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by Dave Scrimgeour & Kevin McCluskey   Cover Date- March 1986 Price- 75c Writer- Steven Grant Penciller- Mike Zeck Inker- John Beatty Letter- Ken Bruzenak Colourist- Bob Sharen Editor- Carl Potts Editor In Chief- James Shooter synopsisAs Frank's war on the criminal underworld intensifies, the lines become blurred, the innocents become victims, and The Trust's master plan continues to reveal itself, at the expense of their allegiance to Frank himself. (K) Kev If my memory serves me right, the cover to the US #3 was the cover to the first UK issue, wasn't it? Came with a skull badge as a free gift as well, I think. Dave Yeah, that was the cover for UK issue 1 out in 5th August 1989 with a free badge and a Robocop supporting story for added entertainment. Plus, this was about a week before Batman hit the cinemas. Kev Really? That close to the 'Batman' release? There were quite a few comics attempting to catch that wave of the increased popularity of comics and cash in around then due to the 'Batman' film. Dave Done my research there. 11th August 1989 was when 'Batman' was released nationwide. Kev Ha, ha! Nice one. I was still a fraction too young. I was terrified the women at the ABC cinema at the Seagate were going to ask me for proof of age when we went to see 'Batman' and that they wouldn't let me in. I would have been crushed. I forgot all about the ‘Robocop’ back-up strip, Dave I'd forgotten about the 'Robocop' back-up story too. I had to Google that. Dave That's some size of gun the Punisher’s got. Kev It looks like a Desert Eagle, or something. That's a complete guess though. I know absolutely nothing about firearms. It's certainly big, alright. Maybe Frank is compensating for his shortcomings in other areas. He looks like he has 1% body fat though.  Frank making the most of his thinning, receding hair. Dave What do you think of this issue? Again, good opening to the story, getting straight into the thick of events. I like the full face panel, 'Slaughterday.' The writing back then was really concise and didn't drag on. Which is great. Kev Yeh, the storytelling in comics is certainly much more decompressed these days. It's something they are often criticised for. You certainly got more story for your buck back then, alright. I agree, that splash page is superb. It really is straight back into the action, isn't it? "The war goes on. The circle of blood tightens....." I completely forgot about the repetition off the "circle of blood" motif. Which is odd, considering it's the title of the story. Dave This issue is another good example of how the internal thoughts of Frank Castle help flesh out his character. It’s a real psychological character study. Something which is important to understanding The Punisher. He is really at odds with himself throughout this issue. Kev His internal conflict starts to ramp up with this issue, yes. It seems to increase as the story goes on, actually. I like the, "Stay here. I'll be back." Very 80's Arnie sounding. Dave Yeah right enough. Straight down a man-hole too. Crafty man. Kev Ha, ha! Yeh. This is a really nice little action beat, come to think of it. Frank is a total bad-ass cowboy. "And one other thing.....don't pull a gun on me again" and "Be my guest." Classic tough guy dialogue. He must like his "Be my guest" line. He uses it twice in this issue. Dave Frank's looking more weary in this issue. The war not going to plan is taking its toll on him. Kev It's really not going to plan, is it? It's starting to unravel. He knows that to bring an end to this "war" of his quickly and efficiently, he's going to need someone on the other side of it. Someone on the inside. Someone like Santiago. He hates himself for having to compromise his morals like this, but he's backed himself into a corner. Dave "I've seen enough blood Angela. I'm tired of blood" Kev That's a cracking line. Gives you all the insight you need into the character at this particular point in time. The couple of lines before it are great too. In fact, that whole scene with Angela is spot-on.  The most important thing in your makeup bag is a good night's sleep, Frank. Dave This is certainly a more intricate plot in this issue. All manner of deceits and ploys are used. It really gets into how complicated the mob scene is. Kev Definitely. It shows that Frank has been somewhat naive in his approach to his war on organised crime. It's a far more complicated and intricate institution than his "one man war" could ever hope to end. His naivety is also shown in his trust of Angela, who is clearly playing him, with her bugged apartment feeding all this back to the ironically named 'Trust.' Dave Interesting that when Frank notices Tony's car parked across the road, the van parked opposite is for The Daily Planet. Kev Good point about the van being a Daily Planet van, as opposed to a Daily Bugle van. It must've stopped off in New York on its way back to Metropolis after a delivery. Maybe the Planet's circulation was just THAT good. Also, I wonder if the Chaykin it refers to is Howard? Dave I bet that Mike Zeck had fun drawing the frame's with Alaric too. He has this real cheesy element going on. Kev Ha, ha! Yeh. With his taxidermy swordfish above his head. Complete and utter tool. Frank seems to put his trust in Angela against his better judgement. It's almost as if he subconsciously knows she is