Punisher: The Movie TPB [Paperback]

Anyhoo, on with the review. While I haven't bothered reading this book in its entirety-- it collects the four-issue movie adaptation mini-series-- I figured it wouldn't hurt to check out the first issue just to see how they plan to set up the whole affair. As I'd expected, they retooled the titular anti-hero's origin from a Vietnam veteran whose wife & two kids are killed at a picnic in NYC's Central Park, to a former Gulf War veteran and undercover DEA agent whose entire family (including his wife and only child) are bumped off at a family reunion by the hitmen of a vengeful mob boss. Speakin' of the mob boss: even the name of the crime family that did Castle's family in has changed, from the Costas to the Saints (as led by Howard Saint, played by John Travolta). Another weird change is the primary setting of Tampa, Florida, which is a pretty good distance from the mean streets of NYC the comic-book Punisher stalks. I guess movie-Daredevil and movie-Spider-Man didn't wanna deal with the body count that he'll no doubt be rackin' up, hmm? Needless to say, the Marvel comic continuity ubergeeks of the anal-retentive persuasion are gonna have a field day with this mo-pic once it hits the cineplexes, providing me with plenty of goofin' fodder for weeks to come...

Also shown in this issue is the origin of the main man's skull logo. I'll not go into too many details over this moment, 'cuz I wouldn't wanna spoil it for ya. All I'll say is, the skull acts not only as a symbol of his lethality to his fear-stricken foes, but also as a reminder of why he does what he does. I also understand the eccentric tenement trio of Spacker Dave, Mr. Bumpo, and Joan 'The Mouse' (played by... Rebecca Romijn-Stamos?! Aw c'mon, the comic-book version of Joan wasn't THAT hot-- aw cr@p, now I'M becomin' a comic book continuity ubergeek, myself! Scary, isn't it?) from the Garth Ennis-penned 'Welcome Back, Frank' maxi-series (highly recommended reading, BTW; check it out at www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0785107835/qid=1079647858/sr=1-4/ref=sr_1_4/103-0457490-8406223?v=glance&s=books) appear in the movie, though they don't show up in the comic book adaptation until after the first ish. And since I've decided not to look at any of the other ishes until after I've seen the movie, I can't tell you how well their celluloid renditions stack up to their four-color incarnations. But as soon as I've caught the flick, I'll get my review typed up and posted (at www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00005JMKC/qid=1074534783/sr=11-1/ref=sr_11_1/103-0457490-8406223) as soon as possible for y'all to enjoy... and vote on. Preferably with 'helpful' votes, please-- I gotta maintain my perennially precarious status as a Top 100 reviewer, after all...

As for the story line itself: near as I can tell, the Punisher movie looks like it's shapin' up to be yet another take on the "unstoppable-one-man-army-of-brutal-vengeance" type deal you've already seen in many an action blockbuster from years past. On the upside, it looks like it'll be a fair sight better than that direct-to-video Dolph Lundgren fiasco they made way back when...

'Late