Punisher, Snake Eyes, Fury

GI Joe: Snake Eyes, Agent of Cobra 1-5

As far as I can tell, this is how Mike Costa ended his GI Joe run: Snake Eyes a triple agent working for Tomax, Destro, and the decimated GI Joe; Chameleon and Billy (son of Cobra Commander) on the run and doing whatever they can to affect some good; Ronin dead at the hand of Storm Shadow.  It’s a sad ending for a once proud team, especially when Costa’s done such a fine job of making me care for these people.  (Especially Chameleon, the double agent who somehow manages to stay sane in a life that’s been nothing but hell for her.)

Great covers by Paolo Villanelli.

Regret buying: No

Would buy again: Yes

Would read again: Yes

Rating: Nice

Fury: Peacemaker 1-6

One of Garth Ennis’ classic “shoehorn the title character into a comic that can just as easily be one of his War Stories” arcs.  There’s absolutely no need for Nick Fury to be in this comic, but as long as Marvel lets him, why not?

As Ennis war stories go, this is as middle of the road forgettable as it gets.  Still, I don’t regret picking this up for 10 bucks.  

Regret buying: No

Would buy again: No

Would read again: Yes

Rating: Nice

Marvel Universe vs Punisher 1-4

Starting my box of Punisher comics!  This one’s got the great Gorlan Parlov on art, but Jonathan Maberry’s on writing duties, not Ennis.  I assume I picked it up because it was half price, because this story about Frank Castle versus zombified versions of the Marvel Universe is serviceable at best.  

Regret buying: No

Would buy again: No

Would read again: Yes

Rating: Nice

Punisher Kills the Marvel Universe

Ennis writes this one, but it may as well have been Maberry.  It’s actually worse than the previous title, as it’s completely ridiculous (Frank blows up the X-Men with a nuclear bomb.  Really.) and Doug Braithwaite’s art is no fun to look at.  Ennis takes the instigating premise here (Marvel superheroes kill/injure civilians with little more than a shrug by way of apology) and expands on it far more extensively later on with The Boys.  

Regret buying: No

Would buy again: No

Would read again: Yes

Rating: Didn’t suck

Punisher War Journal 6

I have this because Jim Lee did the art.  I’d almost forgotten he did a run on this title early on in his career.  You can definitely tell he’s still learning the craft; his characters are stiff and their proportions are slightly off here and there.  But the talent and potential is unmistakable.

The story by Carl Potts is meh.  Very wordy.

Regret buying: No

Would buy again: No

Would read again: Yes

Rating: Fine

Punisher vs Bullseye 1-5

Daniel Way and Steve Dillon team up for this one.  (As with Parlov earlier, it’s weird for me to see these artists drawing Punisher titles without Ennis writing them.  They all have such classic runs with him, doing these miniseries feel like they’re cheating on him.)  

Way definitely channels the Ennis/Dillon run here, with crossdressing mobsters and a gleeful Bullseye wreaking havoc on both Frank and Mafia.  I still don’t get why he doesn’t kill Punisher at the end of the story.  Makes no sense.  

Regret buying: No

Would buy again: No

Would read again: Yes

Rating: Nice

I'm watching this as I write.  I love Rebecca Ferguson in this movie.  This shot is iconic.