using and manipulating him. Dave Yeah, he looks saddened when speaking to her. Like he doesn't want to admit it to himself. Kev Like he knows in his heart that it's going to end badly. Angela; who apparently wears nothing more than a tiny, flimsy, silky, sexy bathrobe and nothing else, at all times. Day or night. Dave This issue is all about Punisher making his play to get closer to what's really going on. It’s pretty obvious 'The Trust' are pulling the strings now. I do like the copycat Punishers in this issue. They were a nice and an unexpected twist. This is definitely the most plot filled issue in the series so far. Kev That's true. The copycat Punisher army is something I didn't see coming. ‘The Trust's,' or rather Alaric's, plan is much more intricate than it, at first, appears. Tony Massera singing 'Every Breath You Take' by The Police? There's a joke in there somewhere.  Now won't the real Frank Castle please stand up. Please stand up. Please stand up. Dave I think this issue shows a certain emotional vulnerability, as you said. It’s not enough for one man to operate alone, as even he is coming unstuck and making rash choices. "Everyone but me, their war is over, but my war goes on. And when it ends, it will end my way." That’s what has been missing from all the earlier Punisher incarnations in the movies. His narrative carries this story. Had they used that, it would have given a different element to the movies, rather than him just being a cold blooded killer, or too melancholic like the Thomas Jane version. They finally got closer to it in TV, with Jon Bernthal’s portrayal of him in the second season of Daredevil on Netflix. Kev Good point. There is a lot of vulnerability being shown by Frank here. Certainly more than was shown when he debuted in 'The Amazing Spider-Man' #129. Do you think the Thomas Jane led 'Punisher' movie lays the melancholia on too thick? Dave Yeah, it did a bit, I think. Kev It's a much more operatic take on the character, that one, for sure. Lexi Alexander's is much more in the vein of being the cold blooded killer, like you said. Dave I like how Frank spends this whole issue sneaking up on his targets. The benefits of his highly skilled training. Kev Ha, ha! I like when he sneaks up on Tony Massera. Tony's plan to wait until Frank has wiped out the mob families, then take out Frank is just as flawed as Frank's plan. "And the circle of blood tightens." I love how Frank never uses a front door and always uses a window to enter a room instead. Dave That's a great panel when Frank is chasing Coriander and he shouts "Kill The Punisher!" and the next frame is him standing with an Uzi saying "Be my guest."  You probably don't want to be Frank's plus one. Kev Yeh, it's great, isn't it? Second time he uses that line. There's absolutely no doubt in your mind that there's only one person walking away from that encounter. And it sure as shit isn't one of the copycats. Dave He's quite an analytical character is old Frank. "They all had a look, at the last of a mask cracking open. Of something they were not, being stripped away, leaving only them. At the last. Leaving only terror and panic and despair. Like puppets whose strings have been cut. It wasn't their idea to be there. They didn't want to be there. Corianders got that look." That’s quality writing. Kev Ah, true. Very insightful. Very perceptive. Frank realises that there's someone above Corriander, giving the orders. This series hasn't shied away from showing the collateral damage of Frank's "war." Little girls being gunned down as well now. Innocents caught in the crossfire. It's a complete 180 from concussion rifles and wire guns. Dave Yeah, we see his flashback to the slaughter of innocents in Vietnam and also his family’s death as well. Kev Yep. Frank's flashbacks and his PTSD are on show for all to see here. Dave Again, he's let himself get caught off guard, as the final reveal is what we already knew, that Alaric the goofball is behind all this and Angela shoots Frank. And by the looks of it has learned how to fly as well. Talented girl. Kev Ha, ha! Yeh. Plus she's not wearing her sexy nighty for a change. She's swapped it out for a sexy black catsuit. Sleeveless too. Frank does seem genuinely upset by her betrayal though. Dave Yep, this issue reveals many of Frank’s personal weaknesses. He was wide open to betrayal and his mind was clouded by too much sorrow. As Angela says, "You're too sentimental." Kev Yes. Certainly a far cry from the simple killing machine of 'The Amazing Spider-Man' #219. That's twelve years of evolution and character development for you. Dave This has been the most complex of the stories in the series so far and it is also left on a turning point for Frank. It will be interesting to see the state of mind he's in with the next issue. Kev That's a really good point, actually, yeh. It really is a turning point in the story. We're heading into the third act now. Dave It’s kind of what we talked about with Dragon’s Claws too, in much the same way as Dragon started to see who was pulling the strings with his dealings with N.U.R.S.E, Frank has come to realise that he is being used by 'The Trust' as well. Kev And he’s learning this lesson the hard way as well. That’s a good comparison, actually. Both of them are deeply flawed protagonists as well. (D) & (K) Next: 'Final Solution.' 
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