2.251 (616) The Punisher 2009 #14 ...

[From one milestone to another as this review ... if we are to go back to original numbering sequence ... means we are at 616 ... yes 616 and that's a heck of a lot of reviews but what we are excited is that that is what the Marvel U is known as the 616 in a multiverse concept ... but if you are the casual follower or reader of comics or you for the moment come from the world of movies then please ignore this fanboy ranting ...

Okay we know we just reviewed a Punisher issue but we just just just had to do another one because this run is so excellent. I mean, just look at that cover. It tells you so much from its almost retro style artwork of the early days when comics come in all genre including horror anthologies, western and love to what is now predominantly superheroics ... sigh ...

This issue has its own special shout out moments in the form of two artists involved to tell a tale. Primary artist is doing the actual present-day (so to speak) tale or storytelling while the flashback is painted style by another artist and it works well

Basically after the brou-ha-ha with the Oriental armor clad goons, the Punisher has no choice but to go back to his current assistant of info and whatever (a kid or teenage by the looks of it) and digs for info since his monster buddies are in deep shit and unable to be with him anymore and what a load of history was unnerved

So this is a flashback to the origins of the villains and we get it in two different era. We see how the scientist himself who is involved got his start and why he hates monsters so. And then we see the military arm and how they got their start and what happens in Japan and all those monsters (so cool right?)

Naturally the conclusion gives the Punisher even more fuel to fire up his anger and go gunning for some bad guys ... unfortunately we are left hanging as we are then not shown this and have to wait for the next issue ... argh!

Ratings: 8/10

2.250 (615) The Punisher 2009 #12 ...

[Firstly happy 2017 every and in case you are wondering WTH should you, dear reader, come across this review blog, basically I have slipped so badly in terms of being timely that today is 8th Jan 2017 and I am here in Jakarta, Indonesia for the past three days ... so I am hoping to somehow catch up and be current on my reviews ...

[Secondly, happy 250th ... so good to know that we made it in our so-called year 2 or series 2 of reviews to hit the big 250 ....

Alright. For those who somehow enjoyed the Punisher but never feel quite there with Frank's series and relaunches, well this one is definitely different. It ran for about three years before another relaunch but what was cool here is Rick Remender, one of the then, rather new writers at Marvel who showed us his love of the company and this franchise ... he started off with Frank in the midst of a Marvel group crossover and him having issues with folks in the Avenger, Norman Osborn and a gallery of rogues

And just in case you are wondering how he can top his own work comes this issue and the start of his year 2 on the title where he has Frank killed (really) earlier and resurrected as a Frankenstein monster!

SPOILER ALERT

So in issue 12 while not a double sized celebration, it has so much going on as we see Frank starting to learn about what has happened to him ... and as he is now part machine what he needs to do to survive his days. If that isn't bad enough, amongst the Monsters community, there is even secrets and hidden agendas as the uglies do not band together under a sort of utopia brotherhood. So we get glimpses here and there of things that are brewing

And because this is a Punisher comic, we also see the start of villainy as armor clad guys with guns and samurai style swords come a hunting into the sewers where the Punisher currently stays with his new found family

So you know it's going to be a bloodbath in the issues ahead!

I love this so much I got doubles of some issues and will get the TPB!

Ratings: 9/10

341. Ultimate Avengers vol 2 #4 ... Marvel ...

You know how people used to (and still do I guess) make fun of Rob Liefeld's artwork about how many lines he used on his characters' faces? And how old he makes them? Well why do they not knock other artists like Yu? Is it because Rob was a phenom? Because if you look at this cover, the Spidey must be at least in his 40s or 50s with that gum/ teeth thing going on and all that unshaven look and ridges in his face ... hell he looks older than black Hulk (blulk?)

Sadly enough when you open the first sequence ... it is awesome featuring a character that you have no idea of knowing would appear unless you read the previous issue ... SPOILER ALERT? Nah I am helping them sell because the Ult A (sorry getting ridiculous to type Ultimate ... something or other ... each time) ... are kicking butts with Ult Ghost Rider and this Ghostie looks like the classic Dan Ketch chap with all those spikes!

So is that really our Peter Parker?

Hmmmm ... hehehe ... got you thinking now, eh?

