Punisher by Greg Rucka, Vol. 1 is on sale on ComiXology for $3.99, and did I mention it's Greg Rucka? Greg Rucka has been killing it for decades, and I'd like to start out by simply writing about him. I've been reading comics seriously for about three years, and Rucka is one of the reasons why. The Whiteout series is what really got me started on Rucka; it's a murder/mystery that takes place in Antarctica. I'm also a big fan of Gotham Central, along with his work on Detective Comics, Lazarus, and Black Magick. This is only a short list.
Frank Castle, a former Marine, comes home to see his wife and kids killed in random violence. He becomes the Punisher. Detectives Walter Bolt and Oscar Clemons are assigned to investigate a brutal mass murder at a wedding. The catch? The wedding wasn't the target, or so Detective Clemons thinks. The perpetrators are celebrating at a bar when one man rushes in and kills all of them but one. You have to have a witness.
Why the fuck has no one recommended me this comic yet? It's fucking awesome, and I'm only a few issues into it. The pacing brought about by Rucka and Checchetto, with limited dialogue, is off the charts. In particular, the setting (New York) is very strong, as is the subtle connection between the Punisher and Detective Bolt. The artist is Marco Checchetto, with colors by Matt Hollingsworth. I know of Hollingsworth from his work with Rucka, but I hadn't seen Checchetto's work before, that I remember. Either way, the effect is great. Checchetto uses very clear lines and again, wonderful pacing. Not many artist teams can get away with so little dialogue. The letters by VC's Joe Caramagna are smooth, even, and easily readable. Overall, it's a great comic, and I look forward to reading more.
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