Punisher Max Special: Little Black Book #1

This 2008 Marvel MAX one-shot pairs writer Victor Gischler with artist Jefte Palo for a self-contained Punisher story that promises the gritty, uncompromising tone the MAX imprint is known for. Dave Johnson's cover sets a charged mood: Frank Castle sits in a chair with a pistol raised, his skull emblem prominent, while a blonde woman in a gold dress reclines against him — spent shell casings scattered across the floor around them. It's a striking image that hints at a story somewhere between noir thriller and all-out war.