The Punisher #8

Part two of "El Diablito" arrives with a cover by Mitch Gerads that speaks volumes without showing a single face — Frank Castle's blood-splattered skull mask and tactical vest are piled alongside a military helmet, a rifle, dog tags, loose rifle rounds, and a spent magazine, all resting in a pool of blood. It's a still-life of war that carries real weight, suggesting the cost of Castle's one-man campaign in stark, unflinching terms. Nathan Edmondson, Kevin Maurer, and Carmen Carnero continue their gritty run here, making this 2014 series one of the more grounded takes on the Punisher in recent memory.