Garth Ennis and Steve Dillon continue the most mischievous era of Frank Castle in the third volume of Panini Comics’ Marvel Saga line of The Punisher, which features Spider-Man as a special guest.

Him terrible child from the American comic My Friend Garth Ennis he is without doubt the author who has most influenced its character Frank’s Castle. The version could Maximum of the character is the one that passes with the greatest glory to posterity, but up to the task is the toughest version of the character with whom he spent some years together with his colleague Steve Dillon. Panini Comics now publishes the third volume of this glorious era with the title of Marvel Saga. The Punisher by Ennis and Dillon 3. Don’t Fall in New York.

The Funniest Punisher

When we think of Castle, the word “fun” probably isn’t the first word that comes to mind. However, if there’s anything that defines this phase of Dillon and Ennis’s time with the character, it’s that it’s tremendously fun. Our protagonist basically becomes a Terminator without feelings or edges, a force of nature that aims to kill as many gangsters and criminals as possible with the greatest damage possible. Said like that it still doesn’t sound funny… but it is.

And despite the complete lack of humor that may define Castle, the carnival of secondary characters that surround him are hilarious people. They can be very crazy psychopaths, cowardly and clumsy hitmen, or law enforcement officers who have just enough neurons not to shit themselves. But beyond the hooligan situations that Ennis can represent here, what makes these comics so hilarious is the magnificent work of a Steve Dillon in a state of grace, who does something very similar to what he already did with the Irishman in Preacher.

Graphic error

Castle’s imperturbable face contrasts greatly with the faces of those who will find themselves on the other end of the barrel of his AK-47. Cold sweats, stupid smiles, resigned looks, rictus of terror and comic violence. These are the weapons that Dillon wields to transform this action ride into pure entertainment, and he does it like no other.

But in addition to giving the comic that wonderful comic quality, the British cartoonist is an expert storyteller who shines in action scenes. Despite the apparent simplicity of his proposals, the reader never misses everything that happens in a situation where, for example, the Punisher He faces a group of gangsters who come in through doors and windows and shoot an arsenal at him while he hides behind a column and then appears behind him and kills them all one by one. And it all exudes clarity.

Also, his way of characterizing characters out of the ordinary is something to highlight in this volume as well. And there will be some…

old friends

As soon as the volume starts, we will meet one of the most charismatic villains (along with Barracuda) who faced our favorite gangster killer. This is about Russianthat mass of muscles that we saw dying in the previous volume and that here returns through the most psychotropic science we can imagine, like a monster disguised as Frankenstein Soviet.

But the leading role in this volume is reserved for Soapthe most idiotic detective who ever existed and who will star in one of the most hilarious moments in the history of comics together with his biological mother. And defining Soap as the secondary protagonist of the volume is already a lot, since browsing these pages will be neither more nor less than SpidermanEnnis’s dislike for superheroes is well known, which explains the tremendous beating the wall-crawler will receive, comparable only to the one he will receive A seascape gave him in that story drawn by Giovanni Romita Jr. decades ago…

A very noteworthy aspect would be the inclusion here of two numbers that depart from the general delinquent tone of the story, episodes in which the more sentimental and reflective (and cynical?) side of Ennis emerges. On the one hand we have the theme that gives the volume its title, a hopeless story of human misery in which it becomes evident that “Don’t fall in New York, if you do, no one will come to get you.”…

Even humor is left out in the corresponding special Silent month From Marvel Comicsthat month when all the comics he published were stories without dialogue. Ennis and Dillon offer us this time a tragic story, with one of those endings that leave a bad impression, where words are not necessary…

In short… whether you’re a fan of the character or not, the entire period spent by these two authors with the character is one of the most entertaining in the history of comics. There is no excuse not to brighten your day by reading this third volume, whose biggest problem is that it is too short…

Him Volume published by Panini Comics The hardcover contains 184 color pages with a format of 17 x 26 cm. and includes the translation of the American edition of the first seven issues of the second volume of Marvel Knights: Punisherin addition to all the covers of the included issues, an introduction written by Bruno Orive and a curious extra section at the end. The suggested retail price is €23 and it was released in June 2024.

Marvel Saga. The Punisher by Ennis and Dillon 3. Don’t Fall in New York

Remember the Russian? One of the worst enemies the Punisher has ever fought is back, but… How is he still alive after Frank cut off his head? The answer, in a volume that also features Spider-Man’s most humiliating encounter with the skull-wearing vigilante… Only Ennis would dare write a comic like this!

Authors: Jimmy Palmiotti, Garth Ennis and Steve Dillon