If you’re a “Punisher” fan, then you’ve already picked this one up, sped through the pages, and like me are already waiting for issue #2. However, if you haven’t picked up a “Punisher” comic before, this arc is already shaping up into something great, and with Garth Ennis and Steven Dillon attached, you really can’t go wrong. Also, don’t judge the character by his recent translations into film; while this comics bears the same name of the recent film about the “Punisher,” it is not based on the film.

My personal experience with “Punisher” comics is that they’re bred of hit and miss. In some versions, he is more hero than villain and in others he’s just a villain. Many have contributed to my wrapping paper collection. The Punisher’s anti-hero status has long been forged in the high mortality rates of his enemies. As with all great anti-heroes, a good Punisher comic always brings a good debate of what separates the heroes from the villains, much like Alan Moore’s main character in “V for Vendetta” or Charles Bronson in “Death Wish”. So if you’ve never picked up a Punisher comic, this would be a great place to start. Enjoy.

While Marvel’s always been a fan of the word “war”, with series like “Secret Wars” and “Civil War,” DC Comics has been privy to the word “crisis”. With titles like “Crisis on Infinite Earths,” “Identity Crisis,” and “Infinite Crisis”. It’s no surprise that when they needed a title for their latest multi-universe spanning all-out-war they called it: “Final Crisis”. While the title suggests that this will be the last “crisis” in the DC Universe, recent DC Universe activity suggests just the opposite.

I believe DC will later change the title to something along the lines of “Final Crisis: Act I” or “Final Crisis: Episode IV”. Of course this could be the last “crisis,” but only the beginning of the groundbreaking DC Universe “emergency” multi-issue series they will be recognized for later. Regardless, my crystal ball is still too clouded to foretell what verb DC will use in its next inter-dimensional galactic war, so we’ll just have to wait and see.

Final Crisis begins with the opening line: “Hal Jordan of Earth, Green Lantern 2814.1 You stand before the Guardians of the Universe and the Central Power Battery. Accused of DEICIDE and conspiracy to overthrow the laws of OA.” If you’re not up to speed with the current DC Universe and have questions like: What are the laws of OA? Who’s Hal Jordan? Did Kris misspell “decide”? Or is that an actual word? I recommend you leave this issue on the shelf and brush up on your DC universe history here:

• DC Universe (General Info)  
• Information on the Multiverse
• Major Events in the DC Universe
• DC Universe Timeline

If you’re caught up on your DC history, and you’ve already got issues 1-4 bagged and boarded, then it’s no surprise this issue shows that DC plans on delivering big with this “crisis” (Unlike, dare I say, “Countdown”?). With Bary Allen’s return and the Guardians of the Galaxy telling Hal Jordan, “You have 24 hours to save the universe, Lantern Jordan.” You know you’re in for a treat.

Agree? Disagree? Think I should be reading something else? Message me or comment. Let others know what you picked up on Wednesday.