3 out of 5

Another point of view on events from a Punisher issue (#10, 1987 series), the issue is very obviously hobbled by having two A-stories: the Punisher tie-in, and continuing a thread with Typhoid Mary plotting to seduce Matt Murdock as per Kingpin for some emotional wreckage (DD’s specialty!).

The Punisher parallel to this story had the fortune to be completely focused: Frank hunts down someone with a grudge against a particular pharmaceutical company, who’s started poisoning their products with cyanide.  DD shows up in the end to suggest that the perpetrator get his day in court instead of a bullet, and the duo tussle.  While Nocenti does mirror that to a certain extent, with DD investigating the poisoner, just as Frank did, and the cause of the dude’s disgruntlement – being replaced by machines – is used for an effective, if simplifying, ending, cutting away to Typhoid Mary robs the investigation of momentum.  Nocenti also jumps between narrators, at one point confusingly going to the internal thoughts of the perp, whose dunderheaded finger-pointing – both Punisher and DD are bullies! – again feels like a simplification of things.  In short, as a standalone issue, it’s merely okay, with the Mary / Kingpin stuff coming across stronger and more interesting; Nocenti’s take on Mary’s split personality is haunting and effective.  However, taken as a counterpoint to Baron’s Punisher issue, the poisoner plotline definitely has some interesting comparison concepts.

Romita’s art with crisp inks from Al Williamson is a blessing; fights flow and both Pun’s no-nonsense attitude and DD’s more controlled approach are told in how each character carries themselves.