Punisher: Red Band #5- Frank is Seeing Red and Kingpin is in the Crosshairs!

Frank Castle’s mind is his own again. With it comes a plan. A plan to pay back those who have harmed him. To hurt those who used him as a tool in their game. Kingpin tried to take advantage of The Punisher, but now he and Tombstone are pawns in the Punisher’s game

Creative Team

Writer: Benjamin Percy
Artist: Julius Ohta
Color Artist: Yen Nitro
Letterer: VC’s Cory Petit
Cover Artists: Marco Checchetto and Matthew Wilson

Writing

Benjamin Percy crafted a really solid ending to this run. I love that we get a full story, but the story is crafted by Percy in a way that it can easily be picked up by Percy or another writer if the demand is there. While the entire series has been great, it feels good for Percy to have Frank right back doing what he does best.

In one line, Percy paints Castle as having the mind of a general but the boots on the ground and skin in the game attitude of a grunt. Percy really gets the heart of the Punisher. Often the Punisher can be painted as a mindless killing machine but throughout this run and particularly in this issue, Percy has shown just how cerebral he can actually be.

Art

Ohta, Nitro, and Petit killed it. The movement from the vehicles was perfectly drawn and colored. I enjoyed that wide variety of color palettes used in this issue. In line with the Red Band, there’s plenty of blood and violence, but it is done in a way that feels natural and organized as part of the story. The art feels like Punisher.

The lettering is great, flowing from panel to panel. Action words are colored to bring attention but not distract from the overall vibe of the panel. The entire issue feels perfect. Even in panels with few words from Percy, the art team still conveys great emotion.

Final Thoughts

Overall Grade: 10/10

Percy and the rest of the team crafted a satisfying ending to this story. This Punisher series has felt as true to Frank as any series that has been released. It’s a refreshing look at the character in a way that utilizes the Red Band label in an effective way.

Did you enjoy Punisher: Red Band? Let me know in the comments.

Until next time, may your pulls be magical and your multiverse remain stable. You can check out my other reviews HERE!