Punisher MAX, Vol. 1 [Hardcover]

Garth Ennis (Author), Lewis Larosa (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 15, 2007 | Series: Punisher (Book 1)

In the first story "In the Beginning," Frank Castle's old associate Microchip is back, and he's after the Punisher. But first, he's got an offer for Frank that he'd better not refuse. Get ready for blazing bullets, bloodbaths, and bold beginnings! In "Kitchen Irish," Frank embarks on a deadly mission that pits him against two rival gangs when a bomb explodes in a Hell's Kitchen pub. One thing is certain: The Punisher won't be pulling his punches! Collect Punisher (2004) #1-12 and Punisher: The End.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 304 pages
• Publisher: Marvel; contents are erroneous: does NOT contain the story "The End"! edition (August 15, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0785118403
• ISBN-13: 978-0785118404
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 0.9 x 11.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (33 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #129,143 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Oh yeah baby, I've waited a long time for this September 18, 2004

By N. Durham HALL OF FAMETOP 1000 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback

Garth Ennis' Marvel Knights Punisher run had it's share of up's and down's; mostly due to the fact that Ennis didn't have the kind of freedom he had on titles like Preacher and Hellblazer which allowed his insanely dark humor-ish yet gritty storytelling to shine, but with the newly launched Punisher title under Marvel's MAX line (meaning, for mature audiences only), this is indeed the Punisher at his best. Beginning with a bloody flashback to the murder of Frank Castle's family and followed by an even bloodier assault on the mob, Frank finds himself hounded to become the CIA's own personal hitman, and none other than Frank's long thought dead partner Micro is here trying to convince Frank to do it. This is Garth Ennis at his best, giving the Punisher a dark, gritty, crime story feel that more than suits the book. The only problem with this book is the art from Lewis Larosa. While he does a fine job drawing the brutal ensuing blood baths and gore, his character models aren't the best around. Ennis' old Preacher partner Steve Dillon would have been an excellent choice to do the art, but as great as this is, that's only a minor withdrawal. All in all, Punisher fans who have been waiting for an excellent gritty and adult story that takes the character back to his roots should definitely pick this up. And if you think this is good, just wait until the next storyarc, called Kitchen Irish, comes out in TPB form, because that's even better.

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The Punisher the way he was always meant to be November 11, 2005

By N. Durham HALL OF FAMETOP 1000 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover

In 2004, not long before the release of the Punisher film with Tom Jane in the title role, Marvel re-launched the Punisher series under it's mature audiences imprint MAX, and Preacher creator Garth Ennis was once again at the helm of Marvel's most infamous vigilante. This handsome hardcover collects the first twelve issues (two storyarc's) of Ennis' bloody run, as well as his fantastic one-shot, Punisher: The End. The first storyarc, appropriately titled "In the Beginning", re-tells the tragic massacre of Frank Castle's family as he sets his sights on the mob. Soon enough, Frank is captured and finds his long thought dead partner Micro trying to convince him to be a sanctioned assassin for the government, all the while the mob and others are closing in for the kill. The art in this arc by Lewis Larosa is brutal and bloody, and the story by Ennis will keep you on the edge of your seat until the final page. The second arc, entitled "Kitchen Irish", finds Frank in Hell's Kitchen (but don't look for any appearances from Daredevil) as one Irish mobster's legacy causes rival gangs to make their moves, and Frank is smack in the middle of it all. The art is solid here as well, but its Ennis' story that packs a punch with enough Irish political intrigue and twists that keep the story more than enjoyable. As great as both arcs are, it's the one shot included here that's the real gem. Punisher: The End, featuring some great art from the legendary Richard Corben, finds an old Frank in a dead world in the future, and he has only one thing to do: kill. All in all, the MAX re-launch of the Punisher has been a long time coming, and it's the way the character was always meant to be. If you missed the single issues or the one shot, definitely consider picking this hardcover up, because it's the beginning of the best Punisher stories ever told.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Buy It, Now! October 20, 2008

By J T Bishop

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

Garth Ennis's work with the Punisher easily merits comparison with Frank Miller's "Sin City" series. It's bloody, remorseless noir fiction at its finest, and moreso than Miller, Ennis manages to work in a bit of levity here and there to make the mayhem that much easier to stomach. The stories aren't just about the Punisher, which is part of what makes them so appealing. Ennis fills his dark world with fascinating, often bizarre characters, and the Punisher in a way serves as both a narrator and a malicious force of nature driving these irredeemable souls to their inevitable, blood-drenched doom. If you're an Ennis fan, a Punisher fan, or even a Frank Miller fan, then I'd highly recommend this series for you, and this first volume especially.