Who's the best writer for punisher and why is it garth ennis?

>>81484111
>and why is it garth ennis?
Probably because you haven't read anything else.

>>81484200
I have a huge collection of the 80's versions my dad handed down to me. Very dated, what are some other versions I should read?

>>81484200
But does any other even come close? Grant revitalized the character and his work is garbage in comparison to Ennis.

Even if he isn't the best (other possibles are Dixon and Rucka) he's definitely one of the best.

Steven Grant
Mike Baron
Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning
Chuck Dixon
Carl Potts
John Ostrander
Christopher Golden and Thomas E. Sniegoski
Garth Ennis
Jason Aaron
Matt Fraction
Rick Remender
Greg Rucka
Nathan Edmondson
Becky Cloonan

I THINK that's all of the run writers. Anyone feeling like doing a tier list/chart/whatever?

>>81484200

I think this is why I don't bother to read Punisher threads much, because it's usually just recommendations of the Ennis version with very little mention of other writers. Rucka and Dixon's names are sometimes dropped in.

>>81484327
>John Ostrander
Wait, really? When was this?

>>81484374
I really think Jason Aaron could use some more love, his Bullseye was the best.

>>81484374
For a good reason too: Ennis hates superheros. Frank Castle doesn't really have a place in a universe with superheroes.

>>81484111

>Marvel is reprinting the MAX run
>Vol 1 is out
>Vol 2 is out very soon

aww yiss

>>81484481
WHAT!? is it on hellocomic?

File: 1432316136807.jpg (6KB, 251x246px) Image search: [Google]

6KB, 251x246px

>>81484440

>is talking about other Punisher writers
>mention superheroes

What.

>>81484380
In the late 90's, when Ostrander briefly worked for Marvel.

>>81484514
Was his run any good?

>>81484440
>Frank Castle doesn't really have a place in a universe with superheroes.
I think he does okay with street level heroes like Daredevil but he doesn't mesh well with the likes of Thor.

File: Punisher 01 - Condemned - 00 - FC.jpg (400KB, 693x1055px) Image search: [Google]

400KB, 693x1055px

>>81484380

The mid-1990s.

I don't recall it being very good.

https://www.mediafire.com/folder/peteis4324gn7/Punisher

It's listed as Vol. 3

File: punishersmiling7.jpg (216KB, 756x521px) Image search: [Google]

216KB, 756x521px

>>81484543

I haven't checked it yet but given Frank bears a ponytail in that series it must be amusing in a cheesy way.

>>81484501

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Punisher-Max-Complete-Collection-Vol/dp/1302900153

VOL 2 is out on the 14th.

Anyone know if the Edmundson run was any good? Gonna pick it up regardless probably but the reviews I'm looking at are pretty mixed.

File: Frank in the woods.jpg (1MB, 1033x1644px) Image search: [Google]

1MB, 1033x1644px

>>81484618
My nigga, thanks for the comics.

On a somewhat related note, costume-with-skull or t-shirt/vest with skull?

>>81484327
Jim Starlin

File: Thor.jpg-original.jpg (1MB, 576x4345px) Image search: [Google]

1MB, 576x4345px

>>81484583

Mike Baron takes it for me. I did enjoy Ennis and Dixon as well but they don't even get a close second place. Baron's run had a slightly unhinged quality to it that sets it apart and you can't beat Microchip. Lots of fantastic artists on his run as well.

>>81484671
Frank felt too normal. This is just me, buy I think Frank is the type of action hero that should show the psychological consequences of being one. Think of your favorite action heroes and think of the mindset that allows them to do what they do.

>>81484687

I was really only counting people who worked on the "main" series.

But yeah, his two minis were surprisingly good.

>>81484675
Frank smoking? what?

>>81484796
Punisher pov packed on fears and feels.

>>81484822
It's his breath m80.

>>81484583
>>81484706
agree, thor should be fighting Galactus, ultron, celestials and beyonder tier badguys

>>81484111
go suck a pennis

>>81484719

http://geniusboyfiremelon.blogspot.ca/2008/08/mike-barons-coked-up-heyday.html

>From TwoMorrow's The Flash Companion, edited by Keith Dallas:

>KEITH DALLAS: The late 1980s were a particular heyday for you. At the time you started writing Flash in 1987, you were also writing Nexus, Badger, Robotech Masters, and Marvel had you on The Punisher.

