I have a question for regarding the Punisher series by Garth Ennis.

I'm wanting to purchase the PUNISHER TPBs but I'm not sure which one I should go for. The PUNISHER TPB comes in two versions. The PUNISHER and THE PUNISHER MAX series. What's the difference? Are the two series the same?

Am I better purchasing one set of series over the other?

there's a lot of Punisher stuff by Ennis, so you'd have to be more specific, but my favorite TPB would be Welcome Back Frank, the maxi-series by Ennis and Steve Dillon. it was the series that made the Punisher matter again.

Yeah that's the series I'm talking about. I believe the series lasted for about 37 issues and other one shots.

If you read that 37 issues series; which one should I get the PUNISHER series (37 issue by Garth Ennis) or the PUNISHER MAX?

If you can, get them all. Welcome back Frank was the mini series that relaunched The Punisher. That lead into the 37 issue ongoing Marvel Knights series. That was then ended for another relaunch under MAX. Ennis has written all of it, and I have enjoyed all 3 series.

Welcome back frank isn't a max series.

Garth Ennis did three punisher trades before going on to the max series, part of the marvel knights line. They're still pretty violent, just no f' words or boobies.

Welcome Back Frank - what the movie was based on "losely" with art by steve dillion. Good start to the punisher, but if you've seen the movie, it may seem like a repeat.


Born - a vietnam punisher story, imo the best one.

and Business as usual- art by dillion


After that Ennis relaunched the punisher as a max series.
The hardcover collects the first two stories, In the Beginning and Kitchen Irish. The first against the mafia and the fbi. The second against a bunch of irish radicals.


Each max trade is about 6 issues and is the same story of punisher versus a different type of villian. I.e. mafia, ex- military, terrorists, fbi, etc.

I read the first five or so, but just got tired of the same story over and over. But if you've never read punisher or ennis, you should give it a shot.

The Garth Ennis Punisher Bibliography:

Marvel Kinghts/Marvel

The Punisher: Welcome Back Frank
The Punisher: Army of One (#1-6)
The Punisher: Business as Usual (#13-18)
The Punisher: Full Auto (#20-27)
The Punisher: Streets of Laredo (#19,28-32)
The Punisher: Confederacy of Dunces (#33-37)
[Ennis did not write #7-12 of this series.]

MAX (Mature Readers)

The Punisher: In the Beginning (#1-6)
The Punisher: Kitchen Irish (#7-12)
The Punisher: Mother Russia (#13-18)
The Punisher: Up is Down, Black is White (#19-24)
The Punisher: The Slavers (#25-30)
The Punisher: Barracuda (#31-36)
The Punisher: Man of Stone (#36-42)

The Punisher: Born (Reprints a 4 issue miniseries about Castle's time in 'nam.)

There were also a few one-shots and other minisers -- The End, The Cell, The Tyger, which have yet to be collected.

Also, with the exception of "Welcome Back Frank," none of the pre-MAX Ennis Punisher TPBs are listed on the current Diamond order form so they might be out of print.

Thanks guys, you were extremely helpful!

yeah I was way off. Just ignore my post.

Also some of the MK stuff, and all the MAX trades are also in very nice Hardcover Editions, usually containing 2 trade vols.

Could anyone give a breakdown of all of "The Punisher" series + minis there were/ I remeber the first mini and ongoing, then one where he was an angel or something, and then there was someting like another six or seven "The Punisher' series and I'm all confused.

http://www.thepunishercomics.com/

Major props! Thank you! You made my day with this info!

I really enjoyed the Slavers TPB - I hadn't read any of the MAX series before that. Any other recommends? I heard the MAX series is hit or miss.

I have loved the entire MAX series, but "Up is Down, Black is White" and "Barracuda" really were stand out storylines for me. What the guy did to Frank at the end of UiD, BiW Pt.1 was jaw droppingly awful.

Agreed. After all the horrible things you see in the title, leave it to Ennis, to surprise us again. Also the ending to In The Beginning was great.

Oh boy, I had forgot about that one!!! Yep, that final page was a real "blast", especially for long time readers of Punisher. Good lord.

[QUOTE=Josh-da-man]There were also a few one-shots and other minisers -- The End, The Cell, The Tyger, which have yet to be collected./QUOTE]

Actually, a HC was just released a few months ago collecting these 3 stories. I believe it's called past, present and future.

It is called "From First to Last" .

The End is fantastic. Haven't read the other two. Didn't Ennis write Punisher Kills the Marvel Universe? That's worth a look as well.

Speaking of Punisher, I picked up the first issue of the new Punisher War Journal last weekend, and it has got to be one of the worst things ever. I may take it out back later and burn it. I had never heard of that writer before, but hopefully he doesn't get a lot more work in the business. The art didn't fit with a Punisher book either.

I think Garth Ennis may have spoiled me.

I'm actually enjoying the new Punisher War Journal series...to each his own, I guess...

Well, I've only read one issue, so maybe I was being a little harsh. I suppose it could grow on me, but that first issue ranked down there with the supernatural Punisher from the first Marvel Knights mini-series.