Darevil vs Punisher: Means and Ends

David Lapham

From the Cover: "Daredevil and the Punisher vie for the soul of Hell's Kitchen as half the East Ciast's underworld- in choas since Wilson Fisk, the Kingpin of Crime, was deposed- scramble for a shot at the big chair. And as the city descends into chaos- as murder and intimidation become staples of the day- Daredevil and the Punisher each seek to restore order in their own unique way. For Daredevil- who's annointed himself the city's new "Kingpin"- this means dispensing justice at the end of a billy club. But for the Punisher, justice at the end of a billy club isn't justice at all. For the Punisher, justice for these animals is at the end of a shotgun. Featuring more Marvel villains than you can shake a stick at- including Hammerhead and the return of the nefarious... Jackal!"

What it is: The collected mini-series of the same name.
Well that long description misleads on a few things. In addition to the 2 named, the only other villain is Buswhacker (a true B-leaguer if any), while the other two hardly go at it with DD or Punisher. Second, while they get equal billing I'd say this is more of a Punisher comic, with Daredevil playing a huge supporting role. I mean, Punisher has his own narrative while Daredevil is given one in a strictly 3rd person. Most actions are the Punisher's with DD showing up, reacting, or what not. Sure DD does his own thing here and there, but I've seen Microchip get equal play way back when in the Punisher War Zone comic.
Now the story: the crime lords (mainly Hammerhead) are trying to split up the Kingpin's empire, totally ignoring Daredevil's proclamation's in his own title. Punisher, of course, is trying to kill everyone guilty. Daredevil is trying to bring Hammerhead to justice (of the legal kind) and trying to keep Punisher's body count a little lower.
Meanwhile we follow one family and how they get effected by all the violence arround them. They get effected, and they aren't for the better.
Now the real money is the title: Daredevil VS Punisher. Oh yeah, they fight. This comic really shows why Punisher never succeeds in beating Daredevil in their fights, an understanding of why DD gets the upperhand all too often. They beat the crap out of eachother, and that's what we're paying to see.

What I think: The story is ok. Not great, but ok. Sometimes you feel cheated by the way the story goes, sometimes you see the outcome a mile a way, and sometimes it gives you what you've asked for. Sometimes I think the family story is just filler, while other times I feel it IS the only story worth reading. The art, again, ok. Lapham occassionally taps into Frank Miller and John Romita (both Jr and Sr), but succeeds in capturing the grit of the city. Not flashy, not substantial, but dark and fullfilling.

Final Word: This isn't the best book out there. There's a reason that when this series was out I took a pass on it. Yes, the fights are great, but the comic has to be more than the fights. What lacks is in between each sequence of brutality. At $15.99 cover you should look for a better book, and I'm sure you can find one.

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