In order to lay a trap for gang lord, Moses Magnum, the Punisher pays a visit to Spidey’s neighborhood. Once again, two differing vigilante perspectives clash and senseless action ensues. The ruthless, no nonsense style of the Punisher versus the wise cracking, noble-minded wall crawler, end up inadvertently work together to bring down Moses Magnum while continuing a longstanding rivalry with one another.

Television shows have developed the infamous “jumping the shark” routine when a series runs aground. Similarly, with Marvel comics, when a book begins to flounder, they will throw either Wolverine or Punisher on the cover and hope for the best. Reminiscent of late '80s marketing schemes, this issue suffers a banal treatment of an overused shtick. Two men dressed in pajamas taking the law into their own hands, one with the use of lethal force, the other empowered with extraordinary abilities, and their only contrast comes from where they draw a line in how far they are willing to take their war on crime. For the Punisher, no line exists.

Since the insipid inception of “Brand New Day,” Marvel has been spinning the reinvention of the wheel with smoke and mirrors. The story lines have been a succession of near hits and clear misses with the latest yarn falling squarely in the latter camp. Fans of both characters will want to like the book; however, the clichéd plot and contrived dialogue will leave most fans wanting more, scratching their heads, and wondering if there was any point whatsoever. Clearly, the missing element of character conflict instilled in earlier confrontations leaves this clash of differences as a banal chapter in a never-ending, downward spiral.

Despite the lackluster plot, Zeb Wells shows nuggets of the needed Spider-Man humor in some areas of dialogue. Peter Parker’s failed attempt at getting a hack license demonstrates Wells’s innate feeling for the character. When Peter bumps into the Punisher, Wells playfully steers the scene. However, throughout the story, the reader gets the feeling that Wells is holding back. Generally, a gifted humorist, Wells writes to the convention. The Punisher’s lines come across as stiff and contrite. Overall, Spidey’s necessary witticisms lack the punch given in a good Spider-Man story. Paolo Rivera’s inconsistent artwork does nothing to assist the failing book. A mixture of nostalgic pencil work inner mixed with sloppy panels leaves the artwork as passé. Rivera’s Punisher looks like a clunky ape, and Spider-Man appears like an Alex Ross rip-off without the wow factor.

All said and done, for collectors, buy the book. Why not? You’ve stuck around thus far. There’s no point in breaking up the collection, and overall, it’s not bad enough to quit reading the book entirely. Just don’t expect anything new from this day. It’s the same old stuff.

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