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Garth Ennis

Punisher MAX Vol. 1: In the Beginning Paperback – January 1, 2006

by Garth Ennis (Author), Lewis Larosa (Contributor)

4.7 328 ratings

Book 1 of 8: Punisher

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Prepare to be punished! For the first time ever, Marvel's one-man-army takes center stage in a no-holds-barred Mature Readers series! Writer Garth Ennis and artist Lewis LaRosa take Punisher to the MAX - literally - as the hunter becomes the hunted! Frank Castle's old associate Micro is back, and he's after Frank. But first, he's got an offer for Frank that he'd better not refuse. Get ready for blazing bullets, bloodbaths, and bold beginnings! Collects Punisher MAX #1-6.

Book 1 of 8

Punisher
Print length

144 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Marvel Enterprises
Publication date

January 1, 2006
Dimensions

6.5 x 0.5 x 10 inches
ISBN-10

0785113916
ISBN-13

978-0785113911
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Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Marvel Enterprises; First Print! edition (January 1, 2006)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 144 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0785113916
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0785113911
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 9.1 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.5 x 0.5 x 10 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #247,824 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #401 in Mystery Graphic Novels
- #943 in Marvel Comics & Graphic Novels (Books)
- #2,838 in Superhero Comics & Graphic Novels

Customer Reviews:
4.7 328 ratings

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Garth Ennis

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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.

Photo by pinguino k from North Hollywood, USA (william and garth ennis) [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons.

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Prepare to be Punished

Reviewed in the United States on July 29, 2023

Verified Purchase

Punisher MAX Vol. 1: In the Beginning
Collects issue 1-6
One of my favorite comic authors, Garth Ennis, returns to write about the life and times of Frank Castle, The Punisher. SOLD!
It’s Don Massimo’s 100th birthday. So many wise guys in one place to celebrate. Plus one – The Punisher crashes the party. Welcome to World War III.
Cut to Don Massimo’s funeral. Guess who shows up? More funerals guaranteed.
Cut to Micro who worked with Frank for ten years, helped him kill over eight hundred people. Now Micro is working with the CIA.
Micro has a heart-to-heart with Frank and makes him an offer – going after real monsters, those that kill thousands with a command, the World leaders that impact the planet, a license to kill those monsters backed by the US government. Frank declines. The Punisher works for no one. “Eventually, they let you down.” Amen to that.
The Mob shows up at Micro and The Punisher’s location, shooting the other CIA agents. Another agent, O’Brien appears to make the save. Almost.
Time for the showdown – Mob Vs CIA Vs The Punisher. Place your bets.
Agent O’Brien needs her own series. Her scandalous comments throughout the series are as bold as they are ridiculous. What a feisty character!
Great covers by Tim Bradstreet.

Helpful

Comic book worm.

An overal great beggining.

Reviewed in the United States on December 1, 2009

Verified Purchase

I'lll start by saying that im quite new to comic books in general, but since my first contact with the medium I have always been a fan of the Punisher.
I will even go as far as to state he is my favourite comic book hero so far, and I do believe he is one of the deepest.

You see the Punisher at the start of his early carier was made as one of the only heros/anti-heros who goes as far to kill the criminals, yet the early comics failed to capture and empathise his way of thinking, and motives; besides stating he lost his family in a gang shotout and got a bit pissed.
And, although having a crapload of gadgets and a sidekick(micro), he didn't really feel that refined or original, he felt more like a merc or a secondhand hero to most people and thats one of the reasons why he never quite got that popular.

Well it seems Garth Ennis is about to change it, by revamping the Punisher as a series and as character; first in his "Welcome Back, Frank" series, that were more omic booky, and comical in general, than the more serious and realistic "Punisher Max" series we're looking at right now.

The series Begins, in the matchingly named "In the Begging", which despite it's name doesn't really document the start of his career, and starts by just mostly giving a mention to that fatefull morning in the park, were his family had an unfortunate poisoning dose of lead, in the torso and the cranial area.

The comic book really takes place towards the end of his carrier: he has been active for more than 20 years, and has killed more than 2000 criminals so far.
Most of the story follows Micro, his late sidekick, who presumed dead, turns out alive and has joined the Cia, who want to capture Frank, to help them on their war with terrorism.
And theres also a power vacume in New York after, in the start of the "In the Beggining"(man that name just rolls of the tongue), The Punisher crashes an 100 year old Dons birthday party and slaughters most of the Mafiozos there.

