By Victor Gischler (writer), Jefte Palo (pencils), Lee Loughridge (colors)
This one shot reminds me of why I’m a Punisher MAX fan. Like a lot of the recent Punisher stories, it’s told from someone else’s perspective, a classy escort known only as Vette. This one-shot really shows how a person’s life is forever changed after spending a night with Castle (not in *that* way, though that does happen). We discover that Vette has quite the client list, riddled with people The Punisher feels need to be dead. Carlos Ramirez tops that list, and Castle decides to use our escort as a way into a party Ramirez is throwing.
I can’t say enough about the script of this book. Vette’s inner monologue is great – you really get a feel for her within the first two sentences of the book. Sadly, her low opinion of men (we’re all dogs) doesn’t change. But, by the end of the issue she does recognize that there are alpha-dogs, domestic-dogs, and lions to weed out the crap.
Jefte Palo’s art is outstanding, and really gives The Punisher an almost elemental feeling. One of the coolest panels shows a stunning portrait of a Punisher-victim’s face whose eyes are completely white after he’s been killed. The only way it could be more over-the-top is if “X’s” were over drawn over his eyes. The style choice represented here just fits the writing well. Castle is drawn as you’d expect his targets to see him, a faceless killer, with lots of shadow blocking out any emotion. And believe me when I tell you that the cover doesn’t do the interior, or story much justice, this isn’t War Journal, it’s the real deal.
I can’t say enough about this comic. Since there are so many books for each hero these days, it’s rare to find one that nails it across the board. This issue was so good that it makes me sad that Victor Gischler won’t be given the keys to Punisher MAX once Garth Ennis leaves. This is a definite read for Punisher fans. (Grade: A)
- Ben Berger
Filed under: Marvel Comics, MAX, Reviews Tagged: | Jefte Palo, Lee Loughridge, Marvel Comics, MAX, Punisher Max Special: Little Black Book #1, The Punisher, Victor Gischler
