19, 2021
A decent story that relies a little too much on the trademark Ennis excess. But the art is gorgeous and there are some funny moments. It's super over the top, and feels a little out of place in the wider Punisher MAX story though.
March 20, 2023
3,5
Good fun. I miss Fernandez's art. However, the Ennis humour is here and it certainly packs a very diesel punch. On the fence with Barracuda. Solid but haven't managed to get hold of Punisher Max 6, so didn't quite have the connection others did.
Good fun. I miss Fernandez's art. However, the Ennis humour is here and it certainly packs a very diesel punch. On the fence with Barracuda. Solid but haven't managed to get hold of Punisher Max 6, so didn't quite have the connection others did.
December 26, 2025
Barracuda es un enemigo digno de El Castigador, crearle una tomo completo es una apuesta que puede salir bien o mal. Desde mi punto de vista, Barracuda pierde mucha fuerza cuando no está Castle al frente.
November 9, 2017
Barracuda is an awesome character and the perfect nemesis for the punisher.
June 25, 2020
Wasn't expecting this book to be this exciting and fun to read!
June 5, 2021
Pure guilty pleasure fun, reminds me of the Ennis's MK Punisher early days.
3.5 stars
3.5 stars
January 13, 2025
as bad as ennis gets. one extra star just because parlov does typically great work.
July 27, 2025
They let Garth Ennis go too wild with this one, too many Ennisms not enough actual plot. At least it was sometimes funny.
October 11, 2018
Where to begin, for being part of the Punisher MAX series it features some of the most average stories in the Punisher universe. I always loved Barracuda as a direct Punisher villain, I didn’t expect it to be as average as it was.
3.5/5
3.5/5
February 1, 2011
More Fun Than A Bucket Full Of Butcher Knives
He survived being shot, stabbed in the eye, his hand mutilated and being cast as shark bait; Barracuda is back. He’s hungry for revenge on the source of his pain, the man called the Punisher. The problem is he needs money to bankroll his planned vengeance. To do so, he plays babysitter to a crime lord’s son, Oswald. Barracuda nicknames the kid Hemo due to his medical condition (hemophilia) or as Barracuda puts it, “Means he gonna bleed to death if he jerks off too hard.” The two vacation in Central America where Revolution is in the air. Bullets fly and the body count rises. Garth Ennis introduces other memorable if stereotypical characters along the way with typical Ennis emphasis on crude humor. Great fun even though the Punisher doesn’t even cameo. The art of Goran Parlov is passable but leans towards the cartoony. It’s a MAX title so expect handfuls of profanity and nudity.
He survived being shot, stabbed in the eye, his hand mutilated and being cast as shark bait; Barracuda is back. He’s hungry for revenge on the source of his pain, the man called the Punisher. The problem is he needs money to bankroll his planned vengeance. To do so, he plays babysitter to a crime lord’s son, Oswald. Barracuda nicknames the kid Hemo due to his medical condition (hemophilia) or as Barracuda puts it, “Means he gonna bleed to death if he jerks off too hard.” The two vacation in Central America where Revolution is in the air. Bullets fly and the body count rises. Garth Ennis introduces other memorable if stereotypical characters along the way with typical Ennis emphasis on crude humor. Great fun even though the Punisher doesn’t even cameo. The art of Goran Parlov is passable but leans towards the cartoony. It’s a MAX title so expect handfuls of profanity and nudity.
April 27, 2014
An amazingly wicked and fun comic. Just don't come looking for a good story. This is classic Garth Ennis. This is basically a comic about Barracuda creating as much havoc and mayhem as possible and looking cool doing it. Ennis is in top form, with some very funny moments, lots of amazing action and cool lines every page. The art is perhaps a bit too “cartoonish” but some character´s expressions are priceless in the most important pages. The artist just nails those scenes and adds to some already “laugh out loud” writing by Ennis. And I really mean it. I was laughing like a maniac, many, many times. Its just a perverse and entertaining comic and highly recommended. Its also very “light” in plot and without any pretension beyond being tremendous fun. Which it totally is. So if you know what to expect, this will satisfy any reader expecting a bloody good time!
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