The epic showdown between the God of War and the Fist of the Beast. But even if the Punisher somehow survives Ares, other forces are already gathering to bring him down, once and for all.
The pacing is perfect and mixed beautifully with the monologuing over the relentless action cluttering each page of this issue. I almost recommend reading Punisher #9 separately from looking at the art first, then just looking at the art alone, and concluding by re-reading it all together. It may make for a better understanding and a more powerful issue. Lastly, dont overlook the intricate detail with the art as well as the vibrant colors that place this story in such a great package. I truly couldnt recommend Punisher #9 more or this entire series. It may appear too late to join in now. However, if you can get the Punisher trade for the first 6 issues and ask your LCS for the last three, youll be in business. If you have any questions on the review or are ever interested in tackling a comic review of your own, feel free to email me directly at dispatchdcu@gmail.com. Let me know what you think, have a great week, and God Bless! Read Full Review
Aaron, Saiz, and Azaceta may not have made a better mousetrap, but they've definitely delivered the most engaging and enjoyable Punisher in many, many years. Read Full Review
Good lord this was fantastic. The battle between The Hand and the Apostles of War was great, and Frank shooting Ares right in his face was just awesome. The sick look on his face in the final few pages was just amazingly done, with Saiz reminding everyone just how damn good he is in this book. As for the flashbacks, I enjoyed the teasing of retconning Frank's origin, only for the Archpriestess to go against murdering his family. Plus, Maria seemingly accepting Frank's role was not something I expected, but it's sure to be a very interesting twist as we get into the final few issues of this series.
Jason Aaron knows exactly what people expected from this run, and has thoroughly subverted those expectations. While telling a really engaging story. I'm excited to see how this all ends.
This might have been my favorite issue in the series. It felt like the perfect blance of action, origin and story without feeling forced in any way.
By themselves, the events in this issue don't quite add up to a good comic. Even just stacked on top of each other, they wouldn't do the trick. But they're stitched together with admirable skill in both the words and the art, and that makes a big difference. The way Frank's fight and Maria's thoughts are interwoven elevates them both. And the foreshadowing for the next arc is salted through the whole issue at a perfect pace.
This was an exciting issue, I wasn't so keen on the narration. I can't imagine her leaving her kids at home to frequent bars. This is the mistake Aaron does over and over when the characters do something that doesn't match their personality. The action was good. I hope he goes back to a street-level character eventually. The supernatural side is fun for a while as was the Stark armor run. I do like the heroes grouping up to face him.