Book Review: The Punisher Complete Collection, Volume 3

Garth Ennis (author) and various artists, The Punisher The Complete Collection, Volume 3. New York: Marvel, 2016.  ISBN: 9781302901875.

Genre: comics

Subgenre: superheroes, antiheroes, crime

Series: Marvel MAX

Format: trade paperback

Source: Eastside Branch, Lexington (KY) Public Library 

I continue to read this collection that features the Garth Ennis run on The Punisher comics. This is part of Marvel's MAX series, meant for adults. This volume features three stories. 

In "Barracuda," Frank Castle, the Punisher, heads to Miami. He seeks to stop a corporation plotting to shut off power in parts of Florida in order to make a serious profit exploiting the situation. The corporate chief hires Barracuda, a seriously dangerous goon, to deal with Castle. Castle will need his brain as well as brawn to counter Barracuda and the corporate boss. This is a pretty solid story with good action and pace. It is very violent, and it features some gory moments. 

In "Man of Stone," Castle confronts an old enemy: Russian general Nikolai Zakharov. To complicate Castle's mission, CIA traitor Rawlins is in the mix trying to play his own agenda. A bit of intrigue and a good amount of action here. Overall, a good story. If you read the "Mother Russia" story from volume 2, you may appreciate this story more, but you can still read it on its own. 

Finally we get "Widowmaker." I remember reading this story years ago as a trade in the days before I started writing reviews and sharing them on the blog. By now, reading it felt like a new experience again. During his one man war on crime and the Mob, Frank Castle has left many widows behind. A group of mobster widows decides to take matters into their own hands and do what the men keep failing to do: kill the Punisher. They get weapons, make plans, study files to learn, and analyze where and how the men failed. However, when a new assassin enters the fray and starts hunting down the widows, we wonder about the assassin's motives, and are they friend or foe to Castle? This is a good story that builds up to a strong and shocking conclusion that hits. It is a tale with some moving moments; it may be the most powerful tale in this collection. 

This continues to be a strong series that draws you in. The art is excellent; the cover art designs included are a favorite for me. Overall, this is another excellent volume. 

Recommended for libraries that collect comics and graphic novels. Do note it is an adult title. I am really enjoying the series, and I would buy this volume for my personal collection. 

5 out of 5 stars.