Daredevil/Punisher #3 Review and *SPOILERS* - Marvel Mondays

We’ve Got a Train to Catch

Written By: Charles Soule
Art By: Szymon Kudranski, Jim Charalampidis
Cover Price: $4.99
Release Date: July 6, 2016
Publisher: Marvel

*Non Spoilers and Score At The Bottom*

This is a series that is clearly attempting to capitalize off of the second season of Marvel’s Daredevil on Netflix. The series did start rather soon after the season debuted and also coincided with the Punisher book starting at #1. So far, I found this series to be something of a mixed bag. Some good, some bad but there is always room to improve. Let’s see if the book gives us something to be excited about in its penultimate issue.

We start with where we left off with Frank Castle being surrounded by the cops. The cops tell him to surrender, but Castle doesn’t back down, leading the cops to open fire. We then switch over to Daredevil and his young sidekick Blindspot. They talk about getting the criminal Antonov to the airport for his transfer. They have to get around Frank Castle, who has targeted him. Frank had gotten the chance to talk with Blindspot in a previous issue and got into his head a bit. Daredevil uses this as a moment to teach him. Daredevil talks to him about what the Punisher does and how it’s easier than what they do, but their way is better. We cut back to Frank who has dove into a nearby building to avoid the incoming fire from the police. The police breach the building and begin searching the floors. It’s at this time that Frank is able to subdue two of them and is able to get away from the police. Meanwhile Daredevil, Blindspot, and Antonov all jump onto the top of a train to get him to the airport.

It’s at this time that we are introduced to annew character in this book. It’s the latest man to hold the Crimson Dynamo title. A couple of Antonov’s friends have hired him to break him out. He quickly catches up with Daredevil and Blindspot. He nearly gets Antonov free but Daredevil is persistent and keeps up with them both. Their fight is interrupted though, when a heavy police vehicle busts through the fence behind them, hitting the Crimson Dynamo. Frank Castle is the one behind the wheel. Punisher and Daredevil talk for a second before Castle begins fighting Crimson Dynamo. Daredevil sees an opportunity and uses it to get away with Antonov. As they flee though, Daredevil’s powers show him that Frank is losing the battle. This leads him to knock Antonov unconscious and return to the fight in order to save Frank.

This issue was really a satisfying one as there is just a ton of action. That said, the story isn’t really anything special. While reading it, I was able to figure out what was going to come next pretty easily and the cliffhanger they left us on wasn’t so surprising. However, it was far from bad. In fact, I really enjoyed myself. I’m a bit torn on the art for this book. When a hero is in costume, the art is really great and looks incredible. However, when the focus of a panel is more on Frank or Antonov, who aren’t wearing masks, it’s a little hit or miss. This issue was fun though and I look forward to seeing how the series ends.

Bits and Pieces:

While this issue of Daredevi/Punisher is certainly not going to surprise you in any way, it is still a fun and action-packed issue. Charles Soule really does know how to write dialogue for Daredevil very well and he made the Punisher very impressive and intimidating. There’s not much else I want from a miniseries like this.

7.5/10