Auctions: comic books August 2001, graded by CBCS

Punisher (2001 6th Series) 1 CBCS 9.8

Paper: White

Label #21-29D381B-012

Painted cover by Tim Bradstreet. Garth Ennis / Steve Dillon / Jimmy Palmiotti. THE SCOOP: Frank Castle is back - and so are Garth Ennis, Steve Dillon and Jimmy Palmiotti! THE STORY: Hot off of last year's smash-hit series, the one and only Punisher returns to blast the dirtbags and dealers off the mean streets of New York City! Look for old friends, strangely changed enemies and lots of trademark humor and ultraviolence! But with Castle's war reinvigorated, the hapless Detective Soap finds his loyalties torn ? and his manhood tested! Yes, it's more twisted laughs and gruesome mayhem, as only this creative team can deliver! THE CREATORS SPEAK: "It's a good, down to earth, straightforward, kill-as-many-people-as-possible-in-a-short-period-of-time sort of comic," Dillon said. "Which is sort of fun." "The first five-issue storyline is definitely the same kind of wild, over-the-top, crazy stuff that you've seen in the first series," Ennis added. "The difference is that it's more of a big, epic action-movie type of story, rather than a sort of low-key crime thriller like the 12-issue storyline was." ? THE BUZZ: "Ennis' dark wit and Dillon's no-nonsense visual style are a perfect match and make for a story that is pure blood, guts and mayhem, and, above all else, a damn fine read." -IGN THE FORMAT: The debut issue of this monthly series is 32 pages, with ads. Cover price $2.99.