REVIEW: ‘Punisher,’ Issue #3

Punisher #3 is published by Marvel Comics, written by David Pepose, art by Dave Wachter, colors by Dan Brown, and letters by Cory Petit. The Punisher is hunted by the police and a villain that will drag his memories from his mind and turn them into nightmares.

Within this series, Pepose has developed brilliant individual issues, making unique missions in each chapter. Punisher #3 is no exception. This chapter features many of the ongoing plotlines unfolding simultaneously, dealing with the past and the future within the confines of the present. Punisher is facing psychological torture that drags the death of his family right back to the forefront of his mind. But there is also the pressing matter of the police right outside about to pounce on him.

Pepose cleverly connects the series to the major event with a single line, which actually benefits the plot even further. With situations happening in three locations, the size of the story has suddenly become multi-faceted. The pace and the structure are incredible. The whole book feels full and satisfying, with the primary plot wrapped up in the pages of the singular comics. This issue also changes how the action unfolds. The genre has turned into a true horror, stepping away from the all-out action of the previous chapter. It displays the variety in the writer’s capabilities and keeps the book refreshing. The action spreads across three separate situations, simultaneously showing that same variety on small and large scales. The book has multiple reveals in the last moments, keeping several avenues open at the same time.

The great part about having a brand new character wearing the skull is it changes the perspective of what is seen. Frank Castle was experienced, but he was also jaded. It took a lot to affect him, and his cold nature was difficult to shift. Joe Garrison has that professionalism when needed. But these encounters with supervillains are creating problems that he doesn’t necessarily know how to solve immediately. Each issue has involved a character with superpowers of unique technology that has thrown the new Punisher into the deep end when it comes to adversaries.

This book specifically carves deep into that hardened demeanor that the protagonist has had to raise after the brutal demise of his family. It steps away from the steel and calculation that he has become known for, hitting him right where it hurts the most. The villain is one that I’ve never seen before, but they are something truly sinister. The level of depravity matches that of Marvel’s most monstrous of creatures.

The art fills the book with the extra grit that it requires. The action has been non-stop in this run, but the actual violence could be seen as lacking. The comic had stepped away from bullets, with a preference for lasers that didn’t result in as much gore as previous Punisher books entailed. This chapter pumps the blood straight back in with an inventive twist. The imagery is haunting and gut-wrenching, with Wachter unafraid to get disturbing. There is a lot of death and decay within these pages, and the villain is freaky and extremely monstrous. Something that was only noticed within this third issue is that an image is beginning to be repeated. Garrison’s burning house and the explosion that destroyed it are terrifying sights, and the damage it does represents the phenomenal energy of the art.

When the book begins, it’s surprisingly colorful. The police car lights give the comic some brightness, but that all changes within the warehouse that Punisher stumbles into. There, the shades primarily become red and black to hammer home the danger he is in. When the flashbacks of Garrison’s family tragedy are brought up, there’s a shift into a burning orange. The lettering features both intensity and creepiness.

Punisher #3 drags the vigilante into a myriad of horror stories. Part psychological thriller, part creature feature, and part slasher, the comic somehow gets even darker than the first two issues. It’s a display of masterful storytelling, with the various plot threads explored within the barbarity. The art has explored some terrific fight scenes as Garrison faces a horde of supervillains. With every new chapter comes something entirely different from the last, creating a refreshing first arc that makes each individual part engaging and unmissable.

Punisher #3 is available where comics are sold.