They saved the room where the murder had taken place for last. Ironic twist of fate, thought the lieutenant: the room bathed in sunlight was the one iThey saved the room where the murder had taken place for last. Ironic twist of fate, thought the lieutenant: the room bathed in sunlight was the one in which a murder had taken place. The gray bay could be seen through the glass of the balcony windows, the waters still very choppy and clouds scudding across the sky. An oil tanker offshore, black and red and immense, looked like a passing whale. The peninsula, on the far side of the water, was a dark silhouette pointing a finger into the gray murk, as if trying to call attention to the profile of the island nearby. Lojacono thought about just how beautiful the city could be. If admired from afar. He walked over to the spot on the carpet marred by the dark stain. He wondered what the signora might have been thinking right before she died. That would have been useful to know: the last, fleeting thought before the darkness of night. Who could say whether she'd thought of love, if she'd remembered something, someone. If she'd been surprised....more
This is by far the weakest entry in the Criminal series. I only finished it because I'm a completionist.This is by far the weakest entry in the Criminal series. I only finished it because I'm a completionist....more
Night after night, Letizia had become a door through which Lojacono spied on a city that was very different from the way he'd first imagined it: mistrNight after night, Letizia had become a door through which Lojacono spied on a city that was very different from the way he'd first imagined it: mistrustful, damp, and dark, increasingly hidden and far less decipherable than he had thought. Everyone eager to avoid trouble of any kind, everyone keeping their nose out of other people's business, ready to take to their heels. A city that ran through your fingers, turning to liquid, or suddenly evaporating. Even though Lojacono himself came from a place whose ways were, at best, difficult to fathom, he wondered exactly where the delicate balance point lay between this city and those entrusted with its governance. He saw his fellow policemen venture out and return, conclude complex operations and undertake others, with no clear objective, while all around them illicit trafficking bubbled along like a stewpot, endlessly. Shaking his head, he told Letizia that it was like a system, a net that had no visible means of support. It wasn't clear how the thing stood up. Letizia smiled and gave a shrug. She replied that perhaps everyone was just doing their best, against impossible odds, to remain standing. And maybe that was all that kept the city upright, because deep down the place was empty, both physically and morally. When she said that, he smiled that odd smile of his, that smile she liked so well, and raised a glass to that dark city and to her own luminous laughter....more
Generally badly written, but I want to specifically call out two things:
1. The writer incorporates characters from other Punisher runs (specifically GGenerally badly written, but I want to specifically call out two things:
1. The writer incorporates characters from other Punisher runs (specifically Garth Ennis's takes on the character, which are actually good) in a superficial, thoughtless way that adds nothing but cheap nostalgia for people who are satisfied with that kind of thing. Dangling the comic book equivalent of jingle keys in front of the audience does not equal good storytelling.
2. The final chapter is largely devoted to pointless animal cruelty, to an extent that I almost didn't finish the comic. Why was it necessary for the Punisher and the Russian (another pointless call-back) to duke it out in a zoo, and why was it necessary for them to slaughter rhinos, chimpanzees, gorillas, and tigers? Why do we need to see the Punisher feed a tiger a grenade? Why do we need to see the Russian snap a gorilla's neck? Spoiler: there is no reason. It's just cruel, pointless stupidity.
Oh, and the comic ends with Frank deciding to kill Hitler or something...?
We get it, Frank Tieri, you're totally edgy and cool; whatever makes you feel better about writing a terrible Punisher story. I may hate Jason Aaron's run on PunisherMAX but I would rather read that than this schlock.
Loading...
