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The Punisher: One-Shots
The Punisher: The End #1
Legendary artist Richard Corben joins definitive PUNISHER writer Garth Ennis for Frank Castle's last stand! In a world gone mad, the Punisher just might be the sanest man on Earth. Now he's heading home, to the place it all began, and heaven help anyone who stands in his path.
48 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 7, 2004
About the author
Garth Ennis
2,675 books3,242 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
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
August 9, 2019
Score: 3.60 out of 5
Grade: 72% (B-) | Decent
World War III has just gone down and we don’t know who’s responsible or why this happened. All we do know is that Frank survived (of course he did) and is out to punish the bastards that did this. Here is my review of Punisher: The End:
The Good:
What made this story interesting was the mystery of just what the hell was going on! We follow Frank as he seeks out one last punishment. As the story unravels and you uncover more pieces of the puzzle, things begin to make sense. It was the constant intrigue that kept me in this story.
As the final Punisher arc by Ennis, the conclusion was satisfying – Frank goes out with a bang! It’s also more towards the end of the story where the art enhances the narrative. The decisions that Frank make lead him down a dark path (as if any of his decisions ever lead him down a path full of unicorns and rainbows), and I was happy with the bittersweet ending.
The Bad:
I understand that Richard Corben is a legendary artist, but for me, it just wasn’t consistent enough. There’s some panels that I LOVED and other panels that looked as if a child drew them. Maybe it’s just his style that doesn’t sit well with me, but I wasn’t a huge fan. But that – that below is spectacular!
The story is definitely intriguing and forces the reader to fill-in-the-blanks (up until our questions are answered in the final act). But if you aren’t invested in the character of Frank Castle or in Ennis’ Punisher run, this may not be something you enjoy as much as others. The story had a good payoff for invested Punisher fans.
Conclusion:
As a conclusion, it wasn’t amazing, it wasn’t bad, it was just fine – satisfactory. The art was up-and-down for me, the story had mystery and intrigue which kept me engaged, and it had a strong finale. Punisher fans would get the most out of this story, so if you’re just the casual comic reader, I’d circle back to this once you have some more Punisher stories under your belt.
Grade: 72% (B-) | Decent
World War III has just gone down and we don’t know who’s responsible or why this happened. All we do know is that Frank survived (of course he did) and is out to punish the bastards that did this. Here is my review of Punisher: The End:
The Good:
What made this story interesting was the mystery of just what the hell was going on! We follow Frank as he seeks out one last punishment. As the story unravels and you uncover more pieces of the puzzle, things begin to make sense. It was the constant intrigue that kept me in this story.
As the final Punisher arc by Ennis, the conclusion was satisfying – Frank goes out with a bang! It’s also more towards the end of the story where the art enhances the narrative. The decisions that Frank make lead him down a dark path (as if any of his decisions ever lead him down a path full of unicorns and rainbows), and I was happy with the bittersweet ending.
The Bad:
I understand that Richard Corben is a legendary artist, but for me, it just wasn’t consistent enough. There’s some panels that I LOVED and other panels that looked as if a child drew them. Maybe it’s just his style that doesn’t sit well with me, but I wasn’t a huge fan. But that – that below is spectacular!
The story is definitely intriguing and forces the reader to fill-in-the-blanks (up until our questions are answered in the final act). But if you aren’t invested in the character of Frank Castle or in Ennis’ Punisher run, this may not be something you enjoy as much as others. The story had a good payoff for invested Punisher fans.
Conclusion:
As a conclusion, it wasn’t amazing, it wasn’t bad, it was just fine – satisfactory. The art was up-and-down for me, the story had mystery and intrigue which kept me engaged, and it had a strong finale. Punisher fans would get the most out of this story, so if you’re just the casual comic reader, I’d circle back to this once you have some more Punisher stories under your belt.
June 7, 2011
A fitting end for The Punisher? I think so.
Spoiler alert.
To speak for humanity by wiping out the last humans, the evil men who brought about Earth's destruction, seems fitting. It taps into the ethos of The Punisher whilst also delivering the blow for those who couldn't defend themselves. The irony is a sadness for the ultimate punishment.
Spoiler alert.
To speak for humanity by wiping out the last humans, the evil men who brought about Earth's destruction, seems fitting. It taps into the ethos of The Punisher whilst also delivering the blow for those who couldn't defend themselves. The irony is a sadness for the ultimate punishment.
