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The Punisher (2004) (Collected Editions) #7-8
The Punisher, Vol. 4
This deluxe hardcover collects 'Punisher Max, Volume 7: Man of Stone' and 'Punisher Max, Volume 8: Widowmaker', plus extras.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published March 12, 2008
2 people are currently reading
131 people want to read
About the author
Garth Ennis
2,629 books3,182 followersEnnis began his comic-writing career in 1989 with the series Troubled Souls. Appearing in the short-lived but critically-acclaimed British anthology Crisis and illustrated by McCrea, it told the story of a young, apolitical Protestant man caught up by fate in the violence of the Irish 'Troubles'. It spawned a sequel, For a Few Troubles More, a broad Belfast-based comedy featuring two supporting characters from Troubled Souls, Dougie and Ivor, who would later get their own American comics series, Dicks, from Caliber in 1997, and several follow-ups from Avatar.
Another series for Crisis was True Faith, a religious satire inspired by his schooldays, this time drawn by Warren Pleece. Ennis shortly after began to write for Crisis' parent publication, 2000 AD. He quickly graduated on to the title's flagship character, Judge Dredd, taking over from original creator John Wagner for a period of several years.
Ennis' first work on an American comic came in 1991 when he took over DC Comics's horror title Hellblazer, which he wrote until 1994, and for which he currently holds the title for most issues written. Steve Dillon became the regular artist during the second half of Ennis's run.
Ennis' landmark work to date is the 66-issue epic Preacher, which he co-created with artist Steve Dillon. Running from 1995 to 2000, it was a tale of a preacher with supernatural powers, searching (literally) for God who has abandoned his creation.
While Preacher was running, Ennis began a series set in the DC universe called Hitman. Despite being lower profile than Preacher, Hitman ran for 60 issues (plus specials) from 1996 to 2001, veering wildly from violent action to humour to an examination of male friendship under fire.
Other comic projects Ennis wrote during this time period include Goddess, Bloody Mary, Unknown Soldier, and Pride & Joy, all for DC/Vertigo, as well as origin stories for The Darkness for Image Comics and Shadowman for Valiant Comics.
After the end of Hitman, Ennis was lured to Marvel Comics with the promise from Editor-in-Chief Joe Quesada that he could write The Punisher as long as he cared to. Instead of largely comical tone of these issues, he decided to make a much more serious series, re-launched under Marvel's MAX imprint.
In 2001 he briefly returned to UK comics to write the epic Helter Skelter for Judge Dredd.
Other comics Ennis has written include War Story (with various artists) for DC; The Pro for Image Comics; The Authority for Wildstorm; Just a Pilgrim for Black Bull Press, and 303, Chronicles of Wormwood (a six issue mini-series about the Antichrist), and a western comic book, Streets of Glory for Avatar Press.
In 2008 Ennis ended his five-year run on Punisher MAX to debut a new Marvel title, War Is Hell: The First Flight of the Phantom Eagle.
In June 2008, at Wizard World, Philadelphia, Ennis announced several new projects, including a metaseries of war comics called Battlefields from Dynamite made up of mini-series including Night Witches, Dear Billy and Tankies, another Chronicles of Wormwood mini-series and Crossed both at Avatar, a six-issue miniseries about Butcher (from The Boys) and a Punisher project reuniting him with artist Steve Dillon (subsequently specified to be a weekly mini-series entitled Punisher: War Zone, to be released concurrently with the film of the same name).
Taken from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garth_Ennis
Another series for Crisis was True Faith, a religious satire inspired by his schooldays, this time drawn by Warren Pleece. Ennis shortly after began to write for Crisis' parent publication, 2000 AD. He quickly graduated on to the title's flagship character, Judge Dredd, taking over from original creator John Wagner for a period of several years.
Ennis' first work on an American comic came in 1991 when he took over DC Comics's horror title Hellblazer, which he wrote until 1994, and for which he currently holds the title for most issues written. Steve Dillon became the regular artist during the second half of Ennis's run.