But there seem to be a bunch of people ready to fill that vacume...
Overal I thought that from a writting perspective this is quite a great start from Garth, who I think encaptured Franks way of thinking quite nicely. Theres quite a bit of difference from the more snarky, and witty Punisher, from the "Welcome Back, Frank" series, and the more grim and depresed, almost like a machine acting Frank of this series.
They're almost like two different characters.

I thought most of the characters, had pretty interesting personalaties(he even managed to make Micro look to as an badarse), yet a bit one dimenshional. I felt it most from the antagonist department, who weren't given any reall motives, except for the hobbies of being bastards. Yet they still were intersting to read(and hate), and somehow managed to feel like a threat to, even, the Punisher.(You'll read. You'll understand).

My favourite part about the narative, has to be how Garth managed to revamp the, once one-dimensional Castle, into a character you hate, feel sorry, and compasionate for; and understand, yet feel a bit disgusted about his methods.
This Punisher has been doing what's, he's been doing for twenty years, has seen the worst of humanity, and, in turn, has given them the worst.
He knows what he is doing doesn't really change that much in the big picture, but he knows he cant stop, and it's too late to change. So he keeps going, and hopes that for every criminal he kills, he saves an inocent in turn.

Garth also managed to play out an interesting verbal and moral combat between Micro and The punisher; with the former being more like the word of reason, and the later more like the collected emotions we all feel about crominals, and our society in whole, but are too polite or scared to say out loud.

As for the art, I felt, it encaptured the battle scenes quite well, but the character faces were drawn a bit weirdly and inconstently; sometimes even silly, that could ruin the immersion a bit.
Frank god-like-himself, in some panels looked a bit too old, or a bit like a 100% pure Arkanzas redneck. So its for the art I deduct thy a star.

But in summary, a great start, nice revamp of the character; art could be better(but with there not being a one sole artist I doubt it'll be a problem),and and I'm looking forward for the rest of the series and the rest of Franks quest.

2 people found this helpful

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Darklongbox

Anyone who doesn't buy this collection should be PUNISHED

Reviewed in the United States on June 18, 2007

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Wow! This book will blow your head off - figuratively speaking (No, I am not a criminal, Frank, and in no need of being punished). It is an AWESOME collection of two Punisher tales that forced me to read it in one sitting, neglecting my lunch, dinner, and loved ones. Essentially it combines the first two Marvel Punisher MAX trade paperbacks into one. The first story arc "In the Beginning" is my favorite, but the twist at the end of "Kitchen Irish" is so good that I tend to revise my opinion whenever I re-read this book. In the first few issues we are introduced to new villain Nicky Cavella, a twisted mobster with even more twisted henchmen, Ink and Putsy, to match. After multiple horrid deaths, and the general blood and destruction that is inevitable once you pair the Punisher with writer Garth Ennis, I came to realise that it was actually the stories that sold me on the book, and not the overall gore content and explicit over-the-top scenarios I usually like about Ennis' writing. Frank Castle's final farewell to his old partner Micro is also one of the best scenes in the series, as well as a bloody shootout on the deck of the Intrepid. One of the most gruesome explosions ever to be drawn in comics occur in these pages, and the resultant carnage that follows as the Punisher hunts down those responsible allows the reader to almost identify with the character. This collection is a must for any fan of Ennis, and for those who are hardcore Punisher fans, prepare to be BLOWN AWAY.

10 people found this helpful

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S. Berges

Watch yer step, might slip on the blood!

Reviewed in the United States on May 22, 2008

Verified Purchase

All I have to say is WOW!!! I hated The Punisher movie staring Tom Jane. It was a typical Hollywood POS! It almost killed my hopes of a good Punisher character/story. But this book is everything I had hoped for. For years I never got to see one of my favorite Marvel Charaters as he is supposed to be shown. Blood and guts yes but there is also a awesome story to match the beauty that is illustrated in The Punisher Vol 1. Readers will be treated to early battles and wont have to wait too long for Castle to do what he does best. I waited a while to make sure that this is what I wanted and I a so upset with myself that I waited to get this!! I will start collecting the other Vol VERY soon and I will watch for more from this series! If you are a square then you wont like this book but if you think outside the box and love to have a story toss you around and spit you back out then this is it! All you need is right here! BLOOD, GUNS, THE MOB, CASTLE! If you were thinkning about purchasing this book then stop thinkning and buy it already, you WILL NOT be dissapointed! LOOK FOR PUNISHER: WAR ZONE coming to theaters SOON!!!

