Frank Is The Weapon Everyone Wants: ‘Marvel Knights: The Punisher’ #3 Review

Frank Castle, converted into a walking weapon last issue, has everyone fighting over him, in Marvel Knights: The Punisher #3 by writer Jimmy Palmiotti and artist Dan Panosian. As a result, he’s a backseat driver in his own title for a good portion of this issue. But, without spoiling anything too much, a series in which Castle remains in this condition wouldn’t be too interesting for too long. And so it comes to pass that we get The Punisher back and ready to continue his bloody mission, thanks to a little help from the US and Mexican governments. And his first target is the man who imprisoned him, drug cartel godfather, Molerro.

What we get in this issue is the arduous process of going cold turkey, somewhere in the middle of nowhere, under a blazing sun, adding to the tense situation. And even then, once we think he’s recovering, we get a rather dramatic and shocking moment when Castle discovers the heinous deaths he was responsible for under the spell of Molerro. But whether Castle is a drugged-up stooge for the drug cartel or working with the US government, he’s still treated as a weapon by both sides. 

In presenting Frank’s at his lowest point before building him back up again, and finding the room to include espionage thrills to keep readers on their toes, Palimotti does a great job in the scripting and pacing of this issue. Subtle time jumps allow Castle to get clean without dominating the narrative. Palmiotti ramps up the tension as our snake-in-the-grass, Everett K. Ross, discovers where Frank is and who saved him. Meanwhile, Panosian brings the requisite grit and gnarliness to the art, with a bruised and battleworn Punisher, as well as the warm, fiery colour palette giving off an uncomfortable heat that only helps to sell the mood of this tense issue.

It all points to a rather bloody and brutal issue to come as you feel the tension simmer and come to a boil by the final page. Frank’s back, and he’s pissed. Now, he simply needs to be pointed in the right direction.

Marvel Knight: The Punisher #3 is out now from Marvel.