This seemed like a good time to jump onto Punisher Max. Steve Dillion returns to a character that seems prefectly suited to his stylized realistic sensibility while very few writers have the ability to place the Punisher’s paroxysm on the page like Jason Arron.

So why than did this issue leave me a little cold?

Arron’s opening issue didn’t seem to contain the promise of anything new. The Punisher is still up to his old tricks. Torture, intimidation and died mobsters. Instead of introducing a new foil to but heads with Frank, the Kingpin is recycled into the Max universe with same characterisarion and approach. (I’m sure i have seen the Kingpin squosh someboby head a half dozen times by now)

Dillion’s art remains a constant which is not to say good or bad. His models act and express attitude and charater. His setting and design captures the seedy tone of a Punisher story. His pages have a simple effective layout.