Comic Vine Review

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Punisher: War Zone #3

5

Thor takes on the Punisher in the latest issue of this series.

The Good

The thing I love about Greg Rucka is the way that he makes writing superheroes look so easy. I think a lot of times you read a series and you get the feeling that the writer hasn't really found the "voice" of a certain character. That is definitely not the case here. Rucka captures these characters with ease and it makes reading this series a complete joy. Thor shouldn't sound like Black Widow and Spider-Man, and he doesn't. and it goes beyond the dialogue he writes for his characters, too, it is also reflected in Rucka's plot in the decisions these characters make. Early on in this issue, for example, Black Widow lets Punisher get away but not without "saving the lives of 117 boys and girls." It's a great showcase of her personality and her decisions on the battlefield.

Additionally, the answer to who would win in a fight between the Punisher and Thor is not so easily answered. Rucka does a great job executing a crazy battle between these two characters without making either one look weaker than the other, he really plays to their strengths.

This book really has everything a comic fan would want. It is a great portrayal of these characters and it highlights their conflict with one another in a very interesting I loved the fight between the Punisher and Thor and I thought the resolution to this conflict was fantastic.

Additionally, Carmine Di Giandomenico does an incredible job illustrating this issue and depicting these characters in a fight that is well organized and easy to read. His work is really, really stunning here, and I can't stress that enough.

The Bad

I heartily enjoyed this issue and highly recommend it to any Marvel fan.

The Verdict

Rucka proves that he has found the balance between writing a fantastic fight and character development, because what he delivers in the third issue of this series is nearly perfect. There's not too much fighting, and it isn't without reason. The writer plays to the strengths of the different characters in a way that is interesting and moves the story forward. But perhaps what is most impressive about Rucka on this issue is the way that he captures so effortlessly the respective voices of these characters. He pays a lot of attention to detail and executes them in a way that is just great. I really recommend this series to any fan of Marvel comics and the Punisher.