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Review: Punisher War Journal #24

September 30th, 2008

After his tango with Jigsaw and capture by S.H.I.E.L.D., Frank has been living the dream at a S.H.I.E.L.D. maximum security prison. Thanks to the
Skrulls knocking out all Stark Industries technology worldwide during their invasion of Earth, Frank finds himself back on the streets and doing what he does best: killing. Luckily for Frank, and not so lucky for the Skrulls, there are plenty of targets to take out and get his kill numbers back up to where they were preincarceration. It’s all out Skrull busting (or bursting) fun as the Punisher brings his one man army to the frontlines in this Secret Invasion crossover.

Matt Fraction and Rick Reminder seem to really be having a good time with this book. I definitely know I have! I’ve starting picking this book up a little late in Fractions and Reminders run, but what I’ve read I have thoroughly enjoyed. This issue was no exception. It was a blast seeing Frank charge into battle with a bazooka in one hand, driving a big pickup decked out with Skrull skulls (try saying that three times fast) while blasting AM Gold on the radio. There was lots of action mixed with some good moments of humor. It was a little weird, and maybe just a little out of character, seeing Frank having a good time taking out the Skrulls, but it still made for an enjoyable story. I particularly enjoy the moments between Frank and Bridge. I like the banter back and forth between the two, and even though Bridge keeps trying to capture him, Frank is always there saving his butt.

I’m really starting to warm up to Howard Chaykin’s art, though it has taken me several issues to get used to his style of drawing. I really appreciate the amount of detail he puts into each page. Where as before I was a little distracted by the way he drew his characters, I found myself able to really get into this story both story and art wise.

If I had one complaint about this issue, it would be the white suited Hammerhead/Kingpin Skrull. I know they are putting the super Skrulls in outfits similar to their supervillan/hero counterparts so we will know who they are getting their powers from, but sometimes it just turns out all kinds of goofy looking. That being said, this issue was still a blast to read! Matt Fraction and Rick Reminder are doing a fantastic job, and I’m really gaining an appreciation for Howard Chaykin’s art. If your looking for a something a little different from what your used to with the Punisher, I highly recommend giving this issue a shot!

COVER BY: ALEX MALEEV
WRITER: MATT FRACTION and RICK REMENDER
PENCILS: HOWARD CHAYKIN
INKS: HOWARD CHAYKIN
COLORED BY: STUDIO F – EDGAR DELGADO
LETTERED BY: VC’S JOE CARAMAGNA
EDITOR: AXEL ALONSO
Parental Advisory …$2.99

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