By Flodo Span
To regular readers of this column and visitors to my own blog I am probably known as ‘that Green Lantern guy’. While that’s a title that I’d be proud of it may surprise you to learn that I do occasionally read comic books outside of the GL universe, and even (sin of sins) outside of DC Comics. It’s just that I haven’t felt the urge to review any of them. Until now…
A few months ago while I was looking over upcoming releases I made a speculative mental note to pick up the first issue of a mini-series loosely based on my favourite Marvel character. Not that I was expecting much you understand. The title sat low on my reading stack the following week and so I was not prepared for what was coming when I half-heartedly peeled back the cover to Space: Punisher #1.
The sight that confronted me was a 1950s sci-fi movie poster. A muscle bound but unmistakable take on Ross Andru’s classic Frank Castle pitching headlong through deep space with nothing but a domed glass helmet for protection. Right then I knew Space: Punisher was going to be something different. This image alone was rife with expectation. The splash page promised a book with action at its heart. A book that wasn’t going to take itself too seriously. Brimming with references for the eagle-eyed fanboy. Promises of a cosmic science fiction adventure that would leave reality at the door. All that and unrelenting bloody mayhem. I was sold.
The sight that confronted me was a 1950s sci-fi movie poster.
So, for the record, this isn’t going to be the largely objective spoiler review that I usually try to offer to like-minded lantern fans who have all read the book I’m discussing. This is an unrepentant solicit to encourage you to go out and buy the four issue mini-series. I realise Marvel don’t need the money but they do need to know that there is room in their over-crammed stable for this gem of a title. The final issue came out some weeks ago now but the copies are still out there. I think Inter-Comics has actually sold out of the first issue but you can pull the full series at least twice over in my local comic shop’s back-issue bins. You will not regret being the brave geek who gives them a good home.
Before I get to the main thrust of my sales pitch I will take a moment to concede that Space: Punisher does have its detractors out there. Some of my favourite podcasters couldn’t get past the first installment. A few forum junkies dismissed it as trash and cast it aside. Just so you’re clear – every one of these losers is dead wrong. They don’t know sh*t! …But I digress.
Promises of a cosmic science fiction adventure that would leave reality at the door. All that and unrelenting bloody mayhem. I was sold.
I don’t want to give the game away too much on the storyline because it is crying out to be read from fresh but there a few teasers that should help you make your mind up. Frank travels the galaxy in the company of the spaceship Marie and a heavy duty weapons cache in the form of a diminutive robot called Chip. The Punisher himself bears the characteristics of the classic war journal keeping vigilante of the Mike Baron and Chuck Dixon era. Those hoping for a What If? take on the silent paramilitarist currently depicted in the excellent Gregg Rucka run are going to be disappointed. In the hands of Frank Tieri this narrative reads like a dime detective pulp.
The mini-series is packed with cameos including an intergalactic mafia dubbed the Six-Fingered Hand who are targeted by Castle in retaliation for the murder of his family. The mobsters are reimagined versions of A-list Marvel villains including Magento and Red Skull. There is a temptation to use the word ‘classic’ over and over again in this review. Not because the books are reliant on referencing the glories of comics past (although a lot of this does go on and the series is all the better for it). I want to use the word to describe scenes that become instant classics in their own right.
The mobsters are reimagined versions of A-list Marvel villains including Magento and Red Skull.
The first enemy that Frank engages with are the Sym-Brood-Ants. In the Punisher’s words, “It’s what happens when you mix space bug sleazoids and parasite scum”. In the words of the muse who whispered into Frank Tieri’s ear while he was scripting our story, “It would be so cool if the Brood bonded with Venom’s alien symbiote!” Or in my words: “Those little bastards are totally hardcore. They kick f*@#in ass!” And put one final way for good measure, “Classic bad guys, classic reimagining and soon to be a classic alien blood bath…”
Mark Texeira’s art is exceptional throughout. The man has previous, having been involved with Punisher on and off since the early 90s both on runs and covers. He employs the painted style of a classically trained artist (there’s that word again!) which is amazingly well suited to this part tribute, part-parody of the sci-fi genre. He creates repugnant futuristic worlds bleached in the comforting sepia of nostalgia. His creations feel realistic on one level but Texeira will quite happily ignore the rules of scale and perspective in order to swamp our visual senses in the fantastic or in the gruesome.
His Hulk is a monstrous four armed super-ogre standing twice the height of our anti-hero. Even so, I can’t quite wrap my brain around the hilarious scene where he bites a fairly hefty Sabretooth in two at the waist and spits his head and torso into deep space. Death and destruction is a big feature in Space: Punisher and they don’t come much bigger than Hulk. I defy readers with a love of dark comedy not to laugh their asses off at the extremely brief meeting of Hulk and the Hulkbuster Armada!
His Hulk is a monstrous four armed super-ogre standing twice the height of our anti-hero.
The entire story is larger than life and that includes the weaponry Frank requires to take on planet after planet of cosmic powered scoundrels. As with any Punisher tale there is plenty of close contact down and dirty combat with pistols, rifles, machine guns and bazookas, all with a futuristic laser twist. But this is a space opera and Castle’s arsenal includes an inventory of suitably grand proportions. Has your interest been roused? Good. Now you’ll just have to read Space: Punisher to find out exactly what I’m talking about.
Alongside the outrageous and the humour Tieri captures a very emotional and intimate side of Frank. Throughout the entire story we are reminded of the violent tragedy that caused him to don his skull spacesuit in the first place. There are pages that pour with anguish as Punisher is forced to relive that fateful day, or contemplate what could have been if things had been different. His mission is one of vengeance but the force that drives him heartache.
So there you have it. If your style of comic is an action, sci-fi, comedy, thriller, melancholic, detective, violent, parody, super-hero, horror, cosmic fantasy book then this is the title for you. Buy Space: Punisher today! And if it’s not I’ll let you get back to organising your sock drawer or whatever else it is that you do for fun. And if you are still sitting on the fence following my entreaty to purchase I’ll leave the final word to Frank Castle from the cover of issue #4 to help you make your mind up:
For more Green Lantern reviews, news and thoughts you can follow Flodo on his website flodospage.blogspot.co.uk or on Twitter at @GL875
Posted on December 7th, 2012
Category: FLODO'S TALE, REVIEWS
Tags: Flodo Span, Flodo's Tale, Frank Castle, Frank Tieri, Mark Texeira, marvel comics, Mike Baron, Ross Andru, Space Punisher Review