The Good

The Bad

The Verdict - 3/5

It's almost becoming a hobby seeing how much I disagree with these reviews.  If you want regular old Frank Castle Punisher, Punisher MAX is still there and still an amazing series.  Franken-Castle is a wildly different take, not afraid to take risks and have fun with itself.  Comic fans complain all day about how tired they are of the same old characters with the same old premises.  And then once a real change to a character is made, these same fans whine and complain about it on forums.  This issue was definitely a low for the Franken-Castle adventures, but decrying the whole concept?  Learn to let go, and enjoy this great concept for what it is.  I'm glad Marvel is sticking with the concept and really letting creativity shine over safe and boring ideas.

great review zack - way to break it down :)

" It's almost becoming a hobby seeing how much I disagree with these reviews.  If you want regular old Frank Castle Punisher, Punisher MAX is still there and still an amazing series.  Franken-Castle is a wildly different take, not afraid to take risks and have fun with itself.  Comic fans complain all day about how tired they are of the same old characters with the same old premises.  And then once a real change to a character is made, these same fans whine and complain about it on forums.  This series was definitely a low for the Franken-Castle adventures, but decrying the whole concept?  Learn to let go, and enjoy this great concept for what it is.  I'm glad Marvel is sticking with the concept and really letting creativity shine over safe and boring ideas. "

I think Franken-castle is a good example of what you get when a book maybe has gone on for too long. You have to keep stretching so much so far.
 
I understand the feeling of wanting this over. That whole Marvel vampire crap hasn't even started yet and I already want it over with.
That cover image is pretty nice though. I like the use of color and cool tones.

At first I kind of enjoyed the idea of Franken-caste, but the more the series drags on the less I like the idea.  I mean sure it would work like Old-man Logan did, but the series is set to continue this way for quite some time.  Quite frankly, and that pun is intended, I'm sick of Franken-caste and want just regular old hard ass Frank Castle.  Is that too much to ask? I don't think that it is and maybe Marvel could bang their collective heads together and think of something new for him to do.  Maybe a new enemy that doesn't fit the mold like a lot of his other villains do.  I have also been reading the Punishermax that has recently started and am thorough enjoying it, granted it gets to take a few more liberties due to the MAX imprint, but I would like to see this book get off the whole Franken-castle idea soon and let Frank do what he has always done.

I've been a Punisher fan for a long time and I have only read some of the Fraken-castle issues (via previews and in store browsing), but not purchased any. I purchased all of the 616 Punisher title up until his death in the Annual. I've purchased all of the Punisher:MAX series so far. 
 
I like Remender and all of the artists on the Frankencastle arcs, but I don't like the concept as part of continuity. I would have bought an out-of-continuity mini-series of 4 or 5 issues of Frankencastle, but having Frankencastle for 2 years (at minimum), is a bit much for me.
 
I don't remember saying how sick or tired I was of the latest Punisher series. I was rather enjoying it and the Dark Reign fallout. I think Remender did a great job of the pre-Frankecastle issues. 
 
Turning Frank into Frankenstien was an affront to Punisher fans, just like if Spider-Man turned into a sparkling vampire, Wolverine turned into a werewolf, and Hulk into a leprechaun. How do you think their fans would react to that? Having change isn't bad, but I don't really see that as change - that's an entirely new concept - a re-invention of the character rather than a change.
 
Heck, having Frank's arm or head cut off and reattached to another body or mechanical parts added would have been a welcome change. He could have continued on, but just be upgraded. The Frankencastle story has went off into supernatural territory and as the reviewer stated, the dialogue doesn't sound like Frank. It's as if, he's a completely different character now.
 
The concept is fine and I think Marvel could use some more supernatural characters, but Frankencastle would have been better suited as a new character rather than bringing Frank into the supernatural world. Frank lives in the criminal underbelly world, not with vampires and monsters. It just goes too far against his character basis.
 
As far as MAX vs 616, I do like MAX version of Punisher, but it's a bit too "MAX" for my taste. I like Punisher in the 616 universe interacting with low-powered super villains and mobsters with maybe some guest appearances from superheroes. I like seeing Punisher (a non-superpowered non-mutant) playing with the big dogs (mutants, super-powered). In MAX, since there's no mutants/super-powered, he's a raw Punisher and I think the battle versus people with greater abilities is quite diminished. He's more of a soldier in MAX than in 616 where's he's more of a strategist.
 
It would be nice if this thread could be tagged with Punisher, so the Punisher fans will see it in their favs.

MAX is cool, but I want my 616 Punisher back! They were doing a great job with him until he started messing with The Hood! 
 
Seriously, the salvaging old weapons was epic! Anyone remember when he shrunk himself down on a piece of pizza and grew inside of the guy? 
 
And then they ruined it with Franken-Castle.

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