June 20, 2020
I haven't read many Punisher books, so this was my introduction to the comicbook Punisher. I love Richard Corben, and he doesn't disappoint here. The art is awesome, especially the face close-ups. Ennis's dialogue and prose is on-point, but I wasn't a huge fan of the story overall. As a stand-alone, short story it is quite nice. I'd recommend it for fans of Ennis and Corben.
December 26, 2023
Very bleak. Art was amazing.
October 3, 2023
Kısa bir one shot ancak bu kadar iyi olabilir.
May 3, 2020
Oceniając "jedno-strzałowe" opowiadania należy brać pod uwagę nieco inne kryteria, aniżeli jak przy całych seriach. Takie "jednorazówki" są często oderwane od jakiejkolwiek osi fabularnej i stawiają często na absurdalną historię, która normalnie by nie przeszła, a tak...
Często są to opowiadania typu: co by było gdyby? The End idzie tym nurtem. Mamy świat w obliczu drugiej wojny światowej. Oddział specjalny wkracza do więzienia Sing Sing, gdzie dostali rozkaz eliminacji więźniów... Traf chce, że pod jednostką znajduje się schron przeciw atomowy... Traf też chcę, że w tym miejscu znajduje się Frank Castle, za stary by zdołać uciec policyjnemu pościgowi. Wtedy mordercy Ziemi puszczają atomówki...
Mija rok. Frank z jakimś randomowym przestępca rusza że schronu, ryzykując napromieniowanie tylko po to aby dostać się na Wschodnie Wybrzeże. Do tamtejszego schronu, gdzie przebywają ostatni możni tego świata. Ci, których Frank obarcza winą za koniec świata. Finalna zemsta. To pasuje jak ulał do tej postaci.
Nie ma tu nic, co jest w stanie zaskoczyć czytelnika. Ennis się tym razem nie popisał. Owszem, jest to sprawnie nakreślona historyjka z kilkoma wyśmienitymi planszami, ale... Rysownik jest mocno nierówny. Miejscami zeszyt wygląda fenomenalnie, ale w większości... Rysunki były okropne. Gdyby nie sugestywna końcówka dałbym mniej...
Często są to opowiadania typu: co by było gdyby? The End idzie tym nurtem. Mamy świat w obliczu drugiej wojny światowej. Oddział specjalny wkracza do więzienia Sing Sing, gdzie dostali rozkaz eliminacji więźniów... Traf chce, że pod jednostką znajduje się schron przeciw atomowy... Traf też chcę, że w tym miejscu znajduje się Frank Castle, za stary by zdołać uciec policyjnemu pościgowi. Wtedy mordercy Ziemi puszczają atomówki...
Mija rok. Frank z jakimś randomowym przestępca rusza że schronu, ryzykując napromieniowanie tylko po to aby dostać się na Wschodnie Wybrzeże. Do tamtejszego schronu, gdzie przebywają ostatni możni tego świata. Ci, których Frank obarcza winą za koniec świata. Finalna zemsta. To pasuje jak ulał do tej postaci.
Nie ma tu nic, co jest w stanie zaskoczyć czytelnika. Ennis się tym razem nie popisał. Owszem, jest to sprawnie nakreślona historyjka z kilkoma wyśmienitymi planszami, ale... Rysownik jest mocno nierówny. Miejscami zeszyt wygląda fenomenalnie, ale w większości... Rysunki były okropne. Gdyby nie sugestywna końcówka dałbym mniej...
July 22, 2018
I read this years ago and been a fan of the character Frank Castle. It came to my mind to give this graphic novel a review, since having watched The First Purge in the cinema (seen the other three too). For people who love the type of fiction one sees in The Purge franchise, Hunger Games or V for Vendetta, this is the graphic novel for them, even if it set in a world already being ravaged by-and-after World War III, or to see a hero finally killing off the evil-elites-that-run-the-world, despite the fact that he is slowly dying from radioactive poisoning, choosing to use his last days , going out in a bang-and-not-a-whimper.
July 23, 2021
Probably the most depressing Punisher story you will ever read (which is saying quite a lot of a character who is clearly a severely traumatized untreated vet). And yet, it is probably one of the best stories ever written about the character.
Garth Ennis has made a career mostly out of pure shock value (think Preacher, Crosser or even his run on the regular Punisher title) but every now and then you can see that he is really a great writer capable of making very emotional titles.
The art of the recently deceased and sorely missed Richard Corben is, as always, beautiful but also very effective with the story being told.
