Punisher War Journal Vol. 2 # 15 - Hunter/Hunted, Part 3

Overview

“HUNTER/HUNTED” comes to its jaw-breaking conclusion as the Punisher faces off against the all-new Kraven the Hunter.

As the Hunter's menagerie ship bursts and burns in the New York Harbor, Frank has to fight his way tooth and nail to daylight as Kraven kills his way towards Frank... and in-between the two of them stands the Hunter's menagerie run rampant, out for blood, out of their minds, and looking to even the score.

And who is the last piece of G.W. Bridge's puzzle? All hell breaks loose in the issue that re-defines "savagery."

Spoilers

The Punisher is chained on a sinking ship as Tiger Shark (in a drug-crazed state) is heading straight for him. Tiger Shark grabs the chains and rips them off. He then grabs Frank and pushes him below the rising water. Frank holds his breath and tries to switch the advantage to his own.

On another part of the ship, Kravinoff continues his own hunt. He finds a cowering Frog-Man and shoots him with a dart. Frog-Man pleads that he's not even the original one. Kravinoff says he knows. With a big grin on his face, he heads towards him with a spear.

Frank manages to wrap the chains around Tiger Shark's neck and holds him until he passes out. He makes his way up and comes across a couple other villains fighting. When one of Man-Bull's horns breaks off, Frank grabs it as a weapon.

Kravinoff moves up the ship. He finds a bloody trail and is disappointed in the trail Frank has left behind. He calls him an amateur.

After some other encounters, the Punisher is finally top deck. His last encounter with Swarm and Gargoyle cause him to momentarily pass out. He comes to hearing Kravinoff call him "Tiny Monkey" over and over. He has waited until Frank came to so he could see the look in his eyes when he killed him.

In Washington D.C., Silver Sable is on a mission. She has recently apparently lost her nation and job along with her finances. She is on a job to steal a diamond. She's not too crazy about the job but she needs the money to get back on her feet. As she dangles over the diamond, she notices that it is really hot in the room. Reaching through a grid of trip lasers, a bead of sweat drips off her nose onto the diamond case. The alarms have been tripped and G.W. Bridge and a squad of S.H.I.E.L.D. agents storm the room. Sable kicks herself for not seeing this as a set up. G.W. says that's what happens when she doesn't return his phone calls. He makes her an offer of joining his squad or going to jail. She asks if she can think about it.

The Punisher and Kravinoff fight. When Frank manages to get the upper hand, Kravinoff disappears in a "pop" and reappears right above him. He hits Frank in the shoulder with a machete and Frank reaches for a gun he, somehow, had behind his back. About to shoot, Kravinoff pops off again. Standing on the deck above, Kravinoff is about to hit Frank with a poison dart when the Rhino and Vulture come out. Rhino charges and carries him over for hurting the "pretty horse." Frank tries shooting but this time the gun jams. Kravinoff continues teleporting around and Frank gets a glimpse at a lush place with a dinosaur far off. Frank knees Kravinoff in the crotch and causes him to drop his teleportation device. As it falls over deck, Kravinoff jumps after it and pops off.

Rhino looks over the side and the Punisher raises his gun at him. He mentions the security guard that the Rhino killed and tells him he needs to die. Rhino tries pleading his case. He tells him that it was an accident. He just ran by and the guard fell and impaled himself. He asks if he's ever made a mistake before. Frank thinks back to when he killed Stuart's girlfriend while under the influence of the Hate-Monger's rage gas. Thinking, he tells the Rhino to jump over and swim to shore.

In his lair, Kravinoff vows to hunt down the "tiny monkey" as Zabu sits next to his side with a strange looking collar.

In a seedy room, the Vulture stands over as Rhino attempts to write a letter (in very bad English) to the wife of the security guard. He says he's sorry for her loss. He claims he worked with him and he was a good man. He's including some money and says he will send some more.

Punisher finds Stuart waiting for him. He says that Kravinoff is hiding in the Savage Land and that's where they're headed to next.