The Punisher #16
Writer: Greg Rucka
Art: Marco Checchetto
Colors: Matt Hollingsworth
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Price: $2.99
All good things must come to an end and unfortunately, so does Greg Rucka’s run on The Punisher.
Of course, Rucka’s work with the character will continue in October with a five issue War Zone mini-series but it’s just not the same as this run brought a sense of conviction to Frank Castle that we have never seen before.
Now let’s get to the goods. This issue deals with the emotional fallout from the murder of an NYPD detective at the hands of Rachel Cole-Alves. It was an accident, but that doesn’t matter because everyone believes The Punisher did the deed.
Rucka has produced a story that is just as much about Cole-Alves as it is about the title character. The catalyst of her journey towards revenge is reminiscent of Castle’s. The usual murderous mayhem is absent, and instead, The Punisher delicately plays the role of hero in order to save Cole-Alves from herself.
There are only a handful of people who could possible lead the kind of life he leads and it looked like Cole-Alves could too.
Now, not so much, and things need to be set right before anyone can move on.
Grade: B+
Click here to read the rest of the column I wrote for Forces of Geek.com
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