Garth Ennis has made a career mostly out of pure shock value (think Preacher, Crosser or even his run on the regular Punisher title) but every now and then you can see that he is really a great writer capable of making very emotional titles.
The art of the recently deceased and sorely missed Richard Corben is, as always, beautiful but also very effective with the story being told.
May 8, 2017
Only the fallout from World War III can kill the Punisher. Even with this cataclysmic event destroying the planet, Frank does his best to punish the people responsible for it. They thought ahead, built fallout shelters with the means to survive 100 years and repopulate. Unfortunately for them, Frank knows where they are and has lost trust in humanity a long time ago. He doesn't care about the future of the human race when all it's capable of is destroying itself.
February 1, 2021
This is the reason I love Garth Ennis so much. This is one of the best single issues I have read in a very long time. The art by Corben is incredible and makes this duo one of my favorite teams. Lee loughridge on colors makes everything sing. I had chills when I read the last pages. I just wish this team worked together more. Tremendous comic.
May 24, 2021
There is only writer for Punisher . To me it Garth Ennis . Must be Max to . Understand the character completely .
Frank is not hero or anti hero .
He is a killing machine .
Out to punish
This after nuclear Holocaust .
Frank last killing
Frank is not hero or anti hero .
He is a killing machine .
Out to punish
This after nuclear Holocaust .
Frank last killing
April 7, 2025
I wouldn't say I am a massive fan of The Punisher, and I don't really like Garth Ennis's other works, but I enjoyed this overall. I would even go as far as to say that out of the "end" stories by Marvel, this is probably the best one.
June 27, 2017
Se volete leggere la mia recensione, cliccate qui! http://ascwblog.blogspot.com/2017/06/...
March 24, 2018
ABSOLUTE RATING: {3+/5 stars}
STANDARDIZED RATING: <3/5 stars>
STANDARDIZED RATING: <3/5 stars>
March 15, 2019
3 1/2 stars. Art by Corben is good. Story is okay. I get a little tired at times of late story expositions, but it’s to be expected from a short story.
August 17, 2019
Arte feia, alguns furos bizarros... mas gosto demais de tudo que é pós-apocalíptico, então relevo.
January 23, 2021
Ennis plante el guión en un kleenex y Corben dibuja el postapocalíptico más flojo de su carrera. Ni siquiera lo salva eso de ser un Corben.
May 18, 2021
Reeks of Garth Ennis angst
June 15, 2021
3.8 stars
A worthy ending to Ennis's run, also hilarious in a way
End of an era
A worthy ending to Ennis's run, also hilarious in a way
End of an era
January 3, 2023
Arte feia, alguns furos bizarros... mas gosto demais de tudo que é pós-apocalíptico, então relevo.
April 23, 2023
paniser 7 u darkvudovom izdanju. Ocajno nacrtano i kratko da bi se razvilo bolje, smak sveta je i on odlazi u bunker kako bi pobio rokfelerove i rotsfilde :D
September 12, 2023
Dark
This is one of the darkest Punisher stories I've read. It was great. Corben's art is excellent as usual. Highly recommend to any Punisher fans.
This is one of the darkest Punisher stories I've read. It was great. Corben's art is excellent as usual. Highly recommend to any Punisher fans.
April 3, 2024
Glorious...world-ending gloriousness.
May 19, 2026
don't think you can say that garth come on now
January 29, 2022
Top story!
June 24, 2025
When seeing Corben’s art, I can’t help but imagine Frank, as a mutant, wandering the wasteland. Obviously not how this ends, and that’s a good thing, but the meta-context for Corben is the character keeps going. Just a fun thing.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 13, 2012
This book made no sense. Looking beyond the technical quibbles like "radiation poisoning causing your face to melt", there's no motivation behind the characters. Frank Castle is nothing more than a common nihilist who is satisfying a modern fad of anti-capitalism.
October 9, 2015
The ultimate end to The Punisher. His tale has always been one of Punishing the wicked do gooders, and this end of the world tale delivers a truly fitting end.
October 1, 2017
After 'born' and 'the cell', Ennis had quite was on a roll with his explosive stories.l, however 'The End' did not finish well. I must have been expecting more or he was saving the best story for last, had big ecpectations like DK1 or Old Man Logan. Despite my personal biases, 'The End' had a good twist of the Old Man Castle punishing one last time, the guys who set in motion the third world war. Artwork is lousy though, it's so campy.
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews