Punisher, Vol. 2

Rating:
Summary: Punisher, Vol. 2
Review: The second hardcover edition of Ennis' Frank Castle, this book collects issues 1-7 and 13-18 from the now ended 37-issue Marvel Knights run of the Punisher series.

The first five issues starts off with Frank nearly being killed by the resurrected Russian. He's saved by Spider-Man and in one of the greatest 'team-ups' ever is able to subdue the Russian. Afterwards he finds that the Russian was rebuilt by order of an infamous U.S. General who now runs an island full of mercenaries and former special forces who he hires out for top dollar. Frank manages to sneak on the island and manages to take out the Russian and pretty much everyone else. This is one of the better stories as it shows Castle fighting it out in the jungle where he was born, so to speak.

The next two issues following it are one shots. The first is a story of Frank chasing down an old war buddy whose life has been terrible. The other is a Steve Dillon silent issue that shows Frank chasing down a mob boss.

It skips to issues 13 and 14, which deal with the Punisher freeing a big time mob boss from drug lords in Columbia; these two issues are hilarious as well as action-packed. I guarantee that you'll be grinning madly when you read the last few pages of that arc.

Following that is another one-shot of a reporter following Castle on a typical night, which ends in great carnage.

Issues 16 and 17 are a bizarre story dealing with mob guys with their legs sawed off, midgets, and Wolverine getting beat down.

The final issue in the book involves the Punisher tracking a drug shipment from Brooklyn to Ennis' home country of Ireland. Besides Castle killing the bad guys, it also has a commentary on the situation in Ireland.

All in all a good book to buy if you're interested in the character. Unlike the trade paperbacks, the pages of the book use thicker paper and are larger than a normal tpb or comic. For first time readers buy this and 'Welcome Back, Frank'.