Unhinged violence is something right at home with The Punisher, and with the “Red Band” label rendering him unencumbered by all-ages storytelling, Ben Percy and Julius Ohta are going off. Punisher: Red Band #1 was bloody as hell, with a Frank Castle who doesn’t even know who he is, making any inhibitions slight at best. Now, in the graces of an old lady, something is turned on inside him, setting him off on a mission of death and destruction.
Punisher: Red Band #2 is another action-packed issue with the underlying mystery of why Frank woke up on a burning boat carrying our interest forward. Since the first issue saw him escape capture, this issue reveals just how sharp an edge Punisher being used as a weapon can go. There are some definite Terminator 2 vibes with this one, making him a force that can’t be stopped.
The issue opens with Frank getting a gun from the old lady’s basement. Captions detail her conversation with authorities, as it has come to her attention that Frank is not a good guy, at least not in the state he’s in. Ohta makes you fear Frank, with piercing eyes and a body language that says there is no time. This juxtaposes well with a bit of comedy relief as he shoots the phone the old lady is using. Soon, he’s off, stealing her car and on his way to some important mission.
Time to hunt!
Credit: Marvel
It’s here that we cut to Kingpin, seemingly speaking to Frank, though he has no phone or device present. Kingpin is alone, which had me scratching my head as to whether Kingpin was speaking directly to Frank or to himself about Frank. While the recap page makes it clear Kingpin is controlling Frank, it wasn’t obvious from the visuals presented. How Kingpin is using Frank’s friend is also a bit obtuse, though Kingpin’s cruelty in the last issue is very present and quite scary.
The meat of the action in this issue focuses on Frank driving to a container and taking out vehicles for tactical advantage along the way. Percy’s captions keep us hyper-focused on his strategy and how precise he can be. Fans of T2 will note he reloads his gun in the same way as Arnold, and he’s about as emotionless as Terminator, in a good way. Another standout bit by Percy is explaining in efficient terms why Punisher is so scary in a world where characters have superpowers.
If you’re looking for adult content, this issue has plenty. We’re talking bones bursting from a hand, Kingpin doing some rather nasty stuff to himself, and a very scary weapon in the hands of Tombstone. Visually, this issue is even stronger than the last, with Ohta blowing us away with a variety of atmospheric moments.
Punisher: Red Band #2 doubles down on everything that made the debut issue hit hard, brutal violence, razor-sharp pacing, and a haunting, unstoppable version of Frank Castle that feels equal parts Terminator and tragedy. Ben Percy’s script slices right to the bone, while Julius Ohta’s artwork drenches every page in atmosphere and dread. It’s a story of power, manipulation, and rage unchained… the kind of raw, adult storytelling that earns its “Red Band” label.
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