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.
Aaron opens with the issue with the Punisher recalling the first time he'd killed a man and the first woman he'd killed. They are a pair of powerful pages as it leads into the Punisher holding a gun to Fisk's estranged wife, Vanessa's head. Aaron's inclusion of these little building blocks from the Punisher's past have been magnificent throughout this series and this issue is no different. This is beautifully done but it really just sets up the meat of the issue.
This issue is about the Punisher fighting Elektra. For about nine pages, almost half of the book, they fight and it's fantastic. Intertwined with the fight scenes are the movements of Fisk and some flashbacks of the life that Frank used to know. Again, things that Aaron has been doing all along that only help make the issue all the more enjoyable. It's all terrifically done but doesn't detract from the violence of the pair fighting.
Both Elektra and the Punisher are professionals and both have massive egos about their ability to kill the other. The fight is both realistic and stunning at the same time. Both characters find themselves on the losing end for a bit and I felt surprised when either occurred. This is a credit to how Aaron has built these characters up and the level of invincibility he's given the mortal characters. The outcome is equally as stunning.
Dillon captures the fighting masterfully. He's got a simple approach to each panel and never tries to depict anything too complicated. In the process the fight scenes are very fluid and clear. Dillon's ability to show the defeat on the character's faces also mixes very well with the story. The artwork is a tremendous asset to the story in this issue.
PunisherMax is a brutal comic and this issue is a prime example as to why. Aaron knows how to play with the idea that any character can, and will, die in this book and he works wonders with the pair fighting in this issue. Hand to hand combat was never this good. I can't think of a reason to be missing this book.
4.5 out of 5 Geek Goggles
