Sometimes there are books you just can’t wait to get your hands on. It could be because it’s part of a big event you are enjoying or an engaging arc. Sometimes though it’s because there is a combination of writer, artist and character that’s just so tantalising that just the very thought of it has you drooling. PunisherMax is, for me at least, the motherload.  Take one part psychotic vigilante, one part hot property writer and a scoop of one of the best sicko action artists in the world and you’ve got one hell of a combination. It’s the sort of line up that seems to be made in comic book heaven, Frank Castle, Jason Aaron and Steve Dillon.

Issue one is no let down, It starts in classic Castle fashion. A mob soldier is being held by Frank who is tracking his masters. Obviously he won’t talk so Frank needs to find some...motivation. We see a case full of pliers, knives, a hacksaw, and most gruesome of all, salt. This loosens his jaw, but a little too late for the short tempered interrogator’s liking who starts hacking away regardless. Two pages down and the scene is set on Jason Aaron’s tenure as the guardian of Marvels darkest character. It was enough to have me up out of my seat whooping for joy. The punisher looks like he’s in good hands.

The story continues to reveal an intriguing and clever premise. If you listen to the podcast (and if not why not) you will know that when we discussed this in preview we mentioned what a letdown it can be to have the Kingpin as the target for Frank to take down. He’s the bloody Kingpin after all, and you know he’s never going to take the King of New York out. But if you introduce him as Wilson Fisk, bodyguard to Mob Boss Rigoletto in a retcon story, then you have mouth watering possibilities. If he’s not the established character in the established continuity, then surely anything can happen. With that Aaron has set up a tale with two of the Marvel universes biggest bad asses, in which anything could happen.

Of course as important as the writer and the character to this rebooted version of The Punisher is the artist. Steve Dillon is of course no stranger to the character having worked with Garth Ennis on several occasions on Punisher projects. Now yes, some of the characters may well share some facial characteristics, but he makes Frank look properly hard assed and he does sicko better than almost any artist I can think of. Take for example the incident after Wilson quietens an out of line mob capo. He pops his eye balls out and for several scenes he staggers around with them on stalks. He finds himself being taken outside, to be “disposed of”. He hears gun fire, pushes his eyeballs back in only to see Frank holding a gun to his head after taking out his potential executioners. Sounds sick when written down, but in Dillon’s hands, well it’s still sick, but hilarious too. That is the point, he draws action superbly but his art has humour and a lightness of touch that is needed as a counter point to the darkness of the story.

It’s a sharp issue which sets up a mind blowingly tantalising story. I’ve liked most if not all of Aarons work that I’ve read (my problems with Scalped are well documented) and I’m yet to see work by Steve Dillon that disappointed me. But what we have here is a book that has such promise and has started so well, that I almost can believe that I enjoyed it so much. Reading this book is a reminder to me of why I love reading comic books so much. It’s the pure joy and delight of reading something that comes together so perfectly that just makes you want to leap out of your chair in pure joy. I adored this book and I just can’t wait for more. If this is any indicator we are in for a real treat here, and I just hope on this form Jason and Steve keep this reboot going as long as the much loved and acclaimed series from which they have taken over. Congratulations Mr Aaron, you’ve hit it out the park!