The Punisher #10 Review (Omega Effect crossover)

Previously on Avenging Spider-Man #6, the Punisher, alongside his new ally, meets with Daredevil and demands that he hand over the Omega Drive, which contains countless data on all the major criminal organizations in the Marvel Universe.  Spider-Man gets involved, and the four come up with a plan to draw these organizations out into the open and destroy the Omega Drive before their own eyes.  Thus an uneasy alliance was born, and you know someone is going to screw it up.

The Punisher ( Vol. 8 ) #10

Writer:  Greg Rucka
Artist:  Marco Checchetto
Color Art:  Matt Hollingsworth
Letterer:  VC’s Joe Caramanga
Cover:  Marco Checchetto
Variant Cover:  Adi Granov
Special Thanks to Mark Waid

***WARNING:  SPOILERS AHEAD***

PLOT:  While Punisher and Rachel arm themselves with non-lethal weaponry, Spider-Man and Daredevil create a device that will destroy the Omega Drive.  Using a list retrieved from the drive, the four split into two teams and target several criminal operations, leaving behind the message to appear later that night at Grand Central Station if they want to get their hands on the Omega Drive.  The meeting takes place, but before Daredevil can destroy the drive, Rachel pushes him off the balcony and steals it.

THOUGHTS:  The very first thing you’ll notice when you pick up this issue is the very nice cover by Marco Checchetto.  I tend to take covers for granted, and most of the time I forget to mention them in my reviews, but this one has a very nice composition highlighting our three protagonists in stricking looks.  The Punisher is in the middle in a blue tone with the two red-colored heroes to the edges.  Overall, it has a nice “balanced” look to it.

The plot itself is nothing special.  The bulk of the issue consisted on our protagonists prepping for battle and going on the offensive, but it’s Greg Rucka’s characterization and wonderful dialogue that made this such an excellent issue.  You’ll be glad to know that Spider-Man is very well represented here.  Throughout the story, he’s genuinely funny (as in, he’s not being a buffoon, like he was often written in the Avengers title) and had me laughing several times.  His quips are smart and on point, like they should be.  Additionally, he’s serious when the situation calls for it, especially when it comes to keeping Frank from killing or from taking the Omega Drive.

Daredevil also gets written exceptionally well, and he gets two nice moments, one kinda weird and the other crucial for the story.  On their way to meet up with Punisher and Rachel, Spidey and DD spot a lady who is about to give birth in the middle of a traffic jam.  Naturally, Daredevil delivers the baby right there.  It was a nice touch to show him using his radar sense to determine the lady’s accelerated heartbeat.  The scene itself is filler, but I didn’t mind because it was very entertaining, and some of my favorite lines come from here, such as the husband arguing with Spidey for no good reason.

The other scene has Daredevil talking Rachel down from killing a man they need to keep alive for their plan to work. It’s very well done.  The seriousness of the DD/Rachel team-up nicely constrasts the goofiness of the Spidey/Punisher interactions.

Oddly enough, it’s Frank Castle in his own book that doesn’t quite stand out in the same way as the rest of the characters do, but I attribute that to a couple of things.  First, Rachel’s character development and whether she’ll follow the Punisher’s path has been a main theme of the title since it’s relaunch, and it’s played out a little bit more in The Omega Effect.  Second, Castle’s personality is more driven and silent when compared to the two costumed heroes.  But that is not to say he doesn’t get any cool moments.  The opening montage of him and Rachel going through their armory is pretty neat.  He’s also the one who plans out their strategy to get megacrime’s attention.  What I liked about the Punisher’s characterization is that, despite not really getting anything out of the deal, he still honours Spidey’s wishes not to kill anybody.  He has some respect for him despite being clearly annoyed by him (and he also never loses his cool by him).

The cliffhanger is a little predictable, although I honestly thought it’d be Punisher and not Rachel who betrays the team.

When it comes to the art, there’s not much to say that I didn’t say already in the AvSM #6 review.  It’s the same high quality that was established there.  My favorite part about the art is how Checchetto and Hollingsworth make Daredevil look menacing to his foes.

FAVORITE LINES:  Oh, there were too many, but here’s one that Donovan Grant will definitely appreciate:

DAREDEVIL:  Reed doesn’t mind you doing this?

SPIDER-MAN:  I’m doing SCIENCE, Hornhead.  Reed LOVES it when I do SCIENCE.

VERDICT:  Punisher #10 is a very enjoyable issue.  Not a whole lot happens, but the awesome art and well-done dialogue won me over.  I’m not sure how well this stacks up as a Punisher issue, but as the second installment of the Omega Effect, it’s top-notch.  Daredevil fans will enjoy it.  If nothing else, get it just for the Spidey comedy gold.  4.5 Webheads out of 5.

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~My Two Cents