Punisher War Journal - Volume 5: Secret Invasion (Punisher (Marvel Quality Paper)) [Paperback]

Matt Fraction (Author), Rick Remender (Author), Simon Spurrier (Author), Howard Chaykin (Illustrator), Werther Dell'Edera (Illustrator)

Book Description

Series: Punisher (Marvel Quality Paper) | Publication Date: June 3, 2009

With an alien armada laying the world to waste, Stuart "RAMPAGE" Clarke decides to make his move. Skrull Armageddon is just a backdrop for his ultimate revenge - against Tony Stark, against S.H.I.E.L.D., and against anyone that ever stood in his way. And what about Frank Castle? Where does The Punisher fit into Clarke's plans? It's the end of the world as we know it - time to cross some names off the old enemies list. Then, take a trip to the Helter Skelter Club - psychedelic hangout of every costumed wannabe, z-list villain, and spandex tryhard in NYC. Its retro-tastic owner - Captain Pepper - has been up to his paisley-print elbows in bad business, but now he's caught the attention of one decidedly ungroovy vigilante. Collects Punisher War Journal #24-26 & Annual.

Product Details

• Paperback: 120 pages
• Publisher: Marvel (June 3, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0785131701
• ISBN-13: 978-0785131700
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 0.4 x 10.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #979,438 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Meh..., March 30, 2009

By 

N. Durham "Big Evil" (Philadelphia, PA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Punisher War Journal, Vol. 5: Secret Invasion (Hardcover)

Matt Fraction's (Immortal Iron Fist, Invincible Iron Man) run on Punisher War Journal began horribly, but over time it gradually got better. Though nowhere near Garth Ennis' prolific time with the character, Fraction's Punisher War Journal kind of grew on me thanks to some genuine surprises and great use of Z-level villains, plus it had Frank being Frank. Well, it's mega-event time again, this time Secret Invasion style. Yes sir, Frank Castle takes on Skrulls, and soon enough crosses paths with Rampage. That's about it really for this fifth (and final) collected installment of Punisher War Journal, and there is barely anything of real substance here either. The humor and violence factors are both pretty sub-standard, and the entire affair just comes off as a bore. Still, it isn't the worst that Fraction's run has had to offer, but the same feeling just becomes all too apparant from reading this: this just isn't the Punisher. Maybe I've been spoiled by reading Ennis' long, satisfying run from the Marvel Knights series and the MAX run, but since then, seeing the Punisher in his native Marvel universe setting just doesn't work for me anymore. That's just me though, but if you've enjoyed Fraction's Punisher War Journal series thus far, chances are this will be up your alley. If you're like me though and you haven't, this won't change your mind any.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars s'good, November 9, 2009

By 

B. A. Maxwell - See all my reviews

This review is from: Punisher War Journal - Volume 5: Secret Invasion (Punisher (Marvel Quality Paper)) (Paperback)

The Punisher War Journal series has its ups and downs. While I enjoyed all of them as stories, it is impossible not to compare them to the Garth Ennis run on the character in which the writing is far superior. It is through books like Secret Invasion (the fifth volume of War Journal) that you realize that the Punisher, while an intriguing character, is best left doing his own thing with minimal contact with the rest of the Marvel Universe.
Secret Invasion was the weakest of the volumes in my opinion, because there was no point. Volume one (Civil War) practically wrote itself. Two (Goin Out West) explored an interesting side of Frank Castle that you don't normally get. Three (Hunter/Hunted) (the next weakest of the series) takes advantage of the increase in crime, post Civil War, and throws the Punisher in an interesting situation. Four (Jigsaw) returns Castle to a gritty story with minimal interference. Four also seemed the perfect place to end the series until another writer was ready to take a stab at it, which by the writing you could tell was the intention. Secret Invasion feels very forced. You have a character with a grudge against Tony Stark for the past decade at least deciding of all times to make his move now, and Punisher essentially ending up right back where he started pre-civil war: at large. This isn't necessarily a bad conclusion, but the end of JIGSAW posed a great question, one which you know the Punisher could dwell on for a long time, and SECRET INVASION does not satisfy in the same respect.
Im looking forward to collected editions of the Dark Reign Punisher, and for continuity's sake, this is a must read. however it is nothing that anyone just looking for a punisher fix should move towards...the MAX series would be best to satisfy that thirst.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Punisher continues to languish, November 22, 2009

By 

danny boy "dbswongv" (Singapore) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Punisher War Journal - Volume 5: Secret Invasion (Punisher (Marvel Quality Paper)) (Paperback)

Yep, this vol 5 continues in the same vein, not-quite-there writing or characterisation and very bad art. Really, the artwork by Chaykin is abominable. Just look at that ridiculously drawn hammerhead skrull in a white chicano suit. Thus Stu Clarke with his mangled face becomes the new Jigsaw? I score this a 2 star.

The second story was pretty good, a Punisher meets the Rhino who shares with him a yuletide message. Very well drawn too. I would score this a 4 star.

Finally, a really stupid and very badly drawn psychedelic piece on the Punisher versus the Tinkerer. An absolutely graceless comic deserving of a 1 star.

Overall, a dismal 2 star comic.