Punisher Max - Volume 8: Widowmaker

That's the sound of my breath escaping as I finished this volume. I've loved every story Ennis has done in this series. Some of the arcs are more fun while others have more weight, seriousness. This one begins as a fun one but end with deadly seriousness. And it is all the better for this tactic. A different reviewer decried the use of stereotypes and how the villains lost credibility. I would counter that the villains are presented as realistically as could be (I've seen that Gotti reality show and this is it whether they represent the norm or not). And the fact that Frank is mostly unnecessary to the plot of this one shows the kind of range that Ennis employs. I've read that the opening issue of the next arc completely flips this series on it's head and I can't wait until it is collected. Unfortunately I also read that it will be Mr. Ennis' last arc. So love it while you can.

Widowmaker, the eighth collected volume of Garth Ennis' monolithic run on the Punisher, finds the tabled turned on Frank Castle. Over the years, Frank has racked up an incredible body count of mob low lifes and gangsters, and five vengeful mafia widows are looking to even the score. While Frank may not see this coming, an unlikely ally is waiting in the wings to exact some revenge of her own; with the end result being one of the most violent and just plain brutal tale of revenge to ever be seen in a Marvel comic. Ennis is once again in spectacular form as he delivers an incredibly compelling story that concludes with Frank on the shelf and witness to seeing what happens when someone attempts to follow in his foot steps. Lan Medina's artwork is exquisite and lush; drawing one of the best modern renditions ever seen of Frank Castle that's been seen since Steve Dillon and Lewis Larosa collaborated with Ennis on the title. All in all, Widowmaker is another spectacular chapter in Ennis' mature re-imagining of the Punisher, and here's hoping he's still got more to come.