>MIKE BARON: I was a busy boy.

>DALLAS: [chuckles] Can you describe your career at that point? What was it like writing all those titles?

>BARON: Well, there was a lot of confusion.

>DALLAS: How so?

>BARON: [pauses] Keith, at the time I was making a lot of money, and I was doing a lot of cocaine.

>>81484886

Oh, and I found that link here - http://www.gothamcalling.com/spotlight-on-the-punisher-part-1/

It's a pretty good retrospective.

>>81484706
>you know you've killed a fuckload of people if the Norse God Of Thunder tells you to stop.

>>81484719
What makes Baron's run great is how he puts the ethical questions, morality and various viewpoints, without being lecturing or overly moralizing.

Baron doesn't preach, doesn't really judge.
In many ways it reminds me of another great comic by Baron, Nexus.

Garth hates superheroes but he writes them so well. I'd give a testicle for a Batman, Superman, or Spidey run from him. He's written all of them wonderfully.

>>81484990
Knowing that paddywack, he would probably ignore the main characters and introduce some street blokes as the supporting cast.

Face it, garth can't into capes, and maybe it's for the better, it would be cringe.

He also wrote a short arc for Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight and Spider-Man anthology series. Both were gross

>>81484671
I really enjoyed it. It's kinda slow going but the art is great. Similar to his Black Widow run.

>>81484769
I liked normal Frank wearing Hawkeye t-shirts. I liked the scenes with him just chilling at the Diner more than the action sequences.

>>81484886
Makes sense. The two-parter he did with Reinhold in which he infiltrates a biker gang as their meth cook is a personal favorite of mine. It was batshit insane in a way that Ennis could never hope to manage.

>>81485035
Haven't read the Batman arc but his Web of Spider-Man stuff was great.

>>81485074
I didn't mind those parts, it's in character, it's during the Punisher moments, he felt too right about his actions. The older comics had more depth and moral ambiguity when it came to that.

>>81484769

>Frank felt too normal.

I had the same problem with a lot of Fraction's War Journal.

>>81484111
Ennis followed by Chuck Dixon.

>>81484238
The fuck are you talking about?

>>81484327
>>81484380
>John Ostrander

Literally the worst Punisher writer.

>>81484514
>>81484543
>>81484618
>>81484641
>>81484675
Don't read it. Ostrander was working on editorial's orders, but there's no excuse for how bad his run was.

File: Punisher v2-031_01FC.jpg (284KB, 1000x1495px) Image search: [Google]

284KB, 1000x1495px

>>81485102
Speaking of which, who's ready to get "Crankin'," Baron-style?

>>81484822
It's fucking winter, you dumbass.

>>81484886
Baron is legit the most underrated writer ever in comics. Legit a borderline genius.

>>81484671
Kind of boring. And taking Frank out of NYC was a HORRIBLE idea.

That said, it was average in writing quality, just ill-advised in terms of the direction of the book.

File: 1434247091438.jpg (974KB, 1280x1895px) Image search: [Google]

974KB, 1280x1895px

>>81484675
shirt

File: Punisher v2-031_07.jpg (224KB, 971x1495px) Image search: [Google]

224KB, 971x1495px

I've always had a soft spot for this last panel. Is anybody reading? Should I continue?

>>81486228
Keep it up bruh, I'm reading it.

File: Punisher v2-031_09.jpg (228KB, 976x1495px) Image search: [Google]

228KB, 976x1495px

>>81486252
Sweet, let's enjoying Freewheelin' Frank then.

>>81486228
continue please

>>81486292
>The Geese
Real intimidating name.

File: Punisher v2-031_10.jpg (213KB, 983x1495px) Image search: [Google]

213KB, 983x1495px

>>81486292
I meant enjoy. Maybe I'm getting a contact crank high.

>>81486318
Have you ever seen a Goose attack?

>>81486318
>not knowing Geese Howard

does anyone have the punisher max run? ive been looking for it forever and i cant even find it at my LCS

>>81486485
Here you go amigo.

>>81484618

>>81484440
Ennis loves Superman fuck off m8 this meme needs to die

File: Punisher v2-031_18.jpg (210KB, 980x1495px) Image search: [Google]

210KB, 980x1495px

I wonder if Frank picked up this skill set in Nam.

