Issue(s): Punisher #6, Punisher #7
Cover Date: Feb-Mar 88
Title: "Garbage" / "Wild Rose"
Credits:
Mike Baron - Writer
David Ross - Penciler
Kevin Nowlan / John Beatty - Inker
Marc McLaurin - Assistant Editor
Carl Potts - Editor

Review/plot:
The Punisher investigates a mob-run garbage company and winds up foiling a terrorist attack on Times Square.

He teams up with a Mossad operative named "Wild" Rose Kugel who turns out to not really be a Mossad operative.

There's some weird Ann Nocenti-style talk about roses growing in the garbage dump.

And here's the Punisher doing what he does best: killing criminals that can't get convicted by the law.

Luke Ross is doing a good job replacing Klaus Janson on art.

I said earlier that we'd get to see stereotypes of every creed and color as we go through the Punisher series. It's Arabs this time. And that all i have to say. Guys, i told you i wasn't going to be reviewing these Punisher issues in great detail.

Quality Rating: B-

Historical Significance Rating: 2 - first Wild Rose Kugel

Chronological Placement Considerations: N/A

References: N/A

Crossover: N/A

Continuity Insert? N

My Reprint: N/A

Amazing Heroes Preview #5 announced a fill-in issue by Mike Zeck with the Punisher in Australia, but I guess it never happened. Mike Baron also stated that he was fighting with editor Potts to keep in a scene with the Punisher picking up a hooker in Times Square because "He can't have a girlfriend and he does need to get laid".

I had to grin when I read your Ann Nocenti comment. Looking back it now reminds me of Spielberg inserting the red girl in Schindlers List. Employing contrasts smacks to me of amateur art school.

Nevertheless I liked both Schindlers List and the Punisher run up to and including when Dr Doom appeared.