Marvel Knights: The Punisher #3 – The Plot Thickens

The Essentials:

• What is Frank Castle’s Mission?
• What’s happening to The Punisher?

THE PUNISHER #3:

Turning Frank into a mindless slave took an enormous amount of the drug Z, but now that he’s dispatched of his counterpart, Frank is the top assassin for the Molerro Cartel.

This indentured servitude came as a payback for Frank murdering Molerro’s son Manny. Now Frank is El Zombie, but someone is investigating this whole ordeal – Agent Everett K Ross!

Creative Team:

Creators: Jimmy Palmiotti and Dan Panosian

Cover: Dan Panosian

Letters: Richard Starkings & COMICRAFT’S Tyler Smith

Publisher: MARVEL COMICS

The Art:

From the cover to the splash page, Panosian feels like he’s just showing off now! These large-scale, gorgeous frames are something that become instantly iconic in my opinion. The story, the art, it all stays with you in this series.

Molerro, looking like a deranged Hunter S Thompson, and Frank, the brainwashed El Zombie, dominate the page because Panosian has crafted the art that way.

The pain in Frank’s eyes as he has to follow his adversary’s orders, along with the cruel truth of drug trafficking and the cartel world, is all exposed to the reader in this comic, and it’s something you don’t just walk away from when you stop reading the book. That’s the beauty of great art: it stays with you.

READ: The Punisher #1 – What Exactly is Frank Castle’s Mission?

The Writing:

The writing here is a crown jewel in the Marvel Comics library. The story feels mature and fully formed as we follow the cartel, Castle, and Ross as he tries not to screw up his mission once again.

While the series is one that’s made for adults, it’s not too much for the reader to grasp and take in. Palmiotti and Panosian have kept it to a few key players to follow, which I appreciate, considering how bloated some comics can get these days.

It feels like the script or inspiration for a gritty series or a full-length major motion picture. Ross is the subplot, while Frank and his brainwashing dominate the reader’s consciousness. It’s truly a special book.

Overall Grade: 10/10

Every single issue of Marvel Knights: The Punisher has been pretty close to flawless. It’s heartbreaking to see what they’ve done to Frank, but the more you dive into this new world, the more you appreciate the brilliant crafting of this story. Ross, as the subplot and potential bumbling hero, is a nice juxtaposition to the gritty world that normally dominates this series.

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