Hmmm now what else can we share with you? O yes the other characters ... we get to see what Millar calls "serious" by having a sequence where the nasty ex-wife of Fury (sob sob) actually says why they divorce and it isn't her but the fact that Fury slept with everyone including her mother while she is away (say what)

And then we got a bit of Nerd Hulk ... doesn't do anything for me ... and I am not sure why the cover has Blulk when he doesn't make much of an impact here ...

And for fans of Iron Man, you won't like this as he made a cameo only because Black Ops is assisted by his brother who is apparently smarter and richer (you shitting me) and they hated each other ...

See? Millar-world

Ratings: 5/10

340. Ultimate Avengers vol 2 #1 ... Marvel ...

A while back ... when our reviews were in the late 200s ... we did a review of Ult A vol 1 and 3 ... now why did we skip 2? Because artist is Leinil Francis Yu. When Yu started on X-Men, it was sorta nice but as his star rose, he seemed to be intent on meeting deadlines and churning out as many pages/ books as he can and his art became more like drafts/ roughs ... at least in my opinion ... see his work on New Avengers for what we meant!

Now don't get me wrong. I may not be a fan of his work but I do like some of his work especially that High Roads series (try it)

Anyway, since we are in this back-2-back cycle of reviews, let's do this

As the cover clearly indicates, we are going to get a heaping of the Punisher and this issue is sure no letdown as we open with a blood bath, we got through a bloodbath of an interrogation and we end with more promises of violence to come

Basically, as the Punisher tries to take down all the mobs he can get his gunsight set on, one chap even under torture manage to indirectly set him up and thus to his absolute surprise, he had a run in with the Ultimate Cap. Naturally he got his shit handed to him and next thing you know, since this is Ultimate Nick Fury, he got himself a deal i.e. to be the leader of the Black Ops Ultimate team codenamed Avengers. Say what?

But the ending is cool as I didn't know that in the old world of Ult there are more than one Hulk!

Ratings: 6/10 (would have scored higher if it wasn't for Yu)

333. Cage #4 ... Marvel ...

What-ho! And here we are with the next issue as Cage continues on his merry adventure with Punisher. So what happens now?

Well, firstly both he and Pun made up (awwww) and naturally the bad guys interrupted only for our combined heroes' efforts ... that proved more than sufficient to kick ass. And boy did Cage did a low blow here in this issue against Nitro ... bad ass! And then Pun followed it up with a shot in the back? Talk about fighting dirty

Naturally while the grunts are having a go at each other, the big boss of all these villains are carrying out his dastardly plans elsewhere ... and this involves a new chick that is somehow getting some mileage with Cage ... whether she will be his squeeze is yet to know ... but stupid boss villain ... why you bother with the black man's bitch, eh?

You just know, dumb as Cage is, he will still track down and kick more ass

And o yeah before we forget, that subplot habit of Marvel, yup, still here! Marvel is seeding something more from last issue to this issue for the futur

Ratings: 4/10

332. Cage #3 ... Marvel ...

What do you do when, at first you plan to launch a new series, and you are not sure if it will be a success? Why, you simply include cameo and guest appearances from other "hot" properties. And at the time when this series was launched, Luke Cage aka Power Man was not yet the success that he was with the Avengers and so here they rolled in another "grim n gritty" character the Punisher

At this juncture, after bye bye with Iron Fist and no more Heroes for Hire, well, Cage still needs to eat and as he is not much good for anything else, he goes around looking for jobs even as super powered body guard. Naturally as he is a "black" character, his world revolves around more "black" character than is the norm for the 616 Marvel U

And while he goes about his life, stopping thieves and what-not, as per the cover, a bigger villain is lurking and is strategizing a team of his own - he has basically freed Tombstone, Kickback and Nitro. Now if only Cage had really taken care of Nitro all those kids would still be alive, eh? And there would be no Civil War ... sort of makes you think about all these heroes' creed where they capture the villain to give to the authorities who never fail to incarcerate them properly only for them to be loosened onto the population for more bloodbath later ... sigh!

I know, it's just a comic!

Of course in order to fit in the Punisher they have to have him appear somehow and let him be pissed off with Cage. And to ensure that not only one but more issues are sold, this is part 1 of a 2 part crossover

Ratings: 4/10 (average art and cliche story)