6 people found this helpful

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Bob Grist

Brains, blood, balls and brilliant storytelling

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 26, 2009

Verified Purchase

Okay, just to confirm, this review is about the hardcover volume 1 of the Punisher Max series.

I'm a huge fan of Garth Ennis's initial Marvel Knights run of The Punisher - enjoying his trademark sense of dark and twisted humour - and I wasn't sure if I would enjoy the more serious MAX series as much.

However, I am happy to state that the two stories contained in this lovely, sumptuous hardcover book are both thrilling, entertaining, unnerving, intriguing and gripping in the extreme.

Frank Castle's persona can sometimes come across as stubborn and lacking in feeling, but Ennis creates in him an almost demonic force for vengeance, one in which, now and then, cracks appear and we get to see the hurt man beneath. This is a man who has never fought for closure or forgiveness or understanding over the horrible deaths of his family, but has simply pushed back such pain into his subconscious and replaced it with an anger that burns like the heart of a sun.

In some ways this makes him all too human, as grief and loss are sometimes so vile to deal with that denial is a natural and believable human trait.

Therefore, we follow Frank as he cuts a bloody swathe through the shallow denizens of New York's underground, delighting in stories that offer up many complex and interesting new characters - some of whom are so sick of nature that we revel in Frank's dispatching of them to whatever Hell they deserve.

This is dark, gory and sometimes amusing adult fair that is excellently written and competently illustrated and, all in all, is a total page-turner of a compelling read.

2 people found this helpful

Atticus Prime

Good start for one of my current favorite Marvel titles

Reviewed in Canada on November 17, 2007

Verified Purchase

I had been buying The Punisher comics & just purchased this collection recently. The collection offers great value when you consider a single issue is about $4. You get the first 12 issues of the MAX series here. The pages are high quality, & glossy. All in all, it's a very nice hardcover, and comes with a slipcover at a super price.

The very adult (extreme violence & language) content is pretty good for this first collection; there are 2 story arcs broken into 6 issues each. Ennis is a very entertaining writer and relies a lot on shock & surprising situations. The art isn't 'Jim Lee' but that's okay too. It's more gritty (especially the first arc) and tells the story well. The comic really feels like a storyboard for a movie.

I really enjoyed the first arc a lot more where The Punisher takes on the mob, gets kidnapped, and reunites briefly with his old pal Microchip. The 2nd arc, featuring Irish gangs, was weaker in my opinion, but still better than a lot of the other stuff out there. Highly recommended.

3 people found this helpful

Amazon Customer

What it says on the tin

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 23, 2017

Verified Purchase

This isn't sophisticated or mature. It is gleefully violent and "adult" in the most juvenile sense. That said, it's a damn fun read. The art compliments the tone of the story and portrays the action perfectly. If you're looking for good Punisher books, it doesn't get more definitive than this. Well worth a buy. If you're looking to collect multiple trade paperbacks of this run it may be more cost-efficient to pick up the newer "Punisher MAX Complete Collection" books.

Darragh Clancy.

The beginning of the best version of Frank Castle by far

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 21, 2016

Verified Purchase

The beginning of the best version of Frank Castle by far. Excellent story and art by Garth Ennis and Lewis Larosa respectively.
This series features a middle aged Frank Castle almost 30 years after his families death, still avenging their memories by brutally murdering scores of increasingly vicious criminals, this time whats left of the Italian Mafia in New York.
Features interesting characters including O'Brien, Nicky Cavella, His henchmen Pittsy and Ink and featuring the return of Frank's old partner in crime Micro chip who brings Frank and offer he better not refuse.
What makes this series different from the average Punisher story is that it takes place in a world without superheroes, much like our own.
Very Violent and very recommended.

One person found this helpful

Keiron

5 stars

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 28, 2021

Verified Purchase

Excellent story best comic I have read in a while

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