Garth Ennis gets to work with Howard Chaykin for the arc that brings back Barracuda.
This arc, and the one that follows it, represent Garth Ennis consciously saying goodbye to writing the title, and he starts wrapping up loose ends. The problem with this one is it’s just ridiculous how much punishment Barracuda can take. Among other things, he gets a hole in his cheek, loses an eye, and has his testicles electrocuted.
At the same time, it’s hilarious–if you have an incredibly tough stomach and a dark sense of humor. Like when Barracuda kidnaps a baby.
But the dark humor can also turn just plain dark.
It’s also a testament to how well Garth Ennis can write violence, since we basically have a two-issue-long fistfight and we know who will win, but we can’t wait to see how it all goes down.
This arc also has the best cover. Punisher #51. You’ve got to love it.
Best line: Barracuda teases Punisher about not knowing his own daughter’s name: “You wanna know her name? You know, so you’n say, ‘Don’t kill little’…Her name. ‘Don’t be cuttin’ up’….Her name. ‘No, no, please don’t stick yo’ thumbs in her eyes and cave in her goddamn skull that’s my muthafuckin’ daughter’….Her name.”
Art by Howard Chaykin and Gorlan Parlov.