This issue is a great example of how you start a comic series. In the first few pages you immediately understand what type of person Frank Castle is and a few pages after that you know what he's trying to accomplish. Everything past that is pure entertainment. The action is exciting, Castle's inner monologue is insightful and revealing, and of course there are some great quips and one-liners. Stop reading this review and go read Punisher. Read Full Review

This book blew me away. I was excited about having a new Punisher book no from the get go no matter who was writing it, but this book has given me three things, a NEW Punisher, a new favorite writer and a new favorite artist. I really enjoyed this. I came in with expectations but they should have been higher, this book surpassed any thoughts I had about it. Read Full Review

As it stands, this is my favorite #1 from the All-New Marvel NOW relaunch. It was exciting, human and clever and provided a great opening issue. The artist is perfectly matched to the script and makes this comic visually masterful. Read Full Review

Overall I felt that The Punisher #1 was a freaking fantastic first issue! A plethora of exhilarating moments, mixed with the militaristic vibe, along with the beautiful art create a generally amazing read. Comic of the week, a must buy for sure! I can't wait for the next issue and thankfully it's only 2 weeks away! Read Full Review

Overall Marvel has done with The Punisherwhat they are hoping to do with every All-New Marvel NOW! launch. They have taken a well known, but not necessarily top selling character/concept and made everything fresh again hoping to appeal to new readers while staying true to what current fans love about it. Edmondson and Gerads are a fresh creative team with something new to bring to the world of Frank Castle, and Los Angeles is a fresh, underused setting that brings with a host of possibilities. Everything put together, and there you left with a fresh start, and new direction for a storied character.The Punisheris off to an amazing start and has the potential to be one of the best comic books on the racks. Read Full Review

While Marvel has been promoting this new run of Punisher to be Frank's move to the West, Edmondson and Gerads are far more self-assured of their own abilities - and they deserve to be. This is a Punisher team who are comfortable in their own skins, ready to rest on the strength of the character and his job rather than any auteur-baiting high concepts. And I use the word "job" deliberately - perhaps the refreshing thing about this iteration of the Punisher is that while he's driven, this is a job, rather than a cold, alienating, all-consuming mission. It's a job that we could tune into on a regular basis, whether it would be month-to-month on the comic stands or week-to-week on our TV screens. Read Full Review

It's a great mix of writing and art that earns itself a 4 out of 5. This is primarily due to the fact that I really want to show how much better the series can get. It's a fun book with a fun Marvel Easter Egg or two which is yet another reason why you should really read it. Read Full Review

The Punisher is back, and in this issue better than ever. I went into The Punisher #1 with high hopes, and these two nailed the first issue, just like I thought they would. Here's to getting the “dream” creative team I was expecting. Read Full Review

I never thought I'd say it, but I'm actually looking forward to issue #2 of The Punisher. Here's hoping the book stays close to the ground and doesn't find itself woven up into superhero games. Frank works best when he works alone. Read Full Review

The Punisher gets off to a terrific start and if it continues like this I will be a very happy fan. Highly recommended. Read Full Review

Realistic, gritty and fun to read " being one of the best titles in very strong week of comics -The Punisher #1is a fantastic opening start to a series that is certainly worth investing your time in with the only real complaint being the pricetag. Both Nathan Edmondson and Mitch Gerads absolutely kill it on this book and it'll be very interesting to see what direction they take Frank Castle in now that he has moved to LA. However, perhaps the best part of this issue is that readers won't have to wait another month to get their hands on more of this title " #2 ships later this month. Read Full Review

With guns blazing, a cool cover, sporting a new Punisher logo and a tough as nails attitude, this re-launch is a welcomed addition to a brand new chapter to my favourite anti-hero. It’s gonna be a blood bath! Read Full Review

I am not a huge fan of The Punisher, but I am interested in the character enough to take a peak at his series whenever they pop up. Many have been too brooding for my taste, but this comic mixes the right amount of "doing what no one else can, but I would rather not be doing" with Frank enjoying the simple things in life like a cup of coffee. Anyone who is like me and even a little interested in the character should pick this one up. Read Full Review

The Punisher is back to continue his fight against crime. Nathan Edmondson throws the Punisher and us in the middle of the action as we see Frank move away from the all too familiar New York City setting. Mitch Gerads is delivering some good visuals and it's safe to say this is going to be a fun and explosive Punisher series. Read Full Review

If the story begins to click with the visuals, Marvel Now's Punisher could be the book to beat in 2014. Read Full Review

Ill admit Ive tuned out of what Castle has been up to in the last few years in the Marvel Universe. It all looked and felt the same as what had been done before, with the exception of the Marvel MAX stories. The Punisher is right where he should be at this point: going after drug pushers and blowing them all to hell. Leave the spandex out of this series and I think fans will flock to see how much of Los Angeles he can clean up. Read Full Review

Presenting a competent approach to the character and to the manner in which he approach his goals, Nathan Edmondson crafts an enjoyable tale that is also rather well illustrated thanks to the talented Mitch Gerads. It isn't the most impressive and explosive of issues, yet it is done with a certain confidence and talent that makes it hard not to enjoy, which bodes well for the series in general. Read Full Review

While not as gritty as the War Journal or MAX books, Punisher #1 is probably one of the better #1 titles in the Marvel NOW range. Being the Punisher, I wouldn't recommend this book to a young audience, however teens and up, or fans of Punisher, I believe will be happy with the violence and pacing of the story. Read Full Review

