The Punisher War Journal #1

So, apparently there are some books that got stashed in the Random Box of Unread Comics that I have, in fact, read. But I haven't reviewed them, so I'll be giving them a reread. I don't think I've given this one a look since I bought in when it was released.

Title: The Punisher War Journal
Issue: 1
Date: November, 1988
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Writer: Carl Potts
Artist: Carl Potts, Jim Lee
Colorist: John Wellington
Letterer: Jim Novak
Editor: Don Daley

Frank Castle is on a mission, but life keeps getting in the way. In this case, life involves getting caught up in mob drama involving hitmen, kidnapped babies, and an exceptionally messy divorce.

This is a really cleverly constructed first issue, particularly the use of wordless panels at the bottom of the pages to retell the Punisher's origin story, as well as the character-building twist at the end where we discover the nature of Frank's mission.

It also reintroduces Microchip, brings in some new supporting cast, has a Matt Murdock cameo, and features a clever ending teaser for a bunch of upcoming stories. The only bit where it drags is in a wordy explanation that sets the stage for the mob drama. The action is solid and the art looks great. And Punisher fans will appreciate that there is no effort to soften Castle's approach to his work here.

Rating: 7.5/10

Swamp Thing #68

From the Random Stack of Unread Comics.

Title: Swamp Thing
Issue: 68
Date: January 1988
Publisher: DC Comics
Writer: Rick Veitch
Penciller: Rick Veitch
Inker: Alfredo Alcala
Colorist: Tatjana Wood
Letterer: John Costanza
Editor: Karen Berger

A fun bit of nostalgia in the "Meanwhile" editorial by Dick Giordano expressing his excitement for the soon-to-debut Star Trek: The Next Generation (and hyping DC's comic adaptation).

The story in this issue has four threads. By far the most disturbing is an attempted truck-bomb attack on the Galaxy Communications skyscraper in Metropolis, which becomes more unsettling reading with the benefit of hindsight.

While the attack plays out in Metropolis, the Swamp Thing shares experiences with his previous incarnations among the Parliament of Trees in a sequence that does a nice job of expanding the pantheon and mythology of the Swamp Thing.

The other two storylines occur in Houma. Chester faces temptation by a reality TV star looking to cash in on Chester's association with the Swamp Thing.

And in a heartfelt segment, Abigail helps Liz in her struggle with PTSD as they try to get through a simple run into town for errands, only to find Abigail's past rearing its ugly head. Swamp Thing during this time period was great at slow-build character development, where the events of the stories had lasting effects on the characters, and this issue did a very nice job with Abigail, Liz, and Chester as we get insights into them through quiet moments, small actions, and bits of dialogue.

Rating: 8/10