>>81486087
There's not much to do in NYC. I'm not defending Edmonson but didn't Frank use to trek the globe? Even Ennis took him out of New Yawk.

>>81486542
Nah, Hoboken.

File: Punisher v2-031_20.jpg (212KB, 985x1495px) Image search: [Google]

212KB, 985x1495px

Lovin' the crazy eyes in the second panel.

File: Punisher v2-031_21.jpg (198KB, 968x1495px) Image search: [Google]

198KB, 968x1495px

>>81486605
oops, crazy eyes were in the previous page.

>>81486542
Frank has been stripped so bare that you can't have storied like this anymore. Him going undercover and investigating is something I liked in the older stories I have read.

>>81486575
He was ALWAYS based out of NYC. Taking him on "detours" of sorts was always for variety and never the main direction of his book. Him, DD, FF, and Spidey are basically inseparable from their city.

File: Punisher v2-031_23.jpg (219KB, 982x1495px) Image search: [Google]

219KB, 982x1495px

>>81486669
Yeah, the older stories had a broader scope all round, like that Russ Heath story with Frank tackling government overspending in the Navy.

Thanks for this, I'm really enjoying it.

File: Punisher v2-032_03.jpg (88KB, 600x900px) Image search: [Google]

88KB, 600x900px

>>81486810
Cool.

>>81486750
>Russ Heath

How the fuck did Dixon get so many amazing artists? Prime JRjr, Heath, Joe Kubert, John Buscema, etc.

>>81486860
That first panel has poses straight outta JoJo.

File: Punisher v2-032_05.jpg (87KB, 602x909px) Image search: [Google]

87KB, 602x909px

>>81486837
It was Baron again, he got loads of great artists too.

>>81486904
Dixon had a Heath arc as well.

File: Punisher v2-032_10.jpg (89KB, 593x903px) Image search: [Google]

89KB, 593x903px

>>81487003
That rings a bell now you mention it -was it in War Journal? I'd like to check it out.

>>81487046
It was the one with the cuban coke dealers.

File: Punisher v2-032_17.jpg (94KB, 598x899px) Image search: [Google]

94KB, 598x899px

I'm not sure if I've read that one - sounds pretty good though.

>>81484415

I really liked his Max. Great Kingping and the only proper ending...

File: Punisher v2-032_23.jpg (87KB, 593x902px) Image search: [Google]

87KB, 593x902px

And we're done. I have no idea why this classic didn't win an Eisner. Hope you all enjoyed it.

>>81487378
Thanks mang, Frank would be proud of your service.

>>81485972
God I love 70's style choppers. I hate fucking bobbers with a passion but choppers at least had a purpose as well as style. You could ride out for month and put 12 hours of riding a day on em without fucking reducing your ass to hamburger.

Fuck bobbers, and fuck Jesse James. And fuck all of you who bought the hype.

Ok back on topic, YAY PUNISHER!

File: trinity_angels_08_008.jpg (43KB, 333x488px) Image search: [Google]

43KB, 333x488px

>>81484327
>Mike Baron
>Christopher Golden and Thomas E. Sniegoski
>Jason Aaron
>Matt Fraction
>Rick Remender
>Nathan Edmondson
>Becky Cloonan

>>81484886
>I was doing a lot of cocaine.
Maybe that's why he's said to have killed his wife?

File: image.jpg (411KB, 1280x1993px) Image search: [Google]

411KB, 1280x1993px

>>81484769
>Implying that that isn't the best part of the Body of punisher comics that we have.

>>81487625
>>Mike Baron

His run was actually OK.

>>81487755
You realize that pic isn't from the run he's talking about, right?

>>81487046

An arc called Fortress Miami.

I think it was somewhere in the early #90s of The Punisher Vol 2.

File: Punisher_v2_#89_pg00.jpg (450KB, 973x1496px) Image search: [Google]

450KB, 973x1496px

>>81488048

My bad, first entry was actually #89

>>81488155
i gotta dig this one out

>>81484111
ALL of 90s Punisher in here: >>81432534

except for the Dead Frank nonsense because that was garbage

I've been meaning to storytime some 90s Punisher. The Dixon stuff when it worked was spectacular. The Killing Streets is a great done-in-one example of some of his stronger writing.