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.
In the flashback scenes, Frank comes to the fateful decision to spend one more day with his family. He decides to tell his wife that his marriage is over at the park. Unfortunately, everything else plays out pretty much the way you've seen a hundred times in other Punisher stories. Aaron doesn't make use of any of the pieces he set down in the previous flashbacks. None of Frank's previous decision factor into the events of the park. In some ways I respect that Aaron is preserving this origin but this is the Max Universe and if there ever was a chance to change something or tweak it a little bit it would be here. I was disappointed that this didn't come together more from what was told in the preceding issues.
In the present, Frank comes to his senses. As Frank basically sulks and tries to rationalize his decision to give up the fight and just let the prison riot become his end, he wakes up. This is the best part of the issue as Frank unfolds his thoughts about what makes him The Punisher. To this end, the picnic scene makes perfect sense to keep it as-is. However, these scenes are truncated because of the anti-climatic nature of his encounter with Big Jesus. Without spoiling it, I will just say that their interaction doesn't make sense with what was built up over the previous two or three issues. I was puzzled by these scenes.
Dillon performs his usual brilliance on art. He's got a few scenes where his facial expressions make the scene everything they should be, particularly when Frank converts to the Punisher and the faces of some of his victims. The book just wouldn't have the same impact without the art bringing out the emotions in a visual manner.
This is still one of the best ongoing series that I am reading but I was disappointed by this finale for several reasons. Perhaps because the arc was drawn out for too many issues I had set my expectations too high for the finale. In this regard, I would be curious to see someone pick up this issue without having read the rest of the arc to see how they felt it read. Overall, this is a good book but it is nothing as great as previous issues in this series.
3 out of 5 Geek Goggles