Ennis' landmark work to date is the 66-issue epic Preacher, which he co-created with artist Steve Dillon. Running from 1995 to 2000, it was a tale of a preacher with supernatural powers, searching (literally) for God who has abandoned his creation.
While Preacher was running, Ennis began a series set in the DC universe called Hitman. Despite being lower profile than Preacher, Hitman ran for 60 issues (plus specials) from 1996 to 2001, veering wildly from violent action to humour to an examination of male friendship under fire.
Other comic projects Ennis wrote during this time period include Goddess, Bloody Mary, Unknown Soldier, and Pride & Joy, all for DC/Vertigo, as well as origin stories for The Darkness for Image Comics and Shadowman for Valiant Comics.
After the end of Hitman, Ennis was lured to Marvel Comics with the promise from Editor-in-Chief Joe Quesada that he could write The Punisher as long as he cared to. Instead of largely comical tone of these issues, he decided to make a much more serious series, re-launched under Marvel's MAX imprint.
In 2001 he briefly returned to UK comics to write the epic Helter Skelter for Judge Dredd.
Other comics Ennis has written include War Story (with various artists) for DC; The Pro for Image Comics; The Authority for Wildstorm; Just a Pilgrim for Black Bull Press, and 303, Chronicles of Wormwood (a six issue mini-series about the Antichrist), and a western comic book, Streets of Glory for Avatar Press.
In 2008 Ennis ended his five-year run on Punisher MAX to debut a new Marvel title, War Is Hell: The First Flight of the Phantom Eagle.
In June 2008, at Wizard World, Philadelphia, Ennis announced several new projects, including a metaseries of war comics called Battlefields from Dynamite made up of mini-series including Night Witches, Dear Billy and Tankies, another Chronicles of Wormwood mini-series and Crossed both at Avatar, a six-issue miniseries about Butcher (from The Boys) and a Punisher project reuniting him with artist Steve Dillon (subsequently specified to be a weekly mini-series entitled Punisher: War Zone, to be released concurrently with the film of the same name).
Taken from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garth_Ennis
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
September 22, 2010
Unimprovable.
October 8, 2015
Mr. Ennis you are a fuckin GENIOUS! Marvel must have been blessed (in blood and ruin) the day they employed you. JS
December 22, 2017
Punisher Max Deluxe Edition Vol.4!!! Finally after several years of searching, I finally have it! This book collects the Man of Stone and Widowmaker storylines. Man of Stone is about a rogue Russian general who’s after Castle after the events in book 3. General Zakharov is every bit as tough and ruthless as Frank, but he has an army with him, which makes him a formidable foe. Fortunately, despite his charming, playful, and sunny disposition, Frank always happens to find allies or friends in the right places, and at the right time. They duke it out right there in the Afghan desert, where only one would come out.
In Widowmaker, all the mafia-killing that Frank did is catching up with him in the form of the surviving wives of his victims. They did their research, and with the endless resources left to them by their dead husband was able to corner and injure dear old Frank. But being a tough motherfucker, and a lucky sonuvabitch, someone saved him, and was able to find time to recuperate. That someone was the only factor that the widows didn’t account for, one from their own fold. Luckily, she’s a Punisher fan, and we got to see a female punisher running around for a while.
Two great stories, and the last 2 I need to complete Garth Ennis’ run on Frank Castle! I suggest this series to everyone! Well, maybe not the kids, but hey why not try it, right?
In Widowmaker, all the mafia-killing that Frank did is catching up with him in the form of the surviving wives of his victims. They did their research, and with the endless resources left to them by their dead husband was able to corner and injure dear old Frank. But being a tough motherfucker, and a lucky sonuvabitch, someone saved him, and was able to find time to recuperate. That someone was the only factor that the widows didn’t account for, one from their own fold. Luckily, she’s a Punisher fan, and we got to see a female punisher running around for a while.
