This is it! The build up is finally over and Jason Aaron is going to give us what we’ve been waiting for almost a year for! (wow, time certainly flew didn’t it?) That’s right, it’s time for Punisher MAX to fight Bullseye….MAX. This has certainly been a pretty damn good arc (filler issue last month aside) and this new take on Bullseye is certainly a worthy foe for the Punisher. Just how fucked up can this get?

Well to be honest it does get fucked up, but we only see small hints on the fight. Sure we get the usually firefight with guns, but then Aaron steps it up with force mutulation and even vomiting plays a part. (The latter I kinda cringed at because it was only done for the sake of shock value, but what are ya gonna do?) I’m sorta glad that we don’t see the fight fully because I can only imagine how Aaron can explain the type of violence that is hinted here. I mean Bullseye has three nails deep into his skull; even as a MAX book I don’t see Marvel allowing that to be shown. Violence aside, it’s a pretty good issue but it definitely feels like Aaron couldn’t do to much for the next arc. Let’s just say that neither side is finished with their feud but it looks like Frank is gonna be in big trouble whenever he heals. Also, I just wish Aaron could give us a taste of what Bullseye knows about Castle. But I guess that’s a tease for the next arc.

Steve Dillon’s art is great to look at as usual. Whenever it gets insanely violent (and it does fast) he handles it pretty well. Whether it be nails stuck in Bullseyes head, Punisher using a sledgehammer, or the vomit we see it looks how you think it does. Dillon also handles some of the emotion in this pretty well too. Bullseye is just a lunatic and when he starts to get really happy during the fight I believe it. Also, towards the end when Bullseye reveals Castle’s ‘secret’ the fear in Castle’s eyes looks perfect. So never doubt Dillon to add emotion in his pages when the time comes.

So this issue delivers exactly what you think: It’s a Bullseye/Punisher fight and it’s bloody and kinda gross. Jason Aaron isn’t giving us the most well written Punisher run lately if I’m honest; but this was a pretty entertaining issue overall. I can’t wait to see where this run is gonna go though because it’s really looking bad for Castle at the end of this. Could this finally be the end of the Punisher MAX? (I doubt it, but look surprised when it isn’t.)