Punisher Max Vol. 4: Up is Down and Black is White (v. 4) [Paperback]

Garth Ennis (Author)

Book Description

Series: Punisher Max | Publication Date: 2006

Uber-gangster Nicky Cavella is back with a vengeance - this time hitting Frank Castle where he least expects it - right in the black pit of his hardened heart. With an unspeakable act, Nicky will go right to the top of Frank's "to-do" list - and there's nowhere he'd rather be. Collects Punisher #19-24.

Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: Marvel (2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0785117318
• ISBN-13: 978-0785117315
• Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 0.2 x 10.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #319,283 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Garth Ennis is the award-winning writer of Hellblazer, Hitman, Punisher, Preacher, Pride and Joy and War Stories. He is much in demand for his hard-edged, wickedly humorous style.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars All kinds of wicked, May 16, 2009

By 

Patrick M. Carroll (Shanghai, China) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Punisher Max Vol. 4: Up is Down and Black is White (v. 4) (Paperback)

There are some REALLY disturbing moments in this book. Whilst I love reading these, it does make one wonder what goes on in that head of Garth Ennis'!! In this collection, gangster Nicky Cavella decides to call out Castle by disinterring Castle's family and urinating on their corpses and videotaping it. Bad, bad, bad idea. There are some things that just aren't wise and this is one of them. As you can well imagine, the body count is apocalyptic. Gallons of blood flow. While I like the fact that many characters are reappearing, it is easy to forget excatly what role they played several books ago. It is nice to see Castle back in the States and not messing around in spy-type stuff. Characters like Cavella, Teresa, and Rawlins keep the book interesting, entertaining, and disturbing. Cavella is the best of all of them in that he really is a fresh take on the mafiosi style gangster.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The absolute best Punisher arc ever, May 20, 2008

By 

N. Durham "Big Evil" (Philadelphia, PA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Punisher Max Vol. 4: Up is Down and Black is White (v. 4) (Paperback)

Garth Ennis' masterful run on Punisher MAX went to new heights with the fourth storyarc, Up is Down and Black is White. Nicky Cavella, the mob hood who managed to survive a face-off with Frank back in In the Beginning, returns with a plan to really get to Frank. The plan involves desecrating the graves of Frank's family, with what follows being some of the most intense and blood curdling moments ever seen in a Punisher comic. Ennis' examination of the role of the death of Frank's family in his one man war on crime is what fuels this TPB, but its the origin of Nicky Cavella that is even more worth noting, making him one of the most well developed, well-rounded, and realistic villains to ever appear in a Punisher comic. Leandro Fernandez' stark artwork is great as well, helping make Up is Down and Black is White the absolute best Punisher arc to ever see the light of day. Some may argue that the following volume, The Slavers, holds that distinction, but I disagree. When it comes to the Punisher, no other writer has totally understood the character the way that Ennis has, and here's even more proof of that. Even if you haven't always followed Ennis' run (and why wouldn't you?) but are a Punisher fan, consider Up is Down and Black is White an essential pick up.

5.0 out of 5 stars Max Punishment, May 25, 2011

By 

Sam Quixote - See all my reviews

This review is from: Punisher Max Vol. 4: Up is Down and Black is White (v. 4) (Paperback)

A mobster who thinks he can take down the Punisher does the unthinkable - digs up Frank Castle's wife and kids and urinates on them while being filmed. The footage is aired on TV and the rampage begins...

Garth Ennis does a good job of telling the story of this mobster and his sleazy and blood-soaked rise. I was interested throughout with the number of psychotic individuals in this criminal underworld and liked that Ennis focuses on building up character in the bad guys giving them more dimensions than simply being cast as "baddie" and have Castle kill them. Castle's bloody rampage is also well done, Leandro Fernandez does amazing work pencilling each panel beautifully.

The only thing that I questioned was why would a news channel feature footage of dug-up skeletons and a mobster urinating on them? And why wouldn't any police arrest the mobster for this?

Anyway, it's a gripping read as Castle kills his way to the wise guy and punishes him. Pure grisly action fun, it's another brilliant book in Ennis' Punisher series.