Two great stories, and the last 2 I need to complete Garth Ennis’ run on Frank Castle! I suggest this series to everyone! Well, maybe not the kids, but hey why not try it, right?
April 19, 2020
Czwarty tom z katalogu Egmontu jaki nabyłem nie rozczarowuje. Ma kilka tych aspektów, które nie pozwalają mi dać tym razem pełnej oceny, ale to nadal tytuł wart polecenia. To jak zwykle w wykonaniu Ennisa bezpardonowa i krwawa jatka, gdzie pomysłowość w makabrze przekracza normy na standardowy komiksowy zeszyt...
Mamy tu naturalną kontynuację wątków, z całym doborem inwentarza. Pierwsza część to wypad Franka do Azji, gdzie przyjdzie nam spotkać parę lubianych lub/i znienawidzonych postaci jakie dane nam było podziwiać wcześniej, a które jakimś cudem uniknęły sprawiedliwości z rąk Punishera. Druga część należy do nieco innej postaci, która niejako odzwierciedlała Castle, tyle że w żeńskiej odsłonie. Całość na którą niestety nie przypada odpowiednia satysfakcja i nieco przemęczenie tą formą... Nadal wartą polecenia.
Mamy tu naturalną kontynuację wątków, z całym doborem inwentarza. Pierwsza część to wypad Franka do Azji, gdzie przyjdzie nam spotkać parę lubianych lub/i znienawidzonych postaci jakie dane nam było podziwiać wcześniej, a które jakimś cudem uniknęły sprawiedliwości z rąk Punishera. Druga część należy do nieco innej postaci, która niejako odzwierciedlała Castle, tyle że w żeńskiej odsłonie. Całość na którą niestety nie przypada odpowiednia satysfakcja i nieco przemęczenie tą formą... Nadal wartą polecenia.
March 28, 2020
Rating: 5 - Loved It
Either Ennis is getting better at writing women or I'm in too deep to notice. At some point in a long running series they take a brake from the titular character and examine those around them or in their world. When done well it gives us a different perspective on the main character. This is one of those arcs and it is well done. It not only gives the reader a new perspective, but hopefully Frank too.
Either Ennis is getting better at writing women or I'm in too deep to notice. At some point in a long running series they take a brake from the titular character and examine those around them or in their world. When done well it gives us a different perspective on the main character. This is one of those arcs and it is well done. It not only gives the reader a new perspective, but hopefully Frank too.
October 12, 2017
4.5 stars.
I love love love The Punisher MAX series. In my opinion it is the most accurate portrayal of The Punisher. The only reason I didn't give it a full 5 stars was because I really didn't care for Punisher: The End. However, I couldn't tell you how I would finish off the series any better. haha. Still amazing series. Garth Ennis is the best. :)
I love love love The Punisher MAX series. In my opinion it is the most accurate portrayal of The Punisher. The only reason I didn't give it a full 5 stars was because I really didn't care for Punisher: The End. However, I couldn't tell you how I would finish off the series any better. haha. Still amazing series. Garth Ennis is the best. :)
January 25, 2018
I love this book so much. "Widowmaker" is my favorite Punisher story thus far.
May 2, 2018
"Ci, którzy nie widzieli, nie chcieliby tego zobaczyć" - Punisher.
February 16, 2019
n lembro
November 23, 2011
Passable stories, not one single strong female character and no real sign of any bigger plot arc in sight.
The best thing I can say about this is its consistent. There's no real point in the volume where your hopes are falsely raised that the story will get any better or more gripping. The volumes have enough swearing and little enough intrigue that the plot becomes too complex for the offensively stereotypical comic reader and offensively stereotypical gun fanatics overlap. Depth? Not here. No moral dilemmas.
