MARVEL UNIVERSE VS. THE PUNISHER #3
In a post-apocalyptic Marvel Universe, the Punisher must save the world from a world gone insane. A pathogen is released that was developed during the Cold War so humans can adapt to changes from nuclear and biological warfare. The Punisher gets a major dose that makes him immune that transforms everyone on Earth into cannibal predators where their aggressive and survival instincts are heightened. The Punisher will save a world that he killed to regain salvation.
Punisher narrates the tale of the post-apocalypse striking the Marvel Universe. Now he is hunting “Patient Zero” who leads a tribe of cannibal predators including Tarantula, Black Widow, and Spider-Woman. Punisher finds an uninfected human killed by a knife wound with his feet and hands webbed to the ground. Zero wanted him to know that there are survivors out there. He takes on the Hulk and Venom while rescuing survivors within a church. Deadpool returns to send a message to the Punisher only to be confronted by Patient Zero: Spider-Man.
Spider-Man offers a deal to the Punisher after he tells the story of the battling tribes and army within New York
The penultimate issue really moves the story along as we approach the end. We are shown battles between heroes and villains unlike the ones seen in the regular Marvel Universe. Red Hulk, Omega Red, and Sabertooth teaming up while the Kingpin strengthens his tribe with Red She-Hulk, Ice Man, Sandman, Lady Deathstrike, and Madrox. The Sandman taking out the Scorpion was one of the highlights of this issue. This is a great issue compared to the Jonathan Maberry’s slow second issue. Artist Goran Parlov’s portray of the Punisher as a modern-day Conan with a machine gun is just fantastic.
RECOMMENDED – 4 OUT OF 5
