by Jason Aaron (writer), Steve Dillon (art), Matt Hollingsworth (colors), and Cory Petit (letters)
The Story: Bullseye attempts to relive the origin of the Punisher, Frank interrogates Fisk’s dirty cop, and the Kingpin has marital issues.
What’s Good: I think it’s become something of a concern among many readers how little the Punisher is actually in this comic, let alone developed. That’s somewhat adjusted this month, with the focus being equally split between Bullseye, Frank, and the Kingpin. What results is a beautifully structured issue with a perfect ending that brilliantly parallels all three characters. It’s a clear testament to Aaron’s skill how the three very different characters are able to flow into each other like this.
I’d say Bullseye has the strongest outing, if only because Aaron’s creativity has allowed for one of the creepiest, yet physically unassuming, characters I’ve read in a while. I don’t think I’ve ever imagined Bullseye as a family man and when he perversely kidnaps a family this month, it’s a skin-crawling good time. He just seems so damned happy throughout the issue and I love how he converses with them and engages in family activities with them as though absolutely nothing is wrong, completing ignoring that they’re all bound, gagged, and crying. It’s truly demented stuff.
Speaking of demented, we get another glorious torture scene from Aaron as the Punisher goes medieval on Fisk’s NYPD cronie. This is the sort of scene that demonstrates the understanding Aaron has of the MAX imprint: where most comics or films would turn the camera away, Aaron keeps it focused on the action just a little bit more and let’s us see more than we’d like. Aaron also continues to build Frank’s continuing decline, this time in morality. In many way’s, his situation this month sort of seems Dark Reign-like: in a world completely owned by the bad guys, he finds himself crossing his previously established moral lines. Why not indulge himself and shoot a cop in vengeance when the whole police force belongs to Fisk? When the world’s bonkers, it’s already bonkers inhabitants are liable to get a little bit nastier.
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Filed under: Marvel Comics, MAX | Tagged: Alex Evans, Bullseye, Comic Book Reviews, comic reviews, Dulohery, Frank Castle, Jason Aaron, Kingpin, Marvel Comics, Marvel MAX, Matt Hollingsworth, New York, New York City, NYC, Punisher, Punisher Max, Punishermax, Punishermax #8, Queens, Steve Dillon, The Punisher, Weekly Comic Book Review, William Bayer, Wilson Fisk | Leave a comment »
Weekly Comic Book Review 