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daezarkian's review
5.0
If I gave "The Slavers" a 6, "The Long Cold Dark" may deserve a 7.
Barracuda is back! The indestructible gangster wants Frank Castle in a big way...not just to hurt him, but to break him, and he might have found a way. Already being plagued by dreams of a life he might have lived, The Punisher finds himself dragged into the fight of his life when Barracuda proves his cunning by hitting Frank in a vulnerable spot he never knew he had...
With the exception of some shoddy 1st issue art (which thankfully improves when the original "Barracuda" artist takes over), "The Long Cold Dark" is near perfect. This isn't a typical Punisher story line, but a 5-issue duel between two of the most dangerous men alive, and with so much at stake the tension is ratcheted to an almost unbearable level by the time the smoke starts to settle.
We have never seen The Punisher this vulnerable, or this human. Ennis has made clear Frank's serious mental issues through the series, but seldom before have I felt Castle's hurt conveyed in such a profound manner, or truly comprehended the depths of his loneliness.
While there are still 6 issues to go before Ennis wraps up his most memorable run with the Punisher, "The Long Cold Dark" is the early emotional catharsis the series needed, a hard look at the heart of a man the readers have probably come to regard as heartless. Highly recommended!
(It's also a credit to Ennis as a writer that we actually feel some sympathy for Barracuda along the way, in spite of the many terrible acts he commits. Truly a villain for the ages!)
Barracuda is back! The indestructible gangster wants Frank Castle in a big way...not just to hurt him, but to break him, and he might have found a way. Already being plagued by dreams of a life he might have lived, The Punisher finds himself dragged into the fight of his life when Barracuda proves his cunning by hitting Frank in a vulnerable spot he never knew he had...
With the exception of some shoddy 1st issue art (which thankfully improves when the original "Barracuda" artist takes over), "The Long Cold Dark" is near perfect. This isn't a typical Punisher story line, but a 5-issue duel between two of the most dangerous men alive, and with so much at stake the tension is ratcheted to an almost unbearable level by the time the smoke starts to settle.
We have never seen The Punisher this vulnerable, or this human. Ennis has made clear Frank's serious mental issues through the series, but seldom before have I felt Castle's hurt conveyed in such a profound manner, or truly comprehended the depths of his loneliness.
While there are still 6 issues to go before Ennis wraps up his most memorable run with the Punisher, "The Long Cold Dark" is the early emotional catharsis the series needed, a hard look at the heart of a man the readers have probably come to regard as heartless. Highly recommended!
(It's also a credit to Ennis as a writer that we actually feel some sympathy for Barracuda along the way, in spite of the many terrible acts he commits. Truly a villain for the ages!)
andreaschari's review
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
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