REVIEW: ‘Punisher’ Issue #4

 Punisher #4 is published by Marvel Comics, written by David Pepose, with art by Dave Wachter, colors by Dan Brown, and letters by Cory Petit. This is the last in the series. In the latest issue, The Punisher must choose between saving his friend and a room full of hostages. Jigsaw makes his move.

The exciting action concludes the story, leaving the budding vigilante with a choice to make. The most notable aspect of this plot is that it is closer to the classic Punisher than the other chapters. Punisher #4 is the first instance where Joe Garrison doesn’t fight a supervillain with powers. Instead, the targets are humans, and he has to use regular bullets.

The first half of the comic arguably uses the aspects of the series as a whole, using the consequences to fuel problems for Joe. The pacing is electric as the action starts instantly. It is broken up with Triple-A’s captivity, where the absence of the Punisher in that predicament increases the pressure. The final pages reach a point of ascendency and acceptance. Pepose leaves much open to explore further instead of closing the character down.

For Garrison, Punisher #4 is an opportunity to embrace the name of The Punisher finally. The vengeance and rage that the title embodies seem to settle within him. It is fitting that it is an incarnation of Jigsaw, Punisher’s most notable nemesis. It draws the skull from his chest and the snarl from his face. The protagonist and the script capture the unwavering confidence of the Punisher brilliantly. There’s never a feeling that he is afraid or tired, but any decision he makes or horror he faces. And no injury can put him down.

The one character that never truly gets much investigation is Triple-A. As Garrison’s tech support, she has been the one person he has trusted throughout the series. Her concern for him and their history is evident. However, the small miniseries has meant that there has been little time to explore her backstory or motivations, which is a shame.

The art finishes as strong as it started. All of the villains have been fascinating, and the ultimate enemy brings a redesign with him. They’ve completely revamped Jigsaw, and this version is interesting. It matches the technological aspect of this new Punisher series. A cracked helmet also obscured Jigsaw’s identity, making their true persona a mystery.

The fight scene is layered and constantly escalating. Punisher is always bringing a new weapon to the party, leading to a unique confrontation in each issue. Movement is executed perfectly as Garrison is often on his motorbike or launching himself and others through panes of glass. In a book with as much energy and details as this, Wachter still pays extra attention to the eyes of the characters, conveying depth and emotion.

The intensity is increased by reducing the colors are reduced to increase intensity. The darkness is interspersed with bright red and blue flashes for much of the issue. The blue is in the electricity and energy weapons. The red is on Jigsaw’s mask, his firearms, and the SFX on the page. Those colors oppose each other well, especially when seen on the main characters involved in the fight. The lettering is clean and clear. The SFX fits the style of the panels they slot into.

Punisher #4 concludes by making us want more. Seeing it end so early is devastating, as it was an exhilarating adventure for the new Punisher. The four issues could be a taster of what these characters offer. But the story itself was well worth reading, and the ending is satisfying. Joe Garrison’s tragedy is just as gruesome and devastating as Frank Castle’s, and his fights have been equally impressive, if not superior. His journey as the Punisher has been a blend of his own and following in the footsteps of a murderous icon, and Pepose has followed that line perfectly. This cannot and should not be the last we see of the Punisher, as he is only just starting.

Punisher #4 is available where comics are sold.