This is a review of Punisher: Circle of Blood by various writers and artists. This graphic novel is divided into three sections – the first Punisher miniseries, written by Steven Grant with art by Mike Zeck; the first ten issues of the ongoing series, written by Mike Baron with art by Klaus Janson (first few issues); and Punisher: Assassin’s Guild, written by Mary Jo Duffy with art by Jorge Zaffino.
The character of the Punisher is controversial today partly because he’s been made into a symbol of something he is not. Frank Castle (aka The Punisher) is not a cop or an ex-cop, and you can make a case that all of the writers in this graphic novel portray him as mentally ill. The Punisher’s origins stem from Men’s Adventure and Soldier-of-Fortune Magazines, as well as pulp paperbacks featuring characters like The Executioner and maybe Remo Williams, if you scrape away the martial arts weirdness.
The Punisher first appeared in the 1970’s in a Spider-Man comic. He didn’t get his first miniseries, written by Steven Grant and drawn by Mike Zeck, until the 1980’s. In it, The Punisher is released from jail by a shadow organization that supposedly shares his values. This series is way better than it should be. Yes, there are parallels to an 80’s action film, but Frank Castle (The Punisher) is portrayed as being broken in a way that is not fixable. There is a moment when Frank realizes that setting the mobs against each other means lots of innocents getting killed in the crossfire, and you can tell he’s in over his head and has no idea what to do.
The ongoing Punisher series features irredeemable villains and a tight focus on plot. There aren’t many recurring villains, for obvious reasons. The stories are all over the place and have a bizarre energy that one can only admire. In one storyline the Punisher fights insider traders, complete with ninjas and serial killers; in another, he ends up in a compound with the Rev and his sister, ala Jonestown. Frank is shot, beat up, tortured, etc., etc., etc. He survives with a few nicks and scratches, but the same can’t be said for his allies, who all die. The exception is Microchip, a middle-aged guy who doesn’t partake in field operations.
Assassin’s Guild rounds out the trilogy. The Punisher and a guild of assassins confront (i.e. kill) a ring of people who are exploiting children. This graphic novel was not approved by the Comic Code Authority and thus contains what was then considered adult content. Besides the blossoming body count, we witness the Punisher having sex and an obnoxious kid assassin who gets a kick out of offing people. Despite dated ethnic portrayals and a few tropes past their expiration date, Assassin’s Guild is genuinely disturbing and is thus worth a look.
Recommended for fans of The Punisher.
Abandoned Places 