Fans of the Punisher and newcomers to Frank's war alike will be pleased with this new #1. The Punisher has always been a character that never really clicked for me like it had other people, aside from rare runs that went for laughs and satire instead of gloom and pathos. I always wanted a clear entry point into Frank Castle that struck both of those chords in a new and interesting way but it seems that I got exactly what I asked for in the form of Nathan Edmondson and Mitch Gerads' Punisher #1, which is sure to make anyone take notice of Marvel's premier antihero. Read Full Review

Edmondson has a good thing going over at Marvel right now. While I gave “Black Widow” #1 a 6.9 (which I still think is a good score), it improved dramatically after a first issue that felt very much like a standalone “pilot” episode that didn't really indicate its full potential as a series. Edmondson & Gerads' “Punisher” #1 doesn't feel like a pilot and seems like it's going to feed much more into an ongoing story for Frank Castle in his new setting. They've placed Castle into what is essentially a new life for the character. Fans who want to see Rucka's dropped storylines pay off won't get that opportunity, but if they can remember what the Punisher was like before that seminal run, they'll find enough to enjoy here. It's not the emotional and harrowing title that once earned a 9.5 here, but it's solid comics. Read Full Review

The Punisher brings our favorite skull-wearing vigilante back into the spotlight in a storm of bullets, violence and death. There's nothing new here, but any time Frank comes back is a good time indeed. Glad to have you back, Mr. Castle. Read Full Review

Edmondson has a bit of previous history with the Punisher as he wrote some Untold Tales Of The Punisher and knows how to treat Castle. We don't learn how Castle got to LA or why but we get plenty of action with Frank doing what he does best. Which is get info by any means necessary and dispatch criminals with bloody gusto. Gerads is a new artist to me but judging by the credits he seems to do everything including inking and colouring the book which leads to it having a slightly rushed look. He does make Castle look like a mean SOB and the book would look fantastic if the some of the rough edges were ironed out in the inking process. A strong first issue overall and well worth check out if you're tired of superheroes or you prefer Marvels street level characters. Read Full Review

"The Punisher" #1 is a worthwhile beginning of a new era for the character, remaining true to his motive and mission, but isn't afraid to let a little light in while doing so. Read Full Review

So in spite of its flaws, Punisher is still an enjoyable read. Read Full Review

This was a solidly made Punisher comic, and I would even recommend it to people if they wanted a Punisher comic. But I just couldn't get over its weaknesses on every page. After reading Ennis' Punisher, this one feels weak. It's like he's just a guy wearing Punisher's shirt pretending to be the Punisher. But that's on me, it's of no fault to the series itself. I just didn't find it engrossing or interesting in the least. Read Full Review

On their own, Edmondson and Gerads seem to be trying to handle two different aspects of the Punisher, but the slight disconnect between words and art ends up enhancing both, and while the plot that's being set up may not seem all that new, seeing that The Punisher is capable of emotional range and potentially connecting with ordinary people is an exciting idea that looks (at least, I hope) to play a central role in the development of this series. Read Full Review

The new volume of the Punisher feels like more of the same except it's in a new city. It's unclear how or even if the police don't know that Frank Castle is The Punisher. Without being told the character is in Los Angeles would the reader even notice? Does it matter where Castle operates? The book still has plenty of room to establish itself in the city's characteristics to match up the move across country and its importance in the story. We'll see. For now this is just another Punisher story. Read Full Review

Despite my grievances here and there, I'm certainly not disappointed by 'The Punisher' #1. It's a good jumping on point for new readers, but it leaves a lot of unanswered questions for long time fans. Hopefully, as the storyline continues, we get more answers because apparently there are "mind-blowing" developments on their way in this book. We'll see if the creative team can keep me around long enough to find out what they are. Read Full Review

Believe it or not, I was really looking forward to this issue. I like the Punisher and would love to read an original story that puts him in a new setting. This is not that book. The new city adds nothing to change the story and its much of whats been seen before. There are some great little moments, the best surprisingly in friendly conversations, but not enough to make me want to continue reading. Mitch Gerads fits for a Punisher title but problems in the art pop up throughout. Unfortunately, it seems the Punisher has yet to find a firm footing in the regular Marvel Universe. Read Full Review

This book was our most anticipated for this week and it let us down. We love Nathan Edmondson and despite the unanimously positive reviews for this issue, we just couldn't get into it. The mistreatment of The Punisher by making him happy and jokey was too much and the fact no one knows Frank is the Punisher pushed us over the edge. We feel like Frank Castle wasn't Frank Castle and we just couldn't get past that. The action, art, and story itself was good though. We have high hopes for this series and we truly wish we loved this comic. Read Full Review

This issue made me laugh more than I would usually expect from a Punisher comic. Couple that with an action-packed story and solid artwork, and you've got a great first issue in your hands. Hopefully the rest of the series will maintain this momentum.

The tone of the book is surprising, witty banter and smiling are new for Frankie. Didn't like it at first, but hey, are there really any more dark dour gritty grisly stories to tell about him? I'll get used to this new incarnation.

This new series has the right feel, but the wrong story. It just doesn't feel right to see Frank Castle as a heartless assassin during work and as a friendly customer at his friend's bar. This "Hawk-guy" thing can't work with any character, and this is definitely the case. The art is pretty good, although not always neat, and the coloring, too. I hope from this author a more complex and grim storyline in the future issues.