NEWS: Wildstorm to publish “The X-Files #4″

Scully and Mulder are the targets of a killer from the Tong Underworld who is about to reignite a centuries-old gang war. If Mulder and Scully can’t figure out how this devious criminal can be in multiple places at the same time, San Francisco will erupt in a bloodbath!

Written by Marv Wolfman; Art by Brian Denham; Cover by Jim Daly and Tim Bradstreet. 32pg. – Color – $3.50 US – On Sale February 18, 2009

NEWS: Wildstorm to publish “The X-Files #3”

Mulder and Scully are sent to San Francisco to investigate a series of murders happening simultaneously throughout the city. But, according to fingerprints and DNA, all are being perpetrated by the same killer. As their investigation takes them into the unknown mysteries of the Chinese underworld, they learn that instead of being the hunters, they have become the hunted.

Written by Marv Wolfman; Art by Brian Denham; Cover by Jim Daly and Tim Bradstreet. 32pg. – Color – $3.50 US – On Sale January 21, 2009

The Punisher #60 – Review

By Garth Ennis (writer) Goran Parlov (artist) Lee Loughridge (colors) Cory Petit (letters) Tim Bradstreet (cover)

Garth Ennis’ incredible run on The Punisher concludes in this issue. Very few writers have become synonymous with a character to the point where anyone else writing them makes you cringe. Ennis took us past the gun-toting maniac surface and showed us something deeper, making The Punisher one of the most engaging characters in comics. Having said that, issue #60, his last on the series, left me wanting more and not in a good way.

First let me say the issue isn’t bad, I just wanted more. It’s disappointing because it feels like familiar territory instead of a capstone. We have yet another guy who wants to stop Castle. He talks to him on a personal level and while he doesn’t support Frank’s actions he sees that some of it is necessary. It’s done very well, but it’s been done before. The big distraction for me were the excerpts from the book Valley Forge, Valley Forge. The text is written well, but it’s still a huge block of text in the middle of a comic book. Also, if you’ve read Punisher: Born it’s basically a recap. Those gripes aside, it never gets old seeing The Punisher gun down some jerks who have it coming. I just wish we actually saw him kill the evil generals instead of the aftermath.

Incredibly detailed and stylized, Tim Bradstreet’s covers always set the tone for the issue. Goran Parlov’s art is excellent also, even if it isn’t my usual cup of tea. There is an odd use of detail for each panel which makes each character stand out. Up close it’s easy to see each wrinkle on Howe’s face and each furrow of his brow. Castle on the other hand is drawn with very broad strokes, a great illustration of his black and white view of the world.

I don’t know if Garth Ennis will ever come back to work on The Punisher. I certainly hope so. I wish he’d gone out with more of a bang. This issue is more of a fade away than a spectacular burnout. I was expecting something huge, something that would be near impossible to followup. Instead, I got a solid story that feels anticlimactic because it’s the end of the Ennis era. (Grade: B-)

– Ben Berger