Review: Daredevil/The Punisher (2016) #3

Marvel Comics
Review: Daredevil/The Punisher (2016) #3
By Andy Frisk
July 7, 2016 - 01:23

Marvel Comics
Writer(s): Charles Soule
Penciller(s): MAST, Szymon Kudranski
Inker(s): Szymon Kudranski
Colourist(s): Jim Charalampidis
Letterer(s): VC's Clayton Cowles

Obviously published to promote the excellent Netflix series and the ongoing Marvel Comics series about outstanding Marvel Entertainment character Daredevil, Daredevil/The Punisher actually works and rises above it's reason for existing thanks to Charles Soule's excellent writing. Even if I enjoyed his stint on She-Hulk better to this point.

What's Happening: Daredevil and his protege Blindspot are determined to get Russian mafia criminal Sergey Antonov to JFK airport for extradition to Texas, but The Punisher and Antonov's friends have different plans. Mayhem ensues, especially when a new Crimson Dynamo gets involved...

The Writing: Charles Soule is one of the best mainstream comic book writers currently working in the industry. His his work is especially interesting since his background as an attorney adds a smart and relevant dimension to his work. An intelligent application of his legal background to his stories injects a sense of "law and order" type drama into his writing. He's the perfect writer to take on Daredevil right now, as with the Netflix program utilizing some smart legalistic procedure, especially as concerned the portrayal of Frank Castle's (Jon Berenthal) trip through the legal system in Season 2, the comic book version of the character deserves the same smart legalistic treatment. Granted, I liked his stint on She-Hulk a little better to this point (the current regular run Daredevil series has been more interested in ninja's than court proceedings and questions of due process up to this point), but there's still time for Soule to get the legal eagle story lines cranked up. Daredevil/The Punisher is addressing some of the tried and true legal quandaries that arise when Matt Murdock/Daredevil and Frank Castle/The Punisher clash, and for right now that's enough, but only for right now.

The Artwork: The artistic team of MAST, Szymon Kudranski and Jim Charalampidis all come together to breathe the type of life into Soule's script that fits the dark and gritty atmosphere and theme of the story. The dark and thick lines of ink and the cinematically laid out and choreographed fight scenes are smart and tight. The art would benefit from more detailed background imagery, but the dark and dreary color scheme would wash most of it out anyway, as it should given the low light setting emphasized by the coloring direction. The coloring is really what sets the tone here. The introduction of the usually bright red Crimson Dynamo is handled well and the character fits into the backdrop of darkened New York rooftops way better than he should.

The Verdict: While I'm still waiting for Soule to really weave a masterful tale of courtroom drama bolstered with super heroics, Daredevil/The Punisher will have to suffice. Please Mr. Soule, I'm sure I'm speaking for many Daredevil fans when I ask: please bring us that smart legal drama that I know you are capable of and take Daredevil the series to the next level. I'm waiting patiently.

Rating: 8/10