But its a choir to go through. Punisher is Batman dumbed down, ultimately. There are few hooks to the character, so when he's not in the middle of the panel, and instead the characters with personalities (that will not be making repeat appearances)/collateral damage/comic book villains are talking the story gets slightly more interesting. The main character is the most boring character in the whole story, a Mary Sue mixed with a terminator, that is known and loved and feared and hated by all the right people to keep the story trudging along. Frank Castle is about as blank and uncharismatic as Bella from Twilight.
Absolutely nothing unmissable here, but no worse than the rest of Punisher.
The best thing I can say about this is its consistent. There's no real point in the volume where your hopes are falsely raised that the story will get any better or more gripping. The volumes have enough swearing and little enough intrigue that the plot becomes too complex for the offensively stereotypical comic reader and offensively stereotypical gun fanatics overlap. Depth? Not here. No moral dilemmas.
But its a choir to go through. Punisher is Batman dumbed down, ultimately. There are few hooks to the character, so when he's not in the middle of the panel, and instead the characters with personalities (that will not be making repeat appearances)/collateral damage/comic book villains are talking the story gets slightly more interesting. The main character is the most boring character in the whole story, a Mary Sue mixed with a terminator, that is known and loved and feared and hated by all the right people to keep the story trudging along. Frank Castle is about as blank and uncharismatic as Bella from Twilight.
Absolutely nothing unmissable here, but no worse than the rest of Punisher.
July 15, 2008
Good stuff, but not the best material Ennis has written for The Punisher. Man of Stone had Frank Castle taking his war all the way to Afghanistan, which was interesting, but occasionally implausible; this was definitely a case of Castle's adversaries making some really stupid tactical mistakes that seemed more about satisfying the requirements of narrative exigency than any kind of realism. (I believe it when Mafia "soldiers" who are basically shakedown artists and thugs make these kinds of mistakes, but not so much when a Russian general and his crew of hardmen who've been fighting real wars for most of their lives screw up in simple ways. No one thought to check Castle's single wrist wound for a small blade before tying his wrists? Seriously, I saw that one coming a mile away.) Widowmaker was OK, but I thought it was somewhat a victim of Ennis's preference of exploiting sexual perversities and physical deformities over an engrossing story. Overall, not bad, but only recommended for Punisher fans.
March 16, 2009
Ennis continues his hardcore, serial murderer exploration of the Punisher. Nothing much new here except for a resolution to some of the prior stories and relationships in earlier volumes. "Widowmaker," the second tale of the book, involves all the wives of a bunch of mobsters that the Punisher has killed teaming up to kill him. As you can imagine, life gets in the way...
September 8, 2008
How does Garth Ennis continue to find ways to shock me as a reader and root for the Punisher to deal with lives scum in a way only he can. Was it just me or did the Russian warlord look oddly similar to Kingpin?
June 8, 2008
The Punisher deals with some unfinished Russian business, and has to deal with some unhappy widows. Entertaining enough to be worth checking out, but nothing special.
July 30, 2008
Both of the storylines in here are very good. Man of Stone
Widowmaker is all about revenge as only Ennis could do it.
Widowmaker is all about revenge as only Ennis could do it.
June 6, 2016
Another really good but dark volume.
July 8, 2016
Le Punisher ET Nick Fury avant le S.H.I.E.L.D., une alliance qui dépote.
September 24, 2017
Man of Stone doesn't give much story, the only thing lovable about it is, it's a continuation of Mother Russia and his reunion with O'Brien, his love interest who's a bad ass also.
Widomaker shows a twisted story of widows attempting revenge to Punisher. Could have been a great run however Ennis made it too girly, not enough scheming. However the other widow who partners with Castle is an interesting woman. Somewhat a reflection of Punisher as woman.
Widomaker shows a twisted story of widows attempting revenge to Punisher. Could have been a great run however Ennis made it too girly, not enough scheming. However the other widow who partners with Castle is an interesting woman. Somewhat a reflection of Punisher as woman.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews