If there’s one character who deserves a better big screen treatment, it’s The Punisher. Not that the previous two movies were bad, they just weren’t as good as the more recent Marvel movies like Iron Man or The Avengers. And that’s a shame.

Fortunately, Marvel continues to feature the character in comics. And coming this February:

Frank Castle’s one-man-war on crime continues in an all-new THE PUNISHER #1 – from the explosive creative team of Nathan Edmondson and Mitch Gerads! For years, the Punisher has called New York City his home – keeping a watchful eye on the city through the sight of a gun.

Sound good so far. To get you more interested, we’ve got previews of the upcoming comic. But before that, here’s a bit more about it from Marvel:

When a lead on a major source of drugs, weapons, and more leads Frank out west – he sets his sights on Los Angeles. And the City of Angels isn’t ready for a devil like the Punisher! But not everything is as it appears, and Frank will soon find himself toe-to-toe with a highly trained military strike force known only as the 131! Who are the mysterious 131? And why are they out for the Punisher’s head?

Check out the previews after the break. Look for The Punisher #1 to arrive in stores, and digital, on February 5.

Welcome to another edition of The Pull List Comic Reviews! This week, the Blackest Night event takes center stage, Bendis and Oeming make a triumphant comeback and Archie gets married (again). As always, WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD.

PULL OF THE WEEK:

Blackest Night #5 [of 8]
DC Comics – $3.99 US
Writer: Geoff Johns
Artist: Ivan Reis
Score: 9.0

The mastermind behind the dead rising stands revealed as the Blackest Night prophecy inches towards becoming true, but will the unified heroes of the world have enough to stop it? Not if a late dinner guest bearing gifts has anything to say about it.

Geoff Johns welcomes you all to hell. How could he not? In the thirty plus years that I’ve been reading comics, I can’t remember a time when things looked so grim in a story thanks to this issue. The big guns of the Justice League arrive in time to assist the Flashes – Barry Allen and Wally West – in confronting Nekron as the Black Lanterns’ power battery reaches full charge. Fast forward to the end of the issue and only two heroes remain standing while the rest are chomping at the bit, dying to feast on some good, old fashioned heart muscle. And this is only the fifth issue in an eight-issue series?!? Wow.

Johns, along with artist Ivan Reis, are obviously toying with us and giggling madly along the way. The re-emergence of “Bruce Wayne” – his name was in quotations in the issue as well – signaled that the next phase was about to begin, but what he did to heroes like Superman, Wonder Woman, Green Arrow, etc I don’t think anyone saw coming, characters and readers alike. The sixth issue cannot get here fast enough, if you ask me.

This is the second of our guest The Pull List columns for this week. For the previous installment, go here. — Ed.

Invincible Iron Man # 18 – 2.99

Score: 9.0

To be honest, I haven’t found many recent Iron Man solo stories that engaging. The character seems to have more “big” moments in every other book than his. Matt Fraction, Salvador Larocca, and Frank D’Armata’s run on this book has changed my opinion completely. Invincible Iron Man continues to be one of the best comics on the stands on right now. This issue is no exception.

The penultimate chapter in the “World’s Most Wanted” arc puts all the pieces in place for next issue’s finale. As Stark’s smarts have regressed so has his ability to use his more advanced armors. This takes him back to the where it all started for him, the original armor. Meanwhile, the situation involving Black Widow and Maria Hill being captured by H.A.M.M.E.R. moves along with a turn I didn’t see coming.

Fraction continues to do a great job in writing Tony’s loss of intelligence. There is one scene which feels a bit forced. But it does an adequate job of reminding us of Stark’s past sins. The strongest part of the book is the advancement of the Black Widow and Maria Hill situation. The setup of last issue pays off in this one and sets up the endgame in a very interesting way.

Larocca’s art can be slightly inconsistent at times, but not enough to distract from the story. His strongest moment of this issue is his depiction Tony donning the original armor. D’Armata’s colors are not as strong as they normally are, but again this doesn’t take anything away from the book.