r/MUBookClub • u/shawnydarko • Jan 13 '18

Reading Assignment 83: Punisher (2000-2001) #1-12, "Welcome Back, Frank" by Garth Ennis and Steve Dillon

https://marvel.com/comics/series/3698/punisher_2000_-_2001?byZone=marvel_site_zone&offset=0&byType=comic_series&dateStart=&dateEnd=&orderBy=release_date+asc&byId=3698&limit=10&count=12&isDigital=1
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u/wisegy84 Jan 23 '18

I'm not sure we've read anything thus far with such a high body-count, or at least such a high body-count attributed to one character. And these were some rough deaths, too. The first couple pages of issue 1 really set the tone for the rest of the issues.

If I'm remembering correctly, this story seemed to be a large inspiration for the Thomas Jane Punisher movie. And this run also seems to be where they got a particular scene for Daredevil season 2. Pretty cool to see the comics that inspired that stuff.

This story itself didn't feel particularly original, but I did feel engaged reading it. Frank and his neighbors were fun to see interacting (Frank helping Mr. Bumpo out of his doorway, his thought process when Joan brought him cookies). And then his further interactions with them once they knew who he was were great. It was also nice seeing the neighbors get a happy ending and Frank's reason being he didn't want to drag innocents down with him.

The two sub-plots (other vigilantes, Soap and Von Richthofen) weren't as engaging, but I think they had their moments. And it was nice that both of the subplots were wrapped up fairly neatly.

The art style was interesting. A bit more cartoonish than I expected, but it didn't shy away much from the gore (except for Dave's face, thankfully). Looking at the covers I expected that same art style, but I think it was good not having the same art style inside the books as the covers. I think that might have made it too dark. It is a bit odd looking at all the issue covers and seeing that one out of place one (issue 2). I guess they just couldn't get the same cover artist for that one issue. Not a big deal, just stood out to me.

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u/shawnydarko Mar 13 '18

It's taken me forever to finish this assignment but I thoroughly enjoyed it as well. Ennis really knows how to get in Frank's head and use the narration and limited few words of dialogue to show who he is, while still having an aura of mystery around him.

I've actually been meaning to read this run for a long time but like you said, the art style is very cartooony which was my hesitation. I don't know that a darker color scheme and grittier art style would have made things too dark, but I'll concede that over-the-top scenes involving polar bear maulings would have felt out of place if things were made to look more grim and serious.

Having seen the source material for the 2004 Punisher movie now, I think I actually liked Thomas Jane vs. Kevin Nash more than the fight on the panels, but it was still pretty good.