Brandon Borzelli's Geek Goggle Reviews

PunisherMAX #22
MAX (Marvel Comics)
Aaron, Dillon & Hollingsworth

The finale of the Jason Aaron run on The Punisher is basically a tying up of loose ends as the climax occurred in the previous issue. Once again, Aaron shows how he has mastered putting together an interesting story that combines flashbacks and events in the current time period. Aaron packs a lot of information into this issue but still manages to move the book along at a nice pace. I have loved this run and this issue is no different. I believe if someone only picked up this issue, that they would be compelled to read the rest of the run. Definitely find space in your budget for this issue.

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Brandon Borzelli's Geek Goggle Reviews

PunisherMax #21
MAX (Marvel Comics)
Aaron, Dillon & Hollingsworth

With the series wrapping up next issue Aaron pulls out all the stops as the Punisher squares off with Wilson Fisk aka the Kingpin. These kinds of issues that have a big, climatic battle have been done so many times that they become impossible to differentiate. Aaron manages to make this fight memorable because of the violence and the elements that intertwine with the deadly battle. One without the other probably wouldn’t stand out much, but together they form up to make a terrific read to what has been an excellent series.

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Brandon Borzelli's Geek Goggle Reviews

PunisherMax #20
MAX (Marvel Comics)
Aaron, Dillon & Hollingsworth

Though Jason Aaron's run on the character is ending with issue twenty-two, Aaron is leaving his mark on the character as he provides another violent and comprehensive issue. Aaron's work on the Punisher excels when there is blood split, a lot of blood, and this issue doesn't disappoint as the Punisher takes on Elektra. With a turnout like this I can't wait to see what Aaron has in store for the final two issues.

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Brandon Borzelli's Geek Goggle Reviews

PunisherMAX #16
MAX (Marvel Comics)
Aaron, Dillon & Hollingsworth

The sixteenth issue of PunisherMax brings about the conclusion to the arc titled "Frank" and as a result, retells the very familiar picnic in the park scene that is generally regarded as the birth of the Punisher. The piece of the story set in the present time brings about the conclusion to the Frank in prison story and an ending between Frank and the new character, Big Jesus. I found both stories to be concluded in surprising, but somewhat disappointing ways. In what has been an unnecessarily drawn out arc I at least enjoyed that this issue picked up the pace for the finale. Overall, this is a good read but it is not the best issue of this series by a long shot.

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Brandon Borzelli's Geek Goggle Reviews

PunisherMax #14
MAX (Marvel Comics)
Aaron, Dillon & Hollingsworth

Frank Castle sits in solitary confinement as he contemplates his past and awaits his death at the hands of the angry prison population. Once again, this title delivers an excellent story that just feels original in its exploration of the characteristics that make up both Frank Castle and the Punisher. Aaron has created another interesting incarnation of a threat in the form of Big Jesus and manages, through flashbacks, to bring back the basic mafia thugs that pushed Castle into becoming the Punisher in the first place. It's an excellent read.

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Brandon Borzelli's Geek Goggle Reviews

PunisherMax #12
MAX Comics (Marvel Comics)
Aaron, Dillon & Hollingsworth

Prior to going on a five month hiatus this book was probably one of the top three books I picked up each month. The layoff soured me somewhat, but with a couple of issues back in the saddle and an issue for a new arc has me fully sold again. The arc titled "Frank" begins with another tremendous writing effort. Aaron finds a mix or narrative and dialogue while he also manages to tell a story set in the present that is rooted through flashbacks. The book is simply a terrific read that doesn't have a misstep at any point.

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Brandon Borzelli's Geek Goggle Reviews

PunisherMAX #10
MAX (Marvel Comics)
Aaron, Dillon & Hollingsworth

After a delay that's lasted many months, the penultimate chapter of the "Bullseye" arc finally ships. As much as I would love to rail on the book for being so absurdly late I simply can't. The book was late because Dillon was over allocated and his work in here is simply brilliant and, sadly, worth the wait. This issue brings to the forefront one of the more interesting questions: what made the Punisher? More specifically: was the Punisher born in Vietnam or in Central Park? Aaron brings a high level of thought to this topic through the eyes of Bullseye helping to build up the two characters simultaneously. This is an excellent comic book.

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Brandon Borzelli's Geek Goggle Reviews

Punisher Max: Happy Endings #1
MAX Comics (Marvel Comics)
Milligan, Ryp & Hollowell

Another random Punisher one-shot in the MAX-verse follows a similar pattern that we've seen where the Punisher is not the central character. This issue is a little different from the other one-shots because the central character is actually not a criminal, or at least not the typical criminal that the Punisher would be after. It's a good issue that tells a good story in a believable manner. Ultimately the story is a coming of age story for the main character, a nobody, where the Punisher happens his way into the ending of it. It's entertaining but certainly not essential reading.

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